MAY / JUNE 2016 VOL 5, ISSUE 8 Fun and Games From amusement parks to bowling, food mixed with fun is a profitable business Plus: 4 Ways To Re-Evaluate Your Supply Chain How Much Do You Know About Food Allergies? The Truth About Vermouth IT’S THAT EASY. Gas South is committed to supporting Georgia’s restaurant industry with customized rate plans and waived service fees for GRA business members. We are proud to offer a dedicated account manager and a feet-on-the-street team to better serve you. Learn more about the natural gas savings that your GRA membership provides VISIT CALL gas-south.com/restaurants 1-866-512-3129 Contents 16 May / June 2016 DEPARTMENTS 3 Editor’s Note 4 GRA News 8 ACF Update 24 Snapshots 26 Industry Events 20 28 Restaurant Report FEATURES 4 Ways To Re-Evaluate Your 7 Supply Chain By Bruce Reinstein Find big savings by rethinking what comes into your kitchen – and what goes out. How Much Do You Know About 24 10 Food Allergies? By Tracy Stuckrath The Truth About Vermouth Diners with allergies should be taken seriously in 20 By Lara Creasy your restaurant or catering operation, especially After years of mishandling, can this mistreated because some allergies can be life-threatening. and misunderstood cocktail co-star take on Take this quiz and see how much you know when a leading role? it comes to food allergies. Eat, See, Drink and Tattoo It’s All Fun and Games 25 The 4th Annual Atlanta Foodservice Expo is set for 16 By Candice Dyer Sept. 19-20 at a new venue with educational From amusement parks and bowling to arcades and seminars, culinary competitions and three pavilions movies, these hospitality companies are finding that showcasing beer, wine and spirits – and a chance to food mixed with fun is a profitable investment. get tattooed and win some cash. Publisher: John Sawyer Restaurant INFORMER is the official Editor: Christy Simo magazine of the Georgia Restaurant Graphic Designer: Scott Bagley Association and is published by Sawyer Direct, LLC at P.O. Box 49053, Contributing Writers: Karen Bremer, Lara Colorado Springs, CO 80949. Creasy, Candice Dyer, Eric Karell, Bruce Reinstein, © 2016 by Sawyer Direct LLC. All rights reserved. Tracy Stuckrath For subscription or advertising About the Cover: Sarah Newman information, call 719.599.7220 or photographed Mandy and Kelvin Slater of email [email protected] Slater Hospitality at The Roof of Ponce City Market in Atlanta. RestaurantINFORMER.com | 1 Creating an Experience love a good party. I love filling my home or a creative acre amusement park/bar/restaurant/special event space on I venue with people, prepping delicious food and creating top of Ponce City Market that’s slated to debut to the public an experience that leaves everyone talking about how much this summer. fun they had even months down the road. Not only will they be opening Nine Mile Station – a beer Sure, entertaining people is a lot of hard work, but it’s garden and restaurant with astounding views of the Atlanta worth it when you see everyone having a good time and you skyline from downtown to Buckhead – they will also be know you played a part in it. overseeing the bar and concession stand perched next to the But sometimes, it’s nice to let someone else entertain for 18-hole mini golf and retro carnival games scattered across a change. the rooftop under the giant red Ponce City Market sign. I’m not alone in that sentiment. According to several The Slaters are just two of the many restauranteurs across studies, today’s diners aren’t satisfied with simply grabbing the state who know that creating an experience is part of a bite to eat. They crave an experience. today’s social equation. Whether it’s bowling, arcade games According to a 2014 study by Eventbrite, 3 out of 4 or movies, people are looking for something new to do while Millennials – for this survey those born between 1980 and they go out to eat. 1996 – would rather spend their money on experiences like You may not run a restaurant that has these kinds of concerts, dining out, parties or festivals over consumer amenities, but you can certainly consider creating a little goods. And in a 2013 Nielsen study on the “American excitement in your customers’ lives. Restaurants will always Moviegoer,” 72 percent of Millennials like to go to the movie be a place to escape and connect with the ones you’re dining theater. When you throw in reclining seats, in-theater dining with, and they have a social currency all their own. If you can and alcohol like CinéBistro in Brookhaven does, you’ve got create a sense of connection with your diners and help them yourself more than just a movie – you have an experience. create memories they can share, you’re well on your way to a Ponce City Market in Atlanta definitely taps into that successful business. desire to experience life and not just watch from the sidelines. The project has been garnering national attention for the bold redevelopment of a hulking 1926 Sears, Roebuck & Co. distribution center into a hive of shopping, dining and living adjacent to the Atlanta BeltLine. Mandy and Kelvin Slater of Slater Hospitality are clearly Christy Simo having fun gearing up for the launch of The Roof, the six- Editor RestaurantINFORMER.com | 3 NEWS MESSAGE FROM THE CEO Second Annual Georgia Restaurant Week is Back estaurants in Georgia have been recognized for providing • Provide the ultimate experience for your customers. Ra culinary experience that represents our state’s hospitable While focusing on your menu is important, patrons nature, establishing loyalty with their customers and showing also feel the need for a unique ambience and setting involvement in the community. Georgia’s restaurants provide while dining out. Guests feel that dining out is an patrons with a unique dining experience and continue to boost important social component of their lives. Bring in a live our state’s economy. Georgia Restaurant Week aims to highlight band or add some new décor to your location. the various dining options our state has and serves as an opportunity for restaurants to gain exposure. • Your prix fixe menu should be of value in terms of The Georgia Restaurant Association has partnered with the price and quality. Carefully select which menu items Georgia Department of Economic Development to present will be paired together and at what menu price. Guests the second annual Georgia Restaurant Week. This week- want to know that they are getting a good value. If they long culinary event focuses on increasing awareness about enjoy the experience and see that your menu is at the the outstanding culinary scene throughout Georgia and will right price point, they will likely return to sample your highlight the state’s one-of-a-kind dining options. Georgia regular menu as well. Restaurant Week will take place July 18-24, 2016, at participating restaurants throughout the state and will showcase Georgia’s When restaurants participate in Georgia Restaurant Week, restaurants to consumers while attracting new visitors to the they can gain new customers, increase exposure and showcase state through culinary tourism. their community. In addition to the partnership with the Restaurants can make the most out of participating in Georgia Georgia Department of Economic Development, the GRA Restaurant Week with some of the following tips: has also partnered with Flavors Magazine, OpenTable, Taste of Atlanta and other outlets to promote the event. Participating • Incorporate Georgia Grown products into your menu. restaurants will be able to facilitate reservations on OpenTable During the summer, there are several Georgia Grown and can also gain marketing and promotional exposure through products in season such as blueberries, tomatoes and these other outlets. watermelon that can be added to dishes. This is a great Guests who dine out during Georgia Restaurant Week way to showcase the abundance of fresh and local will be able to choose from a prix fixe menu of $15, $25 or products in Georgia. $35. Menu items, reservations and more information about how your restaurant can participate can be found at www. garestaurantweek.com. Guests and restaurants can also engage Why Become a Member of the Georgia through social media using the hashtag #GARestaurantWeek. Restaurant Association? Sincerely, Whether you are looking to get involved with shaping public policy, Karen Bremer, CAE for discounts on programs and services that are critical to running a CEO restaurant or to stay informed about changing laws and regulations Georgia Restaurant Association affecting the foodservice industry, you’ll find it all at the GRA. Online applications are available at www.garestaurants.org. For questions, contact GRA Director of Membership Ryan Costigan at [email protected] or (404) 467-9000. 4 | Restaurant INFORMER May/June 2016 2016 Board of Directors and GRA Staff Georgia Restaurant Association Staff M. Anderson Piper, Chick-fil-A, Inc. Will Bernardi, Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. | Carrabba’s, Karen I. Bremer, CAE, CEO Jim Squire, Chairman Emeritus, Firestorm Bonefish Grill, Outback Steakhouse Yvonne Morgan, Executive Assistant Scott Bishop, TriMark Century Concepts Katie Jones, Public Affairs Coordinator Executive Committee Federico Castellucci, Castellucci Hospitality Group Daniel New, Public Affairs Assistant Chair - Paul Baldasaro, Home Grown Industries Chris Coan, Gas South Ryan Costigan, Director of Membership of Georgia, Inc. dba Mellow Mushroom Shannayl Connolly, TM Restaurant Group, Tandelyn Daniel, Member Development Executive Vice Chair -