Culinary Cues

AUGUST 26, 2024

If you are anything like me, the anticipation of a really good restaurant experience is at the top of my list when traveling, or just taking a break from cooking at home. This is a call out to all who make, sell, and earn a living through food to self-assess and ask a basic few questions: 1. Would I serve this to my family?

Dine-in 355

Dine-in Training Seasonal Menu Sports 355

Culinary Cues

SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

So, take a deep breath, kick a few empty five-gallon buckets around the kitchen (make sure they are empty), release a string of expletives if it makes you feel better, and take a few ibuprofens to address that constant headache. We are all ready to own our lives again and enjoy the simple things – like going out for a meal.

Food Supply 416

Food Supply Employee Relations Kitchen Safety Social Media 416

Culinary Cues

OCTOBER 3, 2024

Take a step back and give them their due; you are part of a team. [] BE THE EXAMPLE How do you want your employees to act, represent, perform, and connect? It takes very little effort and costs nothing to say: “thanks, great job, fantastic work, I appreciate all that you do, spot on, etc.” However, you cannot succeed alone.

Coaching 369

Coaching Restaurant Law Training Article 369

7 Shifts

OCTOBER 12, 2022

Find the full guide to restaurant tip outs here. Tip Out Methods and Systems. Possibility of an uneven tip out and wage gaps. Full-service restaurant, fine dining. Takes away a considerable portion of server's share requiring higher hourly wages. Percentage-based tips outs. Comparison table. Points based.

Tip Distribution 365

Tip Distribution FOH Fast Casual BOH 365

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 13, 2024

Every year, the culinary world serves up something new to savor. Remember when food trucks redefined street food in the early 2010s or when small plates turned casual dining into an adventure of endless flavors? As we look to 2025, a new wave of trends is already taking shape. In 2020, dining as we knew it disappeared overnight.

2025 161

2025 Dine-in Food Truck Outdoor 161

Culinary Cues

MARCH 3, 2021

“Never again in our careers will we be able to take the boat out of water and put it in dry dock for a year to inspect every inch of its underbelly and make it seaworthy again,” “We want to make sure when we put the boat back in the water, it’s a sounder boat and does business in a better way.”

Dine-in 416

Dine-in Small Business Seasonal Menu Café 416

7 Shifts

JANUARY 26, 2021

million out of work, it was nothing short of devastating. Ordering online, paying with mobile phones, scanning QR codes for a menu, and a ton of takeout, are just a part of dining out now. With mobile ordering, there are no menus to pass out and back around, no germed-up credit cards to swipe, and no cash to handle.

2021 370

2021 Front of House Social Media Back of House 370

7 Shifts

AUGUST 12, 2020

So far, 2020 has thrown marketing plans, advertising budgets, and restaurant growth out of the window. While these local favorites are great at attracting their neighbors to visit again and again, to out-of-towners, they’re just another restaurant that looks like it could do with some renovations. So, where do you start?

Marketing 418

Marketing 2020 SEO Loyalty Program 418

Culinary Cues

OCTOBER 30, 2023

Yes, it’s true – when the Michelin Guide decided to recognize some exceptional street food vendors with Michelin Stars, they broke the barrier of snobbery noting that excellence can happen outside of traditional fine dining. If fine dining is your objective, then make the commitment knowing what’s involved.

Fine Dining 353

Fine Dining Front of House Dine-in 2016 353

7 Shifts

SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

Take a look for yourself: View this post on Instagram Did y’all ever get a chance to watch our house rules that @heymisszarah, @kaileemykels and @jessicalwhor helped out together for us? If you haven’t been out to see us yet, what are you waiting on, Mary?? No mingling with other tables.

Airlines 370

Airlines Food Safety Mobile Ordering Website Management 370

Culinary Cues

DECEMBER 8, 2022

Well, here we go. I haven’t slept much at all over the past few days and certainly won’t until the weekend is over. The anxiety building up to a full house in the hotel packed with a series of food events has made it impossible to relax. The preparation has been mind boggling, now we just have to execute. It is the chef’s job to set the stage.

Front of House 397

Front of House Back of House Seating Food Truck 397

Culinary Cues

MAY 18, 2020

Know that the degree or certificate is more than an acknowledgement of the skills and knowledge that you have gained – it represents your level commitment and discipline that will serve you well. Make sure that you seek out opportunities that involve food. This will likely be the case for some time.

White Paper 519

White Paper Certification Food Safety Food Supply 519

Culinary Cues

OCTOBER 24, 2020

These aspects include: décor, skill level of staff, style of service, pricing, profit, type of vendors selected, kitchen layout, equipment selection, marketing and advertising, pay scales, dining room seating, type of china, glassware and flatware, even the location and color scheme for the exterior of the restaurant.

Menu 388

Menu Seasonal Menu Front of House Reference 388

Culinary Cues

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

I relish great restaurant experiences, take pride in the operations where I have worked, feel connected to nearly anyone who works in professional kitchens and restaurants, and admire restaurant folks who find comfort in being the best that they can be. Find out everything you can about your guests and potential guests.

Fine Dining 392

Fine Dining Front of House Customer Service Customer Experience 392

Culinary Cues

NOVEMBER 25, 2019

There is never enough to be independent, and certainly no vision of a future in the food business, but for now – it serves a purpose. That – “I wanna be a cook” individual takes a deep breath and makes the commitment to seek knowledge, to experience the lifestyle, to build the skills that are necessary to truly carry the title.

Fine Dining 389

Fine Dining Food Order Back of House Uniforms 389

Culinary Cues

AUGUST 22, 2022

Bigger is less predictable and much more difficult to control and bigger takes cooks and chefs away from what they love to do, what attracted them to the trade in the beginning – to cook from the heart. Bigger isn’t always better. I have very fond memories of walking the streets of St. I have very fond memories of walking the streets of St.

Seating 441

Seating Front of House Back of House Cash Management 441

7 Shifts

JUNE 4, 2021

For fine dining, around 30 percent. For fine dining, around 30 percent. Numbers can give us insights into everything from profits and losses to average customer spend to how often employees cycle through. If it's not measured, it won't be managed. But what should be measured, and how? Table of Contents: Cost of Goods Sold. Health care.

Point of Sale 416

Point of Sale Inventory Employee Relations Customer Service 416

7 Shifts

JUNE 28, 2021

And regardless of whether these guests are dining in, taking out, or getting delivery, food safety needs to be at the top of mind for your restaurant and your staff. The inspector will also take notes pertaining to the hygiene of your restaurant. Health inspections are routine at restaurants – and for good reason.

Kitchen Safety 370

Kitchen Safety Food Safety Food Supply Equipment 370

Culinary Cues

NOVEMBER 11, 2022

Push it out, how many covers, lock, and load, finish strong, over the hump, wrap it up: this the language of the kitchen during service, these are the timestamps like the number of quarters in a football game or innings in baseball. We filled the dining room, and everyone was served, but what was their experience? We made it!

Customer Service 343

Customer Service Customer Experience Point of Sale Presentation 343

7 Shifts

AUGUST 18, 2021

You may serve the best food on the block, but if your restaurant doesn't match its dishes with plausible customer service, your customers may never come back. That's why it's important to provide an outstanding dining experience from the second your customer's enter your restaurant, till the moment they leave. Take orders with care.

Customer Service 369

Customer Service Customer Experience Online Ordering Loyalty Program 369

7 Shifts

AUGUST 7, 2024

The cost of the food you serve can be affected by so many different outside influences, some of them more obvious, like the rise and fall of fuel costs or the effects of good or bad weather. Add that up to find out what the cost per plate of each menu item is. Of all the costs your restaurants generate, your food is one of the largest.

Food 363

Food Seasonal Menu Inventory Pricing 363

7 Shifts

JULY 30, 2021

With plenty of restaurants to choose from, you want to make sure yours stands out from the rest. From stand-out social media accounts, to good old-fashioned mail marketing, we'll walk you through 12 unique customer-driving ideas! Your marketing plan is your restaurant's holy grail, so make sure you take the time to prioritize it.

Email Marketing 370

Email Marketing Social Media Loyalty Program Website Management 370

7 Shifts

OCTOBER 15, 2020

The Indoor Dining Blueprint Governor Cuomo recently announced their new blueprint for indoor dining , which somewhat opens up indoor-only restaurants to the public. And restaurants also pose possible risks, concentrations of people inside [for] indoor dining. What support is available for New York restaurants 1.

2020 285

2020 Restaurant Law Fine Dining Outdoor 285

7 Shifts

OCTOBER 9, 2020

Diners are turning to online ordering in increasing numbers because of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on on-premise dining. Here are six steps to take before opening any restaurant website builders. This rise in digital interactions has made it critical for restaurants to have well-designed websites.

Design 397

Design Online Ordering Social Media Mobile Ordering 397

7 Shifts

AUGUST 20, 2020

Benefits: Restaurant labor management tools take the guesswork out of scheduling. Equipped with a mobile app, staff can review announcements, reach out to managers, and manage tasks wherever they are. Equipped with a mobile app, staff can review announcements, reach out to managers, and manage tasks wherever they are.

Technology 293

Technology Mobile Ordering Dietary Restrictions Cash Management 293

Culinary Cues

MAY 12, 2022

Of course, there is a handful of masterful chefs and restaurateurs who can charge crazy prices to sold out audiences. These are the restaurants where dining is much, much more than just consuming food. I get it, profit in restaurants is sometimes hard to come by. It’s so hard to make money on that 10 oz. Prime Filet or 14 oz.

Pricing 351

Pricing Consumer Goods Training Customer Experience 351

Culinary Cues

AUGUST 18, 2022

I still remember that day in downtown Buffalo. I was probably 10 or 11 years old on a shopping trip with my parents when we walked by a diner window with full view of their short order cooks. I was instantly mesmerized by their motions, their intensity, their speed, and their control. This was my first observation of controlled hustle.

Food Order 411

Food Order Customer Experience Hiring Café 411

Culinary Cues

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

There are masters to serve, people who depend on the work of the culinary professional, who trust that their food will be prepared properly, that it will be managed and handled well, and the plate viewed as an important canvas on which the technician and artist paints. Problems at home cannot simply be pushed aside when it’s time to clock in.

Employee Relations 382

Employee Relations Training Fine Dining Take-out 382

Culinary Cues

JUNE 14, 2022

There are many questions that people ask with regard to the restaurant industry, but two seem to really stand out in the post pandemic world: Why should I spend money in a restaurant? Let’s begin with some facts about the business of serving food: There are more than 1 million restaurant locations in the United States.

Fine Dining 468

Fine Dining Food Supply Customer Service Presentation 468

Culinary Cues

NOVEMBER 27, 2020

At Thanksgiving time it is beneficial to stop and take note, to remember those influencers and give personal thanks for their contributions to you. She also told me that when you make chicken and dumplings to make sure that you use a young chicken from the farm and to never serve day old pie. I would encourage you to do the same.

Influencer 486

Influencer Hotels Education Hiring 486

7 Shifts

JULY 24, 2020

This is probably the only time in your restaurant management career that you’ll be able to take actual breaks! So pull up a chair and take a deep dive into some of the most insightful and actionable tips from the best in the business. That’s why we’ve selected 3 books that focus on people—customers and staff. Published: 2009 ??

Book 370

Book Management Management Restaurant Law 370

7 Shifts

FEBRUARY 15, 2022

We wanted to take a look back and highlight some of our favorite moments during our first season. Shawn is the host of not one but two podcasts— Digital Hospitality and Restaurant Influencers —and he stopped by ours to talk about creating a media brand out of your restaurant. Your smartphone is your restaurant's media center.

Social Media 448

Social Media Hiring Website Management Hospitality 448

7 Shifts

AUGUST 6, 2021

Restaurant forecasting isn't really a "nice to have" - it's a step all successful restaurateurs have to take. Faultless restaurant forecasts, however, are dependent on navigating predictable trends like holidays and seasonality alongside unpredictable ones such as weather and major world events. Tools to Help Restaurant Forecasting.

Seasonal Menu 370

Seasonal Menu Point of Sale Inventory Food Supply 370

7 Shifts

AUGUST 16, 2021

The way to run great shifts is to get out ahead and schedule pre-shift meetings. They also serve as a place to offer short training sessions for new practices, taste new dishes and connect with them team. Whether it's in the kitchen or a private dining room, keep it the same every time. Call it out here.

Front of House 397

Front of House Back of House Customer Service Coaching 397

Culinary Cues

DECEMBER 12, 2020

Chef Marc Meneau was such a chef – a powerful personality who elevated the dining experience – a chef who lived excellence every day in his restaurant L’Esperance in Vezelay, France. Walking up the cobblestone road that leads to the church and taking in the beauty of the French countryside is truly a spiritual experience.

Fine Dining 360

Fine Dining Back of House Dine-in Presentation 360

7 Shifts

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

The ripple effects of the pandemic continue: the National Restaurant Association finds that off-premises dining continues to happen much more frequently than before, with 66% of consumers more likely to order takeout in 2023 than they were before the pandemic. You can even share important documents, like updated policies or tax forms.

Management 367

Management Management Operations Mobile Ordering 367

Culinary Cues

MAY 28, 2022

If the family were defined as a team, it would be the kitchen that served as the locker room and the playing field. Those who spend their days in the kitchen, or the dining room do so sometimes out of necessity, but oftentimes because it is what they love to do – to create and bring a little joy to other’s lives.

Front of House 319

Front of House Back of House Small Business Employee Relations 319