December 2009 Blog Posts (101)

Non-Operator The FohBohists...

FohBohists are regular bloggers on FohBoh, folks who have committed to contributing to our community at least once every couple weeks, with insights and knowledge and a writing style that invites you to explore their topics.

Here's a little about our current FohBohists...

Alyson Mar: Alyson Mar, RD is FoodCalc’s in house registered dietitian. After completing…

Continue

Added by FohBoh on December 31, 2009 at 9:00pm — No Comments

A "Dr Seuss Reality Show" .. Really ?

Well, a new year and a new decade is upon us.

I had the chance to see an NBC News report about the "end of the decade" or the "decade that was" .

It was the 'digital decade', essentially. In fact, the reporter, said, that with all the

blogging, tweeting, and "on line" conversations, some may have thought that

they were in a "Dr Seuss" reality series.

We can look back at 2009, as the year that "Social Media" became part of the corporate landscape. The year… Continue

Added by Keith Bernhardt on December 31, 2009 at 2:32pm — 4 Comments

Non-Operator Luxury Brands’ Achilles Heel

High-end brands of all kinds depend more than ever before on retaining a relatively small number of high-value customers. So why are they so uncomfortable asking those customers for feedback?

Last week’s vacation in Madrid was a real balancing act between dropping in on the best and brightest luxury retailers to see what’s cooking while simultaneously not allowing Mrs. Israel to make them vastly more successful than they already are. Despite a little stress in that… Continue

Added by Max Israel on December 31, 2009 at 9:51am — 1 Comment

2010 Is About Meaningful Content

There’s been tens of thousands of conversations this past year about social media:

* what is it,

* how do you quantify ROI,

* how can you compare it to traditional marketing/advertising,

* what is the role of traditional PR/Marketing/Ad agencies with it,

* how do you use it, and,

* what is the most effective strategy?

Have you figured it all out?

I haven’t – social media is extremely dynamic, fluid and changing all the time. I read the… Continue

Added by Jeffrey J Kingman on December 31, 2009 at 12:44am — 1 Comment

Non-Operator How To Get Customer Feedback

What an amazing era we are experiencing! I am in awe of the distance we've come, in a very few years, from 50 websites in 1992.

There are computer applications for every aspect of our work and leisure lives.

A few minutes ago I was responding to TomTMaine and his query regarding paper comment cards… Continue

Added by Paul Green on December 30, 2009 at 11:43am — 3 Comments

PRIVATE LABEL TEQUILA - 100% AGAVE

Recently the IRI Consulting & Innovation Group conducted research report in 2008 titled “The 2009 Private Label Report: - Emerging Trends and Key Success Factors in Private labels” --- The report showed the following:

Consumers across segments view private label products more favorable than

many retailers and restaurants realized.

Much work remains to be done in converting this consumer view into

sustained private label share growth across… Continue

Added by Art Okun on December 30, 2009 at 8:16am — No Comments

Woman owned minority business golden opportuntiy-need help

Isn’t the Mallow Munchies™ chef adorable, how can you resist his smile? Well it is hard to resist Mallow Munchies ™ as well. As their website says and I, a consumer of said culinary delights concur, “not your grandmother’s crispy rice snacks.” Mallow Munchies ™ are all-natural, using marshmallows made from scratch, Kosher gelatin, and no preservatives. As their tag line states: Gooey, Chewy, Crunchy, Munchie.

Read the full story at the… Continue

Added by Dara Bunjon on December 30, 2009 at 5:58am — No Comments

Non-Operator Some businesses just don’t get Twitter (and it shows..)

Twitter-mania took over the world in 2009. You couldn’t move without hearing a mention of a tweet or a new business or celebrity using the social media platform. The trouble is, too many bars, restaurants and businesses jumped on the bandwagon too quickly, long before they understood how the platform worked and instead have wasted countless hours tweeting the wrong tweets, following the wrong people and making countless mistakes in the process. It… Continue

Added by Barry Chandler on December 29, 2009 at 9:37pm — 3 Comments

Looking FOHward to 2010

Here are a few potential New Year's resolutions for food servers across all dining segments. Feel free to amend, challenge, or add to the list.

image credit: bp1.blogger.com

1. In 2010, I will learn to manage myself so that my employers can focus more on the guest's needs and less… Continue

Added by Michael Biesemeyer on December 29, 2009 at 3:00pm — 2 Comments

Anthony Bourdain’s New York Times Foodie Nation looks at 2007

Anthony Bourdain is an outspoken social commentator. His book, Kitchen Confidential, recently recognized by the British food experts as one of the top 40 food books of the decade, gives true insight to the gritty, hardcore and brutal restaurant business. The book's success opened many doors and vistas for the lean, uncensored tell-it-like-it-is chef.

Get the complete story at the… Continue

Added by Dara Bunjon on December 29, 2009 at 2:26pm — No Comments

What was your most memorable dining experience in 2009?

At the end of the year it is natural to look back at our accomplishments, our joys and our failures. As a devout foodie my mind goes to the best dishes of 2009, or what might I put together as my best meal.

Read the complete story at the Dining Examiner

Added by Dara Bunjon on December 29, 2009 at 2:22pm — No Comments

Stalking, Internet Archaeologist and a Few of My Favorite Onion Videos.

Whenever I need a laugh I turn to the Onion. This is one of those times and I thought I'd share a few of my Onion favorites:

Facebook, Twitter Revolutionizing How Parents Stalk Their College-Aged Kids:

Facebook, Twitter Revolutionizing How Parents Stalk Their College-Aged Kids

Internet Archaeologist Find Ruins of… Continue

Added by Amanda Hite on December 29, 2009 at 12:48pm — No Comments

Non-Operator Holiday Cheer

I was chatting with my friend Melanie today about our recent holiday activities, and, as she knows I love to hear stuff like this, she had a couple of stories ready for me.

Melanie and her husband were early for meeting their friends at a very fancy schmancy steakhouse in the city, and because she can’t drink alcohol, she asked the bartender what she might have available that could be kinda fun and served in a festive glass. The bartender thought for a minute and pointed to the list… Continue

Added by Dorothy Frisch on December 29, 2009 at 9:30am — 1 Comment

Non-Operator What Color Light Bulb Makes Your Customers Spend More?

Would you believe me if I told you that the color of the light bulbs in your bar would affect the spending habits of your customers? Well, according to this story, it’s well and truly the case.

A glass of red wine tastes better when consumed under blue or red ambient lighting, according to German psychologists who’ve found that consumers’ brains can be fooled into believing their glass of alcohol is of… Continue

Added by Barry Chandler on December 28, 2009 at 9:44pm — 2 Comments

Non-Operator Flying Fish

My best friend Susan travels all the time and spends an inordinate amount of time in airports. So a coupla months back, she was stuck in the Minneapolis airport for several hours and decided to treat herself to a real dinner at a real restaurant in the terminal. Trust me, this is not a decision she made lightly, as she is not ever one to pamper herself or spend a penny of her daughters’ college money on frivolities like, well, eating.

So she goes to this place that carries the same… Continue

Added by Dorothy Frisch on December 28, 2009 at 3:49pm — 3 Comments

Labor Will Make or Break You

I have been thinking a lot recently about my own operation. How could I continue to find new opportunities to be more efficient and reduce expenses without affecting the guest? As most of you know, labor is our biggest expense; fixed labor is often a financial burden in slow times but necessary when busy. So how do you create the correct staffing model for your operation?

The first step is to look at it as an outsider. If you were critiquing someone else’s operation as a consultant,… Continue

Added by Chef Len Elias CEC on December 28, 2009 at 7:00am — 3 Comments

Non-Operator New Advertising Programs and Rates for 2010

We have just posted the new media kit that includes advertising rates and social media programs for 2010.

We have a number of programs and will be happy to custom build a campaign to fit your social media marketing requirements.

For more information, click here.…

Continue

Added by FohBoh on December 27, 2009 at 11:11am — No Comments

An Easy Way to Collect Your Customers' Email Addresses

It's no secret that restaurant email marketing is a great way to connect with your most loyal customers, and ensure that they return. But one thing I often hear is "I don't have TIME to run an email campaign!" And, sure, to run a campaign that is attractive to your customers, you'll have to set aside time to create powerful content and build eye-catching emails.

But what about gathering your customer's email addresses? Do you have a stack of comment cards gathering dust in a pantry… Continue

Added by Erin Martin on December 26, 2009 at 2:58pm — 10 Comments

Holiday Concert Time (but not holiday music)...and Happy Boxing Day

Perhaps a good time to post some truly rare and awesome live music.

Enjoy the holiday weekend!!!

Pavarotti and Jon Bon Jovi "Let it Rain/Fa Che Piova"

I'm a moderate Bon Jovi fan but this song is perfect! I read that this has never been recorded in a studio and was written personally by Jon for Luciano and only ever performed here live...

The Pav and Bryan Adams "O Sloe Mio"

Simply awesome!...and a little… Continue

Added by Steve Paterson on December 26, 2009 at 5:55am — 2 Comments

Non-Operator Customer Relations = Loyalty, TracFone Sends a Message

As I read Bill Campion's " I'll Get Back to Ya Babe! " I could relate.

Customer service and customer relations seem to be in fail mode in an incredible number of businesses. I tend, now, to be on the defensive when contacting a business , expecting the worst, which sets the stage for a negative experience.

There are some businesses, however, that understand how important a… Continue

Added by Paul Green on December 26, 2009 at 12:50am — 4 Comments