Waffle House

Breakfast: Morning news

The breakfast segment has been one of the bright spots in this dim economy.

Easter Brunch Deals

Diners looking for something more substantial than chocolate bunnies and marshmallow eggs can find places across the country to celebrate Easter with a festive brunch. Here’s a sampling of restaurants offering breakfast favorites and more, with prix fixe menus, buffets and family-friendly options.

Who knew Waffle House was so important to FEMA? Who knew Domino’s could dream so big? Who knew Groupon could hurt your restaurant in more ways than one? Who knew? The Week in Ideas knows.

More and more Americans are patronizing restaurants differently these days, opting to make a meal of shareable appetizers, small plates, inventive bar food or coffee and a snack. According to Chicago-based market research company Technomic, only 5 percent of consumers are now eating three square meals a day.

Aside from the standard glass of juice or fruit cup, most chain menus don’t offer a whole lot of produce at breakfast.

This week, some ideas for getting on Consumer Reports' good side; the living dead; guns are a good publicity idea; and another reason to wash your hands.

The 2012 Future 50 has distinguished itself as being one of the most varied collections of menus we’ve ever featured in our annual ranking of the fastest growing small chains in the country. The largest menu category represented—“varied menu”—typifies this.

A few of our Clean Plate Award winners took a minute to explain their dishes, what drives them to cook and how it feels to have a “plate cleaning” dish nominated by this tough panel of their peers.

It just may be the most under-exploited category on morning menus.

Chefs in foodservice operations of all stripes are bringing distinct culinary experiences to their catering customers, offering everything from farm-to-fork menus to boxed lunches to deluxe sit-downs.

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