Culinary Cues

AUGUST 9, 2021

The answer is obvious – if those involved directly or indirectly with your team feel the magic of your operation, feel it in the same way that the guest does, then they will perform better, look forward to their work, engage better with others on the team, and feel part of something special.

Front of House 473

Front of House Customer Experience Workshop Dine-in 473

Culinary Cues

APRIL 18, 2023

Covid pulled the drapes back to reveal OZ as just an average guy trying to hide his inadequacies with smoke and mirrors. Plan, equip, train, evaluate, educate, and celebrate each and every employee. Everything is different since the pandemic, yet so many things are no different than they were 5 0 years ago.

Food Truck 322

Food Truck Back of House Education Training 322

Culinary Cues

JULY 16, 2022

I want people to say this about me some day: “He always worked hard, strove for excellence, expected nothing less of others, was willing to give back, and treated those with whom he associated, with kindness.” Dick Cattani was a monumental figure in the business of food hospitality.

Front of House 370

Front of House Back of House Education Leadership 370

Culinary Cues

DECEMBER 28, 2021

There is something very special about working in a professional kitchen, something that is hard to explain unless you are there. From the moment you walk through that back entrance you are captivated by the dynamics of the environment, the structure of the operation, and the sensation of being enveloped by its alluring magic.

Kitchen Safety 427

Kitchen Safety Front of House Fine Dining Seasonal Menu 427

Culinary Cues

AUGUST 21, 2023

Culinary School Bonanza – Becoming a Chef is Cool: Not too long ago – cooks learned their trade and aspired to become a chef through in-house apprenticeship and the school of hard knocks. PART TWO: The Era of the Chef: Ah, now things really changed. The once restaurateur-centric restaurant was about to become chef-centric.

Back of House 393

Back of House Food Supply Government Dine-in 393

Culinary Cues

MAY 27, 2023

Dedicate the effort to make it special, make the time to allow everyone to sit down TOGETHER and break bread, talk, relax, and laugh together (front and back of the house). We need to embrace the good and understand the bad and the ugly. But we need to be cognizant of a primary reason for “being connected”.

Technology 351

Technology Front of House Social Media Back of House 351

Touch Bistro

MAY 26, 2021

Dad is king for a day, which means millions of families will be on the hunt for Father’s Day restaurant specials to mark the special occasion. Plan the right Father’s Day restaurant specials and your venue could become the spot for not only Father’s Day feasts, but also repeat business on many other days throughout the year.

Specials 97

Specials 2021 Seasonal Menu Outdoor 97

7 Shifts

AUGUST 16, 2021

But it's the good shifts, when the front of house and back of house are flowing like a symphony, when customers are delighted, and the restaurant atmosphere feels effortless—that's the best part about restaurants. The way to run great shifts is to get out ahead and schedule pre-shift meetings. What is a pre-shift meeting.

Front of House 397

Front of House Back of House Coaching Customer Service 397

7 Shifts

JANUARY 31, 2024

It's up to the restaurant manager to maintain a warm, welcoming atmosphere and train staff to do the same. Managing a restaurant is a delicate routine—if we can even call it a routine. A better description might be a balancing act that presents new and unique challenges every day. This part of the job is arguably the most multi-faceted.

Management 397

Management Management Kitchen Safety Front of House 397

ChowNow

OCTOBER 19, 2023

This program provides ChowNow’s clients with special access and exclusive discounts to unique product integrations and services, from front- to back-of-house, and everywhere in between. Plus, be sure to check back often as our Preferred Partner Program is growing quickly.

Front of House 78

Front of House Back of House Online Ordering Certification 78

Touch Bistro

JULY 26, 2021

We’re sharing ideas for Labor Day restaurant specials that will help you maximize profits and make your restaurant a Labor Day destination for years to come. In this article you’ll learn: How Labor Day can impact your restaurant How to plan Labor Day promotions 14 Labor Day restaurant specials to try this September.

Specials 99

Specials 2021 Seasonal Menu Email Marketing 99

ChowNow

OCTOBER 18, 2023

This program provides ChowNow’s clients with special access and exclusive discounts to unique product integrations and services, from front- to back-of-house, and everywhere in between. Plus, be sure to check back often as our Preferred Partner Program is growing quickly.

Front of House 78

Front of House Back of House Online Ordering Certification 78

Culinary Cues

DECEMBER 3, 2022

I can feel the knot in that muscle move slowly from the top of my ankle to the back of my knee. By 7am I am walking through the back door of the kitchen. I polish off breakfast in record time, kick back another coffee, tie on an apron, and walk through the kitchen with clipboard in hand. I nod and give him a thumbs up.

Back of House 340

Back of House Hotels Front of House Book 340

Modern Restaurant Management

NOVEMBER 29, 2022

Or employees haven’t been properly (and regularly) trained. It might be a simple miscommunication, where the person taking the order misheard the customer’s special request. To increase order accuracy, your restaurant should: Prioritize training. Even when things are hectic, training must remain a priority.

Ordering 212

Ordering Employee Relations Online Ordering Customer Service 212

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 24, 2023

Huse Culinary’s VP of Culture and Learning Leanna Chroman came to the realization that in order to keep pace with new restaurant training processes she needed to go on a bit of a journey. Elmo Steak House, Harry & Izzy’s, HC Tavern + Kitchen and 1933 Lounge, Chroman was in placed in charge of training.

Education 156

Education Back of House Training Leadership 156

Open for Business

NOVEMBER 21, 2022

Once upon a time, most restaurants operated on a patchwork of paper systems involving notebooks and back-of-the-napkin calculations, not to mention information owners and managers kept in their heads, hunches, and habits. Streamline the front of house. Run a smooth back of house. Streamline the front of house.

Technology 147

Technology Front of House Back of House Online Ordering 147

Culinary Cues

JANUARY 15, 2024

She stares me down and proclaims: “You’ve entered the neutral zone chef – step back before I throw a flag.” She stares me down and proclaims: “You’ve entered the neutral zone chef – step back before I throw a flag.” It’s January in the Northeast – a time when the demands of the kitchen and the excitement of football converge.

Front of House 249

Front of House Food Order Back of House Café 249

Culinary Cues

JULY 31, 2023

A few years back, I posted an article about the UNWRITTEN RULES of the kitchen. It was an attempt to outline those universal guidelines for success in a kitchen, those attributes, and expectations of anyone who ties on an apron. My hope is that these are worthy enough of a space on your kitchen bulletin board or the chef’s office door.

Kitchen Safety 327

Kitchen Safety Back of House Front of House Food Safety 327

Culinary Cues

APRIL 6, 2020

Dating back to Medieval times when cooking was reserved for nobility and later during the Renaissance when merchant travelers relied on local taverns for respite and a chance to break bread – restaurants and restaurant life has always been present. It is this understanding that will bring the industry back.

Travel 442

Travel Back of House Customer Service Small Business 442

7 Shifts

JULY 16, 2020

Now that guests are coming back into your restaurant, it means there are more tables to clean, more guests to attend to, and more side work to complete. Tasks done for special circumstances , like event set-up/breakdown. Tasks done for special circumstances , like event set-up/breakdown.

Communication 284

Communication Management Management Front of House 284

Next Restaurants

MAY 8, 2024

Spotlight Your Star Dishes Your star dishes are the menu items that have earned a special place in your customers’ hearts (and stomachs). Consider featuring them prominently at the top of each menu section or even in a dedicated “Chef’s Recommendations” or “House Specialties” section.

Loyalty Program 106

Loyalty Program Social Media Point of Sale Online Ordering 106

7 Shifts

DECEMBER 8, 2020

The benefits of employee contests can impact all areas of your business and employee lifecycle—from sales to engagement to training. When it comes to email, e very $1 you spend can mean $38 back to your business —that’s a 3800% ROI. Engaged employees are also less likely to turnover. for some of their favorites.

Front of House 370

Front of House Social Media Employee Relations Back of House 370

7 Shifts

APRIL 21, 2023

At Jack in the Box, Bhushan focused on giving staff special responsibilities, such as overseeing the storeroom. What comes to mind when you think of success in the restaurant industry? A colorful TV personality or a renowned cookbook author? Not every restaurant worker wants to be a celebrity chef. That was 20 years ago.

Leadership 195

Leadership Training Front of House Customer Experience 195

7 Shifts

FEBRUARY 26, 2021

Yet it's better for your bottom line when you don't have to kick a percentage back to a vendor. Send customers special offers, communicate directly, and keep them up to date. If you weren’t thinking that much about online ordering before, you definitely are now. What are the benefits of self-operated delivery for restaurants?

Online Ordering 341

Online Ordering Ordering Customer Service Food Order 341

Modern Restaurant Management

SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

However, trained chefs don’t need to worry about losing their jobs to a restaurant AI yet, but we cannot dismiss this scenario entirely either. You are sitting in your favorite restaurant and have placed an order on a tablet at your table. After a few seconds of placing the order, a notification appears on your messaging app.

Front of House 191

Front of House Mobile Ordering Loyalty Program Back of House 191

Culinary Cues

JANUARY 23, 2021

In the restaurant business there are really only two ways to view profit: a very small amount of profit balanced by very significant volume, or a significant amount of profit on far less volume. How you approach the design of your restaurant in this regard will determine nearly everything else. So what is contribution margin? SP = $43.33.

Point of Sale 450

Point of Sale Front of House Back of House Fine Dining 450

Culinary Cues

JULY 12, 2020

They say we’re back. The kitchen lights are back on, deliveries arrive, the battery of ranges is fired up, and cooks (some of us) are welcomed back. Sure, there are temperature checks at the back door, masks donned upon arrival, and deep hand cleaning constantly throughout the day, but in reality no one knows if this is enough.

Front of House 407

Front of House Back of House Dine-in Food Truck 407

The Restaurant Times

AUGUST 27, 2021

In early careers as a chef, Christian trained under Michelin-accredited restaurants in Europe, ultimately earning honors as Marriott’s 2000 “Chef of the Year” at JW Marriott Hong Kong. He specializes in the creative design and concept development of restaurants, bars, and public spaces for hotel products of the future.

Design 52

Design Specials Front of House Back of House 52

7 Shifts

MAY 15, 2023

When the pandemic forced restaurant shutdowns, Huang turned his uncle's Fresh Meadows restaurant, Peking House, into a fried chicken popup, also called Pecking House, albeit with a spelling variation. He joined us on the Pre-Shift Podcast to tell us about his new restaurant, paying fair wages, and how he feels about tipping.

Fine Dining 195

Fine Dining Back of House Front of House Dine-in 195

Culinary Cues

JULY 9, 2022

Holding the French knife in my hand I subconsciously recognized each part of this special tool. I run my fingers down the spine, or the blunt back of the blade. It’s the start of another day in the kitchen. Having held the position of chef for nearly 20 years, this routine was very familiar and always enjoyed.

Front of House 370

Front of House Back of House Presentation Café 370

The Restaurant Times

MARCH 8, 2023

International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate the achievements of women and to raise awareness about gender inequality. Every year on March 8th, people around the world recognize the progress made by women in different fields and acknowledge the challenges that still lie ahead.

Specials 52

Specials 2012 Food Truck Back of House 52

Culinary Cues

MAY 8, 2022

Millie was working the line with a helper – burgers, fries, grilled cheese, BLT’s, Club sandwiches, a few salads, Western egg sandwiches, sliced roast beef on white bread with globs of gravy, and a few dozen other items including her specials of the day. Dishes were backed up as servers barked out orders: “We need silverware.

Back of House 366

Back of House Take-out Café Government 366

7 Shifts

MAY 27, 2021

Restaurant schedules shuffle all the time. While some managers dread the thought of a seasonal, monthly, or weekly schedule adjustment, others rely on it. This practice of planned changes to employee schedules is known as rotating scheduling – and about 5% of hospitality employees work this way. Table of Contents. What is a Rotating Schedule?

Front of House 370

Front of House Employee Relations Back of House Take-out 370

7 Shifts

JANUARY 31, 2024

It's up to the restaurant manager to maintain a warm, welcoming atmosphere and train staff to do the same. Managing a restaurant is a delicate routine—if we can even call it a routine. A better description might be a balancing act that presents new and unique challenges every day. This part of the job is arguably the most multi-faceted.

Management 195

Management Management Kitchen Safety Front of House 195

Culinary Cues

SEPTEMBER 4, 2020

The fact is, we can’t go back, but we can look forward. There is always a level of comfort in reflection, even if there is “no turning back”. There is a bit of fear regarding what might be faced when stepping through that back kitchen door, yet at the same time there is always a twinge of excitement about the same.

2020 305

2020 Back of House Front of House Food Order 305

Culinary Cues

FEBRUARY 6, 2022

It was a job and a paycheck, a signal that I wanted to take on some responsibility, and the beginning of a six-decade work ethic, but there were no pats on the back for a choice of careers. We have all heard it before; it is perpetuated in the media, by our politicians, guidance counselors, professors, our peers, and sometimes even parents.

Back of House 424

Back of House Reference Presentation Mobile Ordering 424

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 1, 2021

Front-of-House. This piece in your technology stack should give your customers accurate wait times based on the tables already seated and allow them to make reservations so they can plan around current capacity limits or patronize your restaurant for special occasions. Let’s come back to Henry. Contactless Technology.

Technology 191

Technology Front of House Back of House Point of Sale 191