February, 2023

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How to Create a More Interactive Dining Experience for Guests

Modern Restaurant Management

As the world is largely re-opened post-COVID, people are eagerly out and about dining in restaurants and bars to reinvigorate their social routines. According to Morning Consult , 77 percent of all polled adults are comfortable dining out at restaurants or cafes as of June 2022. While there is a satisfactory level of comfort for patrons to return to in-person dining experiences, businesses should consider the dining experience as a whole – people crave togetherness in their social settings

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How to Show Your Staff Love for Employee Appreciation Day

7 Shifts

One of the biggest issues facing restaurants in 2023 is finding and keeping good talent. During the pandemic, many service workers either left or were forced out of the industry and never returned. According to our data , the average turnover rate for restaurant staff in the U.S. was 62%. When staff are unhappy, you lose more than just the cost of hiring and training.

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Rethinking the Future of Dining Through Technology

Modern Restaurant Management

There have been a lot of discussions and opinions swirling around after Rene Redzepi announced the closure of Noma , arguably one of the top restaurants in the world. While Noma’s run as a Michelin restaurant is now at an end, there are many reasons why it doesn’t spell the end of fine dining cuisine as we know it. Noma’s announcement generated a healthy debate on how we can improve the restaurant industry as a whole and how we should defend our food systems and culture.

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Top Restaurant Hiring Tips

Modern Restaurant Management

Ask any restaurant owner for their main pain point and the likely response will be: staffing. Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine asked hiring expert Sid Upadhyay, co-founder and CEO of Wizehire for his advice on best practices for hiring and retention. What do you see as key challenges of restaurant hiring right now? What are the biggest pain points and have they changed due to the pandemic?

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New DOL Final Overtime Rules: Quickstart Guide for Employers

There’s a new overtime salary threshold that will impact employers across the country. If you have an employee making less than $43,888 on July 1 or less than $58,656 on January 1, you’re going to have to start paying overtime. Download Paycor’s guide to learn: Which groups of employees are affected? How should you classify employees? Best ways to mitigate risk.

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Expanding Your Business? Seven Tips to Improve Cash Flow to Fund a New Location

Modern Restaurant Management

Restaurant365’s State of the Industry Customer Survey shows that 60 percent of surveyed customers plan to expand their businesses in 2023 despite expected increased labor and food costs. Whether a restaurant wants to expand on its first location’s success or try a new type of venue entirely, opening a second location is a big decision. While most restaurant operators will seek outside funding to get the second location running, it still takes time for a unit to become profitable once

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What’s the difference between coffee estates and coffee co-operatives?

Perfect Daily Grind

In many coffee-producing countries around the world, there are a number of ways in which farms are operated and managed. Understandably, this has a significant impact on how coffee is processed and sold, as well as the prices that farmers receive. Two of the most widespread coffee farming models are estates and co-operatives. The former is simply a coffee farm (usually a large one) which generally processes and sells its coffee alone.

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Our Wage Models are Broken

7 Shifts

It’s no secret that with a workforce mass exodus and rising minimum wages, the restaurant industry is long overdue for an overhaul of its business structure and compensation model. This isn’t an easy conversation to have. The institution of tipping and the existence of the sub-minimum wage is heavily rooted in slavery , and has led to decades of underpaying a workforce that is majority black, brown, and female.

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How to Become a Better Restaurant Server (11 tips and secrets)

The Eat Restaurant

Being a great server at a restaurant isn't just about ensuring the guests get their orders on time, or smiling as you guide them towards their designated tables. It's also about focusing on the finer details of their customer experience , after all studies show that customers prefer a more personal interaction during their restaurant visit. The best restaurateurs realize inspiring the best from their top servers is as critical to the success of their business as having a great menu and great amb

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How to Attract Attention in the Coffee Marketplace

The Rail

By Julia Nikolaus, Contributor Coffee is an ever-expanding industry, with more and more farms, cafes, and roasteries being opened every year. As the industry grows , more consumers are brought to the marketplace as well, making visibility to potential guests paramount to any business’ success. With such a large pool of competitors and peers in the industry, it can be difficult to attract attention and stand out among the crowd.

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New DOL Final Overtime Rules: Quickstart Guide for Employers

There’s a new overtime salary threshold that will impact employers across the country. If you have an employee making less than $43,888 on July 1 or less than $58,656 on January 1, you’re going to have to start paying overtime. Download Paycor’s guide to learn: Which groups of employees are affected? How should you classify employees? Best ways to mitigate risk.

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Four Tactics Restaurant Managers Can Implement Now to Improve Employee Engagement

Modern Restaurant Management

Today, restaurants’ staggering turnover rates are 70 percent higher than all other sectors. What can restaurant owners and managers do to better engage workers and increase retention in the long run? The current state of employee retention rates can feel dire for restaurant owners, especially after the Covid pandemic. McKinsey research analysts claim that the retail and hospitality employment sector – a segment that includes restaurant employees – is up against “a more se

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MEMORIES OF WOW

Culinary Cues

When was the last time you bought a product, listened to a band, read a book, took in a view, or enjoyed a meal that gave you pause? When was the last time you stopped and said: “WOW?” How many times has an experience with service, a view, a phrase, a lyric, or a plate of food literally taken your breath away? Isn’t this what we hope for? Isn’t this what provides excitement in life and helps us to jump out of bed in the morning?

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The barista-to-roaster career step may not be as logical as it seems

Perfect Daily Grind

For many baristas, a passion for high-quality coffee and excellent customer service is what drives them to work in specialty coffee. Alongside this, many develop a number of technical skills to help them succeed in their job role – as well as in the coffee sector more widely. However, the barista career journey in the specialty coffee industry is rightly a major discussion point.

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The Next Era of American Fine Dining Is Here, Care of West Africa

EATER

Photos: Teranga, Dept of Culture, Nok by Alara | Illustration: Eater Chefs are spotlighting their culinary heritage on tasting menus, at buzzy pop-ups, and at new restaurants across the country At Dept of Culture, a soft white cheese called wara comes plated with stew — blended and cooked tomatoes, bell peppers, and onions, spiced like many Nigerians prefer it.

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Join Full Course Navigator: Your Path to Professional Growth in Restaurant Leadership

Full Course Foundation is dedicated to nurturing excellence in restaurant leadership. Our Navigator program offers a wide range of resources tailored for professional growth. From high-quality training to personalized coaching, Navigator equips restaurant leaders with the tools they need to thrive in their careers. Unlock your potential with three months FREE access to Navigator by Full Course!

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5 Maintenance Tips for Your Restaurant’s Website

Restaurant Engine

Update your content regularly to encourage repeat website visits. According to experts, nearly 80% of people will visit a restaurant’s website before dining in or taking out food. That’s a large majority of your customers. This is one of the many reasons your website is the centerpiece of your marketing efforts. Because of this, it’s basically the open door to your restaurant and your menu.

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15 Creative Instagram Post Ideas for Your Restaurant

The Eat Restaurant

A picture is worth 1,000 words, right? At least that's the main theory behind the wildly popular social media platform, Instagram. With over 800 million active monthly users on the photo-sharing app, it's obvious that this business model is working for them. The real challenge though is figuring out how to make it work for you. These days, posting pictures, sharing stories, and optimizing your Instagram feed, aren't just creative ways to use Instagram, but rather your ticket to a much broader au

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Amid Influx of New Employees, Restaurants Must Build and Reinforce Brand Excellence

Modern Restaurant Management

The recent workforce shortage brought the restaurant industry to its knees. Fewer employees have carried the burden of prepping, cooking, and serving food while working to keep guests safe. Now, massive layoffs in other sectors (including tech, real estate, etc.) will create more job seekers in the restaurant/hospitality industry. This influx of new employees means that restaurant brands will need to build (and reinforce) cultures of excellence.

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With costs and guest expectations rising, operators are forced to do more with less

Restaurant Business

Smarter sourcing, menu and labor management, coupled with tech advancements, are working to improve front- and back-of-house efficiencies and the customer experience.

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Planning Your Restaurant's Path to Profitability

Speaker: James Kahler, COO of Full Course

Ever wondered where to splurge and where to safely conserve when it comes to operating and growing your restaurant? 🤔 Join James Kahler, COO of Full Course and industry visionary, in this new webinar where he'll talk all about best practices to invest in your restaurant's success! Whether you're a new business or an established restaurant, a seasoned pro or a rookie, you'll learn the keys to sustainable success in this competitive industry.

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What’s it like to be a specialty coffee barista in the Middle East?

Perfect Daily Grind

The Middle East has one of the oldest coffee cultures in the world. In fact, traditional arabic coffee (also known as qahwa coffee ) received UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status in 2015. Alongside its historical and cultural significance, the Middle East’s coffee sector has been flourishing in recent years. According to data from Project Café Middle East 2023, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) branded coffee shop market grew by 10.5% over the last 12 months.

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‘The I Hate to Cook Book’ Fought Domestic Despair With Laughter

EATER

Fawcett/Eater Peg Bracken’s 1960 cookbook embraced the joys of convenience, mediocrity, and a well-timed shot of whiskey Once upon a time, back when Julia Child was perfecting the recipes that would become Mastering the Art of French Cooking and Betty Friedan was seething over the notes that would become The Feminine Mystique , a group of women in Portland, Oregon, known to themselves as the Hags, met regularly for martini lunches to commiserate about the trials of their lives as wives and mothe

Book 101
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Timesheet Software for Shift Based Businesses’

Bizimply

Using timesheet software enables managers to record staff hours with ease and get accurate timesheets in a click. The post Timesheet Software for Shift Based Businesses’ appeared first on Bizimply.

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My Gumbo Comeuppance

Sante

I fell in love with gumbo way back in the early 1980s when Paul Prudhomme made his groundbreaking appearance on Continue Reading

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Top 5 Ways to Optimize Your Loyalty Strategy

Speaker: Lauren Barash, Vice President, Brand Marketing

In an ever-evolving industry, building and retaining loyal customers is critical to the success of any restaurant business. Join Lauren Barash, VP of Brand Marketing at Full Course, as she delves into the world of restaurant loyalty programs, and reveals the top five essential strategies to optimize your approach! This webinar will explore: Loyalty trends and what you should be focusing on 📊 Actionable insights and ideas to help you develop the most powerful and effective loyalty program

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Flag on the Play! Four Penalties Your Bar Can Avoid During Super Bowl Weekend 

Modern Restaurant Management

Regular season game days at the bar are crowded and hectic enough, but Super Bowl weekend? That’s a whole different ballgame! According to National Retail Federation, nearly 18 million fans plan to watch the Super Bowl at their favorite bar. If you’ve got a good game plan, with some well-scripted plays… you’ll be celebrating a “penalty-free” weekend with increased profits!

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Chipotle to test a robotic makeline and new grills

Restaurant Business

The fast-casual Mexican restaurant chain reported a disappointing fourth quarter but said its "back to basics" focus is paying off with positive transactions in January.

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How is specialty coffee produced in Liberia?

Perfect Daily Grind

Liberia is a West African country which borders Sierra Leone , Guinea , and Cote d’Ivoire , as well as the Atlantic Ocean. The country is the oldest republic in Africa, and declared its independence in 1847 – which was internationally recognised in 1862. According to Index Mundi, Liberia’s coffee production peaked at 209,000 60kg bags in 1985. But in the years since, coffee production has dropped considerably for a number of complex reasons.

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Please Stop Buying Food From Social Media Influencers 

EATER

The pink sauce, as it now appears on Walmart’s website. | Walmart When we buy food off of TikTok, what are we getting, really? Everyone on TikTok and Instagram is trying to make a buck in one way or another. From the creator fund to sponsored content and upstart new businesses seeking to capitalize on a newly massive social media following, influencers are cashing in.

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2024 Restaurant Spending Trends to Stay Ahead of the Curve

How do you stay on top of what your customers are expecting when they step through your doors? Do you know what’s on their mind? How are you going to account for what they’re planning on doing months from now? As we head into 2024, price-related issues are still top-of-mind for restaurant customers after the inflation boom earlier this year. In this new report, we give you the latest insights on consumer spending trends, attitudes on tipping, and how you can respond.

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Top 20 Ideas for Your Restaurant Grand Opening

The Eat Restaurant

After months of meticulous planning and countless hours of hard work, your restaurant is finally ready to open. The quickest way to now solidify your presence in the community is by holding a restaurant grand opening event.

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Why Cali BBQ is a Digital-First Restaurant

7 Shifts

We started our restaurant in 2008, during what is now known as The Great Recession. And we transformed it into a media company during a global pandemic in 2020. To say we’ve had to learn to be resilient at Cali BBQ is an understatement. By embracing new and emerging technologies, and going all-in on smartphone storytelling, we found a way to become much more than a single-unit barbecue restaurant on the outskirts of San Diego.

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Hire and Retain Better Restaurant Workers in 2023

Modern Restaurant Management

We all know that for restaurants – reputation is everything. But in a difficult hiring environment, how do you build a great reputation without jeopardizing your bottom line? It all comes down to your staff. And in 2023, that’s the problem most hiring managers in the restaurant industry are facing. The pandemic changed how restaurant workers view the industry – and it also changed their needs.

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