February 8, 2010 – 12:10 am
The buzz on burgers seems to be at a fever pitch these days. After splitting a perfect burger with a friend at Bandera a couple of weeks ago, followed by a Happy Hour visit for Fleming’s cheeseburger, I was talking with an industry menu maven who noted that, right now, the “downscaling of fine dining†is […]
February 4, 2010 – 12:12 am
On a recent business trip to Newport Beach, I made time to see my old hairdresser Eddie. I hadn’t seen him since I moved away four years ago, but it was as though it had been four weeks, not four years. That day, all he could talk about was restaurants and the economy:
February 1, 2010 – 11:21 pm
There is something irresistible about consistency. Think about it. The experience you expect is the experience you get every time.It’s not unlike when my nephew was little. He watched the movie American Tail over and over and over again. Never got tired of it. It was almost like the chewed-up stuffed panda bear (AKA “Pandieâ€) he […]
January 25, 2010 – 12:17 am
I’m in Southern California this week and drove by one of my old haunts: Coco’s. I noticed it because they had a new sign with big puffy yellow letters, as opposed to the big puffy white letters the last time I drove by. Ironically, this exact location was one where we experimented with different exterior […]
January 15, 2010 – 12:21 am
It’s finally happened. After decades of talking about the need for healthy solutions, demand has reached critical mass and restaurants are beginning to really meet the challenge.
January 8, 2010 – 12:23 am
I stopped the other night on my way home for curbside carryout from one of my favorite casual restaurants…nothing better on a snowy night than curbside comfort food! I had stopped several weeks earlier for the exact same order (double broccoli…no potatoes) and there had been a mistake in my order. To avoid having the same […]
December 16, 2009 – 12:27 am
I love traveling. (I especially love it when a consulting project takes me to Southern California in the winter.) But the thing IÂ really love is the unique regional cuisine I get to experience when I travel.
December 11, 2009 – 12:32 am
I love the Ellen DeGeneres line, “A disturbing new study finds that studies are disturbing.” How true is that?
October 23, 2009 – 12:37 am
The NRA Marketing Executives Group (MEG) Conference in Las Vegas was a great place to learn, to network and to be inspired. Here is part two of the Top Ten Things I Really Learned in Vegas.
October 18, 2009 – 12:47 am
I’ve been feeling a “Top Ten List” coming on, so, just for fun…here goes. My Top Ten “Quick Tips” for Restaurateurs
