#holiday foods

Fancy Food: What Every Restaurant Business Needs for Success

In general, restaurant owners are very capable people who possess an abundance of optimism, creativity, motivation, and dedication. They are not afraid of long hours and hard work to achieve success. However, many new restaurant owners discover that even the best restaurant presents challenges when striving to become a truly great business. Opening the eatery is the easy part. Developing long-term success with a loyal customer base takes additional skills. Here are ten proven tips to keep your restaurant on track to success.

 

Know Your Consumers

It is important to tailor your menu and service towards the customers living within your zone. Are the neighborhoods filled with young families, or retirement communities? Is there an industrial park nearby? Answering these questions will help you develop a menu. If the customer base is primarily business people, then a strong lunch menu, and early happy hour appetizer selection makes sense.

 

Frequent the Competition

Be aware of the menus and service levels at your competitor’s restaurants. Typically, restaurants will share some of their customers since diners enjoy a little change. However, if your customer count is falling, eat at a thriving competitor and do a thorough comparison to your own restaurant.

 

Ensure Quality Service with Every Meal

Hold weekly staff meetings to address their challenges and encourage prompt, courteous service. Be open to suggestions on running a more efficient kitchen, or eliminating unpopular items from the menu. This will support the wait staff in providing a great meal in a happy, positive environment.

 

Serve Excellent Food

This sounds obvious. However, many restaurant owners fail to reassess the food quality on a regular basis. In addition, make an objective evaluation of the freshness and appearance. Compare your own food to your top competition as well.

 

Cut Costs Through Better Controls

Many costs can be cut by regularly meeting with vendors to negotiate pricing. Stay current on prices by contacting the competing food suppliers and asking for quotes. In addition, evaluate costs such as employee perks. Frequently free meals cost more than they return in better morale. A discount may work just as well.

 

Market Your Business With Specials

A special menu for slow nights can help bring in new business. In addition, coupon deals work well for bringing in a potential new customer, who would not have tried your restaurant otherwise. Make sure the specials change frequently and can offer something unique from the other food you serve.

 

Establish a Catering Business

If your restaurant is near a business district, pick up additional revenue by establishing a catering venture for business luncheons. This can build up your business and help you to make more use of your food.

 

Advertise

Low cost methods of advertising include setting up a chalkboard menu outside the door, or using window signage to promote daily specials. If local zoning allows it, put tables and chairs out for sidewalk dining. Take a restaurant management course to hone leadership and communication skills as well so you know what’s going on in the community and competition.

 

Make Use of Technology to Improve Processes

Many restaurant owners will improve efficiency by utilizing solutions such as facilities management software for managing janitorial services. This will improve cleanliness standards, and will help when cutting costs. The owner can then focus on expanding a small enterprise into a thriving chain.

 

If you rely on proven methods for running a successful food service enterprise, your dedication and hard work will pay off. While the effort and time invested may be significant upfront, you will establish a strong position from which to grow a successful restaurant business.

Six Desserts You Absolutely Have to Try This Holiday Season

The holiday season is the perfect time to sample delicious desserts full of fruits, candies and festive colors. Whether you enjoy cake or pies, rolls or cookies, you are sure to discover something that satisfies your sweet tooth.

Fruit Pies

No matter what the occasion, a pie with fruit is a winner. You can use a simple pie crust and add your favorite kind of fruit such as cherry, blueberry or peach. If you want to stick with the holiday theme, then make your own pie crust, but dye it green. Incorporate the holiday season by using plums for a sugarplum theme. You can also use a variety of fruits and nuts to make a fruit cake pie. The fruits should be dried instead of canned.

Candy Cane Cake

The aroma of candy canes baking is something that is sure to bring everyone together. This is something easy to make. All you have to do is prepare a basic cake mix and crush candy canes into small pieces. Add the pieces in the cake batter, and bake the cake until it is done. A festive idea is to ice the cake with red frosting and sprinkle candy cane pieces on top. An original buttercream fondant can be used on the outer layer of the cake if you don’t want to use traditional icing. The fondant makes it easier to add decorations to the outside of the cake because it is thicker.

Eggnog Cheesecake

Combine a creamy cheesecake with the holiday tradition of eggnog in one recipe. This is a great way to add the popular drink to your holiday menu without it having any alcohol. For the best consistency, use a cream cheese that is of a high quality. You can also add a small amount of whipping cream to make the cake creamier. Add about a cup of eggnog to the cheesecake batter before pouring it into a graham cracker crust. Drizzle caramel on top of the cake for a savory treat that can be enjoyed on those cold winter nights.

Rudolph Noses

Keep the tradition of Rudolph in your family with your children or grandchildren by making these adorable cookies. Start with a chocolate macaroon or a chocolate cookie. Press the center of the cookie down so that it makes a bowl. After the cookies are baked, place a cherry in the center where you made the bowl to create a Rudolph nose. This is a good treat for children to leave out for Santa.

Mint Chocolate Pie

Almost everyone likes chocolate, so why not make a pie with the sweet candy. You can get white, milk or dark chocolate. When the filling for the pie is made, you can add some mint flavored chocolate chips. While the pie is baking, the mints will melt, blending in with the filling. If you use a white chocolate pie filling, add red chocolate chips to create a candy cane appearance in the pie after it bakes in the oven for a few minutes.

Baklava

If you have an intense sweet tooth, then this is the dessert you need to try. It is made with filo dough, nuts and honey. All of this is layered and baked together, and when it comes out, it has a rich sweetness that you won’t find with any other dessert.

 

The holidays are a time to forget all of your worries and leave your cares behind with desserts. There are numerous desserts to make, but some of them are a little better than others. Try to involve your children in making the dessert, and be sure to make enough for the entire family.