For many restaurants, bars, and other hospitality venues, New Year’s Eve (NYE) is a night of heightened emotions, increased alcohol consumption, and a surge in customer traffic. This article outlines strategies for establishments looking to prepare for a successful NYE celebration. We focus on topics including operational efficiency, managing guest expectations, and safety precautions. These […]
Large Language Models (LLMs) like Gemini AI — Google’s latest language model — are changing how people discover and navigate local businesses like restaurants. To maximize their visibility and catch AI’s attention, restaurants must optimize their digital presence for multimodal analysis, the cornerstone of Gemini’s recommendation engine. In this article, we explore key techniques that […]
The National Restaurant Association’s annual “What’s Hot Culinary Forecast” reports that Filipino food will continue to trend, picking up more momentum in 2025. One distinctly Filipino ingredient, ube, is leading the charge, captivating global palates with its versatile flavor profile and photo-worthy aesthetics. A Tuber With a Twist Ube (pronounced “oo-beh” and meaning “tuber” […]
More and more, businesses are waking up to the important role corporate climate accountability plays in the global quest for sustainability. Soon, voluntary practices — like reporting greenhouse gas emissions — will be made mandatory for public corporations. The United States’ disclosure rule issued in March of 2024 puts us aside Europe, Brazil, Nigeria, New […]
Former Wasserstrom employee and famed American game show host, Chuck Woolery, died in his home on Saturday, at the age of 83. Charles Herbert Woolery, born 1941 in Ashland, Kentucky, best known as the charismatic original host of Wheel of Fortune and Love Connection, had a diverse career before and after his TV fame. After […]
In-store signage is a powerful, yet often underestimated, tool for influencing consumer decision-making and purchasing behavior. In this article, we look at one effect signage has on customer decision-making called “priming.” Attention and Information Processing Grocery stores are information-rich environments where the goal of signage is to capture shopper attention and direct their information processing. […]
Want to upgrade your buffet without the hassle of disassembling your existing infrastructure or learning a complex new system? In this article, we’ll share an easy way to give your buffet a much-needed visual and functional refresh. Why You Need a Buffet Refresh, From a Consumer Perspective In the age of fast fashion, tech trends, […]
Think you know your way around a professional kitchen? Let’s see how well you understand the lingo of the culinary world. This quiz will test your knowledge of the basics in professional kitchen slang, jargon, and shorthand. Ready to get cooking? Let’s start!
Gen Z presents a unique challenge and opportunity for the wine industry. While this demographic might not be flocking to Napa Valley just yet, there’s a clear opportunity to cultivate their interest in wine. In this article, we’ll explain how restaurants and wine bars can tailor their approach to resonate with these discerning young consumers. […]
Limited-time offers (LTOs) generate buzz and drive significant traffic to restaurants. Occasionally, they’ll even succeed in creating an entirely new product category. But designing a successful LTO requires a strategic approach. Here, we cover three tactics for crafting LTOs that ignite customer engagement. 1. Sensory Overload Humans are complex experience machines, and successful LTOs go […]
Each autumn, Mexico awakens with a celebration unlike any other: Día de Muertos, or “Day of the Dead.” One essential part of Día de Muertos is pan de muerto or “bread of the dead.” Joyful Reunions Día de Muertos, or “Day of the Dead,” is a multifaceted cultural celebration observed in Mexico and by Latinx […]
In convenience store (C-store) grab-and-go sections, customers are guided by visual cues rather than premeditated grocery lists. In this article, we share product placement tips and tricks for grab-and-go sections that produce a stronger bottom line. Consider the Eye-Level Advantage Think of human vision as a spotlight. The most illuminated area, roughly between our shoulders […]
Muffin and cupcake pans are highly versatile tools in professional kitchens, far beyond their traditional uses. In this article, we’ll explore creative applications for these pans, including edible vessels, amuse-bouche and appetizer minis, and visually deceptive savory dishes disguised as sweet treats. Within each section, we’ll add our recommendations for commercial muffin and cupcake pans […]
“Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.” – Confucius Mise en place (also known as “the meez” or simply “mise”) isn’t a suggested practice or optional task. It’s a way of life in the restaurant world and a necessary skill for new cooks to master. Everything in […]
We are proud to announce that Wasserstrom has been named Equipment Vendor of the Year by International Dairy Queen Inc. (IDQ), the parent company of American Dairy Queen Corporation (ADQ), which is the franchisor of the DQ® restaurant system. The award was presented at the DQ Supply Chain Summit 2024 on September 12th by Kevin […]
Curious about incorporating a mandoline into your prep kitchen? We explain their applications, how they stack up against knives, best practices, and talk about three models for a more in-depth look into the mandoline product market. Mandolines 101 A mandoline is a versatile kitchen tool used to slice, shred, and julienne with extreme precision and […]