CFE chats with celebrity chef Maneet Chauhan By Sara Perez Webber At the Florida Restaurant Show in Orlando in November, Chef Maneet Chauhan shared this advice to attendees who gathered to watch her prepare Tandoori Shrimp & Grits: “Be as authentic as possible.” It’s a maxim Chauhan has clearly followed herself as she’s charted a meteoric rise in the culinary … [Read more...] about Meet Maneet
Expect the Unexpected
Bill Hansen shares one of his wildest wedding stories in an excerpt from his new book, Plating Up Profits: Miami’s Catering Icon Dishes Up Lessons for Business Success As the founder of Bill Hansen Catering and CEO of Hansen Group, 55-year catering veteran Bill Hansen has seen it all when it comes to catered events. He shares his most memorable stories—and the business … [Read more...] about Expect the Unexpected
Tapping into the Experience Economy
Multisensory, memorable meals are satisfying the increased appetite for experiential dining and culinary tourism By Joy Pouros, Culinary Software Services The “experience economy” refers to consumers prioritizing experiences over material possessions. For some, this preference aligns with their minimalist lifestyle, while others may be spurred on by social media and … [Read more...] about Tapping into the Experience Economy
ezCater’s Third Annual Lunch Report Reveals Lunch Breaks Are Losing Ground to Busy Schedules
ezCater, the #1 food tech platform for workplaces, released its third annual Lunch Report, revealing new insights into employees’ lunch habits. Although 98% of employees recognize the benefits of lunch breaks on job performance and productivity, nearly half (49%) skip lunch altogether at least once a week. Employees cite fear they won’t have enough time to get their work done … [Read more...] about ezCater’s Third Annual Lunch Report Reveals Lunch Breaks Are Losing Ground to Busy Schedules
Listing Your Business for Sale
Tips for determining the value of your company and presenting it to potential buyers By Dale Vaillancourt As a caterer, you know that meticulous preparation is the key to a successful event. If you don’t put in the work beforehand, you won’t achieve satisfying results for you and your clients. The same philosophy applies to selling your catering business. With … [Read more...] about Listing Your Business for Sale
Olympic-Sized Lessons
An interview with John Crisafulli of Behind the Scenes Catering, who's catered for 13 Olympic Games John Crisafulli—ECEP founding member, and president and CEO of Behind the Scenes (BTS) Catering in San Diego—has produced food at 13 Olympic Games. He’s seen it all, from Covid restrictions to frustrating red tape to perhaps the most exciting challenge—preparing a culinary … [Read more...] about Olympic-Sized Lessons
Business Leaders Connect at Plant Based World Expo North America
Plant Based World Expo North America, the leading 100% plant-based trade event, marked its fifth event presenting the future of the plant-based industry to retail and foodservice professionals at the Javits Center in New York City. The event highlighted the accelerating innovation and longevity of the plant-based sector, setting the stage for what's next in food and beverage, … [Read more...] about Business Leaders Connect at Plant Based World Expo North America
Nearly 5,000 Attend the California Restaurant Show in Los Angeles
In late August, nearly 5,000 restaurant, pizza and foodservice industry professionals, representing a 51% increase in buyers, were at the Los Angeles Convention Center for the California Restaurant Show, which for the first time included the Pizza Tomorrow Summit Pavilion. The sold-out trade show floor featured 220-plus exhibiting companies, with 50% of them new to the show, … [Read more...] about Nearly 5,000 Attend the California Restaurant Show in Los Angeles
Plant-Based Power
10 trends taking root in plant-based dining By Sara Perez Webber Whether they’re vegan, vegetarian or simply want to eat less meat, consumers are increasingly embracing plant-based diets. According to a 2023 Gallup survey, 4 percent of Americans are vegetarian and 1 percent are vegan. That doesn’t tell the whole story, however. Younger consumers are far more likely … [Read more...] about Plant-Based Power
Smart Packaging
Foodservice businesses are finding more sustainable ways to deliver the goods By Sara Perez Webber For foodservice companies committed to sustainability, packaging presents an ongoing challenge. After all, your food needs to get into the hands of customers. But how do you do it in a way that minimizes waste? Steve Short, COO and chief culinary officer of Steve Short … [Read more...] about Smart Packaging