How-To
In late August, the Midwest weather just starts to shift from the summer humidity to a more temperate, tolerable fall. The skies are still clear and blue, and the corn is tall, green, and ready to harvest. This part of the county is often referred to as the “corn belt,” highlighting America’s connection with this classic golden grain.
We can all relate to the feeling of biting into a lush, juicy watermelon on a hot summer day. It’s sweet and instantly refreshing. The reason watermelon is so good at quenching your thirst is because, as the name suggests, watermelon is composed of 92% water. The other 8% is sweet fructose and healthy nutrients. It’s no wonder that this larger-than-life fruit causes us to bring up memories of summer, picnics, parties, and vacation. Watermelon is basically a symbol of summer. But, watermelon isn’t the only sweet treat that ripens just as the days grow long and the kids get out of school. There are a number of lesser-known mouth-watering melon varieties to add to your summer menus, and so many ways to prepare melons beyond just slicing and serving.
Imagine the weirdest food combination you can, the strangest cake decoration scheme, or the oddest cooking method, and chances are there’s already a restaurant out there profiting from this oddity. Many chefs are naturally creative, and chaos cooking, an exciting, new culinary trend, gives these cooks a chance to express the full spectrum of their imagination.
Drinks are often the items with the highest profit margin in any food business, and when it comes to alcoholic drinks, the profits are even higher. As the pandemic taught us, alcohol sales rose significantly over the past two years, as did the numerous methods of getting liquor out to the masses. Whether it was with online deliveries, curbside pick up or QR code pick up, people the world over made it clear that they needed or wanted alcoholic drinks to help get them through the crisis.
With high profit margins, and almost guaranteed success, bars are making a quick comeback post-covid as people flock to socialize with friends once again. To help ensure the success of your bar, make sure that it is well-equipped with essential bar tools and equipment that can be used to create a diverse array of drinks to satisfy everyone from classic beer and whiskey lovers, to craft cocktail connoisseurs.
Put your signature mark on every touch point of your business by learning the art and skill of what has been coined “Five Sensory Dining.” Have you heard of the cruise ship that offers its customer a “Journey for the Senses?” No matter where guests are dining, onboard or during onshore excursions, they aim to create sounds, sights, smells, tastes, and touch experiences that entertain all five senses. If you work in the foodservice industry and want to edge out the competition, don’t leave customer experience to chance.
The phrase “the sweet smell of success” has never come to life more than in today’s restaurant ‘biz. Increasingly, in what has been coined “olfactory dining,” aromas are being used by foodservice providers to not only whet appetites and entice diners their way, but to generate an orchestrated profit.
If you work in the food or beverage industry and are wondering how to create a restaurant menu that sells, you have come to the right place! It’s common knowledge that great food and drink, above-average customer service, and a super-smooth guest experience are some of the key ingredients to business success. But did you know that the potential power and profitability of a well-crafted menu is often underrated?
Continue reading about creating a standout restaurant menu →
If you work in foodservice and are thinking of opening a Bed and Breakfast (B&B), you are using your noodle wisely! Not only are B&B’s almost always privately owned, giving you plenty of freedom to showcase your wares in any way you fancy, but these special hospitality venues are climbing the popularity charts the world over. No longer viewed as merely cost-effective alternatives to hotel rooms, many B&Bs have taken on first-class status with a reputation for being both personal and posh. As a result, growing numbers of consumers are selecting B&Bs as their number one lodgings selection.
If you work in foodservice and are looking for a way to gain an edge over the competition, think creative and even tech-integrated food containers-to-go. The impact of the pandemic has changed the face of the restaurant industry, giving takeout and delivery services a top spot in the realm of operations in a trend that is here to stay. At the same time, eco-friendly packaging, safe food handling, and takeout aesthetics have become all-important to the palates of consumers.
Attention Restaurant Owners, Chefs, and Food Lovers Everywhere: There is a new taste in town and its name is umami. Officially deemed by scientists a core fifth taste in 2002, it is sister to the more familiar sweet, sour, salty, and bitter flavors. Not only is umami universally appealing, but it is all the rage in restaurant recipes for the New Year.