| November 20, 2008 | News for the restaurant/foodservice industry |
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- Local support for restaurants is imperative
 It's tempting for consumers to stop dining out when budgets get tight, but it's also important to support local restaurants, according to one writer. Old favorites need their loyal customers if they are going to remain afloat, and new chefs and restaurateurs need diners to help them stay around long enough to make their mark. If you need to watch your budget, this writer suggests, share an appetizer or cut back on the fancy cocktails. Los Angeles Times
(11/19)
      
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- Burger King to limit sodium in "Kids Meals"
Burger King plans to limit the sodium content in its "Kids Meals" to 600 milligrams or less. "We are proud to be the first quickservice restaurant to publicly commit to limiting sodium in 'Kids Meals,' " Burger King Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Chidsey said in a statement. Reuters
(11/19)
- Drop in spending prompts chefs to seek their own cuts
Chefs are turning to prepared foods, economizing with nightly specials and luring diners with coupons to combat losses as consumers cut back on spending. The National Restaurant Association reports two-thirds of U.S. restaurants have seen sales drop. And owners are worried about the holiday season, when they usually make enough money to tide them over the weak winter months that follow. The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)
(11/19)
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- Ted's Montana Grill mailings combine e-mail, social media
Ted's Montana Grill is using a combination of e-mail and social media to disseminate its Thanksgiving message to customers. The company's current monthly e-mail promotes "The Real Deal" fixed-price meal at a discount and invites customers to visit a Facebook page to fill out surveys about the restaurant. DMNews
(11/18)
- A customer-loyalty survey in 5 simple steps
Knowing your customers -- understanding their interests, priorities, goals and desires -- is key to surviving the economic downturn, according to one writer. Steps toward conducting an effective customer survey include: Decide on goals for the survey; use a solid, free, Web-based service to host the survey; design an effective survey; administer the survey through e-mail; and look for trends and surprises when interpreting results. MSNBC/Entrepreneur.com
(11/19)
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| Menu Trends |  | |
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- Q-and-A with Healthy Dining president
 Healthy Dining was started by a group of nutritionists who work with restaurants to develop healthy menu items. The organization's president and founder, Anita Jones-Mueller, says legislating restaurant fare is the wrong way to improve nationwide nutrition. BNET
(11/19)
- French beer on Thanksgiving? Mais oui
Turkey tastes different depending on the stuffing, notes one French mircobrew importer, so he recommends Biere aux Noix from Brasserie Mandrin in St. Martin d'Heres if the stuffing is savory and includes sausage, chestnuts or walnuts. A spicier stuffing might call for Biere au Sapin from the same brewery, and a stuffing that incorporates fruit is a good match for Bourguignonne Brune from the Brasserie la Bourguignonne in Beaune, he said. The Washington Post
(11/19)
- Ethical foie gras skips the force-feeding
Controversy over the practice of force-feeding ducks and geese has swelled along with their livers, which are then served as foie gras. An option dubbed "ethical foie gras" relies on the natural gorging instincts of free-range geese in the fall and early winter and is available in limited quantities and for brief periods annually. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
(11/19)
| Legal Briefs | | |
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- U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear serial-litigant case
Jarek Molski filed more than 400 lawsuits under the Americans With Disabilities Act before a federal judge banned him from future litigation. The wheelchair-bound Molski has sued restaurants, wineries and other establishments and retailers for a variety of infringements based on federal handicapped building standards and has pocketed hundreds of thousands of dollars in settlements. Los Angeles Times
(11/18)
| Association News | | |
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NRA expands Fishbowl partnership
Fishbowl, the leader in online marketing solutions for restaurants, has expanded its product suite. Through a partnership with the NRA, members have access to these new solutions at exclusive members-only pricing. In addition to e-mail marketing, Fishbowl offers mobile marketing via text messaging, online ordering and online reservations. These new solutions will drive more guests and more sales to your restaurant. Visit Fishbowl today to learn more.
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Card-check eases unionization, denies worker rights
Now is the time to increase communication with your congressional members to defend your right to a secret ballot. Defeating card-check legislation will be a top priority of the National Restaurant Association in the coming Congress. Letters, e-mail and phone calls to your elected officials are critical. Urge your members of Congress to oppose union card-check legislation. Visit the "take action" section of RestaurantActionNetwork.org now to help defeat card-check.
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