As comfort foods continue to rise in popularity, restaurant operators may feel pressured to make drastic changes to their menus to accommodate these changing preferences. In reality, though, some dishes that are currently on the menu, such as STOUFFER’S® Classic Mac & Cheese and Classic Lasagna with Meat and Sauce, maintain their appeal to diners.
For operators who want to broaden their appeal to diners who want more comfort foods, the key is positioning. Menus may not need big updates, but the way items are showcased can be refined to highlight foods’ specific qualities—such as being made with real, quality ingredients—and can make those dishes more appealing.
Comfort foods made with quality ingredients
While comfort foods options aren’t hard to find on menus, highlighting ones made with quality ingredients can give operators an edge. While diners sometimes just want comforting, familiar dishes they can rely on, that doesn’t mean just any dish’ll do. For such diners, Traditional Mac and Cheese from STOUFFER’S® is a perfect option, made with real milk and cheese. Want to update the classics a bit? Get more recipe inspiration on how to offer Mac and Cheese here.
Versatility without added labor
Mac and cheese and lasagna are two comfort food dishes that consumers love, but that also offer ample opportunity for updating. For instance, adding green chiles, corn and black beans makes a Tex-Mex Cheddar Mac dish diners will love, and adding Buffalo cauliflower to it gives it a spicy kick without the meat. It can be offered as a side or an entree. And best of all, because it’s already prepared, operators don’t have to worry about added labor costs.
As for lasagna, top it off with ancho-chile seasoned shrimp for a unique twist, or pile it high with smoked burnt ends and crispy onions for an extra-indulgent treat that combines several comfort foods at once.
By highlighting comfort foods that are made with high-quality ingredients, operators can make sure they’re catering to consumers who want familiar favorites but don’t want to skimp on quality. Best of all, operators can offer all these dishes without having to add complicated dishes that take a lot of extra time and labor to prepare.
To learn more about STOUFFER’S® Classic Mac & Cheese or Lasagna with Meat and Sauce, visit nestleprofessional.us/stouffers.
This post is sponsored by STOUFFER’S®