WHAT MAKES THAI FOOD SO HEALTHY?

Thai cuisine is one of the best-tasting and also, one of the most healthiest cusines worldwide. The exotic taste, fresh and organic ingredients used in Thai food and cooking methods make Thai cuisine more delicious and mouth-watering. Though Thai cuisine has a very unique and special taste and aroma that can entice foodies, they’re also loaded with vitamins and minerals.

12 REASONS WHY IS THAI FOOD HEALTHY TO EAT

You can enjoy at least three and up to four or five basic taste senses in each Thai dish; sour, sweet, salty, bitter, and spicy. The basic ingredients of Thai food include; turmeric, galangal, coriander and lemongrass, chilies, coconut milk, and kaffir lime leaves. Thai foods are quite similar to Asian foods contained in a variety of flavors and spices. Some spices used in Thai food possess the healing properties for the human body… Read more at FOODIEMAGZ

Thai food is perfectly okay to eat every day, without risking your health, it all depends on the choices we make. To help you pick the right items on the menu of you favorite Thai restaurant, here’s a list of healthy Thai food items.

Eat What You Love – 5 Healthy Thai Food Dishes

Universally adored and perceived as the healthy choice, it can trick one into believing that we can eat it all day, every day, without consequences. But like with just about anything in life, there is a flip side to this. Deep-frying, coconut milk based curries, MSG, sugar (lots of it), saturated fats… Read more at Thanyapura.com

Thai Shrimp Soup Recipe

Today we’re making a yummy Thai Shrimp Soup!… Watch here

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WHAT MAKES THAI FOOD SO HEALTHY? syndicated from http://www.thaispices.com

Head Chef Brought to Tears by Angry Gordon | Kitchen Nightmares

What Social Media Should You Be Using For Your Restaurant

Appeal to your customers through social media and meet their needs.

For many of your customers, social media is a daily affair. They may visit their pages multiple times per day and for hours on end.

In fact, the time people spend on social media is increasing daily with 30% of all online time spent interacting on social media. Your customers are spending nearly two hours on social media every single day.

So, you can see that social media should be an integral part of your restaurant’s marketing strategy.

Many restaurants don’t have time or don’t realize how much potential exists for them on social media.

It’s time to leverage the opportunities that social media provides. To do that, you might be wondering what social media you should be using for your restaurant. In this article, we look at your options.

Facebook

You should definitely be using Facebook for your restaurant.

With millions of users, it’s the number one platform you should be using.

Establish a presence on Facebook by engaging with your customers and sharing videos, recipes, funny stories, inside looks, contests and coupons.

Respond to customer comments as they come in, both positive and negative. This helps show all of your Facebook followers you care and are interested in what they have to say.

Get familiar with Facebook and the Insights tab. You’ll learn a lot about your followers – when they’re online, their demographics and much more. Use these insights to target people in your area.

As an added bonus, Facebook paid advertising is a cost-effective way to get more out of your posts and to advertise on Facebook. (tweet this)

As a business page, your restaurant will want to leverage Facebook paid ads to extend your reach and get in front of more customers. You can choose from a number of goals such as promoting an offer, getting more followers, encouraging users to visit your website and much more.

Visit the Facebook Ad Manager to peruse your options and learn more about advertising your restaurant on Facebook.

Instagram

Another good social media platform for you to build a presence on is Instagram.

This platform is image based, and since your customers are driven by not only their stomachs but their eyes, you can engage your followers with beautiful photos of your menu items.

Food is visual, and Instagram is a visual platform, so your restaurant and Instagram are a great match. (tweet this)

As an added bonus, if you use Facebook paid advertising, you can extend those same ads to Instagram all from your Facebook dashboard.

When it comes to Instagram posts, post incredible photos of your food and share the fun that goes on in your restaurant. Funny staff photos or diners doing interesting things are always popular.

Unlike Facebook where you want to keep your posts light on the hashtags, feel free to use as many as you’d like on Instagram. Here are a few tips for using hashtags on Instagram:

• Always include #TheNameofYour Restaurant
• Include geo tags for your location
• Use other food-type hashtags that work with your post such as #Foodie, #nomnom and #FoodPorn

Social media starts conversations and drives engagement.

Google+

You might be wondering why we suggest using Google+ because it doesn’t have a lot of active users, and it’s not popular.

That may be, but Google+ is definitely a social media platform you should be using because Google puts its own results first. Just by having a Google+ account makes you more favorable to Google than those who don’t.

The first thing you want to do is claim your Google listing and create your Google+ page.

Fill out all of the information (using keywords), add your logo and some photos. When you add photos, they’ll show up in your Google listing along with the map photo, personalizing your presence.

Your address, phone and hours are crucial here because that is what shows up when people search for restaurants in your area. It also ensures you are listed correctly on Google Maps.

Another way to stand out on Google+ is with reviews. Encourage your customers to leave you a review.

The more positive reviews you have, the better Google will list you in local searches.

Tips for Social Media

Before you start posting and advertising on social media, you want to make sure you have fully completed your profiles.

This means adding profile and cover photos that are the right size for each platform. You can easily Google these sizes, and it’s a good idea to do so before changing or adding them as the size requirements change often.

Your logo is appropriate as your profile photo. When it comes to cover images, include tantalizing photos of your food or customers enjoying a meal out. You can use this space to advertise new items and rotate it regularly.

You also want to complete all of your business information including a brief description about your restaurant. Always include your website address in your about sections as well.

Run sweepstakes and contests on your social media platforms. These benefit your customers while generating excitement. Use sweepstakes to drive business, showcase a new menu item or get diners in the door.

Another good rule of thumb is to include photos or videos in every post. Text-only shares don’t get read as often or seen by as many people.

Finally, as you post on social media, keep your audience in the front of your mind. Social media isn’t about outright promoting your restaurant. It’s about building customer relationships.

Ask yourself the following questions when planning your posting strategy:

• What do my customers need to know?
• What do they want to know?
• How can I showcase my staff and restaurant so it’s interesting and intriguing to customers?
• How can I tailor my message so it’s customer-centered?
• Is my content valuable to the customer?
• Is my tone friendly and likeable?

Final Thoughts

Generate buzz for your restaurant and build relationships using social media. If you haven’t started yet, it’s time to jump in. If you have started your social media marketing, consider increasing your activity.

You want to be where the people are, and they are definitely on social media.

Social media is a terrific way to communicate with your guests when they aren’t inside your restaurant (and sometimes when they are).

Choose a few platforms and get started building relationships, generating buzz and providing customer service that beats the competition.

At Restaurant Engine, not only do we create great, responsive websites, but we’ll integrate your social media accounts on your website. Ready to take the plunge and create a website with an online menu, blog and beautiful photos? Get your free website consultation today!

Images: William Iven and Hans Vivek

Ungrateful Manager Upset Over Brand New Equipment | Kitchen Nightmares

Health Benefits of Thai Basil

Thai Basil is a great and excellent source of vitamins and essential nutrients. There are a lot of other nutrients, vitamins and minerals present in Thai basil that are not listed here such as vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acid.

4 Unexpected Health Benefits of Basil

Basil leaves come complete with an array of antioxidants and other wonderful phytonutrients. Some of these phytonutrients, orientin and vicenin, which are in the flavonoid family, have been found to “protect cell structures as well as chromosomes from radiation and oxygen-based damage… Read more at Care2.com

Thai Basil seeds are said to have antioxidants, anti-cancer properties, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties. Minimal scientific research has been done on basil seeds. Maybe because there’s no huge market for Thai basil seeds yet. But the future for basil seeds looks very promising based on preliminary research.

Are Basil Seeds the New Superfood?

A detailed nutritional study of basil seeds is currently not available. But like other seeds, basil seeds contain all the concentrated nutrients and building blocks needed to grow a new plant. No toxicity or any harmful effects have ever been found for basil seeds. They’re recognized as safe to eat. Their basic nutritional make-up compared to chia seeds is… Read more at EcoWatch.com

Various Skin and Hair Benefits of Basil | Mind Blowing Basil Benefits

Basil makes a lot of sauces and dishes smell and taste extra special. But did you know that it is also being used in traditional healing for centuries now because of its impressive medicinal properties? It’s known to be highly effective against sore throat, fever, the common cold, cough, obesity, stress and even cancer… Watch here

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Making It in UX: New User Experience Designers Share Lessons From the Field

Every industry — from tech, to finance, to retail — needs user experience (UX) designers. These master problem-solvers work to create on- and offline experiences that put users’ wants and needs first. Harnessing skills like user research, wireframes, and prototyping, UX designers have a unique perspective when it comes to understanding the interactions between users, […]

The post Making It in UX: New User Experience Designers Share Lessons From the Field appeared first on GA Blog.

Chef Ramsay Wraps up the Kitchen in Tape | Kitchen Nightmares

Attract More Customers – Enhance the Vibe of Your Restaurant

Bring diners in through their senses – all contributing to the overall vibe of your restaurant.

How does your restaurant make people feel? If you don’t know the answer to that question, consider stepping out your front door for a moment.

Then, come back in – not as the owner, but as a new customer. What do you see, feel, smell? Were you greeted well? Does the staff seem happy to see you, or are they hurried and rushed?

The feeling you had when you walked in is the vibe that your diners get each time they walk through your doors.

It has to do with the culture that you create in your restaurant, and in this article, we’re going to take an in-depth look at it as we discuss how to attract more customers and enhance the vibe of your restaurant.

Let’s look at how you can attract more customers by enhancing the vibe of your restaurant through the five senses – sight, smell, sound, touch and taste.

The Sense of Sight

What do your customers see when they walk in the door? Are they met with smiles, nice décor and a clean, tidy space?

What are their thoughts regarding your décor? Can they tell what you’re all about by how your restaurant looks on the inside?

If not, it’s time to rethink the vibe customers get from the visual aspects of your restaurant. This means what they see from the minute they drive into your parking lot, all the way to their trip to the restroom.

There are a few steps you can take to fine tune the visual vibe you give off.

First, you need a vision. Know what you want your restaurant to “feel” like and let that define how it looks.

For example, are you a sports-themed restaurant, a modern café, a farm-to-table fast casual place or a warm, cozy spot?

Whatever vision you choose, you want to ensure that the theme and vibe carry through from your exterior to your interior. (tweet this)

Don’t leave anything to chance and make sure it all gels for one cohesive look.

Pay special attention to:

• Wall and floor coverings
• Lighting
• Art
• Color scheme
• Furniture style (high tables, low tables, bar stools, banquets – the options are many)
• Table décor (vases, candles, glassware, linens, etc.)
• Staff uniforms
• Hardware
• Dishes and utensils

Lighting adds ambiance and a particular vibe.

The Sense of Smell

Your food plays an enormous part in creating the vibe of your restaurant. It’s what draws customers in. (tweet this)

But did you know the way your restaurant smells also contributes to the vibe?

Consider again the Greek restaurant on the corner, or the classic Italian pizza joint. The aroma emanating from the kitchen is another big part of the vibe of the restaurant, helping to create the culture.

The Sense of Sound

The vibe of your restaurant also includes the sense of sound. What are your customers met with when they walk in the door?

Is your restaurant busy and loud or soft and quiet? Is your kitchen making a lot of noise? Are staff members huddled together in private conversations?

Do you have music playing?

All of these noise makers play in to the vibe of your restaurant. Decide what you’d like it to be and concentrate on making it happen.

When it comes to your music, you can bet what your customers listen to while they eat matters. Today’s diners want the whole experience, and music is part of it.

As with the sights in your restaurant, decide on your music sounds.

This is easy for a restaurant where the vibe is a 50s diner or an authentic Greek restaurant.

But, if your restaurant concept doesn’t lend itself to a musical theme, what should you do?

Consider your restaurant at different times of the day. For example, your lunch crowd may be looking for something to listen to that is unlike what your dinner crowd wants to listen to.

Perhaps your dinner crowd is young professionals who just got off work, but your lunch crowd is retirees. You’ll find the playlist should rotate with the crowd.

If you don’t know right off what music you should play, you can ask your diners. Let them set the tone.

You may know that music evokes emotion and helps people remember things. So, it seems if you have the right music playing, your customers will remember the experience they had in your restaurant.

Your customers will equate your playlist with the enjoyment of eating in your restaurant as part of the total overall vibe. Music enhances the atmosphere, making diners feel comfortable.

You’ll find that if your customers like your music selection, it’s just another reason for them to revisit your restaurant again.

The Sense of Touch

Yes, the sense of touch plays a part in the vibe of your restaurant. It’s actually the texture that contributes.

Think of the texture as the surface area. This could be your table tops, your bar counter and your wall décor.

Think marble tops, granite slabs, rustic wood, carpet, tile, wood floors, linens, draperies and more. It all works to create your vibe.

The Sense of Taste

Your restaurant menu is the catalyst for the vibe of your restaurant.

This is where you’ll start when building out your overall vibe and atmosphere. Your food is the instigator.

For example, you might serve Italian, Greek, American, Chinese, Thai or something else altogether. But, whatever drives your menu also drives the vibe.

So, when organizing the vibe of your restaurant, don’t forget to factor in the taste.

Final Thoughts

To attract more customers, you want to enhance the vibe of your restaurant.

This means that your culture, atmosphere and vibe is unique to your restaurant. To do this, know what your restaurant stands for.

Are you the Italian restaurant where everyone feels like they just walked into their favorite grandmother’s house? Or, are you the hip, modern sandwich shop where diners can feel comfortable eating on their own and escaping all conversation?

Know the vibe you want to give off and focus on achieving it through your ambiance, food, décor and your customer service.

Work with your staff to help them create this culture each time they work. Teach them that this is what defines your restaurant and sets you apart from the competition.

When they buy into your goals of creating the perfect vibe for your customers, everyone wins – you, your staff and your customers.

At Restaurant Engine, not only do we create great, responsive websites, but we’ll integrate your social media accounts on your website. Ready to take the plunge and create a website with an online menu, blog and beautiful photos? Get your free website consultation today!

Images: Eaters Collective and Lisheng Chang

Gordon Shocked at Disgusting Carvery | Kitchen Nightmares

Thai Food Is Superfood!

There are many Thai spices and ingredients in Thai cuisine actually have health and feel-great benefits. Like Thai ginger is great for digestion, turmeric has anti-inflammatory benefits, and lemongrass help treat colds and stomach problems. These are just some of the many healthy Thai spices used in Thai cuisine.

World’s Best Superfoods

Can a soup fight cancer? If it’s a Thai favorite called Tom Yung Gung, the answer just might be yes. Made with shrimp, coriander, lemongrass, ginger, and other herbs and spices used in Thai cooking, the soup was found to possess properties 100 times more effective than other antioxidants in inhibiting cancerous-tumor growth. Researchers at Thailand’s… Read more at Health.com

Authentic traditional Thai cooking methods like steaming and sauteing to avoid overcooking and destroy the freshness and potency of ingredients. Traditional and authentic Thai food is definitely one of the cleanest and healthiest national cuisines that you can try.

Traditional Thai Food: The First ‘Superfood’?

In many ways, traditional Thai food has been ahead of the curb in terms of food trends, specifically the superfood craze that has taken the Western food-world by storm. Thai food’s unsparing use of nutrient dense ingredients like ginger, garlic, turmeric, cinnamon, coconut, sesame and chilli makes it perfect for anyone looking to improve or maintain their diet… Read more at PataraLondon.com

Thai Green Curry | Jamie Oliver

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Thai Food Is Superfood! syndicated from http://www.thaispices.com

Salary Strategy: Tips From a Hostage Negotiator

The tech industry is nothing if not competitive. As startups, mom-and-pop shops, and Fortune 500 companies fight for top talent, developers, designers, data scientists, and more find themselves in a mad dash to get in the door. Once they’re there, an offer may be a testament to their technical skills. However, the true mettle of […]

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Chef Ramsey Makes Waiter Cry | Kitchen Nightmares

Pros And Cons Of Al Fresco Dining

Attract passers-by with sidewalk seating.

Everyone likes a party, and that’s what they get with Al fresco dining.

In this article, we look at the pros and cons of Al Fresco dining, and why it might be good for your restaurant.

First, let’s define it.

Al Fresco Dining

The term Al Fresco comes from the Italian and loosely means “in the cool air.”

We use the term to mean dining outdoors.

Interestingly, the Italians don’t use the term for dining outside. In Italian, the expression Al Fresco actually means “spending time in the cooler” or jail.

Al Fresco dining is popular in temperate climates and in the spring, summer and fall months. People enjoy dining Al Fresco when the weather is beautiful. The style is casual, yet festive, with a party-like atmosphere.

If your restaurant has an outdoor patio or outdoor seating, you offer Al Fresco dining.

In hot climates, you might have covered patios or misters to keep people cool. In chilly climates, you might have fire pits or outdoor fireplaces to keep diners comfortable.

Now let’s look at the pros and cons.

Pros of Al Fresco Dining

It’s Trendy:

First, Al Fresco dining is trendy. Today’s diner wants an experience, and they definitely enjoy eating outdoors in a more festive atmosphere. (tweet this)

Increase Revenue:

You’ll attract more diners to your restaurant with outdoor seating.

This is because diners are often more comfortable eating outside. It affects the senses and seems to make the food taste fresher and therefore, better.

Some diners enjoy the view and the fun that occurs when eating outside with friends and family.

Basically, when the weather is nice, you’re adding a whole other restaurant, and with that comes added revenue.

Extra Seating:

By offering additional seating outside, you increase the number of meals you serve each night, thus improving your bottom line.

Enhanced Atmosphere:

Mother nature provides its own ambiance and great views. Plus, when the weather is beautiful, your diners feel more festive.

This merry feeling often leads to them ordering more and higher ticket prices.

The fun atmosphere also encourages more wine, beer and liquor to be consumed which again means more money for your restaurant.

Finally, because the outdoors is the attraction, you don’t have to spend as much money on décor and table decoration.

Cons of Al Fresco Dining

The Weather:

What makes eating outside so enjoyable can be its biggest con.

If the weather is bad, you lose business because you can’t fill your outdoor seating. Your wait times will be longer, and customers may get impatient.

Restrooms:

If you don’t have an outdoor restroom, you increase the load on your indoor restrooms which can increase wait times.

You also have people constantly moving from outside to inside which can be distracting to your indoor customers.

Staff Needs:

This can be tricky. For example, if you staff for a busy weekend night, but the weather suddenly turns stormy, you have too many employees, and you have to let some go for the evening.

Conversely, if you think the forecast is bad, and you don’t staff heavy enough, but it turns out just fine, you can’t meet the needs of your dining traffic.

Make the Most of Your Outdoor Space

If you’ve decided to take the plunge and add an outdoor space to your restaurant, here are a few tips.

• Situate your space to take advantage of the outdoor scenery – think mountains, gardens or other beautiful views.
• Create a beer garden on the patio.
• Have outdoor-only specials to encourage people to eat outside.
• Make sure your kitchen can handle the extra demand.
• Have enough wait staff to take care of the crowd.
• Provide heat and cool when needed.
• Add products to control insects.
• Keep the space clean.

Add plants to make your Al Fresco dining fresh and inviting.

Different Al Fresco Scenarios

You have several options when creating an Al Fresco dining space.

1. Sidewalk Seating – This is one of the easiest ways to take the dining outside. Your customers will enjoy sitting outside in comfortable chairs. Add some umbrellas for shade. You’ll find that sidewalk seating attracts people walking by and encourages them to visit your restaurant. During the evening, add some candles for ambiance.

2. Rooftop Dining – If you don’t have a sidewalk area or a patio, try expanding your space to the roof. Many big city restaurants have rooftop dining. This allows diners the view of skylines or open spaces. Consider adding potted plants or rooftop gardens. Hang lights and add candles for ambiance. Pergolas and attractive awnings add to the décor and protect diners during the day and the evening.

3. Patio Dining – This is the traditional form of Al Fresco dining. Your customers can enjoy the patio at your restaurant where you’ve set up tables and chairs. You might also add a cozy seating area with a sofa and club chairs. Fire pits are nice additions as well. Candles, lights, pergolas and plants also add to the festive vibe.

4. Garden Dining – Dining farm-to-table is very trendy, and diners like to see where their food comes from. This could be in any of the above spaces, or in a large garden behind your restaurant. What is important is that you landscape your outdoor dining area with the fruits and vegetables you’re serving to your customers. Consider raised beds if you don’t have the land. Grow lettuce, tomatoes, peppers and more. Landscape them attractively so they are part of the décor.

Add Ambiance

Whichever route you choose, consider adding a firepit or outdoor fireplace to add considerable ambiance and feelings of comfort. (tweet this)

Lighting is important, so consider candles, lanterns, hanging lights and torches.

You also want to look at adding a water feature such as a fountain or reflecting pool. It could also be as simple as a vase on the table with floating candles or flowers.

Fire and water work well together in a space. They increase the festive feeling and make your guests feel welcome.

Fire communicates warmth, and it’s inviting. Water communicates freshness and cleanliness.

Together, they make dining Al Fresco something fun, festive and exciting for your diners.

Final Thoughts

Adding an Al Fresco dining space to your restaurant enriches the overall customer experience.

You’ll find it adds revenue while increasing your customers’ happiness.

Do take the cons into consideration and make plans to handle them.

In the end, you’ll find an Al Fresco dining space is just what your customers want.

Be sure to add some shade and atmosphere for the total experience. Add some music, and on special nights, bring in live music.

Consider your customers’ needs and make sure they are warm or cool and bug-free to ensure their overall enjoyment.

You’ll soon be reaping the rewards of your Al Fresco space.

At Restaurant Engine, not only do we create great, responsive websites, but we’ll integrate your outdoor menu into your website. Ready to take the plunge and create a website with an online menu, blog and beautiful photos? Get your free website consultation today!

Images: Xochi Romero and Alex Holyoake

Gordon Ramsay’s Angriest Ever Confrontations on Kitchen Nightmares

Rich And Delicious Thai Desserts

Most Thai restaurants don’t offer or serve these Thai desserts. It’s because these desserts can take forever to produce. Some of these Thai desserts was originated from the royal palace in Thailand, where servants spent a lot of time preparing delicate and precious sweets for the royal family. Soon enough, these delicious desserts found their way to the streets of Thailand to be enjoyed by the masses.

7 Thai Desserts You Didn’t Know Existed

Thai people love their sweets, and if you rely on the options that your local take-out place offers, you’re missing out. Usually, ending a meal with a plate of seasonal fruit like papaya, watermelon and pomelo is standard in the average Thai diet, but it’s just as easy for one to indulge in the array of intricate and… Read more at Food Republic

There are a lot of delicious snacks and food found on every street in Thailand, it is really easy to catch yourself nibbling on something at any given moment. It is also very hard to keep the weight off because of this exact same reasoning. However, many healthy Thai food that you can eat without any guilt.

The Top 10 Healthy Thai Dishes

While traveling in Thailand, you will notice that everyone wants to know if you have eaten. Before even greeting you with a ‘hello,’ you will be asked, ‘gin kao ruang,’ meaning, ‘have you eaten yet?’ To be fair, there are so many enticing snacks and food vendors found on every soi (street), it is hard not to… Read more at Culture Trip

Thai Dessert: Trying Thai Street Food Desserts and Sweets. Street Food in Thailand Vlog

Thai Street Food is really delicious, It’s a must to try if you’re on holidays in Thailand. Thailand food markets are one of the best places to buy fresh and authentic Thai food, or to buy groceries and fruit while you travel in Thailand. There are so many Thai dishes on offer and the foods here are cheap, and so… Watch here

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Rich And Delicious Thai Desserts syndicated from http://www.thaispices.com

Gordon Pushes Chef Into a Bull Fight! | Kitchen Nightmares

Why Charge Corkage And What’s Too Much

What you charge depends on the area of the country you live in.

For years, the corkage fee has been a point of contention between restaurant owners and their patrons.

While your guests want the option of bringing their own wine, you, understandably, don’t want to miss out on the profits of selling from your own wine list.

In this article, we look at why charge corkage and what’s too much. We’ll take a look at what your patrons are willing to pay and how much you should charge.

First, let’s define the term corkage.

What is a Corkage Fee?

Corkage is the fee that restaurants charge customers who bring their own wine to a restaurant.

Your restaurant might charge a corkage fee to help cover your service, lost revenue from not selling your own wine and the risks of patrons breaking your wine glasses. (tweet this)

If you sell wine, you know that it’s highly profitable for your restaurant, and it’s not unreasonable to charge a corkage fee to make up for lost profits if you’re going to allow diners to bring their own.

How Much are Corkage Fees?

Typically, corkage fees range between $10-40 per bottle. Sometimes restaurants don’t charge a fee and even encourage diners to bring wine, while others charge $100 per bottle.

According to one expert, corkage fees depend on where you live.

• In Manhattan, New York, the fee averages $15-20 per bottle on average, yet at higher end restaurants, they can range from $30-85 per bottle.
• At exclusive restaurants, diners can expect to spend upwards of $400 per bottle, but this is only at the finest establishments.
• On the other side of the country, in Napa Valley, the corkage fee ranges from $15-20, while restaurants in San Francisco and Los Angeles start around $10 per bottle.
• Some restaurants charge fees based on the wine. For example, some charge a $10 corkage fee on wines less than 10 years old and $25 or more one wines brought in that are older than 10 years.
  

If you want to completely discourage your patrons from bringing their own wine, then charge a high corkage fee to encourage customers to buy your wine. (tweet this)

When Might You Waive a Corkage Fee?

You’ll find that some restaurants waive corkage fees under certain circumstances.

For example, you might waive one corkage fee if your patrons buy one bottle of wine from you.

You also might consider a $0 corkage fee evening. One evening per month or week, let patrons bring their own wine for free, and on the rest of the nights, only sell your own.

Consider one restaurant that waives its corkage fee on “Wine Wednesdays.”

Another restaurant waives corkage fees on American wines and charges it for all others.

Another instance where you might waive the corkage fee is if a customer brings in a very special bottle of wine and shares it with you.

Now let’s look at why your customer might want to bring their own wine in the first place.

It’s always nice when your guests offer you a taste of their special wine.

The Patrons Side of the Story

You’ll find there are several reasons your guests might want to bring their own wine.

First, the customer doesn’t want to pay your mark up on the wine and brings his own to save money.

If he can buy the same wine you sell for $30 less and pay your $15 corkage fee, he still comes out on the positive side.

Second, your customer might want to bring his own wine because your wine selection is grim.

If your restaurant doesn’t offer a respectable wine list, then you can bet your wine-loving patrons don’t want to drink from it. If you want to encourage people to drink your wine, you have to offer drinkable wine.

Finally, your guests might want to bring their own wine for a special occasion. For example, if it’s a birthday, wedding proposal or anniversary, and your customer has been saving a fine wine for the event, he might choose to bring it to dinner.

In this instance, go ahead and charge the corkage fee with a smile and be flattered that the patrons chose your restaurant for their special occasion.

The Restaurants Viewpoint

Many wine aficionados bristle at the thought of paying for wine at a restaurant. They would rather spend less and bring their own in to your restaurant.

Yet, if you’ve gone to the trouble of hiring a sommelier, and you’ve invested time and money into your wine list, you probably aren’t a fan of customers bringing in their own wine.

We’re going to leave you with some tips on how to avoid problems with the corkage fee so you can make the most of the your own wine list and patrons who want to bring their own:

• Know what your competition charges and use this as your guide.
• Be aware of the general corkage fees in your area.
• A good starting point is $10-20 per bottle.
• Improve your wine selection so guests don’t want to bring their own wine.
• Price your wine fairly to encourage patrons to buy from you.
• If you’re going to allow people to bring their own wine, and you charge a corkage fee, don’t be grumpy about it.
• Be flattered when a very special bottle of wine is brought in. This means your patron values your restaurant above all others.
• It pays to be flexible. You’ll find there are some occasions that merit waiving the corkage fee. A good bit of customer service goes a long way to repeat business.
• Consider waiving the corkage fee if your customer buys a bottle from you and also brings one of their own in. This is a win-win situation as you get the corkage fee without having to buy or store the wine.

Final Thoughts

Finally, it is fair of you to charge a corkage fee because when patrons bring their own wine, you are losing a sale. Consider charging a corkage fee similar to the profit you are losing on an average bottle of wine.

This amount differs depending on the wine, so do your best to be equitable.

Now that you know how to solve the problem with the corkage fee and how much to charge, you’re well on your way to finding a happy medium.

At Restaurant Engine, not only do we create great, responsive websites, but we’ll make sure your wine list shines. Ready to take the plunge and create a website with an online menu, wine list, blog and beautiful photos? Get your free website consultation today!

Images: Quentin DR and Janko Ferlic

Gordon Furious When Chef Points the Blame At His Menu | Kitchen Nightmares

How to Break Into a Digital Marketing Career

With digital media surpassing TV as the largest channel for ad spending in 2016, digital marketers are more important than ever. Through clever concepts, smart storytelling, and a keen understanding of audience behavior through analytics, these data-driven brand specialists drive business forward through strategic email, paid search, social media, and beyond. Recent data from General […]

The post How to Break Into a Digital Marketing Career appeared first on GA Blog.

More Than Just Pad Thai

When we say Thai food, the first thing that comes into mind is Pad Thai but whether it be succulent chunks of grilled pork on a stick or a spicy hot bowl of  Tom Yum soup, we all have to start somewhere. If you’re new to Thai food you have a lot more to explore and discover because Thai cuisine has a lot to offer to stimulate and satisfy your taste buds.

Top 10 Thai Food

Thailand’s food needs little introduction. From San Francisco to Sukhothai, its profusion of exotic flavours and fragrances make it among the most coveted of international cuisines. As a walk through Bangkok forcefully reminds, these flavours and fragrances are seemingly inexhaustible… Read more at Bangkok.com

Thai food deserves an excellent reputation, and there’s nothing as good and authentic as Thai cuisine as in Thailand. You just don’t get the whole ambiance and experience of  Thai street food anywhere else in the world. You can find a number of international food outside their home countries, but with Thai cuisine, You will only ever really be satisfied when you’re eating a hot bowl of soup at a little plastic table on the streets of Thailand.

THE BEST THAI FOOD YOU CAN EAT

Let’s talk about travel and my love of good Thai food. When I returned to Thailand a few weeks ago from being in Cambodia, I went on an eating binge. Cambodia, as much as I love it, doesn’t have a lot of great food. It’s very bland, and I missed the zesty, spicy, and flavorful Thai food. Since I was leaving Bangkok soon, I tried to enjoy as much Thai food as I could. So as a way to remember all the food I ate, as well as make you run off to your local Thai restaurant, here’s a list of … Read more at Nomadic Matt

The Traditional Way to Eat Thai Food – Stop Eating it Wrong, Episode 37

Thai food is one of the world’s most popular cuisines, but not every guest knows the authentic way to enjoy popular Thai dishes. Let Executive Chef/Owner Hong Thaimee of Ngam restaurant show you the best way to eat Thai food (hint: just because you have chopsticks doesn’t mean you should use them for everything!)… Watch here

The post More Than Just Pad Thai appeared first on Thai Spices Natural Restaurant.

More Than Just Pad Thai syndicated from http://www.thaispices.com

Experience doesn’t matter: Industry veterans and aspiring talent are equally qualified to break into digital marketing

We all seek experience. Personally and professionally, experience captures what we’ve done and what we have the potential to do. In hiring, prior experience is used as a shortcut to qualify job-seekers for interviews, job offers, and higher compensation. This shortcut works well in steady fields where the practices of the industry rarely change. If […]

The post Experience doesn’t matter: Industry veterans and aspiring talent are equally qualified to break into digital marketing appeared first on GA Blog.

Gordon Ramsays Funniest One Liners 2.0 | Best of Kitchen Nightmares

How To Draw A Crowd With Instagram

Instagram revolves around photography.

With more than 600 million users on the photo-based social media platform Instagram,  it’s a great place to increase brand awareness for your restaurant with the right strategy.

In this article, we look at how to draw a crowd with Instagram so you can increase your restaurant’s business.

Choose the Right Instagram Name

You want Instagram users to be able to search for you, so be thoughtful when creating your username.

The best option is to use your restaurant’s name to increase the chances people can find you.

Use Hashtags

Use #yourrestaurantname in each one of your posts. This also helps you be searchable. In addition, you’ll want to use a hashtag for signature dishes or drinks.

If you hold regular events, hashtag those photos, too, with the event name.

Other hashtags to consider are: #foodie, #foodporn, #hungry, #foodaddict, #instafood, #chefmode, #cleaneating and #food.

Don’t forget to geotag your photos as well to capture the local crowd.

Take Lots of Photos

Instagram revolves around photos, so it’s up to you to take professional looking photos that make people want to stop what they’re doing and head to your restaurant.

Take photos of everything:

• Appetizers
• Entrees
• Desserts
• Your Dining Room
• Staff Members
• Behind the Scenes
• Diners (with permission)
• Events (before and afters)
• Videos
  

Let your photos tell a story, but don’t forget to include captions and hashtags.

Optimize Your Photos

While you don’t have to hire a professional photographer, you do want to take and share great photos on Instagram. (tweet this)

Try using your phone camera instead of the Instagram app. Afterwards, you can use the app to edit your photos.

Pay attention to lighting – natural light is best for food. Taking photos by a window is a good option.

When it comes to staging your photos, look at not only the plate but what’s around it. The background matters, and you want it to match the theme of your restaurant. Above all, make sure the background area is clean.

Simple shots are often best to highlight the food.

Share Your Instagram Photos

Increase your reach and chances of drawing a crowd by sharing your Instagram photos on your restaurant website and other social media platforms.

You’ll find that Instagram provides options for sharing photos on Facebook, Flickr, Foursquare, Twitter, Pinterest, emails and more.

People will flock to your restaurant when they see your Instagram photos.

Host Contests

Contests are a great way to get people connected to your brand and your restaurant’s food on Instagram. (tweet this)

They encourage people to engage with you in a personal way. What’s more, by offering prizes, you generate even more buzz while creating loads of goodwill.

For example, you might run a contest asking users to submit their recipes. Lucky winners can have their recipe featured for one week and get a coupon for a free meal.

This gives people a reason to enter your contest while getting the word out to help you draw a crowd.

Take Event Photos

You want to share photos from every special event, fair or festival you attend.

Take photos and post them with event hashtags to let Instagram users know where to find you.

When you post photos from events, you encourage your followers to join you.

Encourage User Generated Content

This is where it pays to get creative.

Your customers are the perfect brand ambassadors, and you want to encourage them to share content on your restaurant’s Instagram page.

Others will feel more confident visiting your restaurant for the first time when they see that others enjoy your food. It’s all about social proof.

Here are a few ideas to get you started generating content from others:

• Create a new dish and encourage your Instagram followers to name the dish.
• Host a contest and give the winner a free meal.
• Ask Instagram users to take a picture of their meal and post it. Give them a specific hashtag to use (your restaurant name is a good bet).
• In your restaurant, add your Instagram user name to your menu and add hashtags under menu items. This encourages your diners to use the appropriate hashtags.
• Encourage reviews.
• Offer coupons.

Share Staff Photos

Your chef is often a mystery to diners, and one they’d like to solve.

Showcase your chef with photos on Instagram. Your customers will enjoy seeing the person behind the food they love.

Share photos of your staff behind the scenes doing interesting and humorous things.

Be Authentic

Decide early on what your brand identity is and then stay true to it. Find your Instagram voice and maintain consistency.

Post photos that work with your restaurant’s theme and menu.

To build brand awareness, you want to share photos that apply to your restaurant. For example, if you are family-friendly, sharing photos of customers drinking and partying isn’t a good idea.

Create a Strategy

Plan your posts in advance to make it easier to publish regularly.

For example, decide which day of the week you’ll share specific things. Don’t forget the hashtags. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Quirky Question Day
• Monday Funday
• Motivation Monday
• Tip Tuesday
• Treat Tuesday
• Wellness Wednesday
• Way Back Wednesday
• Throwback Thursday
• Thirsty Thursday
• Thankful Thursday
• Fun Friday
• Friday Funday
• Social Saturday
• Selfie Sunday

Also, be sure to leave room for spontaneous photos and posts as well.

Share Pics of Your Specials

This is a great way to draw a crowd each day you offer specials.

You’ll find that by posting delectable photos of your daily specials, people will flock to your restaurant.

Consider adding a coupon code with your photo as well as some inviting text and hashtags to encourage day-of business.

Final Thoughts

Ready to draw a crowd with Instagram?

At the end of the day, a picture really is worth 1,000 words, especially when it comes to food. That’s what makes Instagram perfect for most restaurants.

Your customers, current and future, love sharing photos of their food.

When you encourage diners to snap photos of their meal and share it on Instagram, you are leveraging free marketing while building brand awareness for your restaurant and your menu.

If you don’t have an Instagram account for your restaurant, sign up for one today. Start sharing photos and encourage your customers to do the same.

Spend some time each week posting and sharing great food photos on Instagram and start increasing awareness for your restaurant.

At Restaurant Engine, not only do we create great, responsive websites, but we’ll integrate your social media accounts on your website. Ready to take the plunge and create a website with an online menu, blog and beautiful photos? Get your free website consultation today!

Images: Alexander Chambon and Eaters Collective

Gordon Disgusted At Deadly Barbecue Meat! | Kitchen Nightmares

Anti-Inflammatory Benefits of Thai Food

Thai cuisine is well-know as one of the world’s delicious food, but did you that authentic Thai food can also be great for your health? Thai cuisine has a lot of spices and superfood ingredients that work together to give your immune system the boost that it needs to fight inflammation and promote fast metabolism for a healthy body.

Ingredients that Make Thai Food an Anti-Inflammatory Knockout

In fact, one Thai soup called Tom Yam Goong has even been studied for its unique high antioxidant content and potential cancer-fighting abilities. Here are 7 of the healthiest, most beneficial ingredients found in Thai food, and how to make sure they’re included in your dishes… Read more at The Alternative Daily

Inflammation is part of our body’s immune response that promotes our body to heal itself. It’s what happens when you get bruised or wounded and the affected area turns red and gets a bit swollen. That’s our immune system at work defending our bodies off any bacteria or infection.

Foods to beat inflammation

While experts have always thought anything with an “itis” at the end involved ongoing inflammation – such as arthritis or appendicitis, recent research shows that a much larger number of diseases, including heart disease, certain cancers, and possibly Alzheimer’s disease may also be triggered in part by chronic inflammation. Do your body a favor by including the following anti-inflammatory foods in your diet… Read more at FoxNews.com

Top 10 Superfoods that Prevent Inflammation in Your Body

If you want to get or remain healthy, it’s important to control inflammation in your body by following a healthy lifestyle and diet. Many foods have anti-inflammatory properties that can help prevent and combat inflammation… Watch here

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Anti-Inflammatory Benefits of Thai Food syndicated from http://www.thaispices.com

Gordon Shocked At Quirky Chef | Kitchen Nightmares

How to Fail as a Web Developer

Three months into my first job out of college, as a web developer at a financial reporting company, I wiped out every single one of my company’s client records in one command. I had uploaded a script meant to eliminate one client, but quickly realized that it removed all of them and I couldn’t get […]

The post How to Fail as a Web Developer appeared first on GA Blog.

How To Motivate Staff Who Are There For A Short Time

Improve employee morale to motivate your staff.

The restaurant industry is one of the biggest employers in the United States. In fact, according to restaurant.org, there are more than 14 million restaurant employees in the US.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 10% of the workforce is made up of restaurant employees, and restaurants continue to be one of the strongest job creators.

Yet, with this plethora of job openings and employees, the restaurant industry is ripe with turnover.

To help you avoid turnover, especially with your part-time and seasonal staff, we look at how to motivate staff who are there for a short time.

Utilize Full-Time Staff

Use your regular staff members to train and partner with your short-time staff.

This goes a long way toward making your seasonal team members feel welcome.

Assign a full-time employee to each one of your short-time employees either for training or a re-fresher if they are returning employees.

Make sure your full-time employees know what is expected of them. You want them to train your short-time staff and explain how each aspect of the job is done.

This mentor relationship makes your short-time employees feel valued and appreciated.

Show Your Appreciation

One of the best ways to motivate staff is to say thank you and to recognize their achievements. (tweet this)

Employees who feel appreciated and comfortable in their jobs also perform better than those who don’t feel that way. Because your employees are important to the overall customer service at your restaurant, make sure they feel appreciated so they can pass on the good will.

For example, your short-time staff member does a really great job of taking a table’s order and providing customer service. Make sure you recognize it. Just a simple, “good job,” will suffice.

This is also good to remember for all of your employees. Something that only takes you a few seconds goes a long way to making your employees feel part of the team.

You can also choose to recognize employees in a group setting such as regular staff meetings.

It’s also good to remember that if you are employing Millennials and the younger set to reinforce them a lot. They’ve grown up expecting it, and if you don’t provide positive reinforcement, they won’t show the motivation necessary to be a team player.

Give Them the Big Picture

While your short-time employees may think of your restaurant as just a way to make a few dollars, it’s up to you to show them the big picture.

You want to help them understand why it’s important for them to do a good job while providing excellent service. Show them how doing their job well will help them in the long term.

Consider beginning each shift with a quick two-minute pep talk. Explain how you want your restaurant to be your customers’ go-to and to do that you not only have to provide great food but excellent service.

Help your staff members understand that providing a great customer experience is up to them.

Make It Enjoyable

It’s no “fun” working at a job that isn’t enjoyable.

Restaurants who make work fun may enjoy less turnover and better employee morale. (tweet this)

Does this mean you have to spend a lot of money to make things fun? Not necessarily.

Consider quarterly team-building and fun activities. After hours, invite your employees to share a meal together. Have holiday parties. Do what you can to make work fun for your employees, and you’ll find this motivates your short-time, full-time and seasonal staff members.

Happy staff is motivated staff.

Communicate

Make time for your staff, and you’ll find this provides excellent motivation.

Set aside a regular time to meet with your employees and discuss their job as well as their aspirations. Find out what makes them tick.

Just showing interest in their lives can help your short-time staff members feel a part of your restaurant’s team. Show an interest by asking about school, vacation, family, their weekend and more.

An open-door policy is another way to make short-time staff feel welcome, so make sure you are available to your employees. Let your staff know they are welcome to share ideas, complaints and concerns with you.

Offer Incentives

Another way to motivate your staff is to have an end-of-season celebration where you reward staff who performed well.

Your short-time staff will look forward to the party and the prizes. You can give away gift cards and movie passes as well as small gifts. This encourages your staff to perform well so they can earn the rewards.

Do Something as a Group

Another way to motivate staff is to get together in a social atmosphere outside of your restaurant.

Play in a softball league or begin a bowling team. For those who are not athletic, do something crafty together like a painting or ceramics afternoon workshop.

Volunteer together and create even stronger bonds.

Develop friendships outside of your restaurant, and you’ll motivate your staff and build camaraderie.

Conduct Exit Interviews

If you want to retain your current short-time staff the following year, it’s a good idea to have exit interviews.

This is your employee’s chance to tell you how they feel about their jobs, and it gives you insight into what you are doing right and where you can improve.

Exit interviews show your employees you care about their opinions.

Final Thoughts

Now that we’ve answered the question of how to motivate staff who are there for a short time, it’s time to put these strategies into practice.

While many restaurants rely on seasonal employees such as high school and college students or people who want extra work at certain times of the year, the trick is to keep them coming back season after season.

It’s helpful to you if they return year after year because these workers are already trained, and you don’t have to invest time and money into training new employees.

Yet, reducing seasonal turnover is hard. The best way to do it is to engage your short-time employees by offering them incentives to keep them coming back and by working hard to make them feel like part of the team.

Have you found ways to motivate staff who are there for a short time? If so, we’d love to hear about them. Please share them here!

Images: Khachik Simonian and Patryk Sobczak

Thai Cuisine Is Great For Our Health

Thai food is among the most nutritious cuisines in the whole world. If you’re one of those who are still don’t know what exactly Thai food got to offer especially on taste and benefits  to one’s health, then you should probably give Thai cuisine a try.

Why thai food is very good for your health

Apart from the numerous health benefits associated with the ingredients used in the preparation of Thai food, the manner and method of making and serving the dishes makes it unique. The inclusion of vegetables, spices and herbs in its preparation come with even more benefits. Below are some of… Read more at World of Healthy Tips

The moment you get to know what Thai cuisine really tastes like, there’s a great chance that you will get hooked and fall in love with Thai food. In case you’re a beginner at relishing or already a huge fan of Thai cuisine, the great part is that most of the popular and delicious Thai food are already widely available worldwide.

The Many Health Benefits Of Consuming Thai Food

Well, Thai food is quite similar to other types of Asian food but comprises of abundant wonderful flavors, spices and textural variety. Apart from that there are a flurry of health benefits of consuming such food which can fully be attributed to some of the amazing ingredients (like example turmeric, galangal, coriander and lemongrass) utilized in the preparation of Thai cuisine. In fact the… Read more at Thai Square

Raw Diet Recipe – Thai Salad Amazing Dressing Vegan Easy Healthy

The idea is that heating food destroys its nutrients and natural enzymes, which is bad because enzymes boost digestion and fight chronic disease. In short: When you cook it, you kill it. They claim that a raw food diet can clear up headaches and allergies, boost immunity and memory, and improve arthritis and diabetes. Think uncooked, unprocessed, mostly organic… Watch here

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Thai Cuisine Is Great For Our Health syndicated from http://www.thaispices.com

Chef Ramsay Instigates a Cook-Off | Kitchen Nightmares

Hungry Patrons Eat With Their Eyes – Get Your Signage Right

Your signage is an integral part of your restaurant marketing.

According to the Healthy Professor, we do indeed “eat with our eyes.”

Why is this? It’s because the way food looks is one of the first criteria we use to judge the food we are about to eat.

And, when it comes to restaurants, the other visual aspects matter as well.

That’s why in this article we look at how hungry patrons eat with their eyes and why you need to get your signage right.

Let’s look at how to get your signs just right to promote your restaurant.

Stay True to Your Brand

For a cohesive brand image, your signage should reflect the ambiance of your restaurant, your menu, and the rest of your advertising materials. (tweet this)

Use the same logo, color scheme and feel for your signage as you would your website and your online marketing. This helps create a cohesive, memorable look.

For example, choose colors and fonts and stick with them. When visitors see your color scheme, you want their brains to register your restaurant.

When it comes to signage promoting your brand, think your outdoor and indoor signs, windows, your menu, your table tents, and all of your advertising collateral. It should all match.

Make Your Signage Noticeable

If diners can’t see your signage, they certainly can’t see your restaurant or get a feel for what’s inside.

In this case, bigger is usually the way to go to ensure your patrons can find you.

Consider those passing by on foot, bike, car or bus. Can they all see your signage? Is it large enough? Is it at the right height?

Look at All Angles

Your sign should be large enough to be noticeable from all angles. In other words, you want traffic from all positions to be able to see your sign.

It also pays to consider whether there are some potential impediments to your sign. Are trees in the way? If so, be sure to trim them. Is your sign too short that people in cars can’t see it?

Consider your sign from a number of alternate views so you can hit as many people as possible.

Make Your Sign Visible 24/7

You never know who is driving by, so you want to make sure your sign is also visible from all angles during the night as well as the day. (tweet this)

This means either buying a lighted sign or using lighting to highlight your signage. For example, shining a light on your sign during the nighttime hours.

If you buy a lighted sign, consider LED lights as they are brighter than traditional lights and save energy.

Get creative with your signage, but don’t overdo it. Simple is always better.

Be Creative

If your space doesn’t allow for large signs, it’s time to get creative.

You can use your window space, your awning or your restaurant entrance. You can even set a freestanding sign outside on the sidewalk, just make sure it works with your image.

Consider using your restaurant’s outside architecture to highlight your signage.

Get Animated

Electronic billboard signs are creeping up all over the world. They are eye-catching and grab your patrons’ attention.

In the right place, an animated sign can work. In addition to highlighting your restaurant and your logo, digital signs allow you to show photos of food and the inside of your restaurant.

As you get animated, you’re truly helping hungry patrons eat with their eyes.

Keep It Simple

When it comes to signage, the simpler, the better.

Passersby have just a few seconds to catch your sign, so you don’t want to complicate it with too much text, dark colors or a drab look.

Make sure your sign is simple, to the point, and very eye-catching. Think about your fonts and your colors and make sure they’re as easy to read close-up as they are at a distance.

Use a Tagline

One way to build your brand and entice hungry patrons is to use a very short tagline.

Consider these short statement examples:

• Family owned
• In business since 1940
• Food made with love
• Traditional Naples Pizza

This signage is best used on windows, inside or on collateral.

Tips for Signage

Next, let’s look at some designer-approved tips for designing your outdoor signage:

• Use light colored fonts on dark backgrounds or dark fonts on light backgrounds. Just make sure there is plenty of contrast for the eye.
• Don’t use script fonts. Use fonts that readers can easily read from far away and close-up.
• Look at your sign closely – make sure there is nothing extraneous that might be distracting to the eye of people driving by.
• Keep to your brand – colors, font and logo.
• Use a contrasting color scheme.

Post a Menu Outside Your Door

If you’ve traveled to tourist destinations, you’ve probably noticed that most restaurants have their menu posted right outside the door.

This is another way to encourage hungry patrons to walk into your restaurant. Consider this an extension of your larger, outdoor signage.

Take a tip from the restaurants in tourist or big cities, and make sure your menu is accessible right outside your door.

Use your menu as an advertising piece to catch hungry patrons with their eyes. Photos and well-thought-out descriptions of your menu items are a best bet.

Promote Specials

You can also post these on the menu outside your door or on a free-standing sign.

Posting your specials is another way to get hungry patrons inside your restaurant.

Make sure that your chosen method is easy to change as you’ll likely change it daily or weekly.

Pay the same attention to this sign as you would your larger signs. Keep to your fonts, logo, color and brand identity.

Final Thoughts

Our senses guide our experiences. Because of this, many people make essential purchasing decisions from the way something looks at first glance.

This is why getting your signage right matters so much. From the signs outside your restaurant to your inside décor and your menu, it all can affect your bottom line.

Your signs are the first way you catch the attention of passersby or those looking for a place to eat.

The signage outside your restaurant conveys to potential diners what they might find in your restaurant.

Entice your customers by providing professional, decorative and functional signage to direct diners inside. Make sure it’s consistent with your brand, and you’ll help your hungry patrons right in the door.

Do you have an online website with an interactive menu that’s attractive to your customers and site visitors? Your website is an extension of your signage and as such needs a responsive, mobile-friendly, interactive website. It’s the ideal way to highlight your restaurant while appealing to your customers.

At Restaurant Engine, we build responsive, mobile-friendly restaurant websites. Contact us today for your free website consultation. We are here to help you update your website and stand out in the crowd so you can stay ahead of your competition.

Images: Jesse Collins and James Sutton

Have You Tried Galangal a.k.a. “Thai Ginger”?

If you like eating Thai food, then you may know that Galangal is the ginger used in authentic Thai cuisine. Galangal has its own unique flavor compared to your conventional ginger. Know a little bit more about what it is and why you should try this unique flavorful root.

Ingredient Spotlight: Galangal, the ‘Thai Ginger’ You Need in Your Pantry

Did you know that galangal has been known to Europe since the Middle Ages? That’s hard to believe, since many of us have never heard of it. Upon first glance, galangal looks very similar to ginger; it’s a knobby, strange-looking root that has light-colored skin and protruding white stems with pink tips. Chances are, though, you’ve tasted galangal at least once in your life, especially if you are a fan of Thai food. It is a… Read more at One Green Planet

Galangal’s medicinal benefits is quite the same to that common ginger. It can cure an upset stomach and nausea. Galangal has antiseptic properties and is packed with antioxidants, which can make skin healthier. Its anti-inflammatory properties help in targeting arthritis.

From Galangal to Basil: Spices That Make Thai Food So Healthy

Thai cuisine boasts of certain indigenous ingredients that not only go splattering in the wok but are also gifted with a number of medicinal qualities.  From curing digestive troubles, relieving common cold and flu to reducing blood pressure, boosting immunity, aiding in detoxification and much more… Read more at NDTV.com

What is the Difference Between Ginger and Galangal??!

If you’ve ever visited an Asian grocery store and saw something that looked like ginger, but wasn’t, then you’ve come across galangal. In this video… Watch here

The post Have You Tried Galangal a.k.a. “Thai Ginger”? appeared first on Thai Spices Natural Restaurant.

Have You Tried Galangal a.k.a. “Thai Ginger”? syndicated from http://www.thaispices.com

Owner Claims He Used to Work 25 Hours a Day | Kitchen Nightmares

Online Ordering Apps Your Customers Will Love

Drive business with your own branded online ordering app.

In today’s fast past, ultra-competitive world, every second counts.

This is why it’s so important you capture your potential customers right where they are, and that is usually on their mobile phones.

In this article, we look at online ordering apps your customers will love. We think you’ll love them, too, as they provide your customers instant access to your menu.

Online ordering apps can integrate with your website as well, making your entire online ordering strategy work together. (tweet this)

Another benefit of online ordering apps is that you can often incorporate your loyalty programs right into the apps. This increases diner participation and encourages new diners to download your app.

Apps are a huge draw for your customers who are always using their smartphones. Apps also allow you to advertise promotions and enhance your upsell strategies, encouraging your customers to order more than they often would in-restaurant. (tweet this)

Now, let’s look at online ordering apps your customers will love.

Chow Now

With Chow Now, you can process orders through a branded mobile app as well as your website, Facebook business page, Google Search Listing, Yelp, Bing, Zagat and more.

Chow Now makes taking orders a breeze for your diners.

The reason your customers will love Chow Now is that the app meets them where they are. For example, if your customers are using social media, they can order without having to leave.

It’s easy on your end, as well. You are notified once new orders come in. This usually happens using a tablet near your point of sale system, allowing you to take care of orders immediately.

With Chow Now, you can set delivery zones, add specials and make quick changes to your menu. In addition, they’ll build you custom iPhone and Android apps.

Expect set-up fees and ongoing monthly fees.

Zuppler

If you want to use Zuppler, you need a website or mobile app already in place. Their system allows you to add online ordering capabilities to both.

It’s super easy for you and your customers. All you have to do is upload your menu items to Zuppler, and they’ll provide you with customizable menus that you can add to your website, app and social media pages.

Again, meeting customers where they are, your diners can click on these menus to easily place their orders. You receive them by either fax, email, or through your point of sale system.

Your customers will appreciate finding coupon codes and promotions right next to your menu items.

Expect monthly fees to use this system.

Online ordering meets your customers where they are – on their smartphones.

GrubHub

Well-known GrubHub is a customer favorite.

The bonus with GrubHub is that they do the marketing for you. Not only are they an online ordering tool, but customers visit GrubHub to find a place to eat that delivers.

GrubHub “learns” what its customers like to eat and even makes suggestions to help them find food. Your customers can search by area, restaurant name, menu item and cuisine.

This service lets your customers place online orders, free of charge. They also showcase reviews, coupons and deals in addition to offering customer service to diners.

You can accept mobile orders from the GrubHub website, and you can also accept them through your own website and app.

GrubHub then charges you based on the amount of business they get for your restaurant.

eHungry

When it comes to pricing, eHungry does not have any set-up or monthly fees and no contracts. They take their fee after you get the orders.

Their system comes fully loaded and includes iPhone and Android apps. You can also use it on your website.

Your customers browse your menus, and they can pay for their orders using a credit card or PayPal.

It’s then up to you to decide how you want to accept orders – for pickup, delivery or dine-in. This system informs you of orders through fax, email, tablet, eHungry’s dashboard, phone calls or automated texts.

Their system also allows you to shower customers with coupons and promotions, targeted at your re-ordering customers.

Splick-It

This platform creates custom branded mobile app ordering as well as applications for your website.

Splick-It also features in-app payment, and marketing and loyalty options for your apps. In-app payments is a feature that your customers will love because of its ease of use.

You can use Splick-It’s app platform, or you can integrate the ordering and payment API into the apps and website you already have.

A great feature for you is that you can integrate Splick-It with your point of sale system. In addition, it supports beacon-based ordering, email marketing and your loyalty program.

Seamless

Another app your customers will love is Seamless.

Why? They’ll love it for its search capabilities. Consider the weekend you’re visiting New York City, and you’re looking for a place to eat. Your search will pull up more than 6,000 restaurants.

Your customers can search by ratings, price, distance, fees, delivery minimums, specials and cuisine. They can also search multiple choices at the same time.

Final Thoughts

Online ordering apps your customers will love are good for your restaurant.

Mobile ordering is skyrocketing, and your customers are demanding it.

According to one study, 25% of people have at least one restaurant app on their mobile phones.

What’s more, another study found that 56% of guests order from a restaurant’s website online daily, weekly, or monthly, while just 43% order “rarely” or “never.”

If you don’t have online ordering available through an app or on your restaurant’s website, you’re missing out.

Research from GrubHub points out most restaurants average a 50% increase in revenue and a 20% increase in takeout order volume when using an online ordering app.

By incorporating online ordering apps into your digital marketing, you’ll increase your restaurant’s reach, provide your customers with what they want when they want it, all while increasing your bottom line.

With an online ordering app, you can offer location-based deals, loyalty and referral programs, increased sales with the Millennial crowd and more meals served every day.

Isn’t it time you added value to your restaurant by making ordering easy and intuitive for your customers?

Do you have an online website with an interactive menu that’s attractive to your customers and site visitors? Your restaurant needs a responsive, mobile-friendly, interactive website. It’s the ideal way to highlight your restaurant while appealing to your customers.

At Restaurant Engine, we build responsive, mobile-friendly restaurant websites. Contact us today for your free website consultation. We are here to help you update your website and stand out in the crowd so you can stay ahead of your competition.

Images: Ilya Pavlov and Cel Lisboa