“Customization” a Food Trend I Can Live With
I tend to agree with a few of these trends. I especially believe in the customization trend. I started my business partly because I was tired of seeing the same items menus across the city. Chicken Ceasar especially. Why? I wanted to help culinary teams fine their “inner groove”. The top five food trends according to a culinarian | QSRweb.com. Every kitchen has a soul. It is a collaboration of many factors and each should have a unique identity. Just because some else has it on the menu does it mean you have to. I have termed this...
read moreHow do people really see your menus?
Menu writing is very important in todays market place. Have you every really thought about how they see the words on the menu. Words are a power medium. The wrong words used out of context can be devistating and bad for business. Everyone sees and interprets the words in a book diferently. Some guests who are detailed orientated my see a spelling mistake and become annoyed, they don’t see the great combination of flavors on the menu. They start looking for more mistakes. Are they focused on choosing dinner or commenting on your bad...
read moreMenu prices likely to rise in 2012
Are you ready for the up and coming year. Its time to look at your menus. Contact us today and start making more profit. Menu prices likely to rise in 2012, experts say – Related Stories – ProChef SmartBrief. Share this:PrintEmailPin ItFacebookShareStumbleUponReddit
read moreDoes this say something about Chicago
Five of the top 10 most expensive restaurants are here in Chicago. Has the perception of our city changed to a center of fine dining? What do you think? http://www.bundle.com/article/25-most-expensive-restaurants-america/slide/1/?fromMSN=true#comments Share this:PrintEmailPin ItFacebookShareStumbleUponReddit
read moreA Catering Christmas Story
As a culinary consultant I spend many days a week in a variety of kitchens discussing ways to improve kitchen operations. Impromtu demos, menu and recipe design and coaching are always are always happening. Stepping in and out of kitchens you don’t always see immediate impact or maybe I just witness a quick fix. As we are in the height of the holiday season I visted several kitchens these past few days and was given a great gift without even unwrapping something. It was calmness, professionalism and focus. Owners, operation managers...
read morePlanning a New Year’s Eve Menu
I write and develop a lot of menus over the course of a year. From small little snacks to elaborate menus for a fundraising gala based on a specific theme. After all these years some of the questions I ask myself when thinking about what to serve are instinctive and come very natural to me. I want to stop for a minute and take some time to write down the process I go through when putting together a menu. In this case it was putting together a menu for new year’s eve for my family and best friends. I break down the menu writing...
read moreOrganic farming may be outgrowing its ideals
I started my working career on a organic farm at the age of 11. I undertsand how hard it is to maintain a stocked shelf of ripe and ready produce even during the growing season. I worked on a small 1 acre farm that was completley organic for its time in the mid 70′s. Natural fertilzers made from animal manure and cut nettles were part of our watering supply once a week to help restore the soil. Hand harvesting and pest control by walking the fields with a small can where we would deposit the the bugs we picked of the leaves. However we...
read moreSimplify and Focus Your Menus for 2012
One of the reoccurring themes that I see for 2012 is a trimming down of complex menus and simplified dishes. This is not a reinvention of the “comfort food” trend that always shows up on top 10 lists. This is the creating of great food that is made from seasonal ingredients using classical and trusted techniques in a reasonably priced format. The ideology behind the Gastro-Pub is on trend and has been the favorite of the chef for years. If chefs spend hours creating expensive masterpieces on a plate in their restaurants or at...
read moreReducing Food Waste During the Holiday Season
I think the foodservice industry as a whole can use these tips for the holiday season. A little thought can go a long way. Think of this as a small way of preserving our future. Take a read and think about how much food can you really put on a standard 9″ Buffet Plate. Reducing Food Waste During the Holiday Season. Share this:PrintEmailPin ItFacebookShareStumbleUponReddit
read moreA Catering Christmas Story
As a culinary consultant I spend many days a week in a variety of kitchens discussing ways to improve kitchen operations; impromptu demos, menu and recipe design and coaching are always are always happening. Stepping in and out of kitchens you don’t always see immediate impact or maybe I just witness a quick fix. As we are in the height of the holiday season I visited several kitchens these past few days and was given a great gift without even unwrapping something. It was calmness, professionalism and focus.Owners, operation managers...
read moreAbout Us
John Reed is a professional chef with over 30 years experience. John has extensive knowledge of culinary techniques, ethnic cuisines, food history which he applies to present day menus by using strong organizational skills, leadership, problem solving and the appropriate use of technology. His understanding of the culinary arts comes from experience in the following: A la carte Dining, Off-premise Catering, Corporate Dining, Conference Catering, Hotel Foodservice Connections
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