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How to Cater a Wedding Reception: Wedding Catering Basics

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:51:03 +0000

I have received a lot of reader requests about catering weddings. A wedding is one of the most important events of a person's life. Catering a wedding is no casual affair. It demands attention to detail and timing, as well as organization with not just the bride and groom, but other vendors, such as the DJ and photographer. It is also a long catering job- even if the reception is only four or five hours. Prep for a formal wedding starts days ahead of time. Of course, if you successfully cater a wedding, it garner a lot of word of mouth advertising and help establish your restaurant's reputation. Read on about the basics of how to cater a wedding.

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How are Pop Up Restaurants Different From Regular Restaurants?

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 10:44:19 +0000

Pop up restaurants, also known as supper clubs, were all the rage in the 1960s. Today, their has been a resurgence in pop up popularity. Noted as one of the hottest trends of 2012 by the National Restaurant Association, pop up restaurants are used as a platform for up and coming chefs or as a trial run for a future restaurant. Despite the temporary nature of pop ups, there are some similarities between them and regular brick and mortar restaurants. Read more about pop up restaurants and regular restaurants.

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Front of the House- Restaurant Basics

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:38:40 +0000

The dining room, bar, waiting area, even the restrooms are all part of the "Front of the House." It basically means any place that allows customers. Managing the front of the house includes customer service, training staff, designing the dining room and bar, and planning promotional events. A well run restaurant dining room is vital to the success of any restaurant, new or established. Read more about the basics of the front of the house.

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How to Design an effective Restaurant Menu

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:11:52 +0000

An effective restaurant menu includes a well planned layout, clearly written descriptions of dishes and pricing that reflects correct food cost. When writing your restaurant menu, avoid busy layouts and overly wordy descriptions. While including classic menu items is important, updating your restaurant menu periodically is also important, in order to stay atop of food costs and food trends.

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Common Restaurant Jobs

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:16:04 +0000

There are manu jobs in a restaurant, from the chef to the servers. Hiring the right type of people for the right job is an important part of any restaurant. Not every person is cut out to work in food service. They have to have the right mix of friendliness, organization, team work and independence. Read on for more about common restaurant jobs and how to hire for them.

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Local Food Trends for Restaurants

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:23:55 +0000

It's been 30 years since Alice Walker opened Chez Pannise in Berkeley, California, with the philosophy of local, organic foood. Since then, restaurants all over the country have slowly begun to embrace the local food movement. Today, local foods are among the hottest trends for restaurant menus, as seen in the National Restaurant Association's annual What's Hot Chef's Survey. Today, local foods means more than just fruits and veggies. It includes local beef, seafood, and even beer and wine. Read on for popular local food trends for restaurants.

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10 Ways to Promote Your Restaurant

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:23:04 +0000

It's a new year and time to start thinking about ways to increase sales in 2012. There are many different ways to promote a restaurant including holidays, like Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve and classics like happy hour. Go beyond the obvious promotions this year. Try participating in your local restaurant week or hosting a wine tasting or beer dinner. Read on for 10 ways to promote your restaurant.

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Menu Trends for 2012

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:53:48 +0000

Happy New Year! Now that the holiday hustle and bustle is passed, it's a good time to think about changes to your restaurant menu. To help you evaluate your current menu items and choose new items, check out the National Restaurant Association's (NRA) annual What's Hot Chef Survey, which profiles upcoming trends for restaurants across the country, classifying them as a "hot trend," "yesterday's news," or "perennial favorite." The NRA survey rates everything from appetizers to main dishes to kid's meals to culinary themes.

Perennial Favorites for Menus in 2012

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:54:35 +0000

According to the National Restaurant Association's annual What's Hot Chef's Survey, Italian cusine and comfort foods are two perennial favorites on restaurant menus everywhere. Perennial favorites refer to dishes, ingredients, themes or cooking methods that have withstood the test of time. These classics are the cornerstone of many restaurant menus. Check out the top 10 Perennial Favorites for 2012.

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Menu Trends That are out in 2012

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:27:55 +0000

If your restaurant menu is featuring such items as bacon-dipped chocolate appetizers or energy drink cocktails, it might be time for an update. According to the National Restaurant Association's annual What's Hot Chefs Survey, both these trends are yesterday's news. Other fad food items that were rated old news include flavored popcorn, wasabi peas, and mini burgers. Check out the top 10 menu items that will be disappearing from restaurant menus everywhere in 2012.