Last month, Datassential brought the heat (and the trends) to Chicago for the second annual Elevate Experience — and wow, did our members show up! What followed was a day and a half of deep insights, delicious bites, and real talk about where the food world is headed.

From navigating emotional highs and lows in dining to decoding why we crave what we crave, our sessions dove into the moments that make food meaningful — and the data behind it. We got hands-on with the latest research in Solving Consumer Need States, rode the Emotional Rollercoaster, and explored The Experience Economy, where AI is already rewriting the rules of immersive dining.

We examined Markets and Menus with key insights into the economic landscape, operational hurdles, and the emerging trends set to shape 2025 and beyond.

And because food isn’t just about taste — it’s so often about how we feel — we dug into “Forks, Feelings & Food Choices,” uncovering how emotion, sustainability, and setting all shape what ends up on the plate.

We capped off our experience with What’s Next where Datassential Co-Founder Jack Li guided us through the growing Food as Medicine movement and the oncoming Robot Revolution. A future where humanoid robots whip up personalized meals in our kitchens might be closer than we think which prompted us to ask: what role will restaurants play in this new era?

Couldn’t join us in person this summer? Check out details on how to join this exclusive community when they meet next.