ingredients

Food

Global flavors shake up turkey LTOs

For operators who offer turkey and want to put an ethnic item on the menu, incorporating global flavors can be a great opportunity.

Operations

The rise of food allergies and how to keep your guests safe and happy

With food allergies on the rise, and more than 15 million Americans affected, it’s critical for your restaurant to be able to deliver clear, accurate allergen information to guests. It can also be a competitive advantage.

Today’s diners are more conscious than ever about the foods they eat—what they’re made of, but more importantly, what they’re not made of.

Restaurant Business Magazine's annual ranking of the fastest growing small chains in America.

Take a melting-pot population, add chefs who’ve trained and cooked elsewhere before coming back to the area, and you have the ingredients for a trend-setting restaurant city rife with ideas.

The latest edition says appetizers displayed modest growth while healthy menu items experienced strong growth.The Trend Tracker report offers a new snapshot.

Peruvian cuisine may be a latecomer to America’s tables, but it’s gaining a foothold. “The healthy, fresh ingredients and unique flavor profiles are creating a surge of interest in Peruvian food and restaurants,” confirms Marcella Guzman, an instructor at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.

Bellinis and sangria, the classic wine-based cocktails, are finally getting some competition. Mixologists like Alex Ott, who masterminded the drink list at New York’s Hudson River Café, are shaking up the bar scene with creative new “winetails.” “Wine is attractive,” says Ott, “because of its flavor and aromatic undertones, plus its capacity to blend well with just about any ingredients.”

When it comes to increasing check averages, after-dinner beverage offerings are sweet. Liquid desserts generally have higher profit margins than plated desserts.

Optimism is in the air as we look ahead to 2010, but product and menu developers are proceeding with caution.

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