All Blog Posts (5,480)

Mandatory Alcohol Server Training in Berkeley and Solana Beach California

Berkeley and Solana Beach California have both recently adopted MANDATORY responsible alcohol server training for all front of the house employees who handle alcohol. You must use an approved a California Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) program. If you need any help implimenting or training please give me a call at 312-715-5375 or email at sstanovich@restaurant.org

Added by Sam on April 15, 2008 at 7:00pm — No Comments

Butter Me Up!

Skippy vs. Jif? That debate is SOOOO o-vah! Why would anyone settle for a plain old PB&J when you could have a Peanut Butter with European Mocha on a warm baguette?

As a child, I used to gaze longingly at my friends who got Jif and grape jelly on Wonder Bread. My enviro-hippie mama made sure that I had all-natural, organic peanut butter and no-sugar preserves on…

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Added by Nina on April 15, 2008 at 3:58pm — 2 Comments

A Drunken Samurai's Way of Wine

Some curious, yet totally sensible, thoughts concerning why certain foods, and food and wine combinations, always seem to be so "right" for us once occurred to me when I reading about the period of Shojin Ryori in late 19th century Japan.

Influenced by the austere lifestyle of samurais and Zen Buddhists, Shojin Ryori was basically a vegetarian temple approach to cooking which placed emphasis on food of five colors (green, red, yellow, white… Continue

Added by Randy Caparoso on April 15, 2008 at 3:40pm — 1 Comment

Why is it so hard to be different?

I was learning about the different types of market structures today, and learned that restaurants are Monopolistic Competition markets. Which means, many producers try to make differenciated products. It is so hard to make your restaurants different from others, when really they are all the same. Chilli's, Applebee's, Ruby Tuesdays, T.G.I.Fridays, etc.
McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, etc.

They all try to do something different, but it is all still the same. Why is that?

Added by Kristen Siqueiros on April 15, 2008 at 1:32pm — 6 Comments

Culinary Corps

Hi, I thought this would be an interesting post about the CulinaryCorps a non-profit run by FohBoh member Christine Carroll.

The organization that designs and launches volunteer outreach trips for cooks. They are currently recruiting 12 culinary professionals for our fifth trip to New Orleans and the MS Gulf Coast.

Overview

CulinaryCorps is inviting eligible culinary students and professionals to join their fifth volunteer outreach trip to New Orleans, LA from… Continue

Added by Michael L. Atkinson on April 15, 2008 at 9:55am — 2 Comments

A month and counting

We have been open just under a month now and the reaction to food, wine, and service has been very positive. We are slowly carving our niche here. We've had people come in to give us a chance that only came once or twice before under the old owners and quit coming because of their previous experiences. They will be back again now which is always a good sign.

The kitchen is really starting to gel. Stephens philosophy of "high, tight, and sexy" is taking hold and the food just keeps… Continue

Added by David McGuffin on April 15, 2008 at 9:28am — 3 Comments

Travel, Ms. McTravel-chic!!!

So, I know that I have probably the best job in the world! It's amazing. Imagine, getting the most kickass job ever, I am pretty much at that point. I get to travel all around, to teach not only associates, but GUESTS all about BEER!!!! Flipping amazing! I made it a a point, on my Perfect Beer journey to kinda make a journal....... so here it goes....

First Stop: #308: This restaurant kicks some serious ass! 3 g's, at least by 2pm for lunch sales, 3 managers, and a kickass key… Continue

Added by Cindi Digiantonio on April 14, 2008 at 9:59pm — 6 Comments

The Last Meal on the Titanic

CookingMonster has posted this interesting blog on the Titanic First Class dinner menu which was served the night she went down.

As tragic as this evening would become (my great, great grandfather was one of those souls lost), I have to admit, not a bad last meal. Not bad at all.

I'm thinking this might be good fodder for the topic, What Meal Would You Choose As Your… Continue

Added by Steve Paterson on April 14, 2008 at 8:20pm — 7 Comments

Ted to Speak at FS/TEC 2008

Anyone going to this week's FS/TEC 2008 in Grapevine, TX? If so, be on the lookout for Ted. He will be moderating a panel discussion called Using Online Social Networking for Your Business on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 2:30 pm. Additionally, he's a sucker for chocolate martinis and I'm sure would love to hook up with any Fohbites out there who might be attending.

Added by diane on April 14, 2008 at 6:19pm — 4 Comments

Napa Valley is a Gem

I just wanted to share some thoughts on why I believe real estate and wine is generally more expensive in Napa than in say, some other non-Napa place....(don't want to offend anyone here).

1. It's stunningly beautiful. My wife Kim, Sarah and I visited Napa… Continue

Added by Michael L. Atkinson on April 14, 2008 at 12:11pm — 3 Comments

Mega Restaurant CD - Product On Sale

I just found out that Restaurant Report has a new "Mega CD" on sale this week. You can watch a video introducing the content on the CD here:

http://www.restaurantreport.com/megacd/index.html

For a list of the CD contents, go here:

http://www.restaurantreport.com/megacd/mega_cd_contents.html

I'm not an affiliate for this… Continue

Added by Nathan on April 14, 2008 at 11:23am — 3 Comments

Favorite Food, Wine & Drinking Songs

What are your favorite eating and drinking songs? There must be a million of them; but then again, not. But these days the vast library in the internet sky allows you put your favorites all together in once place, making for one, big musical food, wine, beer, whiskey, and coffee fest (for a mini-version, visit my FohBoh page).

Yet for all the eating and drinking songs in our own language, one of my favorites is actually French… Continue

Added by Randy Caparoso on April 13, 2008 at 5:13pm — 11 Comments

Hotlanta is turning up the heat! - Former GM of Bone's opens Dogwood

Scott Black (former GM of Bone’s in Buckhead) and Chef Shane

Touhy (former Executive Chef of Blue Ridge Grill) have teamed up to open Dogwood in Midtown. This highly anticipated restaurant will focus on delivering exceptional customer service complimented by Southern inspired

American cuisine.

Slated to open in early June, they are currently accepting applications and/or résumé’s for an FOH Assistant Manager, Bartenders and… Continue

Added by Scott Black on April 13, 2008 at 3:26pm — No Comments

Myrtle Beach

Anyone here from around the MB area

Added by Chris H*** on April 13, 2008 at 11:57am — 1 Comment

When in Rome...The Chefs Aren't Roman

Writing in the New York Times, Ian Fisher reported that Gambero Rosso, the prestigious reviewer of restaurants and wine, sought out Rome's best Italian cuisine. In second place was L'Arcangelo, where the head chef came from India. The winner: Antico Forno Roscioli, a bakery and innovative restaurant whose chef, Nabil Hadj Hassen, arrived from Tunisia at 17 and washed dishes for a year and a half before he cooked his first pot of pasta.

With Italians increasingly shunning sweaty and… Continue

Added by Alan Williamson on April 13, 2008 at 6:55am — 3 Comments

MOMOFUKU KO NUTSO IN NEW YORK

If you want to check out the hottest new restaurant in Manhattan you might find it more difficult than imagined. The newest, Momofuku Ko, has almost instantly begun drawing the rich, powerful and influential trying to land a reservation the easy way. They appealed to the chef. So far, they've had little luck.

David Chang, the owner of the hot spot, even turned down

Ruth Reichl, editor-in-chief of Gourmet Magazine. He said no. A former top Microsoft executive asked too. Same… Continue

Added by Roy MacNaughton on April 12, 2008 at 3:45pm — 7 Comments

Make Up Your Mind!

A recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined the short term effects of dark chocolate and cocoa in relationship to cardiovascular health for healthy older adults - its thumbs down for the boomers. It seems dark chocolate is boosting the heart rate

Prior research and stories hyped that dark chocolate was good for your heart health. Now you have to forget that delectable little piece of dark, rich chocolate that you had each night and empty your cupboard… Continue

Added by Dara Bunjon on April 12, 2008 at 5:01am — 2 Comments

Listen to learn, not to defend!

One of the skills we should all take time to be better at everyday is listening. Many opportunities pass us by each day when we don’t engage in “active” listening. There is a positive benefit to be gained from everyone you interact with on a daily business especially in your career or business. In the competitive world of business, people occasionally view listening, learning, and changing as a vulnerable or weak value. Some would say, well if I don’t stand up for my position or prove my point,… Continue

Added by Andy Swingley on April 11, 2008 at 5:06pm — 5 Comments

How Is Your Wine Grape IQ?

How is your contemporary wine grape IQ? Are you up on the latest “alternative” varieties? Should you even care?

If a grape makes perfectly delicious wine, I would think yes to the last question. But for me, personally, I think a wine made from an alternative grape becomes significant the moment I have a perfectly matched dish for it. I like reasons for my wines.

And besides, the way I look at it: forty years ago Chardonnay wasn’t on anybody’s lexicon (most people… Continue

Added by Randy Caparoso on April 11, 2008 at 2:08pm — 5 Comments

Do you and your people know how to properly serve alcohol?

I'm not talking about proper wine presentation. I'm talking about knowing when to have your guests to say when. Do your people know what to do if there guest has been overserved? Do you know what to do? What if someone comes in your establishment drunk already and you serve them a drink before you realize they've had too much? These are all easily answered questions if you have the right training. Some states require alcohol training while many others do not. I say even if they don't require… Continue

Added by Thomas Shackelford on April 11, 2008 at 12:47pm — 2 Comments