Ten Food Cost Fixes You Can Do Right Now!

Food costs keep rising, whether it is for home grocery shopping or wholesale items for your restaurant. You don't want to compromise quality, yet an increase in prices may drive your traffic down. Read on to find ten food cost fixes you can do right now!

Take full advantage of fresh foods when they are in season. This is not only produce, but also items such as certain kinds of fish. Plan your menus around these tasty seasonal foods, at least for a few key dishes.

Another way of looking at your menu planning is to categorize your foods into three categories. The first is signature dishes that are unusual and the stars of your cuisine. The second category is less costly dishes that use up the leftovers from the signature items. The final category is the standard fare that more traditional diners want.

Consider items that are not as well known to create unique dishes or reflections on more standard fare. Certain cuts of fish are quite inexpensive and could be used in fish sandwiches. Watch for these items and design unusual menu items that pay off in a big way.

Keep the number of options to a minimum. These can be done extremely well. This concept makes for simplicity in ordering and less waste.

Just because the food costs less, it doesn't mandate less flavor or appeal to diners. Challenge the chef to come up with imaginative dishes from lower cost foods. A few of these items can even attract customers who want to try something new and different.

Use your imagination when starting with an inexpensive basic food item such as pizza dough. The items you place on the bite size can become star appetizers. You should choose items which have a strong value-added appeal.

Do a quarterly menu review and use it to exchange at least one dish. You can then adjust the price on that one item without it becoming a glaring boost. It also keeps interest in your fare at a high level.

Keep the presentation in mind. Even a Plain-Jane menu can be dressed up with garnishes. Adding touches to make the foods look more substantial allows for a higher price.

Incorporate ethnic items into your menu. Often, lower cost meats are used in single pot dishes. Garnishes are an effective way to make your menu sparkle.

Look at the larger picture. A tiny bit of an exotic spice can make the entire dish something outstanding. Put your creativity to work on the above ten food cost fixes you can do right now!