Food Is Powerful

Food is powerful, no two ways around it.  But why?  What is it about food that makes it so important?  Defining events in our lives seem to involve or revolve around food.  For birthdays we go out to dinner; at holidays, we gather with family and friends around the kitchen table. Super Bowl Sunday is around the corner and is definitely associated with food. I may not be able to tell you who attended my wedding reception, but I can rattle off a good portion of the menu. I even remember what I ate the night my wife proposed to me in one of our favorite restaurants! (Yes, you read that correctly!) Valentine’s Day will be here in a couple weeks, and its time for us to look at what Chefs will serve in their restaurants. Valentine’s Day is a time where people try new restaurants. One great meal can turn a new customer into a lifelong regular customer. That’s a powerful concept and very stressful for restaurateurs; which makes it a great time to help our customers out with some new ideas. As a chef, I’m often asked of my favorite meal. Parts of my answer may change, but one thing remains constant – they were very simple but well executed dishes. There are fewer things more enjoyable than a braised meat done well.  A tough (and usually cheap) cut of meat cooked in liquid until tender.  With the seasons soon changing, this will be one of the last times you can pull off a braised meat and have customers clamoring for it. More favorites include a simple risotto with fresh mushrooms, mashed parsnips, creamed potatoes, well poached shrimp or a simple salad topped with a poached egg.  A great sauce can lift a mediocre dish to such greatness, it is really amazing! Set your customers up for success – keep it easy!  Pulling out new ideas and applications on a busy night like Valentine’s Day is not only foolish, but could ultimately lead them to fail. Feel free to call or email if you need help with ideas, recipes or availability questions. Remember, great talent doesn’t always make you the best. It’s simply those who maximize their potential than can get the most out of themselves & be the most effective. By doing this with your customers, they begin to see you a valued part of their organization - not just an outsider who happens to have the food they need to operate.