June 2009 Blog Posts (120)

Video Blog: The I Want To Be An Entrepreneur Trend

On a flight last week, I was sitting next to a boy and a girl who were both in their mid twenties. The girl noticed the “start-up magazine” in my bag, pointed to it and said to the boy, “Hey, have you heard of this magazine?” It was an obvious and awkward moment where I knew she wanted me to ask, “Do you have a start-up? If so, what do you do?” So.. I asked, she enthusiastically said, “YES!“ and then, blushing, said “OK. Here’s my spiel.” Her “partner” winked and gave… Continue

Added by Amanda Hite on June 30, 2009 at 9:24am — 21 Comments

Non-Operator Self Fullfilling Prophecy

As I have already mentioned, poor service is usually not an isolated incident – just one event perpetrated by just one employee. No, it is usually a system or culture that is off kilter, sometimes stemming from a leadership style that is ineffective, or cost control measures that ‘unexpectedly’ backfire.

I recently worked with an owner who provided a a perfect example of the latter. Knowing that labor is one of its largest expenses, the business looks for ways to cut shift costs to… Continue

Added by Dorothy Frisch on June 30, 2009 at 8:43am — No Comments

Vendor Bender

I received an alarming call last week; the message left informed me that my business “must not be doing very well.” Wow, that might have been a scary message except for the fact that things are going great.

So who left this message for me? My bank, a disgruntled business that was not happy with my service, or a competitor who was trying to ruffle my feathers? The answer is; none of the above. Instead, I was shocked to find out it was a vendor whom I hadn’t spoken with in a few… Continue

Added by Leslie Howard on June 30, 2009 at 7:12am — 1 Comment

Non-Operator 4 Strategies For Improving Refrigeration Efficiency In Your Restaurant

Now that we are entering the hottest time of the year, it’s a good time to examine the refrigeration units in your restaurant and make sure they are operating as efficiently as possible. No matter what you do, you’re going to end up spending more money on refrigeration this time of year than any other. However, that doesn’t mean you should have to spend any more than absolutely necessary.

Have you optimized your refrigeration efficiency? Doing so can save you a LOT of money. Here’s… Continue

Added by Caribou on June 29, 2009 at 3:44pm — 2 Comments

Restaurant Branding Lesson #1: Don't wake sleeping tigers

One thing this world creates naturally is competition. It’s natural and healthy albeit scary and stressful. At first glance, who wants competition? You’d love to own it all, right? Well, that’s just not going to happen, and that is okay. One of the hardest habits to break is to try to take everything for yourself in business. Not only is it poor practice in life, it’s even poorer practice in business. Competition creates awareness and awareness creates patronage. Patrons can be broken into… Continue

Added by Joseph Szala on June 29, 2009 at 1:19pm — No Comments

Non-Operator It's not just about the money... Tony Sandilla, Career Professional Waiter, on the privilige of serving our communties

I received this note from my good friend and colleague, Tony Sandilla. We've corresponded for many years via the net and have nver met face to tace! It is a privilige to have come to know him and I know he represents many of our peers throughout the USA and the world.

Paul

FROM TONY SANDILLA:

Mr. Paz, I had the privilege yesterday morning of working a very special catering. It was an off-site gig. I went with about six others, including cooks and great… Continue

Added by Paul Paz on June 29, 2009 at 10:57am — No Comments

Non-Operator Servers as Ambassadors

On a lovely evening last week I had the pleasure of attending the pre-opening party for a new multi-million dollar restaurant. Feeling quite special (and not a little overdressed!), I joined the ebb and flow of a few hundred of Seattle’s beautiful people (who, I now know, wear torn jeans and layered Tshirts to such events – I am sooooo 90’s!).

The space is absolutely gorgeous and quite a bit of thought and imagination went into its design, as one would expect from a team of such… Continue

Added by Dorothy Frisch on June 29, 2009 at 10:24am — 2 Comments

Three Icons Gone..But the "word" is still out there

At first, I was going to write a blog about the passings of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. More in a moment.

I have since, revised my plan, after watching the news coverage.

Every network and every show mentions "icon" in their respective

obituaries. There is truth to it. Each was an icon in his or her own

right , but come on, every other word ?

In all actuality, each was probably its own "brand" , much like "Kleenex"

or… Continue

Added by Keith Bernhardt on June 29, 2009 at 7:00am — No Comments

Breaking News Update

Not to get on the Michael Jackson bandwagon, but it wasn’t lost on me last week as news broke of his cardiac arrest and death, that traditional, mainstream media sources were my last resort for breaking news.

Not that this should surprise me, but it’s been somewhat stealth. I’ve known for months that my media consumption behaviors and those of my culinary friends were rapidly changing. It was just never quite as apparent as it was last week as I worked to confirm what could have been… Continue

Added by John Scroggins on June 29, 2009 at 3:00am — 14 Comments

Day One of the 55th Annual Summer Fancy Food Show

Well, I’ve always wanted to attend the NASFT Summer Fancy Food Show, a gargantuan gourmet foodie event at the Javits Center in New York, but even though I’ve written about food and retail for over a decade and can get into any other trade show, that ticket has always remained out of my reach. Until this year, when I decided that gift baskets might be a way of liquidating some cute but slow-selling merchandise I have in stock in my other life as a struggling start-up online retailer. That’s the… Continue

Added by Elizabeth Blumberg on June 28, 2009 at 5:37pm — No Comments

Operator Inner City Volunteer Chef

Well hello fellow foodies.

I was so lucky in my food career and now I am settling down in Akron/Kenmore Ohio as a Volunteer Chef. "First Glance" started a great Teen Center and now one whole floor devoted to teen moms and down the road a teen home.

Last tuesday was the first day in the new teen mom area and the kitchen is mine. We will also have a full commercial kitchen one floor up for a future catering business I will run.

I need feedback, input, advice and… Continue

Added by Chef Rox on June 28, 2009 at 4:18pm — No Comments

Aaaah chocolate, food of the gods

Baking is not my forte, though my friend, Maria Springer is amazing and she has agreed to share some of her baking and chocolate wisdom today in this column.

Maria Springer excels in creating Viennese pastry and I have been the lucky recipient many times as well as a attending a selection of her cooking classes. Maria started her Maja’s Viennese Kitchen Cooking School 16 years ago in Baltimore County.

Read the entire story and slide show at… Continue

Added by Dara Bunjon on June 27, 2009 at 3:37am — No Comments

NUTRITION CALCULATOR

It is a foregone conclusion for restaurant chains with over 20 units in most states. MenuCalc has a solution that you should know about.

Check out this very cool self-directed nutrition calculator by MenuCalc. Click Here. Lucy and the gang created this for Mixed Greens in San Francisco.

See this creative one for… Continue

Added by Michael L. Atkinson on June 26, 2009 at 3:59pm — No Comments

Are you getting your Vinotherapy? I am...

If you know me, you know that food & wine are a major part of my life! I even have a few grape vines growing in my little backyard. I also lead a life that is just plain hard on my hands; between flying trapeze, cooking, catering & dishes, dogs, cats & horses, my poor hands don't stand a chance. It is a constant battle to keep them moisturized. I've tried many products,… Continue

Added by Margie Tosch on June 26, 2009 at 1:05pm — No Comments

Last Night One Restaurant Made Me A Customer For Life: Some Brief Reflections

As a marketer, I usually think in terms of planned events, promotions, and how to effectively reach your target demographics, but yesterday, I happened upon a wonderful reminder of why sometimes it is better to put all your "marketing plans" and "PR promotions" and "Advertising" off to the side for a moment and just let your own personal passions shine through naturally in your restaurant.

Before I begin, I should mention that I am a HUGE Michael Jackson fan. He pretty much defined… Continue

Added by Ashley Howard on June 26, 2009 at 9:45am — 6 Comments

Non-Operator The Groucho Marx Club

I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members.

-- Groucho Marx

This splendid line actually predates Groucho (for fans of Masterpiece Theatre, John Galsworthy apparently used a slightly different phrasing in discussing one of the Forsyte Saga’s characters). For my money, however, it’ll always be associated with Groucho.

Over the years, I’ve found many uses for it. Last week, I discovered a new one. A recent news report,… Continue

Added by Rod Guinn on June 26, 2009 at 3:00am — 3 Comments

Cairns Eco Tourism and Heritage Rainforest Tours - Billy Tea

Cairns Tour company based in Queensland offers Eco Tourism and Heritage Daintree Rainforest tours of a lifetime.

BillyTea Bush Safaris, leading Cairns Eco Tourism company, provides personalized day tours to World Heritage rainforest area of Cape Tribulation, Daintree and extended tours to Cape York Peninsula.

A family owned company, offers 4WD personalised day tours to the World Heritage… Continue

Added by TravelAU on June 26, 2009 at 1:55am — No Comments

Noosa Holiday Accommodation in Australia - Sebel Noosa

Sebel Resort Noosa provides luxurious Noosa accommodation perfect for your Noosa holidays.

The elegant Sebel Resort Noosa, set in the heart of cosmopolitan Hastings Street, offers location and luxury with an opportunity to enjoy the best Noosa accommodation and Noosa Holidays. Surrounded by world-class restaurants, hotels and up-market fashion boutiques, the Sebel Noosa Resort is less than a… Continue

Added by TravelAU on June 26, 2009 at 1:53am — No Comments

Mandalay and Shalimar Luxury Beachfront Apartments

Mandalay Shalimar Luxury Beachfront Apartments provides Port Douglas holiday accommodation ranging from apartments and beach houses. Offers ultimate convenience, within easy walking distance of the wonderful restaurants and eateries located in and around the Marina Mirage and Macrossan Street.

With an exclusive walkway direct to the famous Port Douglas Four Mile Beach, Mandalay Shalimar Luxury… Continue

Added by TravelAU on June 26, 2009 at 1:52am — No Comments

Port Douglas Accommodation, Apartments & Holidays at Executive Retreats

Executive Retreats offers luxurious Port Douglas accommodation, apartments and holidays at beautiful beaches of Port Douglas, located in Queensland, Australia.

Specializing in unique accommodation, tours, attractions and charters, Executive Retreats ensure unforgettable holidays in paradise!

Executive Retreats offers luxury accommodation and divine spa treatments in some of… Continue

Added by TravelAU on June 26, 2009 at 1:51am — No Comments