Starting My Own Restaurant

When I was nearly hitting the age of 30 something inside me changed I noticed I was starting to question my worth and why am I doing this job. As a manager for a big pub chain I had enough of dealing with complaint after complaint and serving rubbish products. That is when I thought long and hard about what I wanted to do with my future.

I then came up with the idea that I wanted to run my own restaurant. This restaurant had to be started from scratch as I wanted to build it from nothing to a busy restaurant and have no wise cracks from people saying "they did not used to do it that way" or "so and so used to do it this way".

I then made a list of things that I believe make a successful restaurant, these were:

• Location
• Business Partners involved
• Skills of employees
• Size of premises

I knew the location had to be in a busy area which would have a good influx of summer trade but still busy during the winters quiet months. I needed a business partner who had good experience in business and could help coach me along the way and also a business partner who was a skilled chef who could provide consistency in the product.

The skills involved would be important as I had always been a restaurant manager and was looking for a replacement so I could concentrate on the back end of the business with marketing and coming up with the ideas and putting them in place to grow the business.

Believe it or not working in many pubs and restaurants I learnt from the accounts that running the property (fixed costs) were never that much different so I had to make sure the property was big enough to cash in during the summer months.

Going Out to a Restaurant with Kids

Dining in a restaurant with kids can be very enervating and embarrasing. Not only that you have to desperately try and keep your wiggling toddler seated and silent, you also have to manage the disapproving looks from other (non-parent) guests.

The root problem here is again boredom. So before you decide to eat out, observe your child's mood. If it's having a bad day and is getting on your nerves already, better cancel the whole thing. It wouldn't be worth it anyway.

Consider an expedition to the jungles of Africa. Would you go with just picking your jacket and car keys? This is something similar, going out with kids requires preparation.

Bringing toys is generally a good idea. Some "family-friendly" restaurants supply toys, but you don't know what they've been through already, so having your own stuff gives you some of a security if you're very concerned with hygiene.

Since the "playground" in a restaurant is rather limited, avoid bringing toys that require mobility, like remote-controlled cars or balls. Coloring books, crayons and paper, story books or dolls / action figures can also be used while seated. But be careful with pencils and especially crayons, they require a certain amount of observation, otherwise you end up with eaten painting equipment and modern art on the white tablecloth.

It can also be a good idea to buy some cheap toys and prepare a "surprise bag". That will keep the child excited - they learn the connection between "restaurant" and "new toys" astonishingly quickly. And you can connect the gift with some blackmailing if you threaten to withhold the bag in case of bad behaviour.

Going to a restaurant should be something special. Making it an event for both you and your child keeps the latter excited and interested. So also don't insist too much when older children show resistance to go out. If they absolutely don't want to, don't force them. That'll spare you some nasty experiences.

If it's not McDonald's where you're going, make sure to have a table reserved. Especially on crowded days it's a good idea to be early so you don't have to wait for your food too long.

In case your child is choosy with food, better bring some of his/her favourite so you can provide at least a snack if the ordered meal is not accepted. Whatever comes, as much as possible make it a joyful experience. A spilled water or some scattered food won't hurt anyone, so take it easy. It's just a kid!

How to Order Wine in a Restaurant

If you’re the type of person who enjoys wine, you’d like this article explaining how to order wine in a restaurant. There are good tips within the article which will help you save your money and your respect. Some of my favorite tips, expanded upon in the article:

- Read the wine list. Note the prices!
- If the wine’s bad send it back!
- Cheap wine doesn’t mean it’s bad and expensive wine doesn’t mean it’s good.
- If you bring your own wine into a restaurant that has a liquor license you’re gonna pay a corking charge. Deal with it.

Types of Seafood Restaurants

Seafood Restaurant

There are different types of seafood restaurants. There are the quick-service ones, the ones which cater to the middle class and the higher-end ones which cater to the upper class. The quick service seafood restaurants are very much similar to fast-food restaurants. Generally, seafood restaurants offer a wide variety of seafood and they serve it in different fashions.

Can Fast-Food Really Be Part Of A Healthy Lifestyle?

We all enjoy the opportunity to take it a bit easy and “grab” a quick meal from time to time. Or sometimes we just don’t get a choice. We are in the middle of getting from one place to another for appointments, or family commitments.

These factors, combined with our children’s wishes and a chance to relax a bit, often see us faced with the dilemma of satisfying our hunger, or maybe just going out to a dinner for an easy meal, and the requirement for a nutritious meal.

The challenge then, is to satisfy those demands with the knowledge of enjoying a “fast-food” meal that is a healthy choice… full of flavour and nutrition, and low in fat, sugars, and salt.

Dream on you say?

Ok…we also know the reputation that those multi-national fast food conglomerates have for providing meals that include so much fat and sugar that just one item may exceed your allowance for the entire day.

Top that up with a super size, a sugar filled soft drink and an ice cream and we can start to understand the modern concerns about obesity in society and particularly in our children.

Those concerns are not only real they ae often understated. Mega burgers with extra cheese, bacon and mayo, hamburger buns laced with sugar (such that they are not classified as bread, but as confectionery)….. fried chicken, pizzas with cheese on top of cheese with pastry stuffed with cheese, meat pies with a full 25% meat content (if you are lucky)…. And so it goes on and on and on.

I remember being at a baseball game at Wrigley Field in Chicago way back in 1994. The hot dog vendor came around and asked the guy in front of me if he wanted a “hut duuuuug….get ya hut duuuuug”. The guy in front pointed out that he does not eat meat. In an effort to help him with his decision, his friend called out from several seats to his right….”Go on, go ahead and have one….you won’t find any meat in those!” It’s a thought that has stuck with me ever since. Yikes!!!

Now if you are a sensible eater and healthy food is a priority, the odd fast food item or piece of pizza is not going to hurt you. However, if like over 45% of the population you consider your local fast food outlets as your second kitchen, it’s probably time to reassess your lifestyle and your health and watch what you are eating.

These days, some of the new fast-food restaurants either have salad bars, or offer some healthy alternatives. So you might be able to choose a fresh green salad as an extra ….but that does not mean it is OK to load it up with lots of fattening extras, such as cheeses and mayonnaise. Ask for the low calorie salad dressings and some simple seasonings, like salt and pepper, are often overlooked.

But better still…. there are some restaurants, that while considered to serve items normally confined to traditional unhealthy fast-food restaurants, actually have a menu full of only the healthiest items, with the best of nutritious ingredients.

Now if you think about it for a minute lets look at one of the world’s most popular meals…The almighty fast food meal….

What if a fast food restaurant served only healthy fresh bread rolls or pizza bases with no sugar or preservatives, but with added fibre?

What if a fast food restaurant served only low fat, fully trimmed, premium meat and chicken that was prepared fresh on the premises?

What if a fast food restaurant served only free range eggs?

What if a fast food restaurant used only fresh organic fruit and vegetables?

What if a fast food restaurant used low calorie dressings and sauces, freshly prepared without preservatives and additives?

Would your opinion of fast food and similar types of restaurants take on a different slant?

Combine these with some adult selections and some fine wines for moderate consumption when you can take a bit longer, and you have a new healthy alternative.

You would be enjoying an extra tasty meal that is healthy, instead of a fat and sugar laden meal that tastes the same as a wet newspaper…with similar texture!!

Well you probably see where this is going. I am not talking about abstinence from fast-food. I am talking about choices. How much is our own health worth? Or more importantly, how much is our children’s health worth?

Eating “on the run” is something that sometimes we just cannot avoid. However, we can make healthy choices instead of just keeping fast-food restaurants off-limits. healthy choices on the restaurant we go to and healthy choices from its menu.

And as the demand for a healthy alternative is increasing, so too will the number of similar healthy fast-food establishments. It’s up to you to source them near you, and be a truly responsible individual and parent.

How To Copy Restaurant Recipes

Copying restaurant recipes can be easy or hard. It depends on whether a dish is simple, as many side dishes tend to be, or complex, as many main dishes or entrees are--especially the ones that are considered to be a restaurant's "billboard" or signature menu item.

The key to becoming a skilled restaurant menu copycatter is to sample a wide variety of dishes from many restaurants. Also, you should try to train your taste buds and nose to be able to detect and differentiate between different spices, herbs and other flavorings. Make a list (mental or on paper) of all of the ingredients you think are in the next food item you have in a restaurant, and ask your waitperson to tell you if you pegged them correctly.

If the waiter, cook or manager of your favorite recipe is willing to give you a copy of the actual recipe used to create a particular dish, you are most of the way home to being able to copy it in your own kitchen.

Having the list of ingredients and some instructions for putting them together and preparing them is most of the battle, of course. But even then, you might have to compensate for not having some special cooking utensils or devices that the restaurant uses to make the dish. Or, you might have to scale down the recipe considerably if the recipe you're given is for making large batches at a time.

There are books available now that have worked out these problems for you. Their authors have spent many hours tracking down or figuring out scores of those secret restaurant recipes, testing them over and over, and then modifying them as needed for the average cook's kitchen.

Where there's a will there's a way. If it is your fondest desire to be able to copy your favorite restaurant's top recipe at home, know that you can do it ... so get to work!

Restaurant Supplies

Dining in restaurants has long been associated with lifestyle and leisure. Restaurants are establishments serving food and beverage that can be consumed on its premises. A number of restaurants also offer home delivery, where people can enjoy a meal at home after a hard day’s work or entertain guests at home. Restaurants range from simple dining areas that offer budget meals to expensive establishments serving exquisite cuisine. Regardless of their capacity, restaurants would not be efficient and functional if they did not stock adequate restaurant supplies at all times.
The efficient management of supplies plays a major role in determining a restaurants success. In all restaurants, supplies are categorized under different sections to ease the process of acquiring and storing stock. A separate section is earmarked for products that are needed for food preparation, preservation, storage and consumption. This includes processors, dishes and trays. There are separate sections for other products such as tissues, napkins, spoons, groceries, heaters and coolers. Restaurant supplies of food products are categorized as perishable and non-perishable. Perishable food items such as dairy products need to be stocked on a short-term basis, while non-perishable food items such as poultry, can be stocked for a longer period.
Most restaurants purchase their supplies from various manufacturers and retailers in wholesale. A restaurant that does high business volumes would face continuous demand for surplus stock to meet sudden orders. In such a situation, wholesale purchases are profitable, as the supplies are made available at reduced rates. When restaurants stock excess supplies, it is important to have adequate storage facilities in order to avoid spoilage. Inefficient storage of restaurant supplies can result in immense losses. Traders typically do not exchange rotten food and chipped crockery if they have deteriorated because of poor storage. Efficient handling of restaurant supplies plays a critical role in the profitability of a restaurant along with other key factors such as marketing, service standards, location and decor.

Five Fun Ways to Keep Your Kids Happy at a Restaurant

We all love going out to eat – without the kids, that is. If an evening out with the family at a restaurant leaves you feeling like you endured an aerobic workout, take heart with these tips on keeping the little cuties occupied while you wait for your food.
1. Create a box of "goodies." Find a small leftover container and fill it with things you find around your house or at a craft store such as paper clips, foam pieces that come in different colors and shapes, shiny things, dull things, cotton balls, etc. Keep this container in your car so you are always prepared, and the children don’t get tired of playing with it. (If you are really creative, you can decorate the container).
Take it into the restaurant and pull it out after you decide what you want to order. Show them the contents and begin to ask questions. Can you find the round things? How many blue objects can you find? Which things go on a Christmas tree? Which things are soft? How many squares can you find? Your imagination is your only limit. Kids love digging through the container and exploring the objects.
2. Play a guessing game. Lay out a few different objects on the table. These can be objects from the above container, or simple things from your purse. You can even use the sugar packets, salt and pepper shakers or whatever is on the table. Have your children study the objects, and then close their eyes. When their eyes are shut, quickly slip one of the objects away. Then see if they can figure out which one is missing. This game not only entertains but helps children develop memory and thinking skills.
3. Play "I spy" or other games. Many restaurants have interesting decorations hanging around. A round of "I spy a cowboy hat," or "I spy a picture of someone riding a horse" can keep little ones entertained for a few minutes. To help with math skills, practice counting that cereal you carry around in a bag. Or help your children to begin recognizing patterns by drawing a pattern of square, circle, square, circle, and then have them figure out what shape comes next. For older children, you can create longer, more difficult patterns. Of course, there’s always the perennial hangman and tic-tac-toe games that work for older children as well.
4. Play with magnets. It’s amazing how much fun a small magnet can be to a young child. If you carry some paperclips along with it, the children will be entertained for a long time. Have them experiment with what the magnet sticks to. You can also use this with your goody container above. Ask them to see what objects in your container the magnet will pick up. Twist ties and clothes-pins usually work well.
5. Keep a book bag ready to go. If all else fails, usually a bag of books, sticker books or other activity books will keep children occupied for quite a few minutes. Keep it in your truck or in the back of your van. That way each time you bring it out, it’s new again.
With a little thought and preparation, meals out can be a fun family experience.

Types of Restaurant

Many entrepreneurs are thinking about putting up their own restaurants. Restaurants are generally seen as good business ventures because people are always looking for food. There are different types of restaurants that businessmen can look into starting up and the decision regarding what type of restaurant or what style to put up is based on different factors.
The decision regarding the general concept of a restaurant business will be dependent on different major things. Listed below are some of these factors:
Location
The style of the restaurant will be dependent on the location of the restaurant. For example, if someone is thinking about putting up a Chinese-style restaurant in a place where this type of restaurant abounds. He might want to tweak some details about his restaurant to be able to have a competitive advantage against the other Chinese restaurants in the area. Perhaps he would stick with the general concept of having a Chinese restaurant because the place is popular for this type of food but he might want to add different types of cuisine as well, perhaps go into fusion cooking.
Target Market
The target market is very important in determining what style of restaurant to put up. A busy place where class B society thrives maybe an optimum location to put up a midscale fast food restaurant. Different restaurants cater to different types of people and no one restaurant aims at capturing the whole of the market because it would just end up in confusion.
Availability of Materials
If a person is thinking of putting up a restaurant, he might want to look closely at the availability of the materials in the area. For example, a seafood restaurant will depend greatly on the availability of fresh ingredients and seafood in the local market. If not, the owner will have to look for other alternatives which can cost him additional money.
Availability of good cooks
There are more than enough restaurants in many areas today. The only thing that separates the good ones from the normal ones are the types of cooks. The style of the restaurant should match the skills of the hired chef. There are good chefs who can easily adjust to styles which they aren't really accommodated with but these chefs are very hard to find and perhaps, they will ask for a very hefty salary.
Personal Preference
Of course, every business is built upon vision and the personal preference of the owner will ultimately determine the style of restaurant that he will start. There are ways to beat the normal odds which go against the success of new restaurants.
There are a lot of different styles of restaurants which one can choose from. These are:
Steakhouses
These restaurants usually cater to the middle and upper class markets. These are also usually oriented towards families and have a very relaxed and homey atmosphere. The meals in steakhouses are usually deemed as good buys. There are also the high-end steakhouses which concentrate more on the quality of the meat which they serve.
Seafood Restaurants
There are different types of seafood restaurants. There are the quick-service ones, the ones which cater to the middle class and the higher-end ones which cater to the upper class. The quick service seafood restaurants are very much similar to fast-food restaurants. Generally, seafood restaurants offer a wide variety of seafood and they serve it in different fashions.
Casual Dining
This type of restaurant caters to almost all kinds of people. People go here to be able to have a lot of food choices and enjoy the relaxed kind of atmosphere. The prices in casual dining restaurants are usually not that high.
Pizzeria
There are basically two choices in creating a pizzeria. The first one is to construct a full-blown restaurant which doesn't only serve pizza but many different kinds of food as well. The other choice is to specialize in pizzas and a few other items such as beer.
Coffeehouse
More and more people are being enticed to go to coffeehouses. These coffeehouses offer the coziest atmospheres for small talk and coffee conversations.
These are only a few of the choices that you have in developing a concept for your restaurant. Explore other choices and stick with the one which satisfies the heart most.