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YOU THINK YOU KNOW HOW TO BE A CHEF

Culinary Cues

Have you experienced the flavors and presentations of the items that may grace your menu? Do you understand the seasonality of ingredients and how to adjust for less than stellar quality or substitute ingredients that will bring you close to the same result in a recipe? Is this the extent of your knowledge of menu planning?

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CHEFS – ARE YOU READY FOR WINTER

Culinary Cues

More than anything else, when I was in restaurant kitchens I looked forward to planning and testing the next set of menu changes. A stale menu is not cost effective, ignorant of quality issues with ingredients, uninspiring for employees, and just plain boring. Winter is, by far my favorite season to plan menus.

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CHEFS – MENUS FOR 2021 AND BEYOND

Culinary Cues

The quick fix may just be a dramatic change in how we plan and present our menus. CHANGE #1: The days of the fixed menu for restaurants should come to a halt. Without a clear understanding of where ingredient costs are going tomorrow and next month restaurants cannot afford to be shackled to a menu that is out of control.

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CHEFS – WHAT DOES YOUR MENU REPRESENT?

Culinary Cues

Consider this – the menu is the most important component of a successful restaurant and once designed it can, and should, impact every other aspect of the business. YES – the menu is that important! The menu comes first and should reflect the philosophy of the owners and chef and how the operators expect to be perceived by the public.

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Designing a Next-Gen Teaching Facility

Modern Restaurant Management

Art featured throughout the facility pays homage to the University and the fresh ingredients used daily in the 1856 kitchen – four kaleidoscope art pieces for each season of the year. We also prepared a formal Schematic Design presentation for approval. This also provides a seasonal menu for the restaurant guests.

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THE KITCHEN MAGIC OF CHEF PHIL LEARNED

Culinary Cues

The menu changed every night within a cycle with a full array of appetizer, salad, entrée and dessert choices for an audience that was likely staying at the hotel for a week or more at a time (many of the patrons were second or third generation Balsam’s guests) since a stay at the “Notch” was a family right of passage.

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THE KITCHEN IS THE GREAT EQUALIZER

Culinary Cues

I have seen pride in the eyes of a line cook who finished plating a beautiful menu item as it was presented in the pass, and the look of appreciation when the team of dishwashers was offered a special employee meal – a meal that said: “We couldn’t do it without you.” Celebration is common in the kitchen.