Latest News on Virtual Restaurant Consulting and Industry Trends

If you’re no longer buying individual items at the grocery store to make up for your weeks’ worth of lunches (and instead choosing a handful of ‘grab-and-go’ pre-packaged lunches), you’re not alone. In fact, many big time manufacturers have jumped on board, selling sandwiches, salads and wraps –and this trend doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, anytime soon. What can full service restaurants learn from their emerging trend? This article will cover it all.Convenient Food, Escalating ProfitWhether you’re looking for a healthy lunch option for yourself, or for your four children and husband, grocery store chains on acting on a ... Read More

A decade ago, restaurant coinsurers and casual diners alike were referring to Yelp, the digital one stop place for food lovers everywhere to read reviews, and learn about any restaurant they wanted that peaks their interest. But now, times have changed—and with modern times, come the modern ‘review’ – in pictures. Here, we’ll examine the benefits of Instagram, and if it’s in fact, taken over Yelp’ strong media presence.Click, Eat and TweetWe live in a world of instant gratification—which means that foodies (and the rest of the world that simply cares about eating) needs to see what they’re going to ... Read More

Chili’s Grill and Bar does it. Applebee’s customers rave about it, and Uno Chicago Grill restaurants depend on it. Why? Because the benefits of having tabletop tablets—so customers can order food, play games and win contests—are proving to be too many to count. Here’s some of the many reasons that the popularity of digital ordering at the table has been such a hit.It’s an Overall Profit BoosterZiosk, a Dallas based technological company has been making tablets to fit on the tabletops of large chain restaurants such as Chili’s, Applebee’s and others for several years now—and for these restaurants, it’s continued ... Read More

While the culinary world may be male dominated, female chefs, CEO’s and restaurant owners are quickly showing the world that they have just what it takes to stand the heat in the kitchen. In fact, the next time you eat out at your favorite restaurant there’s a good chance a female was behind the culinary cuisine you just savored. Learn what female trailblazers are doing to make their mark, and how they’re taking over some of the best restaurants in the world.Women Chefs Are Blazing a TrailOver the last twenty years, the numbers of skilled and artistically innovative female chefs ... Read More

People’s tastes are evolving and so are breweries across the country with the rise of independent distilleries. Washington State, Michigan (home to 40 distilleries alone!), and Colorado are just a few states where independent artesian distilleries are paving the way for a new type of culture and one that just happens to taste delicious. Craft Liquor is the New Brewing Game A trend that you’re probably familiar with is craft beer. It’s a movement that’s been around for a few decades now, but be on the lookout for the new trend to cheer—independent distilleries, which make liquor with local grains ... Read More

These days, it seems like there is very little that celebrity chefs cannot do from book deals, cruise ship restaurants and multiple shows of their own on the Food Network channel. Celebrity chefs have just tapped into another brand venture—hotel restaurants. Gordon Ramsey, for instance, is cooking up at the popular Hollywood Hotel, London. This trend proves to be a huge brand builder for both partners, the hotel as well as the celebrity chef, with endless possibilities for culinary masters, foodies and celebrity chef worshipper.Chef Inspired Hotel Restaurants Offer Something Unique Hotels like the MGM Grand and Venetian in Las ... Read More

You may want to bring a different type of appetite to your next dinner out. That’s because the popular and rapidly growing food trend continues to be the small plate offering. It’s taking over menus across the country and for good reason. Whether you want to keep your eating habits in check or you simply want to enjoy a little of this, a little bit of that, small plates give you variety, portion control and a limitless selection of options. Let’s explore what the small plate big taste trend is all about. Plates and PortionsEvery type of eatery—from chain restaurants ... Read More

Mixology, the science and art behind concocting gorgeous and delicious cocktails, has become more on an art form that an act of bartending. It no longer matters if you head to a hole-in-the-wall or a high-end bar you are bound to find mixologists crafting the most beautiful or slightly outrageous cocktails around. That’s because it’s not just a show they’re putting on for the customer but also for each other. The Modern Day Mixology Trend Bartenders are hard at work, pouring, blending, shaking and garnishing innovative cocktails to please the senses. The truth is, he or she makes it look ... Read More

Who said cooking had to be time consuming? Sous vide cooking creates tender, juicy steaks, pork chops or poultry. Sous vide cooking provides flexibility, skill and perfect timing—making anyone a trained and experienced chef. Sous What?A French cooking method that translates to “under vacuum,” this style of cooking is popular with both amateur and professionals alike. Food, most commonly meat, is placed in an airtight bag and sealed or “vacuumed.” The bag is then placed in a temperature controlled water bath, and cooked for a longer period of time and with a lower temperature than you would when cooking on ... Read More