The term “restaurant” originated in France in the 16th century. The word comes from the French word “restaurer,” which means “to restore.” The first establishment to use the term “restaurant” in the modern sense was founded in Paris in 1765 by a soup vendor named Boulanger. He called his establishment “La Grande Taverne de Londres,” and he served soups, which were advertised as “restaurants” or “restoratives” that could restore one’s health.
The concept of the restaurant as a public dining establishment offering meals and refreshments for a price began to spread from France to other parts of Europe and eventually to other parts of the world. Over time, the term “restaurant” became widely adopted and evolved to encompass a variety of culinary establishments serving different types of cuisine and offering diverse dining experiences.

Stephen is a hospitality professional from Johannesburg South Africa. His career started with THF hotels in the UK and subsequently with the Southern Sun Hotel group in Johannesburg. Stephen’s first steps into entrepreneurship was Hickmore Recruitment / CareerMap, a leading supplier of Senior and Exec recruitment services. Stephen was a founder of Pple Hospitality (formerly HSC) the largest Hospitality Industry full-service outsourced staffing company in South Africa. In March 2020 Stephen became a director and owner of the Swiss Hotel School South Africa, which is now his full time endeavour. Stephen writes for a number of publications on food and hospitality industry matters, trends and opinions.