Each business has its own particular stresses and strains and while all retail establishments carry stocks of some kind, restaurant inventory control is very important in this arena as in this case if you’re not careful your goods will perish. Poor management control over the several hundred different types of raw food in stock will soon lead to wastage and wasted money.

While senior management should always delegate for best effect, we should not forget that ultimately they have responsibility for good restaurant inventory control. It is important not to have too many people involved in the chain as this will just lead to waste in one form or another, but remember that portion measurement, food handling and ordering are top of the list.

The quality of the food is of ultimate importance in a good eatery and if you advertise something you should go out of your way to make sure it is available at all times. Never forget though that each item of food represents a significant cost until it is prepared and delivered. Contain these costs through a system designed to stock just the right amount of food for optimum delivery.

It is unfortunately true, but as human beings we tend to place less value on anything that we have an abundance of. This is true when it comes to restaurant inventory control and your primary goal here should be to ensure that you can train all your workers in the values of portion control. This is also another reason why you should not have to much of any particular item in stock at any time.

By ensuring that you have an optimum level of inventory in your storage room you will automatically address several issues and find that you end up with less theft, less wastage, a lot less spoilage, perfect control of portions and a healthier bank account.

There is a reason why chain restaurants are said to be up to three times more profitable than some independent restaurants and you would do well to find out why. Look at their policies and procedures and you will see that stringent restaurant inventory control is at the very top. If you do not do so already, take a leaf out of their book and do a full food cost calculation every week instead of maybe every month. You will invariably be more efficient.

Restaurant inventory control is only one element of overall restaurant management and marketing. Those who are new to the business, or even those who have been “around the block a couple of times,” would do well to seek the services of industry consultants to help them understand the intricacies of this competitive business.

Expert Jose L Riesco shows you the most effective methods for getting more visitors to your restaurant at www.myrestaurantmarketing.com. Discover restaurant inventory control here.

Technorati Tags: customer service, food and drink, restaurant sales, Restaurants, retail

The mix of cultures and peoples who live in the Caribbean have served to make it’s food a fusion of styles, textures and flavors that are enjoyed by all sorts of people around the world. This rich cultural history, makes eating and cooking Caribbean food an enjoyable experience whether done at home or eating out with friends.

If you have made a trip to the Caribbean, then perhaps you are someone who is looking for Caribbean recipes that you can cook at home. If you are then you have probably searched for Internet for authentic Caribbean dishes such as Roti, Jamaican Jerk Chicken, or a nice plate of Flying Fish. Perhaps you are a regular visitor to your local Caribbean restaurant or you’ve tried to cook Island food at home using recipes you have managed to glean from a cook book or from the chef at your local Caribbean Takeaway.

It doesn’t really matter where or how, all that matters is that you enjoy the food that you are eating and that through the enjoyment of the authentic dishes you are getting a little slice of Caribbean life to make your world that little bit better.

Why is Caribbean cooking fusion cooking? The original south American indian tribes that inhabited the islands of the Caribbean, the Arawaks, Taino and Caribs cooked using the fruits and vegetables found on the islands. As more people from around the world arrived, the Europeans, who brought enslaved Africans, techniques, flavors and ingredients began to change.

Slave masters gave their slaves the foods they didn’t want. The enslaved AFricans had to find new ways to make the inferior food taste good, so tenderizing meats with herbs and spices, slow cooking stews infused with vegetables and fruits all made the food taste better and also stretch. Later Asian indentured laborers brought from China and India added to the culinary mix.

If you are someone who enjoys Caribbean food, then why not try to cook some at home for yourself? What are the techniques you need to use? Well for starters, ensure that the meat, vegetables, herbs and spices you are using are fresh and of the best quality that you can find. Many Caribbean Islanders are within 30 miles of an agriculture producer so their produce is usually very fresh, there are very few Islands that don’t have some sort of agriculture or farming community.

The most important aspect of this style of cooking is in the marinades. If you are cooking a meat dish them be sure to season and leave to marinade for at least 2 hours, or preferable overnight in the fridge. This is an important part of Caribbean cooking as it is how the meat is tenderized and the flavors are allowed to soak in, giving the dish greater depth and body.

Unless you are frying the meat, it is usual for Caribbean meat to be slow cooked. This allows the seasonings to further penetrate the meat and for a good gravy base to develop. Steaming, boiling, stir frying are all techniques used in Caribbean cooking when it comes to vegetables. You may try roasting veg as well. Jamaicans, Barbadians and Trinidadians all enjoy eating roasted Yams, Corn and Breadfruit.

There is much said about Caribbean food, most of it good, and we hope that this has given you a little taste of what can be done at home. If you try cooking Caribbean food, don’t forget to add your touch that way you are also adding to the fusion that is Caribbean cuisine and making the recipes your own as well.

Technorati Tags: Caribbean food, Caribbean recipes, cooking, food, healthy, healthy meals, hobbies, meals, recipes, recipes Jamaica, Restaurants

I believe that 24 inch bar stools are less than 10 years of age. I suppose these stools may have existed before, but they certainly were not prevalent. Historically most bar stools were of a standard height. The height was set based on fitting with old English style pub bars. I first started buying bar stools for different business ventures in the late eighties. These stools were all standardized. They were all of the same height, and for the most part made in a handful of designs. Now all different types of bar stools are manufactured and commercially available.

There are two standard heights for bar stools these days. There are 24 inch bar stools and 30 inch bar stools. The 30″ bar stools are generally limited to commercial use while both the 24 inch and 30 inch bar stools are found in residential settings. Spanning the different heights are a variety of other factors such as use of material and upholstering, fixed or swivel seats, color, etc.

Historically, the use of bar stools in private homes was generally limited to basement family rooms or possibly the main floor at the edge of a large living room. Often if used on the main floor the bars were portable. Those stools used in the basement tended to be wooden and were stained a natural color. The whole concept was to recreate an old English pub in your basement and these bars needed pub style bar stools. Those stools found in the more formal areas of the residence tended to be made out of chrome or resin. All of these older style bar stools were designed for use by adults. The stools were invariably 30″ high to suit a standard 42 inch bar.

In the mid-90s kitchen renovations were really becoming popular. Kitchen renovation shows were popping up on TV. New glossy kitchen renovation magazines were being launched. It was beginning to dawn on people that the kitchen was an integral and very important part of the family home. Today kitchens are still about function but they are also about style and lifestyle. Today, it is all about granite counters, stainless appliances, cappuccino makers, marble back splashes, and breakfast bars and breakfast bar stools. Breakfast bar stools are generally 24 inch bar stools.

The idea of the purpose of a kitchen changed radically. A kitchen wasn’t just about making food or doing the dishes. A kitchen became a place to enjoy family time. This concept came to fruition just as we all realized a bigger kitchen with more counter space was needed if the food preparation and clean up was to be shared with other activities. The breakfast bar became the ideal place to read the paper or do homework.

The 24″ bar stool developed out of necessity. The older style bar stools seemed to dominate the kitchen and the image of these bar stools seemed to bring up the connotation of drinking of alcohol. Another critical reason was that families wanted their children to be able to use the kitchen bar stools. The standard height stools were too high for children to use comfortably. After hundreds of years using a standard height stool, the world has quickly embraced the 24″ bar stool.

Technorati Tags: bar furniture, bar stools, bars, barstools, furnishing, furniture, home, home decor, home decorating, house, interior design, kitchen, renovating, renovation, Restaurants

Sometimes factors like the economy, area competition, location, and time of year can impact a restaurant’s business. That’s why restaurant owners have to be constantly aware of restaurant traffic in order to ensure the success of their business. It’s typical for restaurants to be busy during peak eating times, but for those challenging off times, it’s best to turn to creative marketing solutions, such as promotions and specials.

Improving restaurant traffic involves a marketing analysis to determine what would bring diners to your restaurant. For example, if you want to increase business during weekday lunch hours, determine the needs of business customers in your area. Evaluate current lunch options in your surrounding area, check out what your competition offers and think of ways you can bring your restaurant’s uniqueness to fill a void that others aren’t providing.

When developing a marketing plan for your restaurant, a section of it should address restaurant traffic. The plan of action should be based on a comprehensive review of the location, competition and customer demographics. This will be your guide to implementing measures to increase business during off peak times. Be sure to review your marketing plan often and be flexible to change it based on results.

Promotions are an effective way to increase restaurant traffic. Consider distributing flyers within a 15-mile radius of your restaurant promoting incentives, like a certain amount off the bill or a reduced price offer. Other effective measures during slow times are early bird specials. But be sure to advertise your promotions through your website, emails, flyers and advertising venues geared towards your targeted market.

Many people now utilize technology when deciding on a place to eat. So it’s important for your business to be connected with a website, email and a presence on social media networks. Twitter is a great way to enhance restaurant traffic because you can send a real time message about promotions and specials currently being featured.

When it comes to increasing restaurant traffic, consider advertising strategies that can be trackable. Direct mail and coupons are smart advertising method because you can target them to your market and customer demographic and track how many people who dine at your restaurant are using them.

There are a number of free ways to boost restaurant traffic. Use your website to capture customers’ emails so you can send them information about drink or food specials, promotions, events and special offerings. You could also start a customer loyalty program or a referral program with another business that complements yours and attracts a similar clientele.

Generating restaurant traffic can be done by enhancing customer conveniences, such as offering take out, an express service with pickup at the door and delivery. These services don’t directly put customers in the seats, but they indirectly get the word out about your restaurant. In time, word of mouth will bring more patrons in to dine in the restaurant. In many instances, people who take out and are pleased with the quality of food and service eventually dine in the restaurant.

Technorati Tags: business plan, Marketing, Marketing plan for restaurant, Restaurants

Whether youre just starting out in the restaurant business or have been running one for years, restaurant customer service should be paramount in the daily operations of the business. A restaurants successes and failures are almost always centered on service, from the moment a customer enters your establishment to the time they leave it.

You will find that if your restaurant customer service goes beyond the pale, word of mouth will help you to attract new customers and also see your existing customers return. The service will set the tone for your restaurant and what is to come, as don’t forget that first impressions everything.

Small touches can result in big rewards in a restaurant. For example, give them a special drink on a special occasion, get the manager to open doors and greet each customer, ask the manager to chat with the clients during service, present a mint with the bill and thank them as they leave. Servers should always be friendly, smiling and striving to go the extra distance.

For a restaurant, customer service tips should include providing diners with the server’s name, building up a rapport by asking open-ended questions, answering the phone promptly, knowing a certain amount of area information, like a concierge, and, of course, inquiring about food allergies.

Many restaurants go the extra mile when it comes to customer service, by creating a whole new level of ideas. Some examples — offering a chef’s table, giving a rose to female guests, offering a tour of the wine cellar, having extra layers on hand should the guests be chilly, providing commonly requested recipes on cards, or giving a bag of chocolates or cookies as a memento.

Creativity and initiative goes a long way when it comes to providing exceptional restaurant customer service. If a reservation has been made celebrating a special occasion, take initiative and supply disposable cameras and balloons. You could enhance an existing practice — such as getting the entire staff to sign a birthday card, including a gift certificate and present this when you go with the tradition of presenting a cake.

Management must ensure that their staff is empowered to do what is needed to excel in restaurant customer service. This could be as simple as providing an umbrella should it be raining when the clients leave, or recommending an after dinner show or entertainment spectacular.

Restaurant customer service needs to exude from the front of the house to the kitchen. Greeters and wait staff can present the best in service, but if food presentation or attention to detail is lacking, all the efforts are for naught. All employees, regardless of the extent of their involvement with the customer, should be aware of how their performance will impact customer service.

Technorati Tags: customer service, food and drink, restaurant sales, Restaurants, retail