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30 April 2009
Other than perhaps St. Patrick’s Day, when many bars offer their finest selection of green beer, no holiday is more closely associated with a specific drink than Cinco de Mayo is with the margarita.
Celebrated chef Todd English opening Figs at 29 Fair
If you like Mediterranean cuisine with a heavy Italian influence, you will like the menu acclaimed chef Todd English has prepared for Figs at 29 Fair. Figs is the newest on English's international restaurant scene, and it opens May 15 during the Nantucket Wine Festival weekend.
2nd quarter earning for Starbucks, drop 77%
Despite gaining some traction from cost-saving and traffic-boosting efforts and seeing a slight improvement in same-store sales, Starbucks Corp. Wednesday reported a 77-percent decline in second-quarter earnings.
29 April 2009
Bread and butter - should we be paying?
Specifically, the subject of charging for bread and butter has taken center stage, with some outraged observers likening that practice to an epicurean felony.
French restaurants feel the crunch
Paris, many of the best restaurants in France if not the world are being forced to tighten their belts and lower their prices as the recession starts eating into their profits.
28 April 2009
StepStone Hospitality Formed to Provide 3rd party Management
A group of senior hotel and restaurant officials with more than 90 combined years of operating and asset management experience today announced the formation of a new third-party management company to operate upscale boutique and branded hotels and resorts. Called StepStone Hospitality, the company is a sister organization to Hotel Asset Value Enhancement, Inc. (hotelAVE), one of the nation’s largest hotel real estate advisory firms specializing in hospitality asset management and due diligence.
Dorchester hotel’s director of food and beverage promoted to operations director
Zoe Jenkins, the director of food and beverage at the Dorchester on London’s Park Lane, has been promoted to operations director at the hotel’s management company the Dorchester Collection.
Restaurant hiring expectations on the rise
The employment picture is brightening for the restaurant industry, according to the most recent People Report Workforce Index.
Pinkberry gets $5.8M investment
LOS ANGELES (April 27, 2009) As its chief rival airs plans for aggressive growth, the 73-unit Pinkberry frozen yogurt chain reportedly has received a $5.8 million injection of venture capital funding.
Restaurateurs are strength in numbers
As restaurateurs around the country strive to lower costs, all segments of the industry are seeking to leverage buying power. Some independents are banding together in co-ops/buying groups; small, multi-concept companies are consolidating purchasing; mid-sized companies are outsourcing to purchasing groups; and large chains like Subway and DineEquity (IHOP/Applebee’s) have created their own purchasing co-ops to serve franchise and company-owned stores (with DineEquity projecting an annual savings of 3-5%). Some strategies:
27 April 2009
T.G.I. Friday's joins the bargain dining $5-meal club
T.G.I. Friday's will unveil plans to sell all salads and sandwiches for $5 all day in May.
In a time when workers are being forced out of their jobs, the three relatives and best friends said leaving their jobs was less of a risk and more of an inevitability. They'd been saving money since graduating from college and were waiting for the right place, right time, and right circumstances. Despite wiping out all their savings and using a couple of credit cards, the three proudly said they took out no loans to finance The Farm, which opened April 15 to large crowds that spilled out the door, Goldstein said.
Celebrities are here for the cricket — no fancy meals required
South Africa: IPL Cricket - simple requirements
24 April 2009
Chef and restaurateur David Burke's business sounds like a financial-crisis perfect storm. His restaurants are mainly in hard-hit areas including Manhattan's Upper East Side and Las Vegas.
Cass Calder Smith's cutting-edge restaurant design
Large-scale, destination spots are epics, with great impact and significant detail, while the smaller, neighborhood joints are the indies. Those, Cass Calder Smith explains, are more about the interesting features, woven together in a poetic fashion.
New Luxury Hotel in New York Announces New Executive Chef
Stephane Becht named Executive Chef for The Pierre, a 5-star luxury hotel on New York City's Central Park
23 April 2009
Los Angelese macrobiotic restaurants are going mainstream.
22 April 2009
Yes, You Can Start a Restaurant in a Down Economy
So you're thinking about opening a restaurant. The allure of fame and fortune seduces you, your love of food drives you, and you want to heat up your life in an exciting industry. That's all fine and well--just as long as you make sure the flame isn't turned up too high. Even in a healthy economy, the restaurant failure rate tells a grim tale, but in a recession, the industry is even more unforgiving. Expensive food spoils, labor costs are high, restaurant-goers are harder to come by, restaurants close and life goes on. Don't forget about your <a href="/index.html">Restaurant Logbook</a>. either
Restaurateur Stephen Starr sues developers
Restaurateur Stephen Starr has filed a $20 million civil lawsuit against real-estate developers in Atlantic City, N.J., alleging they had garnered an agreement for the operator to open two of his restaurants at the Pier at Caesar’s under false pretenses.
21 April 2009
The world of food is frantic, fast-paced and quickly growing. As the presence of the culinary industry becomes more prominent and the Food Network attracts millions of “foodies” all over the world, many chefs and cooks are achieving celebrity status, like Emeril Lagasse, Paula Deen, and Bobby Flay.
Hip design and a menu by a Michelin-star chef are hallmark's of Melbourne's newest hotel, writes Kay O'Sullivan.
Attendees sometimes are given room credits to pay for activities like golf or spa as well, Nowak adds. However, in Vegas, with its density of hotels, casinos, and restaurants all in one central area, room credits with just one hotelier may not work.
Every action you take in buying foods and beverages has an ecological footprint. There is a CO2 footprint associated with every item you buy. From the transportation of the food item to the fossil fuels spent in the farming, ranching or processing of the ingredients, it all adds up to an "ecological footprint" that's invisible but very real. How big, exactly, is this ecological footprint? Astonishingly, the eco-footprint of your food is larger than the eco-footprint of the car you drive!
Domino’s Pizza introduced on Monday a new pasta line, joining rival Pizza Hut in the competition to expand menu offerings, and sales, through noodles.
McDonald’s HQ gets green certification
Fast-food giant McDonald’s Corp. is now a green giant. The parent company to the 31,000-unit hamburger chain said Monday it has been recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council for its energy saving and environmentally friendly practices at its headquarters in this Chicago suburb.
Ramsay Plummets From World’s 50 Best Restaurants; El Bulli Wins
El Bulli, Ferran Adria’s experimental restaurant north of Barcelona, topped the S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants and Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck came second for the fourth year in a row. Noma, chef Rene Redzepi’s venue in Copenhagen, jumped to third from 10th and also took the Chefs’ Choice award.
20 April 2009
Eyeing diners, restaurants take to Twitter
Twitter, a free social networking site, is a vital ingredient in Kogi's success. As Kogi's example shows, the service that started as a way for people to follow the 140-character "tweets" of friends and celebrities is quickly becoming a powerful new way for businesses to talk directly with customers.
PETA asks Newark mayor for ban on fast food
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter last week to Newark Mayor Cory Booker asking him to ban the construction of new fast-food restaurants in his city.
I recently spent a week in New York City, during which I ate no bad meals. Nor did I dine at outrageous expense. My wife was with me, and we had no checks much above $100 for the two of us, and many several dollars beneath that. Even in the plushest of times, I consider all restaurant meals $250 and above immoral, and will agree to be taken to them only by people I actively dislike.
16 April 2009
Tips are part of the food bill
BANGALORE: Wonder why your dinner bills are steeper than usual? Have a closer look at your bill and you may find a ‘SC’ on it, which typically adds another 10% to your food and beverage bill.
This restaurant serves food on the rocks, literally!
Chennai: If you think hot food comes out of a five-star hotel kitchens and only drinks are served "on the rocks", it is time for a re-think. Now, you can get 8x8 inch square volcanic stone slabs heated up to 400 degree centigrades right on your table so that you can cook your favourite dish and have it piping hot!
http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/food/1527018,CST-NWS-restaurants15.article
T.G.I. Friday's will give customers $5 gift cards today for food and beverage purchases of $15 to $25 and $10 cards for those who spend over $25.
Hotel works go for gold at the Hospitality Games
The 2010 and 2016 Olympics might be far off, but Chicago got a taste Tuesday with the seventh annual Hospitality Games, where employees from hotels in and around the city battled for local bragging rights in the Hilton Chicago downtown.
Canadian MTY Food Group to buy Country Style
SAINT-LAURENT, Quebec (April 15, 2009) Multibrand Canadian quick-service franchisor MTY Food Group Inc. said Monday it had a binding agreement to acquire Country Style Food Services Holdings Inc., the Ontario region’s second-largest bakery-cafe chain.
http://www.oregonlive.com/dining/index.ssf/2009/04/swanky_chefs_go_simple.html
Goodbye, white tablecloths. Hello, sandwich trays. Farewell, swanky atmosphere, reservation headaches and the high anxiety of customers expecting a Culinary Miracle.
15 April 2009
BK to revise Texican ads after outcry
Burger King Corp. said Tuesday that it was revising ads for its Texican Whopper in Spain and the United Kingdom after Mexico’s ambassador to Spain objected to what he called a “stereotyped image.”
Red Mango offers franchise buy-back assurance
Red Mango, the 45-unit frozen yogurt chain, has unveiled a program in which it will buy back a store for up to $275,000 if a franchisee is dissatisfied within six months of opening.
Sex sells for fast food restaurants.
When I watch the Carl's Jr. commercial featuring "Top Chef" host and mega-model Padma Lakshmi make hot sweet love to a Western Bacon Cheeseburger, I have many thoughts, some of which, I confess, are not entirely to my credit.
14 April 2009
50 Best New U.S. Restaurants 2009
From Atlanta to Seattle, T+L offers a definitive guide to the country’s top dining experiences—big and small.
Danny Meyer to open new Italian eatery in NYC
NEW YORK (April 13, 2009) Union Square Hospitality Group said Monday it had been selected to create a new restaurant for Ian Schrager’s Gramercy Park Hotel in lower Manhattan, as well as run all of the hotel’s food and beverage operations, including room service, banquets and private events.
SpongeBob and Square Butts: Yet Another Controversial Burger King Ad
Burger King has done it again. Angry parents and the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood are protesting a new ad featuring SpongeBob SquarePants and the Burger King icon dancing to a new version of one hit wonder Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back.”
10 April 2009
Restaurants may see diners spending more
According to new data from Atlanta-based RBC Capital Markets, fewer consumers plan to cut back on restaurant spending in the next three months and a larger number of consumers than in previous months actually plan to spend more at restaurants.
Bringing Your Own to Fine-Dining Places
The opportunity to bring our own wine to a fine restaurant is a treat., and more restaurants are open to this concept.
09 April 2009
Hyatt CEO says outlook for hotel industry murky
As consumer spending withers and corporations cut business travel, the economic outlook for the hotel industry is murky at best, said the chief executive of Global Hyatt Corp in an interview on Thursday.
As the McDonald’s presence gradually disappears at Disney theme parks, there has been speculation that it was the result of Disney wanting to emphasize healthier eating and was concerned about McDonald’s being tied so closely to childhood obesity. Actually, the reason for the changes is much more related to dollars and cents.
Toronto encourages food business to grow
Every three months or so, 50 to 60 people who believe they have the next big food product, show up at a seminar aptly titled How to Start a Food Business given by Michael Wolfson, food and beverage sector specialist, City of Toronto Economic Development
Food And Beverage Sales Tax Goes Into Effect In Mankato
The city of Mankato starts something today it has never done before.A food, beverage and entertainment tax goes into affect to fund the Alltel Center.News 12's Bryan Piatt has the reaction from people in the community.
Ruby Tuesday Inc. has been the poster child for all the woes of casual dining for the past two years. That may have come to a halt this week.
Denny's adds value items to late-night menu
Denny's is trying to give young diners more incentive to burn the midnight oil at its restaurants by adding more value options to its late-night menu.
Red Mango revs up franchising efforts
The Red Mango frozen yogurt chain’s recently hired head of franchising outlined Wednesday an aggressive growth plan that includes the opening of 550 locations over the next five years, with the Dallas area and New York city as prime initial targets
The Customer Doesn't Know Best; You Do
Resist the Pressure to Discount and Move Product at the Expense of Profit
08 April 2009
Some businesses make layoffs the last option
Even as the recession cuts deeply into their revenue, some companies are opting to do the unconventional: They're keeping all their employees and finding other ways to trim costs. Their strategy isn't about mercy. It's built on the notion that layoffs bring high costs and hassles of their own.
07 April 2009
India: Staying in hotels has become a tad cheaper
Room rates or tariffs have fallen by 12% globally in the fourth quarter in 2008 compared with the same period last year, according to a report. The Mumbai terror attacks weighed heavily on hotels apart from the global recession. But it is not all gloomy because it would seem to be the best time for the traveller.
Chili's teams up with fitness chain
Chili’s Grill &Bar said it is partnering with Curves fitness centers, offering an online contest and coupons for Curves members to try its Guiltless Grill menu items.
Hungry for customers, restaurateurs dangle deals
Restaurant diners, spooked by the recession, have never been more tight-fisted.
06 April 2009
Food &Beverage People on the Move – March 2009
South Seas Island Resort in Captiva Island, Florida, names James Beard award-winning Chef Louis Osteen resort chef, responsible for the culinary programs and development of new dining concepts for the property. Osteen joins the resort from Las Vegas, where he opened two restaurants, Louis’ Las Vegas and Louis Fish Camp Las Vegas.
Greektown Casino-Hotel Recommits to Local Neighborhood Restaurants
Greektown Casino-Hotel officials announced today that the property will keep in place its commitment to the unique community partnership program that allows Greektown Casino customers to redeem their earned comps at surrounding neighborhood restaurants. Since the opening of the casino, customers who earn comps based on their play have been able to spend those comps at a variety of local restaurants in the Greektown neighborhood. This benefit is the only one of its kind in the Detroit casino market and has earned high praise from Greektown customers.
Panda Express updates look in new prototype
Panda Express has debuted a new prototype design that will feature digital menu boards, a more upscale atmosphere and a small retail section selling bottled sauces, snacks and other branded products.
Utah restaurant sued for firing pregnant worker
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a discrimination lawsuit Thursday against a Japanese restaurant for allegedly firing a new employee after learning she was pregnant.
Empty Tables Threaten Some Restaurant Chains
During a decade of easy credit and loose spending, American businesses built too many cars, houses, stores and factories. It turns out the country built too many restaurants, too.
On the menu: healthful ideas for restaurants
As a nutritionist who cares deeply about the effects of food on health, I am often asked to speak to groups of owners of restaurants and restaurant chains. I accept such invitations whenever I can because I have an agenda for restaurant owners. I want them to make it much easier for customers to make healthier food choices.
03 April 2009
Outback: Canadian closures market specific
Outback Steakhouse’s closure last week of all nine corporate Ontario, Canada, restaurants was a market-specific move with no direct implication for other regions, officials of the 970-unit casual-dining chain said.
Beverly Hills goes for broke with a month of promotional dining offers
The recession is hitting in places high and low. Last month, The Times reported that even Beverly Hills isn't immune to the market fall-out and that city officials were projecting a $24-million drop in tax revenues over the next 16 months (a sum that equals about 15 % of the general fund budget).
Racial Bias Seen in Hiring of Waiters
Expensive restaurants in New York discriminate based on race when hiring waiters, a new study has concluded. The study was based on experiments in which pairs of applicants with similar résumés were sent to ask about jobs. The pairs were matched for gender and appearance, said Marc Bendick Jr., the economist who conducted the study. The only difference was race, he said.