Dining Dish (a.k.a, Dara Bunjon) is founder of Dara Does It, which caters to the food industry everything from PR to food styling to cooking instructions, and more. Enjoy her rants, raves, recipes and food adventures, and let her know yours!

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Every Restaurant is the Fulfillment of Someone's Dream

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Showing entries for Category: Inquiring-Minds

Every Restaurant is the Fulfillment of Someone's Dream

1 comment

September 25, 3:48 PM

by Dining Dish, Baltimore Dining Examiner

What is the state of the restaurant industry? As the Restaurant Examiner, I feel it is my duty to report.

“Every restaurant is the fulfillment of someone’s dream”, quipped Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association (NRA). Ms. Sweeney was in town for the Mid-Atlantic Food, Beverage and Lodging Expo and was the keynote speaker at the Industry Leadership Breakfast hosted by Phillips Harborplace. Sweeney comes to the “table” with strong leadership credentials from AARP.

She is not shy to getting down and dirty for the betterment of the organization, immersing herself in the assorted positions held in the restaurant industry: line cook, expediter, front of house manager, and server. After 8 hours of being on her feet working at a food prep learning experience, Ms. Sweeney was tired but then thought of her co-worker who was heading out to his 2^nd job and from there a 3^rd. As Ms Sweeney said, “it reaffirms that the people in this industry work really, really hard.”

At this same breakfast last year, the then NRA CEO said that the number one issue was staffing for restaurants. But what a difference a year makes. Restaurant operators were surveyed and the number one and two concerns now are the economy and food costs. .

Ms Sweeney offered out these statistics:

*the latest number on average annual household spending on restaurants is $2700

*the typical adult averages 6 "restaurant occasions" per week, since "eating out" might not be interpreted to include off-premises dining (such as takeout, delivery, drive-thru and curbside) which the 6 includes.

*the average daily spending at restaurants is over $1.5 Billion (or about $64 million per hour per day)

*The restaurant industry added 64,000 jobs this year

Dawn talked of a new 5 year plan to be introduced for the industry that stresses:

1. Sustainability and social responsibility

2. Food and healthy living *

3. Emphasize that the restaurant industry isn’t just a job, it is a career

4. Business advocacy – assistance with profitability

* Ms. Sweeney expressed her opinion on adult obesity saying what we choose to eat is our own personal responsibility.

Tacky, Tacky, Tacky

During the Q & A, I reiterated to Ms Sweeney and the attendees that I heard that customers, due to economic hard times, have chosen not to leave tips. The NRA president said interestingly that she had just heard that the night before. This Dining Examiner states unequivocally that if you can’t afford to leave a tip then maybe you shouldn’t be dining out. This is not Europe, tips are not included in the food cost and most importantly servers rely on the tips as their income.

Topics: Inquiring Minds

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From Italy Pre-War to Today's Table - Amarcord

1 comment

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Topics: Reminiscences , Recipes , Raves , Inquiring Minds

Which Baltimore chef is on Top Chef Season 5?

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August 27, 10:38 AM

Which Baltimore chef is rumored to be a Top Chef contestant? Hear is what Baltimore Foodies newsletter just said: "Back in our July 28th e-mail, we told you that: "Top Chef Season 5 is now filming in New York... Read More
Topics: Inquiring Minds , Restaurant

Where Are They Now

2 comments

August 24, 10:17 PM

I was quite shocked when Chef Barry Rumsey and his wife, Deborah Mazzoleni, decided to sell there very popular, highly recognized restaurant, Bicycle. It seems the urban life wasn’t for them anymore, so they packed up the family and moved... Read More
Topics: Reminiscences , Inquiring Minds , Restaurant

Food Network Features Baltimore Purveyors

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August 22, 9:36 AM

In early June, the Food Network was in Baltimore filming Road Tasted with the Neelys. (Paula Deen’s sons are no longer affiliated with the program.) The Neelys travel the US tasting hand-crafted and unique foods that are deliverable nationwide. My... Read More
Topics: Inquiring Minds , Restaurant

Shark Repellent alla Julia Child

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August 18, 3:28 PM

It was a friend’s birthday party, it was a crab feast, and it was under a tent in the same location where Julia Child had her first crabs (and I was there). This stirred a conversation about all the current hoopla about Julia being OSS in World... Read More
Topics: Reminiscences , Dara's Fabulous Adventures , Inquiring Minds

Food Challenge

2 comments

August 16, 2:34 PM

A friend of mine challenged me to create a recipe using Pama Liqueur (www.pamaliqueur.com), the world’s first true pomegranate liqueur. Pama’s ruby-red nectar highlights the sweet-tart flavor of the pomegranate fruit with an alcoholic... Read More
Topics: Reminiscences , Recipes , Drink , Inquiring Minds

New Concept Luckie's Tavern to Host VIN's Staff

5 comments

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HOT OFF THE VIN NEWSLETTER:"As all of you know VIN is temporarily closing due to Towson Circle Phase Three construction.We are proud to announce that key members of our VIN family, including Billy Peterson, General Manager and Justin McGaunn, Sous... Read More
Topics: Inquiring Minds , Restaurant

Many Restaurants Are Extending Restaurant Week Specials

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August 2, 7:31 AM

If you couldn't get to all of your favorite restaurants during Restaurant Week you have a 2nd chance. Numerous restaurants are extending the Summer Restaurant Week's specials. Each are a bit different: some offer just dinners, some... Read More
Topics: Dining Bargains , Dining Event , Inquiring Minds , Restaurant

Average Dinner in Baltimore Cost $34.23*

3 comments

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The 2009 Zagat Restaurant Survey for Baltimore and Washington DC makes its grand entrance today. The Zagat Survey is celebrating its 29th year reporting on the shared dining experiences of consumers like you. What started in 1979 as a hobby... Read More
Topics: Inquiring Minds