Blog

Summer is finally here, and if you’ve not yet dusted off your BBQ, now’s the time to do so. Hosting a barbecue is a great way to entice customers – new and old – to your restaurant. Not only can they turn an ordinary piece of food into something full of flavour, but they are also family-friendly, fun, and pretty simple to pull off. BBQ IDEAS FOR CHEFSNo matter your level of expertise in the kitchen, hosting a summer BBQ is always a fun way to spend an afternoon or evening with friends and family. If you’re planning on firing up the grill this summer, here are some tips to help you make it the ultimate BBQ experience.If you have a local butcher, try and strike up a deal for the BBQ – people love to eat local. If not, ask your su...

Summer is a time for fun in the sun, vacations, and of course, delicious food! If you are looking to add some new dishes to your summer menu, we have some tips for you. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing summer menu items:1. SEASONAL PRODUCEOne of the best things about summer is all of the fresh, seasonal produce that is available. Make sure to incorporate some of these items into your menu.2. GRILLINGSummer is also a great time to break out the grill and cook up some delicious food. There are endless possibilities when it comes to grilling, so make sure to try out some new recipes.3. KEEP IT LIGHTDuring the summer, people tend to want lighter, more refreshing dishes. So make sure to include some lighter items on your menu....

It is no secret that a good chef is hard to find. With the intense competition in the hospitality industry, it is more important than ever to find ways to retain the chefs you have in your employ. One of the biggest expenses for any business is high turnover of staff. When an employee leaves, you not only lose their skills and experience, but you also have to spend money on recruiting and training a replacement. This can be a costly exercise, especially if you’re constantly having to replace chefs.Here are some tips on how to attract and retain staff:1. HIRE THE RIGHT CANDIDATEA well-run kitchen is a well-oiled machine, and each part must work in harmony with the others in order to achieve success. Hiring managers must keep this in mind ...

If you’re looking for a way to increase your revenue, an outdoor pizza oven may be the answer. Pizza has become very popular in the UK in recent years, and having an outdoor oven will help your restaurant stand out from the competition. It will allow you to serve delicious pizzas, but it will also attract new customers who are looking for a unique dining experience.An outdoor oven will also help you save on costs, as you won’t have to rent or buy a separate space for it. Plus, it’s a great way to utilise outdoor space and make the most of your restaurant’s location.Let’s explore these benefits in more detail:BENEFITS OF AN OUTDOOR PIZZA OVEN FOR YOUR RESTAURANT1. Increased revenue – An outdoor pizza oven is a great way to increa...

If you’re like most people, you love brunch. There’s something about this meal that just makes it special. Maybe it’s the combination of breakfast and lunch foods. Or maybe it’s the fact that you can relax and take your time eating without having to worry about being late for work. Whatever the reason, brunch has become one of the most popular meals in America and is rapidly growing in UK. Let’s take a look at how brunch has grown in popularity over the last decade and explore some ways to run one and explore some recipes.WHAT IS BRUNCH TIME?Brunch time is the perfect time to gather with friends and family and enjoy a leisurely meal. It’s also a great opportunity to try new foods and recipes.Over the last decade, brunch has beco...

I have been a Chef for over 2 decades and worked in a range of venues; from cafes on the seafront on the Costa Del Sol to Michelin kitchens, to huge banqueting venues (which generate some of the most waste I have ever encountered).I worked previously as the Head Chef of River Cottage and later for a brief time with Love food, Hate Waste, as a demonstration chef, working in shopping malls to teach the public how to shop more cleverly and use more ingredients rather than ready meals, the one thing that shone through was a lack of education in two areas; basic cooking and managing the household budget.By the way, household food waste is over 20% of all food purchased, crazy, isn’t it?We all know the cost of food is going up and that of cours...

After the last two years that the hospitality industry has had to endure, it’s now more important than ever to build good customer loyalty. Too many businesses focus on acquiring new customers rather than retaining the existing ones. And while both are important, building a long-term relationship with customers is incredibly valuable, as it means they are invested in your business. They believe in your values. And they support them. The flip side of this is that they are then also more likely to help you attain new business through word of mouth – customer reviews are hugely influential in purchasing decisions. We recently wrote about how you can stimulate more positive reviews.There are many ways to build customer loyalty. Offering rew...

Your restaurant may have all the ingredients for a successful business: delicious food, stylish decor, a great ambiance, and a brilliant team. But without a sommelier, you could be missing out on a crucial part of the recipe – not to mention the extra revenue having someone with such expertise could bring.It’s not just fine dining restaurants that can benefit from having a sommelier. So don’t stop reading because you think you don’t meet the criteria. Everyone can benefit from having the knowledge of someone in the drinks industry, whether it’s a permanent position, or someone who works with you on an ad-hoc basis to curate your wine list, offer suggested food and drink pairings, and educate the staff.To help us take a deeper dive...

Following a government consultation on calorie labelling in 2018, it has been confirmed that Mandatory Calorie Labelling aimed at “tackling obesity” is set to be enforced on 6th April 2022. And we’re here to explain what that means, and how Erudus can help businesses comply…WHAT IS MANDATORY CALORIE LABELLING?Mandatory Calorie Labelling is a piece of legislation that will be directed towards large food businesses (businesses with 250 or more employees) in the out of home sector – for example, restaurants, cafés, takeaways, bakeries and Caterers.The aim of the new legislation is to provide accessible information that may encourage consumers to make healthier food choices when eating out. Alongside this, there is hope that intr...

St George’s Day is one that often gets overlooked by the hospitality industry. Especially in comparison to St Patrick’s Day, the month before, which sends cities into week-long celebrations. But there’s no reason we should celebrate St George’s Day any less. After all,  it is also known as the Feast of Saint George’s Day…Yes, you’re right in thinking that, in this context, ‘feast’ doesn’t actually mean ‘a large meal’ but rather an annual religious celebration dedicated to a saint, but there’s nothing to stop us from throwing a feast to celebrate, right?All over the world countries are celebrating this religious day, which falls annually on April 23, including Bulgaria, England, Georgia, Portugal, Romania, and Sp...

Easter is a great time to get creative with your cakes and bakes. All it takes are a few simple additions to traditional recipes and you’re good to go. From topping cupcakes with mini eggs to decorating cakes with Easter-shaped chocolates, and candy bunnies and carrots, you don’t have to do too much to make a big impact. Whether you’re putting together a special Easter menu for the 17th April or just want to add a few festive treats to your afternoon tea line-up, your customers won’t be able to resist these five Easter bakes.EASTER CUPCAKEThis is the recipe for a classic vanilla cupcake but you could add blueberries, chocolate chips or crushed mini eggs into the mix too. Top it how you wish. You can’t go wrong with a flavoured but...

The vast array of gluten-free products is such a positive development for those with Coeliac disease. There’s nothing worse than looking at a menu and finding there’s nothing suitable for your dietary requirement. No longer a restricted option, diving into a delicious piece of gluten-free Chocolate Fudge Cake is not an issue and demand remains strong within the retail and foodservice sector. According to the Coeliac UK, over 1 in 100 people suffer from the disease, but 1 in 5 consumers are still choosing gluten-free food for health reasons. What started as the occasional ground-breaking product has expanded into an amazing variety of products from bread, sauces, and cakes to name but a few.In the past, gluten-free had a reputation for...