| September 29, 2009 | News for the restaurant/foodservice industry |
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- Restaurants bank on drink discounts
Restaurant chains are lowering the price of alcoholic drinks -- some of the most profitable menu items -- in an attempt to entice more consumers to dine out. Some restaurants are making up the price difference by using less expensive liquor. The Wall Street Journal
(9/29)
      
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- LongHorn can rely on Darden's experience
 Now owned by Darden Restaurants, LongHorn Steakhouse finds itself on a much smaller scale than sister companies Olive Garden and Red Lobster. LongHorn President Dave George talks about whom he considers a competitor, the decision-making process for menu changes and how Darden has helped LongHorn Steakhouse. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (free registration)
(9/28)
- British restaurant chain removes service charge
British chain D&D London has scrapped its 12.5% service charge, leaving the tipping up to diners. The move could signal a shift in British tipping culture. "It is a trip into the unknown for us, but that is the way they do things in America. Will it work? It certainly does in New York, where service in general is excellent and tips are very good," D&D Chairman and CEO Des Gunewardena said. Evening Standard (London)
(9/29)
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| Innovation & Ideas |  | |
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- Buy, buy Miss American's pie
Cheesecake, bagels and fresh-roasted coffee may not seem very German, which is precisely why Seattle native Cynthia Barcomi liked the idea of selling American-style baked goods in Berlin. About a dozen banks turned down her "exotic" idea, but she persevered to open two stores that produced more than $2 million in sales last year. With cookbooks on the shelves and a TV show in the works, Barcomi is known across Germany as "Miss American Pie." BusinessWeek/Entrepreneur's Journal
(9/25)
| Menu Trends | | |
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- Dessert pizzas can spice up sales
Carol Corrie created a Danish-inspired pizza for when she hosts Chamber of Commerce meetings at her Cloverleaf Bar and Restaurant in Michigan, and it's been so well-received that it's getting a spot on the menu. Dessert pizzas often don't require many new ingredients and can lead to solid sales. PizzaMarketplace.com
(9/28)
| Environmental Sustainability | | |
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- From farm to table in Missouri
Jonathan Justus and his wife, Camille Eklof, opened Justus Drugstore restaurant two and a half years ago in a small town in Missouri. The restaurant focuses on sustainable, farm-to-table foods and has been featured in national press. Columbia Daily Tribune (Mo.)
(9/23)
| Public Policy News | | |
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- Arizona restaurants, bars prepare for new gun law
This week in Arizona people will be allowed to carry concealed weapons into places that serve alcohol, provided they don't drink and the owner hasn't posted a sign disallowing it. Some business owners have been sure to post multiple signs so there's no question about where they stand, while others think legally carried weapons may deter trouble. The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)
(9/29)
| Association News | | |
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Registration now open for NRA Show 2010
Register now for the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show at the $30 "early bird" special rate and save more than 60% until Dec. 1. Registration is only $85 for both NRA Show 2010 and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB) -- separate registration/qualifications required to enter IWSB. NRA Show 2010 is scheduled May 22 to 25, 2010, at Chicago's McCormick Place. Register today for NRA Show 2010 and IWSB 2010!
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Take a swing to save free enterprise
The National Restaurant Association's 13th annual Richard E. Marriott SAFE Golf Invitational still has slots open for registrants. Slots are still available for individual golfers and pairs at this year's invitational, set for Oct. 26 to 28. The three-day event at the Marriott Sawgrass Golf Resort & Spa in Ponte Vedra, Fla., helps raise money for the National Restaurant Association's Save American Free Enterprise Fund. Register today.
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