Latest News on Virtual Restaurant Consulting and Industry Trends

When it gets cold outside, people start looking for warm comfort foods to ward off the chill. Now is the time to update your restaurant menu with some traditional favorites along with seasonal surprises to keep your customers coming back to warm up this winter.SoupsEveryone loves a warm savory soup this time of year including potato leek, seafood chowder, and roasted tomato to name a few. Offer soup by the cup or the bowl, as an appetizer, or meal, and, don't forget fresh baked cheddar chive biscuits on the side. Offer chili with cornbread too.Comfort FoodsIf you are open for ... Read More

In the colder climates, not only will the mailman deliver in the rain, sleet, and snow, so should the food truck. Winter can be difficult. People don't want to come out and stand in line at the truck. But, there are ways to lure them out and additional methods to increase your food truck income. Taking Advantage of Your Mobility Your regulars probably still want to see you, and so do others, who without a food truck, may have to travel even further for their meal. Sure, people can bring lunch from home, but honestly, who wants to stay in ... Read More

“Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish.” – Sam WaltonQualities of an Effective LeaderTo build an effective team, you need an effective leader. Anyone can perform managerial or supervisory duties, but not everyone has leadership qualities. An ineffective leader can make or break any work culture and ultimately ruin a business, while an effective leader can build a strong team that can turn a failing business around and transform a fledgling business into a force to be reckoned with. There are several ... Read More

The fight for increased minimum wage has been raging across the country for quite a while, and doesn’t appear to be stopping any time soon. Led by fast food workers demanding $15 per hour as a minimum wage, the fight focuses on the rising cost of living across the country. Supporters of increasing the minimum wage argue that it can stimulate the economy, decrease taxpayer dependence on government assistance programs, and reduce income inequality. However, opponents of increasing the minimum wage say that it eliminates jobs and hurts small businesses.Although food and beverage businesses are strongly affected by higher minimum ... Read More

The restaurant industry is comprised of mostly millennial workers. In fact, about 50% of all restaurant industry employees fall into the ‘millennial’ category. When it comes to retaining your employees and keeping your workers happy, this is important to keep in mind when developing employee retention plans and initiatives. Millennials are a lot different than older generations. They value and desire different things in their lives, which is why it’s important to understand the behaviors and needs of that generation.How to Adapt to the Millennial WorkforceMillennials expect to be fired or let go regularly, so they want work that is ... Read More

Fall is here, and it’s time to break out the comfy sweaters, leather boots, and colorful scarves. It’s also a great time to add a little variety to your cocktail menu, and we’ve got some great ideas for you to try, inspired by both the cool fall weather and Halloween.For a spooky, ghoulishly inspired cocktail, try this fun recipe for a “frightfully fruity” drink from Bread, Booze, Bacon:Beetlejuice CocktailIngredients:1 ounce vodka1/2 ounce melon liqueur, (like Midori)1/2 ounce raspberry liqueur, (like Chambord)1/2 ounce blue curacao2 ounces sweet and sour1 1/2 ounces cranberry juiceIceInstructions:Fill a double old-fashioned glass with ice. Add the ... Read More

It has been our observation that in many segments of the restaurant industry today, performance management skills and discipline has seemingly disappeared. We at Gilkey Restaurant Consulting believe performance management is critical to the success of any food and beverage business. Your people are your greatest asset and investing in their ability to manage results and lead a team is good for their development and your business. We have found implementation of performance management skills ensures high quality and consistency.What is it & why is it important?Simply put, performance management is a process of activities that present the greatest likelihood ... Read More

In addition to providing consulting services to multiple clients, the Gilkey restaurant consultants are pleased to announce that we've opened 5 new restaurant concepts in 2019! Crockett’s Public House in Maple Valley, Washington, is the second Crockett’s the Gilkey Restaurant Consulting Group opened since we began our journey with Crockett’s owner in 2011. While continuing to provide operations support since the first Crockett’s opening and realizing their immense success the team signed a lease for number two. As with the first restaurant, the Gilkey Restaurant Consulting Group assumed the role of project manager leading brand development, design development, menu creation ... Read More

When customers know that green is your theme, most will gladly cooperate with the measures you are taking to create less waste. Here are some of our favorite "green" ideas for restaurants:Grow your own herbs and vegetables. This can be as large as your land and time permits or as small as an herb garden in a window. Customers enjoy seeing the chef's garden, and there is no better way of ensuring they are served fresh food than growing your own. Source foods locally and put that on the menu. Diners appreciate the nutritional value, better taste, and freshness of ... Read More