April 2009 Blog Posts (105)

Surfing The Economic Tsunami, Strategies to Stay on Top!

On May 16, 2009 (12:00pm), at the National Restaurant Convention in Chicago, I will be presenting my latest program, Surfing the Economic Tsunami, and I hope you can join me. Along with my colleagues Warren Wolfe (Vice President, Macy’s Food Division), Ray Villaman (President, Tahoe Restaurant Group), and Riley Lagesen (Restaurant Attorney at Davis Wright Tremaine) I will be presenting a process for developing your own business strategy and then leading an interactive discussion of real life… Continue

Added by David Dodson on April 30, 2009 at 10:49pm — No Comments

Non-Operator May / December Romance - An Alert

The 1st week of May and December has always been the time for me to attend to my ice machines.

They should be emptied and cleaned at least twice a year and the time prior to the busy summer and holiday seasons seemed a good time to tackle the task.

Refer to your manual for specific instructions, or have a good machine maintenance company handle it.

Never use a bleach based cleaner - it will interact with the nickel in the stainless steel.… Continue

Added by Paul Green on April 30, 2009 at 2:11pm — No Comments

Used Restaurant Equipment And Your Business

If looking to buy Restaurant Equipment you may be considering the option to buy used. Know what your getting into before jumping in head first. Used restaurant equipment has many pros and cons. I will examine a few of these.

PROS: You save money! Used restaurant equipment can be nearly half the price of that same new product. More often than not, used restaurant equipment isn’t so old. Many restaurants go out of business within the first two years leaving many units available for… Continue

Added by Todd Norton on April 30, 2009 at 6:33am — No Comments

Prejudice

Let’s face it we are surrounded by prejudice every day in our business and those around us. Sometimes it is bold, blatant, and in your face. Other times it is quiet, unaware, and unintentional.

Social Media and the power of the internet such as this network bring us a different way of thinking. We read, listen, write, and communicate “judging” the author by the power of their words and reactions to our counter points and opinions.

When we meet people “in person” we judge… Continue

Added by Andy Swingley on April 29, 2009 at 7:29pm — 21 Comments

Non-Operator Panic??? Mexico City closes 35,000 restaurants until 5/5/09

Steve Paterson alerted FOHBOH on the threat of the Swine Flu to our industry. His warnings are coming true!

The actions yesterday by Mexico City government is a scary response!

Paul

Mexico City closes 35,000 restaurants until 5/5/09

Mexico City Orders Restaurants Closed on Flu Concern

By Carlos Manuel Rodriguez bloomberg.com… Continue

Added by Paul Paz on April 29, 2009 at 7:09pm — 3 Comments

Purell Prevents Swine Flu

Important Video from the CDC (Center for Disease Control)

Swine Flu is influenza caused by a virus in pigs (other wise known as swine). Some pigs have strains of the influenza that are able to infect humans. A short time ago you may have heard news stories involving a swine flu outbreak. Swine Flu is normally very rare in humans. however the…

Continue

Added by DillonChem.com on April 29, 2009 at 6:33pm — 1 Comment

Bagels in Bethesda, Md!

It's a good thing we did not try to market the "Radical Reuben" when people were voting for "Best Bagel" 2009 Washington City Paper! We just social network marketed a 50% off deal for anybody that walked in the Bethesda bagel shop, Georgetown Bagelry, and voiced the "magic" code: "Radical Reuben". Not a single sole came in for the deal! So much for sociel network marketing for bagels in Bethesda. I just can not believe it!

Added by Mary Beall Adler on April 29, 2009 at 3:04pm — No Comments

Non-Operator Sleeping with an Ex....

I know that our sex lives are usually kept well out of the public eye, but even though I feel like the H.S. gym teacher assigned to talk about it, we need to broach the subject when talking about break ups. Don’t worry, we’re not talking about what happens if your office romance goes array, you can read Penelope Trunk's blog if you want to know how that works.

As a young person dating, I… Continue

Added by Matt Smith on April 29, 2009 at 1:37pm — 2 Comments

Interesting info regarding the AIG bailout-more fuel for the fire...

Remember when this economic crisis hit, and Congress let Bear Stearns go

under, pushed a bunch of forced marriages between banks, etc.?

Then they bailed out AIG. At the time didn't it make you think... "That's strange.

What does an insurance company have to do with this crisis?"

Well this could just be the answer...among other things, AIG INSURES THE PENSION TRUST OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS!!

No wonder they got bailed out right away!

Heck with… Continue

Added by Patti on April 29, 2009 at 7:45am — 1 Comment

Do I need to remove the pig over the dining room table?

I have a large and very cute pink pig balloon from the recent Cochon 555 event in Boston floating over my dining area table. He's losing helium fast. Does he have swine flu?

A friend jokingly told me yesterday: "Get out fast! You're in danger!"

This silly question is intended to point out the ridiculousness of the mass media's approach to a serious story - an approach that can only intensify the public's fear and even, perhaps, incite panic as government officials track… Continue

Added by susan holaday on April 29, 2009 at 5:13am — 2 Comments

Looking to Chicago

If networking is about wearing a nice shirt, keeping secrets, pushing a business card and hard selling, it gets tired pretty fast. And in a connected world, it’s unsustainable, because reputation matters more than ever.

“We no longer care what you say. We care a great deal about what you do…If you network to get, and not to give…. Then we already know who you are” - from Seth Godin's “… Continue

Added by Erle Dardick on April 28, 2009 at 2:30pm — 5 Comments

FROM MY WINDOW: Ink and Air is nice

Colleagues,

Have written previously of my passion and time devoted to launching a new type of seafood company. One that can provide chefs, restaurants and consumers all over the world with a sustainable, healthy, nutritious supply of seafood without damaging the oceans and its stakeholders. Ultimately, we humans.

We call it Free Range Fish Farming - the proper words are Deep Open Ocean Aquaculture. We cultivate fish far offshore in the vast wet prairies of our world, the oceans.… Continue

Added by Michael Albert on April 28, 2009 at 1:32pm — 4 Comments

Restaurants a vital ingredient in life —- and economy.

Gave me a "warm fuzzy feeling" thought you'd all enjoy it as well!.

By George McKerrow Jr. George McKerrow is CEO of Ted’s Montana Grill and a founder of the Georgia Restaurant Association. Find original print at For the Journal-Constitution find original print on http://tinyurl.com/c2se4v.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Funny thing about hard economic times. Life actually goes on. We still fall in love, celebrate anniversaries, graduations, birthdays and life-changing… Continue

Added by Sarah on April 28, 2009 at 11:18am — 2 Comments

Guest Post: Chris Reed's "Keeping Right"

Chris Reeds (link) blog post "Keeping Right" is one of the BEST post I've read lately" (way too good not to share).

I hope it inspires you like it did me to continue to live life in the "Left Lane".

Guest Post Written By Chris Reed

You’ve seen it. You’re… Continue

Added by Amanda Hite on April 28, 2009 at 5:30am — 3 Comments

People Report's Workforce Index

A Healthy Dose of Cautious Optimism… Is the Tide Turning for the Restaurant Industry?

This is re-posted with approval from our friends at People Report! For the full blog report, click here.

As you may have noticed, there’s been a constant drumbeat of bad economic news since the financial sector began to implode last September. Recessions come and recessions go, but this one we were told, was different.… Continue

Added by Michael L. Atkinson on April 27, 2009 at 1:20pm — No Comments

Age Discrimination?

More than half of restaurant employees are under the age of 30. How tough has it become for people over the age of 40 to find work in the restaurant industry?

Added by Dina Berta on April 27, 2009 at 1:01pm — 4 Comments

This is Why Interactive Media is Winning the Game

I just read an article in the April 27th issue by Dina Berta of Nations Restaurant News about how restaurant companies and employees are using social sites for interactive communication. How more companies are changing from intranets to web 2.0-type technologies (online networks and communities) as a way to engage and better communicate. Nice article, Dina. Great subject matter too, because its leading edge. In fcat, it's changing how we communicate. It's also something FohBoh has a pretty good… Continue

Added by Michael L. Atkinson on April 27, 2009 at 12:41pm — 10 Comments

Management Challenges Become A Daily Routine

A lot of things have transpired at work since my last feature post, two weeks ago.

The restaurant that I manage, a mall-based food court concept, has steadily been declining due to the decrease in traffic at that particular center. As I expected, my boss has been broaching the idea that he would like for me to consider moving to a busier location. Being somewhat resistant to change, I guess I have been putting off the inevitable. As it… Continue

Added by Bill Baumgartner on April 26, 2009 at 7:34pm — 5 Comments

Operator ...and all I got was a bowl of berries....

Recently I hosted a small dinner party at a Friend’s restaurant. I pre-ordered two sugar-free desserts for my wife and myself. I am trying to control my Type II Diabetes and my wife has eliminated refined sugar. The service was impeccable, the starters playful, entrees were perfect, the desserts truly exquisite and the bill made me choke. …and all I got was a bowl of berries…with sweetened whipped cream. I mentioned this to my Friend later and the next day his Pastry Chef called wanting… Continue

Added by Karl Peters on April 26, 2009 at 9:31am — No Comments

Swine Flu can have a serious impact on Restaurant and Travel related business

UPDATE....PAY ATTENTION!

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

No more kidding with ManBird Pigflu.

2009 H1N1 is what it's called and it's officially a Global Pandemic Threat.

Headlines first, then commentary...

Current level of influenza pandemic alert raised from phase 4 to 5

www.who.org

First U.S. Death reported. (Heartbreaking)

CDC says "The more recent illnesses and the reported death suggest that a pattern of more… Continue

Added by Steve Paterson on April 25, 2009 at 8:17am — 45 Comments