Jan 1
Well, The Farmer’s Almanac was right in its early predictions for a wet, wild, cold winter. It’s been a bundle up end to the year with the predictions for the New Year to be more of the same.
I wanted them to be wrong.
Stay warm. Time to practice your homemade marshmallow recipe. The hot chocolate beckons.
Happy New Year.
Dec 29
Heard it could happen. Took me by surprise.
Thanx Chick-Fil-A–who knew how clever your name is, and how smart your service and tasty your food!
Score one. I’m smiling.
, too.
Here’s a little different type of recall than we’ve seen in a while. Happy about that part, but not about what’s happened: A food tampering recall of an energy drink. It seems to have made its way into several states already. These test-tube like vials (Hardcore Energize Bullet or New Whey liquid products) should stay off everyone’s shopping list until the all-clear sign.
Today would be a good day to get a boost from some other source. No matter how seductive the vials look or entice–NOT TODAY.
How about an extra espresso?
Jun 10
Those Zagat people, Nina, Tim, and their army of contributors, are at it again! Instead of an eponymous city guidebook, they asked over 6,000 people to rate their favorite fast food establishments: The Survey ranked 103 chains from surveyors who order fast food at least 11 times a month! Wendy’s was the overall Mega-Chain winner, and the West Coast’s popular In-N-Out Burger took top honors for a food chain with fewer than 5,000 outlets. Trust me, when you grab a burger at one of its locations in 4 states (CA, NV, UT, or AZ), you’ll understand what the fuss is about! They earned top honors for Best Burger, too.
Maybe Starbucks is the real winner of the survey as it grabbed top honors in the Quick Refreshment Category as the most popular spot, and the company earned major bragging rights for Best Coffee even though they have been attacked by every barista and quick coffee shop within its sights.
McDonald’s, which is working hard to earn a coffee title, managed top numbers for Best French Fries, Best breakfast, Best Drive-Thru, and Best Value. The latter category is doubly important this year at all levels of food purchasing–everyone is looking for value.
Were there surprises? Not necessarily, but in the full-service category, I love the fact that the International House of Pancakes, IHOP, 
won Best Breakfast and Chuck E. Cheese still wins the Most Child-Friendly category.
The more things change; the more they stay the same!
It works. It’s a simple solution to higher food costs–shrink the plates–offer some excitement. Introduce a new menu with small plates, or happy hour specials, or a new bar menu. These are all strategies that have worked in the past and are making a welcome return to the present. Oh, yeah, also reduce the prices. That’s the combo you want to sell.
Look at The Cheesecake Factory whose portions are so large that Weight Watchers could just set up a booth at each location. Why cater to our obesity problems? Their new solution is simple: the introduction of smaller plates and lower prices--the small plate and snack menu.
Neighborhood places are jumping on the bandwagon of small plates. Here’s a new one: a Washington, DC restaurant, Ardeo, has introduced “middle plates”. Not that small but not as big nor as expensive as an entree portion.
Restaurants throughout the country are expanding their bar menus to offer more food options in a different setting at a lower price point. It works well in New York with some in the Tom Colicchio empire and seems to be a winning formula to fill a space with drinkers who also dine.
Bring it On.
Diners are ready.
Apr 12
To find something positive to celebrate on that dreaded of dreaded days: Tax Day, April 15th, a number of restaurants are planning good news promotions.
We’ll no doubt need coffee. Seattle’s Best Coffee has a 39th birthday celebration which continues until the end of the month for any 39-year old coffee drinker. P.F. Chang’s China Bistro is matching the calendar date with a 15% off discount of the entire bill. Most McCormick & Schmick restaurants are turning the dreaded 1040 tax form into a $10.40 menu of specials with accompanying reduced priced tax-themed drink specials including a Deduction Draft , a pint of Samuel Adams Boston Lager. Diners will also receive a “Tax Relief Dining Certificate” for $10.40 off future dining at the restaurant.
Zola, a Washington, DC restaurant, is inviting diners to visits its bar that day for the IRS Raspberry, a specialty cocktail or any number of wines by the glass. Zola pays the taxes on the 15th. It plans to offer a fixed priced $10.15 lunch and a $35.15 dinner menu of appetizer, entree, and the all-important dessert. As a special act of kindness, the restaurant will have calculators and envelopes nearby to help last-minute filers. Guests who complete their forms at the bar by 11 PM can forego postage anxiety as the restaurant will mail the tax forms and pay the postage.
The Daily Grill plans to cover the sales tax for all guest checks on that fateful Wednesday. To calm nerves even further, the restaurant plans an all-day Happy Hour Menu with special appetizers and drinks.
Sweets cannot be ignored: Mall-based Cinnabon stores plan an evening (5-8 PM) giveaway: The Classic Bites. Maggie Moo’s entices with a free scoop of ice cream as part of its e-cone-omic ice cream stimulus package.
Check out your local restaurants as the day draws near, and the reality of a good promotion adds up.
So many offers, so little time, the IRS is waiting.
Mar 30
Yes, that’s what it takes–a strategy, a plan that helps you get customers. Fine dining and casual dining are starting to step on the toes of the little guy and move into the realm of the fast foodie. I love when I get an announcement that says “due to popular response, our promotion has been continued.” Well that is either true that the response has been overwhelmingly successful or partially true in that the program needs to continue in order to drive business: getting people dining out.
Full-service chains do not want to be left out. T.G. I. Friday’s introduced “The Right Portion, the Right Price” menu with both lunch and dinner entrees from $5.99-9.99. Outback Steakhouse now has 15 items on a specialty menu starting at $9.95 and not exceeding $15. The menu even states the magic phrase, “lower prices.”
Look at The Palm, a very successful high-end restaurant, that has extended its lobster tail and steak dinner for $89. The program continues until April 12 either because it’s been so successful or because every night matters. It’s a lot of food; and a lot of money.
Sullivan’s Steakhouse, with locations throughout the country, has expanded its “affordable dining options.” There’s the John L. Prix Fixe, a three-course $29 menu available daily until 6P and the Contender, a specialty menu with all items below $25.
This is not the world of a year ago and more problems seem to rear their ugly heads daily. Who else is playing today? Let’s see tonight (March 30) Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants, a major restaurant group headquartered in Chicago with restaurants such as Big Bowl, Mon Ami Gabi, and Wildfire in their nationwide portfolio, is rewarding its frequent diners with triple points. The success of this promotion may prompt a repeat performance as the amount of money a guest spends can immediately be used to take money off the bottom line!
All types of restaurants. All price points.
Remember no one is immune. Sign up for email alerts, join frequent dining clubs at your favorite spots, and take advantage of good deals. Promotions are just beginning as spring dining is critical. It’s about more than Mother’s Day.
Keep ‘em coming; we will, too.
Feb 10
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No, I do not mean Rice Krispies , but they are a food product that I will always hold dear with positive memories: my Mom’s favorite late night snack. This “crackle” comes from a wood-burning fireplace. There’s nothing quite like it. All the sounds, the smells, and the sense of warmth as it saps the heat from the rest of the house. That’s a shame, but the fireplace room is its own haven of content.
There is something about the world that seems all right while you read in front of cacophonous fire. Just as long as you read sections of the newspaper that have nothing to do with real world issues. Start with the Sunday Styles section of the New York Times and rush to the back, to the wedding stories. They are so much fun. Of course, there are the Bill Cunningham party photos. Skip over the real life, potentially sad articles, and go for the morning fun and begin your day with a relaxing tone.
Then, you can ease into that splendiferous cup of espresso. Did I mention I made it to Wegmans. From earlier posts, you’ll know it’s not around the corner but worth the drive. I get less expensive gas in Virginia and then head over to the shopping mecca which somehow seems to do as much damage to my credit card as a trip to Costco. Bad financial week, hit both of ‘em in a matter of a few days.
Now it’s time to analyze what it is about their whole bean dark roast espresso that keeps me hankering for a true cup. Maybe it’s the price. Certainly doesn’t hurt that the 32-ounce bag of beans is under $10. Flavor wins from the bean’s oily richness that engulfs the coffee machine’s bean holder. It transcends any other coffee bean experience of late. Hit the buttons, grind, and punch up a double espresso.
Now the morning has promise, a crackling fire ,and a true cup of espresso. I haven’t even started the potatoes yet. More on that later.
Crackling sounds and a steaming cup of coffee. A perfect pairing.
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