In the world of foodtech, venture capitalists have poured millions into on-demand food delivery startups, diminishing the gastronomic experience in itself. The food delivery system once dominated by good old Chinese takeout, which evolved to Grubhub/Seamless, has now become overcrowded with food delivery companies (as seen on CB Insights chart below).

A healthy mind is a healthy body.
These startups provide convenience and the last mile service but takes out the experience of going to the supermarket or farmer's market and learning the prices, selection and cooking process of vegetables, meats, fruits and other ingredients. There is also a downside for prepared chef meals that are promoted to be healthier for people on-the-go. Recently, some of these startups introduced a subscription model, a strategy that has worked well for SaaS startups to gain predictable, recurring revenue but is yet to be proven for the on-demand food delivery world. However as a consumer, don't you think it is mentally and emotionally detrimental to constantly eat out of recyclable boxes and plastic utensils? In any endeavor, moderation is key.

Put the experience back to food. 
Similar to Chinese takeout, going on a market tour or to a cooking class is not a new concept. Early-stage startups, such as SF-based Cozymeal, Verlocal, ChowSF and the higher-priced point IfOnly, are set to disrupt food tourism (and other experiential industries) by providing an aggregated marketplace for professional and amateur chefs offering their skills and know-how to potential students. Taking a 12% to 20% fee from activity providers, these startups are under-the-radar compared to their on-demand delivery sisters. It is about time they step up to the plate so we can once again experience food as it should be.