DacQuaDC

Butternut Squash Soup

foodies — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:17:19 +0000

Buckeye Brownies

foodies — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 20:13:49 +0000

Cozy Treats To Sooth the Winter Blues

foodies — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 11:08:52 +0000

It may be frosty and chilly out, but with that comes a time to create some fun and interesting treats to enjoy at home.

Montana Spiced Cider

Getting Deals on Food

foodies — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:05:14 +0000

With the ease of on-line internet coupon sites and the tremendous amount of advertising by the food industry in direct mail, newspapers, magazines, on television, radio, and now saturating the internet on thousands of websites. There are literally hundreds of coupon sites and clip ads for food products and restaurants that people can pick and choose from including Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco restaurant deals. The economy today is forcing families to find ways to save money and still enjoy life and every day more coupons being used are found in ‘end of day’ sales on cash register receipts. These coupons could be used on sites like Tastykhana for delivery online or in your local restaurant. When approaching the cash register, watch another customer using coupons and just witness first hand how much money they saved. The amount of money they saved will want you to start being a ‘coupon saver’ too.

The restaurant clip ads give money off the meals and sometimes offer ‘buy one and get one free’ coupon clips. Fast food establishments have used clip ads for years because they know their customers like to save money when eating out and the coupons work to attract more customers. If people use these cost saving clip coupons, they will discover they’ll have saved money to use for other items.

It is not that difficult to get in the habit of clipping the ads you want to use, or printing out coupons from the internet. These clip ads will generally give an end date of use so be sure to organize your coupons by product, then by dates. It is like anything else, if you want to save money, you must have control of your spending habits. There are television shows with contestants actually trying to beat each other to have the best money saved when shopping in grocery stores.

Manufacturers of grocery products seek innovative, brilliant colorful graphic ads of every sort to attract the attention of shoppers. Some groceries have resorted to the slogan ‘we’ll match any competitor price.’ These stores and manufacturers understand that sometimes it is necessary to lose money on products to gain more customers. If their prices remain low, the price will appeal to more customers and these customers will most likely remain faithful to shop in their stores over and over again.

Get started now, and take advantage of the cost savings by getting deals on food and eat better. You’ll discover that you aren’t the only person using coupons to buy groceries, products or eat out.

How to Find the Best Restaurants When Travelling To Other Countries

foodies — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 12:01:46 +0000

If Michelin and Relais et Chateau put world class dining on the map, the proclivities of restaurant searches abroad without a guide are perhaps best sought in local recommendation. Globetrotters acknowledge that good dining experiences are like secrets waiting to be discovered.

In consideration of dining abroad, one could propose and archaeology of restaurants and not be far from the truth. Whether in Toronto or Tunis, the benefits of discretionary guidance are typically the best path to savory experience. Restaurants are somewhat akin to archipelagos of culture, each an oasis unto itself.

Major cities are like planetary microcosms in dining. Ethnic food abounds. Are you in the mood for the best injera topped with eggplant and lamb, followed by gingseng espresso? Head to a neighborhood known for East African delicacies. Satiation awaits your visit.

Open markets are another popular destination for foodies in small towns and villages. Shop where restaurant proprietors shop to obtain a list of preferred restaurants in the area. Vendors are knowledgeable about local restaurants and seasonal menus. This is also true in some major cities. Visitors to Bangkok’s floating market are in for a feast of the senses. Shoppers taste national foods and learn where late day dining is a form of entertainment.

For those willing to seek without a guide, destiny is often met only by way of letting oneself get lost along the narrow alleyways in a Souk. Behind the walls of ancients are hidden jewels awaiting our palate. Wafts of pungent spices and exotic herbs entice us to characteristic locales selling tajines of couscous or plates of oudja without any foresight of our fate.

Many travelers now research the cookbook section of their local bookstore in reference to house menus associated with well-known restaurants. So seductive is the thought of traveling on dining adventures that cookbook publishers primarily rely on the concept of photography and food. Cooking tours are also very popular. Ask your best travel agents about Cordon Bleu and other package tour opportunities in fine cuisine.

Whether you are driving down the Coast of Amalfi on Italy’s rugged cliffs to try black squid ink risotto, or parilla in Buenos Aires, the opportunities to indulge one’s senses while traveling are formidable memories never to be forgotten.

How to Make a Website for Your Restaurant

foodies — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:58:19 +0000

When you open a restaurant, one of the first things you should do is to create a website. Setting up a site for your new business is the best way for your customers to find you. Whether you design the site yourself or have a web designer handle all the details, you don’t have to create an elaborate site to start with. If your restaurant is new and you’re working with a limited budget, keep your first site relatively simple. After your business is established, you can do upgrades and make necessary additions.

Although you want your website to be attractive, the main thing at the outset is to make the site informative and interesting. When you build your site, you should include the basics. Take digital pictures of the restaurant to include on the homepage. Potential customers will want to find a link with your location on a map when they search online. You must include your phone number and the hours the restaurant is open. You should have listings of your house specials and drink specials for happy hour. You should also provide a copy of your full menu. You should post information about reservations and accepted forms of payment. You don’t have to set up a blog or a newsletter until a later time.

If you want to create the site yourself, there are a number of providers that make is easy to design a website in a few simple steps, and most often, you don‘t have to install any software. Some providers offer a free website that can be published quickly so you have a web presence for your new restaurant. To put together a basic website, you’ll have more than enough space on the provider’s server. You can upgrade your plan later to add more features. Hosting companies offer low cost plans, and some offer discounts if you pay quarterly or for a full year’s hosting.

Your menu page is one important part of your restaurant site, especially if the menu items and prices change frequently. You’ll have to update frequently if you offer happy hour drink specials or a separate bar menu. You should have a menu section for appetizers, salads, lunch and dinner entrees, desserts, and drinks. Also include additional pages if you have a children’s or brunch menu. Make sure that each of your website’s pages link properly and provide links on each page back to your homepage.

Importance of Social Media for Restaurants

foodies — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:54:15 +0000

A few years ago restaurants were faced with reviews posted on newspapers and magazines by customers who had visited them. Today things have completely changed. Someone sitting right there can share their experiences with their friends using their mobile phone apps, on Twitter or Facebook and other social networks which are read by so many people. If the food photos and reviews shared about the food, service and management is positive, this can mean a lot of traffic flowing into the hotel because most people believe what their friends tell them. Restaurants which cook and present food in very creative ways, give the best service and are sensitive and responsive to what customers want, will benefit greatly.

Social media is important to businesses because it connects customers through the internet where these customers and their friends are usually found. It has played an important role in helping restaurants achieve great success and the future is promising. The social media helps potential customers through their friends and those in their community, making them know about the restaurants and what they offer. Word spreads around fast through Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare and other social media sites and mobile apps. Business is about reaching the customer where they are and if they buy and become loyal, sales and profits can be high.

Some restaurants and eateries have created reward cards and loyalty programs to attract customers and to retain them. The customers sign-in to their account and receive points when they buy. They gain more points when they come back and buy more and when they share the information with others on the social media who also purchase based on the customer’s account link.

With the onset of social media networks, photo sharing apps and location review social sites, competition will be stiff and the restaurants will need to use the same channels to reach their patrons and be on the lookout to provide nothing but the best at all times. The food has to be presentable, tasty and affordable while service and management must be unbeatable. Social media tools and mobile apps will sure enough improve the quality offered by the restaurants because they will be able to analyze their strengths and improve, check feedback, promote menus with specials, discounts and coupons, interact with customers in order to manage customer satisfaction if they have to remain in business.

The Gift of Food

foodies — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:52:32 +0000

Are you looking for the perfect gift for someone special? Foodie or not, the gift of food can be a very special gift. Giving food means that you are giving more that an object; you’re giving an experience. There are many ways to accomplish the gift of food; including the best gift cards, gift baskets, and cooking classes.

When selecting a gift card for a recipient, you should consider their taste as far as cuisine and atmosphere. If your receiver doesn’t like to get dressed up, you likely shouldn’t choose a restaurant with a dress code. A recipient who isn’t adventurous might not appreciate a gift card for foreign cuisine. On the other hand, if the person you’re shopping for is spontaneous and willing to try new things, consider giving them a gift card for faire they haven’t sampled yet. You may introduce them to their new favorite dish.

Gift baskets are another great option when giving food, because it’s easy to find a specialized basket catering to the interests of your recipient. If you’re getting a gift for a wine enthusiast, a basket with their favorite wine accompanied with cheeses and crackers would certainly satisfy. You can assemble baskets yourself, or shop online and have the basket shipped directly to your recipient. There are many specialized stores online that carry gift baskets of all genres.

For the hands-on person in your life, consider cooking classes in the cuisine of their liking. Many culinary schools offer cooking classes for guest students. After learning to make a meal from start to finish, the students are then invited to enjoy their creation. If your recipient has a favorite restaurant that you know of, consider asking if the chef could offer you and your recipient a one-on-one class. Your recipient can learn to prepare their favorite dish with a chef they are already impressed with.

Remember when giving the gift of food that once the plate is clean the memory remains. The gift of a sensory experience is not one that is easily replicated, or soon forgotten.

What Kind of Phone System Should Your Restaurant Have?

foodies — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 23:48:32 +0000

Running a restaurant can be a complex and demanding responsibility. Despite these demands, you or your staff also need to be available to assist customers in a way that makes them feel valued and appreciated. Often, the first impression your restaurant will have with a potential customer is via a phone call in which the customer may be making a reservation, inquiring about your menu or asking for other relevant information. Even if you personally are not available to field these calls, your business phone systems should be as user friendly and engaging as you would be. This poses a challenge to you, as the restaurant owner or manager, to choose a system that fits into your budget while also meeting the needs of your customers.

Perhaps the primary concern as a restaurant owner or manager is the timely nature of call answering and forwarding to the appropriate person or messaging service. Phone systems can be very simple and very complex in the way that they answer and subsequently direct your incoming calls. A simple system may consist of an answering machine or service that states your hours of operation and allows the caller to leave a quick message. More complex systems can provide several choices for forwarding of incoming calls, including forwarding them directly to your personal phone. If your management style is hands-on, you may want to consider the latter type of service, so that you can address inquiries as they arrive.

More complex phone services however, aren’t always necessary. If your restaurant is open daily and typically experiences the same volume and type of call daily, an answering service to record the calls and provide them to you may be a more cost effective option than call forwarding to your personal phone. In addition, consider the number of people in your restaurant that realistically need to have access to incoming calls and voicemails. If you have less than a handful of people who would handle calls, a simple system can suffice. If however, you manage several different sites, your restaurant may have much more complex phone service needs.