As popular as fried vegetables and fried cheese are among restaurant customers, it just makes sense to use them in as many creative ways as possible, including side dishes, appetizers, and toppings. Fried vegetables are up 37.5% over the past four years on the menus of...
With many states and municipalities easing restrictions on restaurant dining, customers are eager to get back to enjoying dine-in meals with family and friends. As the industry gradually gets back to normal post-COVID, restaurants are increasingly considering the future of flavor and what consumers might demand. “If...
Entrée salads really hit their stride in summertime, with new salad introductions peaking in the warmer months to take advantage of fresh vegetables and greens.* Datassential recently reported that salads are the number one item on lunch menus, even outranking sandwiches, affirming the continuing appeal...
Holidays like Cinco de Mayo tend to stir up demand for festive Mexican favorites. Party packs, sampler platters, and other types of positioning are logical ways to present limited-time offers (LTOs). Put together a mix-and-match sampler of mini-Mexican appetizers like spicy red mini tacos, mini...
Using ready-to-eat (RTE) products in your restaurant operation is a great way to save time and labor back-of-house as the industry continues to recover from the impact of COVID-19. In 2020, the virus led to the closure of 17% of restaurants (or about 110,000 establishments). In...
As we move into 2021 with cautious optimism, 68% of consumers say they are “very excited to dine in” at restaurants again once they feel it’s safe. Technomic reports that industry sales declined by about $267 billion in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During that...
Plant-Based Options are the Rage in 2021 One culinary trend often goes hand-in-hand with another; and in 2021, the popularity of plant-forward foods is a perfect match for the global flavors customers are craving. More than half of consumers believe restaurants should offer more plant-based options,1 and...
Even with all the changes restaurants experienced in 2020, some things stayed the same. In operations throughout the industry, salads, soups, and wings remained the most commonly menued appetizers. Salads Salads were on appetizer menus in 83.6% of restaurants in 2020. Among those restaurants, the fine dining...
Did you know that despite the COVID pandemic, nearly 12,000 new restaurants opened between March and December in America?* Those who see themselves at the helm of a growing restaurant chain have an unquenchable spirit to win. For those on their trek to greatness, a...
Like many food legends, the history of the fried pickle is murky at best. However, the most common tale places the credit on an Arkansas drive-in around 1963. As the story goes1, the eatery’s owner looked across the street at the local pickle factory, and in...
One of the most popular menu items at restaurants and sports bars throughout the country is a basket of hot, fried mozzarella sticks. Up 3.6% over the past year to 12.7% menu penetration1, mozzarella sticks could be the item your operation is missing. The most important...
If 2020 had been a “normal” year, many restaurant operators would be expanding their menus or even opening additional locations. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a wrench into nearly everyone’s plans. The virus has had a massive impact on foodservice, with 17% of restaurants (or...
