Panera Bread

With change coming to the restaurant industry at warp speed, here's a snapshot of developments that signal where we might be barreling.

Many, many weight loss diets come and go, but the sad fact is Americans have gotten fatter every year since 1990. While restaurants have been the easy-to-blame scapegoats for this obesity epidemic, they’re not the only ones at fault, said Dr. Jim Painter at the innovation session entitled “Your Brain on Food: Why Consumers Eat As They Do” held on Monday, March 26 during the 2012 Restaurant Leadership Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The upscale bakery-cafe features the Israeli specialties of founder Tzurit Or, who is currently responsible for everything from the menu to the design of the restaurants. Here's what the concept is like and what the future holds.