Entrepreneur of the month: Michael Baker
Starting in 1984 with a takeout-only sandwich shop specializing in fresh-roasted turkey sandwiches, Michael Baker has expanded his sphere through the years into a full-service café/retail store and an extensive catering business generating more than $12 million in annual sales.
Cooking in a vacuum
Over the years, countless changes have occurred in the industry, and the need to prepare safe, consistently seasoned food using a minimum of human and fossil energy has led to modern, innovative methods of food preparation. Many eating establishments, from the corner diner to the busiest Michelin three-star restaurant, are embracing a cooking technique known as sous vide.
As we head into the new year, the mega-trends driving menu and product development fall into three major buckets: health and wellness, big flavors and breakfast. Sound familiar? While there are many cutting-edge mini-trends emerging, those feeding the mainstream are sticking to what customers want right now. But both operators and manufacturers are offering unique twists to differentiate themselves within these buckets.