FohBoh Frequently Asked Questions

What does "FohBoh" mean?

And you’re in the business? F.O.H. is a well known acronym that refers to anything that occurs in the Front of the House, or outside of the kitchen. B.O.H. refers to Back of the House, or generally, the kitchen. It can also mean area of responsibility in non-restaurant environments. FOH can mean the front-person; marketing, sales, business development with technology, HR and finance departments being the BOH.

Who can join FohBoh?

FohBoh.com was developed exclusively for employees, operators, vendors and service providers that service the restaurant, hotel, club, resort, casino, food and beverage industries. If you are among the millions of people that work in, support and service the global restaurant industry, then welcome!

Can non-restaurant Foodies join?

If you find our community interesting and content compelling, of course. We love passion and your perspective will be very welcome.

What does “The Conversation Starts Here” mean?

Our goal is to make FohBoh.com the center of the restaurant universe and the online place to start your day. If we provide information, access and connections in a social environment, as well as provide a platform to discuss relevant and interesting industry topics that relate to all professionals in the industry, then FohBoh will reflect the voice of the industry worldwide. We hope to be the global voice for interactive conversations in the restaurant industry.

Are all services free?

For now everything is free, but we plan to offer value-added, premium services in the future that will require a monthly subscription to business owners, and offer related services and products that will of course, require payment. We also plan to add leadership video series, virtual gifts and off-line events in the coming months.

What are some of the premium services that you plan to offer?

As we grow in membership, we will be able to learn from our members. As we learn, we will be able to offer relevant and timely services and products that you truly need and want. With premium membership, you will be offered unique access to purveyors, news, information as well as discounts on products and services based on volume purchasing. In addition, services like business listings (more than a profile).

We also plan to host live events in regions around the globe that will be sponsored by vendors and suppliers. We plan to start an international group and partner with sponsors and a travel partner for excursions worldwide. These excursions will be designed as a way to meet other members, share interesting food and beverage experiences, learn, take cooking classes, meet potential partners and franchisees, or just have fun.

Can I post job opportunities?

Our job bank and restaurant marketplace is available now at jobs.

Who are the founders of FohBoh?

The two founders of FohBoh are Michael L. Atkinson and Ted Cohn. Michael has over 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry as an owner, operator, developer, investor and financier. Ted is a Silicon Valley veteran with over 20 years of experience working at companies such as Apple, NeXT, Excite. We love food, wine, travel, experiencing new restaurants and have a passion for and a high-degree of respect for the industry and the people that make it work.

Is FohBoh global?

Yep! Within hours of launching FohBoh Beta on November 1st, 2007, we had folks visiting from Australia, South America, Asia and Europe. Food and beverage is a global industry. As of today, we have had visitors from over 185 countries.

The restaurant industry is pretty much the same worldwide. Each restaurant starts with raw ingredients every day. Restaurants have employees that work in the FOH and BOH with skills that will enable them to work in any country. It’s all the same. Same issues, same challenges. We have a lot to share because it really is one big community.

What is a FohBohist?

A FohBohist is a featured member columnist at FohBoh. The FohBohists write on a weekly basis, speaking on their particular areas of expertise at Today's Special, the FohBohist's spot on the site. If you're interested in becoming a Guest FohBohist, contact Sarah Atkinson.

How can I advertise on FohBoh?

click here

Are there opportunities to sponsor an event or promotion?

You bet. Please email advertising atfohboh dot net

Will FohBoh host live events?

Yes! Soon we will host (for a modest fee per registration), quarterly events in cities across the globe. This will be your opportunity to meet other members in a live networking event. If you are interested in being a Certified FohBohist in your city, send email to info at fohboh dot net for more information.

What domains should I whitelist with my email client?

Just add fohboh.com to your list of approved "buddy" contacts to be assured that you are able to receive messages.

How do I invite large numbers of people to FohBoh?

Click on the Invite menu tab. There are four ways to invite people to FohBoh.

1. Enter Email Addresses

This simple method lets you enter the email addresses of your friends separated by commas. You can use the default message provided, modify it or replace it. Then send.

2. Import from Web Address Book

This method lets you import addresses from your AOL, Gmail, Hotmail, MSN or Yahoo email (if you have one or more of these). You need to provide login information so FohBoh can fetch those contacts. Once you import the addresses, you can select which ones to send invitations to.

3. Import from Address Book Application

This method lets you upload a CSV (comma separated values) file exported by your Outlook or PIM application. Follow the instructions of your email application to export your contacts to the CSV format. Then browse for the file on your hard drive and upload the file. Then you can select which people to send invitations to.

4. Personal Invitation Link

This method gives you the ability to send out your own mass emails to friends to join FohBoh. Simply copy this unique link text as shown and paste it into your email somewhere, perhaps in your signature line. Then send your email to as many people as you like. When they click on this link, their browser will receive a special cookie that links them to you. When they sign up, you get the referral credit.

NOTE: Sometimes people you invite may simply type "www.fohboh.com" directly into their browser instead of using the link provided by your invitations. If this happens, there is no way for FohBoh to know that you invited them and you will not get the referral points. We apologize, there is nothing we can do about this.

What is the best way to ensure I get my referral points?

We think your best chance of getting referrals is by using the Personal Bulk Invitation Link method. You also want to tell people to click "the invitation link" so you get your referral credit. But any invitation method will give you credit if the invitee clicks on your link.

I'm getting too many emails from FohBoh!

Don't panic. You have complete control. Go to My Settings and click on the Email tab on the left side. Now you can check or uncheck notifications you want to receive or not receive, respectively. For example, if you do not want to automatically follow discussions that you comment on, just uncheck that box.

What if I accidentally block one of my connections?

Go to your Profile, click on the little “man” icon at the top left in the black bar to open your list of friends/contacts. There, click on the “blocked” tab and the person should appear there. Then you can unblock him/her.

What if I Forgot My Password?

If you forget your password, simply use the “forgot your password” link on the sign in page.

I can’t remember my email address.

If you forget your email address, that’s a much harder problem to solve than losing a password. First, click the “problems signing in” link and submit a ticket to us to help you recover your email or apply a new email. We absolutely controls account security/authentication, not FohBoh.

How do I look at members beyond the page ranges? For example at the bottom of the Members Page, it shows page 7 then jumps to 292?

To look at member pages between 7 and 292 for example (other next level) just click on the last page of the first range, then the next three pages are served up.

What if I have other questions not addressed by this FAQ?

Either contact us or drop us a comment below to get our attention. We'll try to answer it ASAP.