How to fire your restaurant employees the right way

 When you have your own restaurant, you'll find out sooner or later that one of the unpleasant realities of running a business is that occasionally not all of the hired employees will fit into your restaurant culture. Firing employees is never easy. This is the reason why preparation and knowledge is crucial. Learn how this five guidelines on how to fire your restaurant employees the right way can help you when faced with such a dilemma.
1. Prepare any needed paperwork or written warnings such as performance or menu knowledge reviews if any.
2. Have a witness such as an active manager observe the proceedings.
3. Be specific, state the reason of termination, and make your message clear and concise as possible.
4. Allow time for digestion after you give your employees the termination notice.
5. Do not apologize, answer any questions truthfully, but avoid debating on any issues.
6. Have system in place to ease the firing process which can be helpful with final pays or any other questions the employees may have.

Preventing employees' theft in your restaurant

 Employees' theft is real and something that most restaurants have to deal with at one time or another. Theft can take on many forms, including giving away free food or drinks to stealing customers' credit card information, or food and alcohol. Find out how this tips can help you minimize or altogether prevent employees' theft in your restaurant:
1. Track food or/and liquor inventory weekly- having proven product control systems in place can not only help you better track your inventory but will also show commitment to your establishment.
2. Make sure that your restaurant has lockable and secure back doors.
3. Give your bartenders or main servers tabs where they can ring up free drinks or desserts. At the end of the shift have your employees pay half of the bill up to a certain amount, and let them be responsible for 100% of the bill over the specified amount.
4. Treat free drinks or appetizers just like any other customer comp. Have your employee ring up all products given away on the register, so you can track how much is been given away.
5. Have anti-theft policies in place and the employees you catch stealing charge for the missing products.
 Keep in mind: it pays off to take the time to hire good and responsible people. Once you've done that give them latitude to use their professional judgement and you might be surprised by what you find out.

Using social media to take over your competition

 In the restaurant industry knowing your competition is just as important as knowing your own business. Find out how keeping an eye on the competition through social media can help you not only get an edge but also help you take over your competition.
1. Can you add a new future?- is there anything that your competitors' fans are complaining about. Is something missing and can you include it into your own restaurant?
2. Do you promote enough?- is there anything that your competition is successfully promoting? Find out what it is and how you can implement it into your own campaign.
3. Do you connect with your customers' emotions?- is there any specific emotions that your competitor's fans are connecting with in regards to the products or services being offered. Can you convey the same or even stronger emotions?
 Keeping up with your competitors' social media outlets can not only boost your marketing efforts but can give you an insight to important operational techniques that can be extremely valuable to your restaurant success.

Apple Turnovers

 Delicious, yet so easy to make. Anyone can do these classic apple turnovers!


Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 4 cups water
• 4 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 (17.25 ounce) package frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Combine the lemon and 4 cups water in a large bowl. Place the sliced apples in the water to keep them from browning.
2. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain water from apples, and place them into the hot skillet. Cook and stir for about 2 minutes. Add brown sugar, and cinnamon, and cook, stirring, for 2 more minutes. Stir together cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water. Pour into the skillet, and mix well. Cook for another minute, or until sauce has thickened. Remove from heat to cool slightly.
3. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
4. Unfold puff pastry sheets, and repair any cracks by pressing them back together. Trim each sheet into a square. Then cut each larger square into 4 smaller squares. Spoon apples onto the center of each squares. Fold over from corner to corner into a triangle shape, and press edges together to seal. Place turnovers on a baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between them.
5. Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until turnovers are puffed and lightly browned. Cool completely before glazing.
6. To make the glaze, mix together the confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla in a small bowl. Adjust the thickness by adding more sugar or milk if necessary. Drizzle glaze over the cooled turnovers.               

Courtesy of MAU-COLUMBUS

5 Thanksgiving ideas for every restaurant to show your employees you care

 Thanksgiving is not only a family holiday, but a time to show how thankful we are for all the amazing things in our life. It is also an ideal time to show our own restaurant employees how much we care about them and how grateful we are for the work they do. Find out how this 5 tips can help you this Thanksgiving make a difference in someones life.
1. Send handwritten Thank you notes to all your employees, suppliers, or vendors and tell them how much you appreciate everything they do. If you want you can name specific qualities in them that you admire.
2. Throw an Appreciation lunch for all your employees and their families.
3. Create certificates of Appreciation and encourage your employees to vote and nominate each other for the award. Then organize a ceremony to present the certificates to the honorees.
4. Organize "30 Day thank you " box and each day of November write down a reason why you are thankful for your stuff. On Thanksgiving let your employees read the notes you have written.
5. Invite your employees to Thanksgiving dinner.
 Remember without your employees or customers your establishment won't be where it is today. Show your appreciation and Happy Thanksgiving to all!

How to brine a turkey

If you want a moist and flavorful turkey this Thanksgiving, find out how this brine tips from the Culinary Institute of America can help you accomplish that. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

7 Tips on attracting new customers for your restaurant

 Attracting new customers can cost restaurants four times more than keeping existing ones. Nevertheless, there is nothing greater than seeing that new customers turn into a loyal fans and ambassadors for your establishment. Learn how this 7 tips can help you attract new customers for your restaurant.
1. Capitalize on your advantages- knowing what your customers like the most about your restaurant can give you a great advantage when it comes to dealing with new customers since you can easily tell them what to expect like "The best food in town" or "More yummy for your munny".
2. Give a worthy offer- give your customers an offer they can't refuse for example if you position your restaurant to be "The best food in town" then deliver. You can easily offer a food challenge: "If it's not the best food you've ever had, your next meal is on us".
3. Examine your restaurant and your services in a new way- think about all the ways you can implement your restaurant services like attracting customers that does not like to dine out. You can easily offer them online recipes or weekly meal plans for the whole family.
4. Train your stuff and provide excellent customers service- make your customers' experiences with your restaurant positive and memorable, so they can always come back.
5. Network effectively- instead of trying to pass as many business cards as possible, try to cultivate relationships and give referrals to other people first.
6. Take advantage of referrals and be proactive- instead of waiting on your existing customers to refer someone to you, ask for the referral. Tell people your ideal clients and ask for their help in finding those clients.
7. Give free useful information- you can offer information that will be helpful or solve your customers needs or problems by participating in a cooking classes or workshops.

Creative ways to promote your new restaurant

 We all have been there at one time or another: in a desperate need of advertising and promotion for the opening of our new restaurant. Find out how this 20 creative ways can put any new or existing restaurant on the map.
1. Use Twitter to get in touch, follow, and create relationships with the most influential people in your area. On the day of your grand opening invite them to be a VIP guests.
2. Design creative campaigns on your Twitter and Facebook fan page and give away behind the doors tours of your restaurant.
3. Start a blog and provide valuable information about the restaurant industry, your restaurant milestones, share pictures, as well as any problems you endure before the grand opening of your restaurant.
4. Become a member of your local associations for example your chamber of commerce or any other restaurant associations in your state.
5. Sponsor local teams.
6. Fund any local trunk shows.
7. Attend restaurant events, create relationships with like minded individuals and potential customers.
8. Attend any networking events in your area and spread the word about your restaurant.
9. Visit trade shows, give out your business cards, and share the news of your new restaurant.
10. Advertise on billboards.
11. Invite your local news channels to cover the grand opening of your restaurant.
12. Write an article for a local magazine.
13. Hand out promotional materials with your restaurant information and opening date to friends and associates.
14. Volunteer to teach a local class.
15. Mobilize your family and friends to share your business cards or pamphlets to potential customers.
16. Offer free dinner at your restaurant for a prize at a local contest.
17. Donate food to local charities.
18. Hold an event outside your restaurant.
19. Sponsor local non-profit fund raisers.
20. Create relationships with bloggers and other website owners by contributing useful information or material.

11 Thanksgiving ideas for every restaurant to show your customers you care

 No doubt Thanksgiving is the time to give back and be thankful but it can also be a stressful period as much as joyful for a lot of families. Learn how this holiday your restaurant can not only show your customers how much you care but also how to help some people enjoy their Thanksgiving dinner without having to worry over every little detail.
1. Organize cook off for best Thanksgiving inspired dish.
2. Design and offer to your customers 5 course Thanksgiving menu.
3. Organize charity Thanksgiving food drive for your community.
4. Send "Thank you" emails or postcards to your customers and include holiday coupons.
5. Post Thanksgiving cooking tips and recipes on your blog or website.
6. Hold a "30 Reasons why I love (include the name of your restaurant)" contest. Ask your customers to post all the reasons why they love your restaurant on your Facebook fan page for a chance to win Thanksgiving meal for up to 8 people.
7. Collaborate with other restaurants and organize pie eating contests or corn mazes and offer the winners gift certificates to your restaurant.
8. Fund local Thanksgiving benefit concert.
9. Hold a Thanksgiving decorating contest for your restaurant and offer the chance to win gift certificates to your establishment.
10. Compile a list of the best wines to pare with traditional Thanksgiving dishes and post the information on your website or any of your social media outlets.
11. On Thanksgiving Day invite your customers for a special "Thank you" ruffle where the winner will have the chance to win "Free appetizer for a year" or "Free dessert for a year".
 We hope this Thanksgiving you have many reasons to be thankful for!

Pumpkin Roll

 This is an easy pumpkin roll dessert that tastes amazing!


Ingredients:

• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2/3 cup pumpkin puree
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• confectioners' sugar for dusting

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Butter or grease one 10x15 inch jelly roll pan.
2. In a mixing bowl, blend together the eggs, sugar, cinnamon, and pumpkin. In a separate bowl, mix together flour and baking soda. Add to pumpkin mixture and blend until smooth. Evenly spread the mixture over the prepared jelly roll pan.
3. Bake 15 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from oven and allow to cool enough to handle.
4. Remove cake from pan and place on tea towel (cotton, not terry cloth). Roll up the cake by rolling a towel inside cake and place seam side down to cool.
5. Prepare the frosting by blending together the butter, cream cheese, confectioners sugar, and vanilla.
6. When cake is completely cooled, unroll and spread with cream cheese filling. Roll up again without towel. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve. Sprinkle top with confectioners sugar and slice into 8-10 servings.               

Courtesy of Jackie Smith

How your restaurant can make a difference this Veterans Day

 On a day that comes only once in a 100 years, 11/11/11, every restaurant will have the opportunity to contribute to the lives of those who served or currently serve us every day. Recognizing their sacrifice this Veterans Day, we have listed 10 ideas that can inspire any restaurant to make a difference in the lives of our military personnel.
1. Offer your customers for every dessert or appetizer they purchase, to donate a portion of the sales to USO or Wounded Worrier Project.
2. Create a specialty Veterans Day menu and drinks and give discounts to veterans, active military soldiers, and their families.
3. Follow Applebee's example and give out free meals to veterans.
4. Organize Veterans Day charity for your community.
5. Make and give out Veterans Day coupons.
6. Put up a board in your restaurant where customers can leave a "Thank You" note to soldiers.
7. Offer free cooking classes to veterans and their families.
8. Organize and collaborate with other restaurants in your area to help educate and advice veterans or retired soldiers how to better prepare for a job in the restaurant industry.
9. Contact and donate food to local charities involved in Veterans Day events.
10. Become a sponsor at a local Veterans Day event.
 What would you do this Veterans Day to honor those who fought or are still fighting for us?

4 Free chat services for restaurant owners

 Are you in the process of expanding your restaurant or working with clients or suppliers in different states and looking for ways as a restaurant owner to save on costly telephone bills? Then this 4 free chat services are for you which are not only going to save you money but will also give you the opportunity of a real time dialogue.
1. Skype- offers video and audio conferencing as well as instant messaging system
2. Gmat- great chat service that allows to check in with your employees through out the day rather than schedule individual meetings. Fantastic advice for user messaging, calling or video conferencing as long as everyone on your team uses Gmail.
3. Facebook chat services- good for quick chats rather than formal meetings but an excellent free chat tool.
4. Google+  - allows a unique chat function with Hangouts where limited number of users can sign into a hangout to share ideas and conferences.
 Let the savings begin!

5 Steps to build successful private party and catering businesses

 In today's economy it is no surprise that restaurant owners turn and search how to maximize their restaurants' revenue potentials. Many successfully look beyond the dinning rooms of their restaurants and branch out to private party and catering opportunities which can be of great benefit to any restaurant bottom line. Find out how this guidelines can help you build successful private party and catering businesses.
1. Focus your efforts- set specific revenue goals and booking objectives for the week, month, quarter, and year. Learn the needs of your guests and your restaurant capabilities.
2. Invest in the necessities like systems, infrastructures, and the people you hire.
3. Aim your marketing efforts to the right individuals- marketing to those with decision making power is the key to attracting new business.
4. Seek and take advantage of opportunities- train your stuff to sell catering and private party spaces, and use your restaurant to advertise your cooking capabilities. Also utilize your website and all of your social media outlets.
5. Underpromise and over deliver- accommodate request that can be achieved because consistency in  service is the key to building positive reputation for successful catering and private party businesses.

How restaurants can create successful loyalty programs

 Used properly, loyalty programs can be one of the most successful tools for restaurants when it comes to increasing profit. The key to successful loyalty programs is in understanding who your best and loyal customer are and the products they are interested in. A good loyalty program focuses on:
1. Rewards- tangible elements such as free drinks, free appetizers, coupons, etc
2. Recognition- you can offer different level of services for your customers for example if you offer VIP memberships at your restaurant you can offer to those members upcoming monthly specials, special holiday discounts, or free wine classes.
3. Relevance- create individualized experiences for each guest.
 Remember loyalty programs can be incredibly helpful and can offer your restaurant the opportunity to build close relationship with your customers.

How your restaurant can rock social media

 Today as more and more customers turn to social media for their everyday needs, restaurants have to not only become more involved with all social media plug-ins but have to be creative with the tools they use when it comes to beating the competition. Here are couple of suggestions of  how your restaurant can utilize social media, and at the same time build meaningful relationships with your customers.
1. Respond to customers' complaints
2. Respond to customer service inquiries
3. Repost or retweet customers reviews or posts
4. First release of promotional events
5. Allowing customers to buy tickets or reserve a spot to special events
6. Allowing customers to order a meal
7. And last but not least book a table

5 Unconventional tips on how to find a job in the restaurant industry

  Finding a job in the restaurant industry can become a challenging task. That's why this 5 unconventional tips are here to guide and provide you with ideas on how to conquer this issue:
1. Use family and friends- give them your business cards, so they can hand them out to people they know or meet who maybe hiring.
2. Network- keep in mind that every new person you meet may become potential employer, so provide creative information about yourself and the type of employee that you are.
3. Promote yourself through Facebook, Twitter, and/or Linkedin- ask your professional and personal references to record a 2 to 3 min videos of your achievements instead of the traditional letter of recommendations. To make the videos unified you can ask them to answer a few questions such as: "what are your best qualities as an employee", "what are your strengths", "would they recommend you to a future employer", and "would they hire you back if they had the chance". Once you have the videos, you can upload them to your page and urge future employers to take a look what other people think of you as an employee.
4. Offer freebies- you can  offer your future employer, of course if you can afford this, to work for a week for free. In this way you'll have an opportunity to showcase your best qualities as an employee and possibly find out for yourself if this company is a good fit for you as well.
5. Collaborate- consider collaborating with other businesses such as print houses or wine stores to pass your business cards to the appropriate future employers. You can do the same for them and distribute their own business cards where on the back of the cards they can print your name or a discount they are willing to offer to potential customers.