Top Benefits of An Ever-Changing Menu
The culinary industry is particularly trend-sensitive in this modern age. Traditionalists are many, and chefs especially so when it comes to their menus. However, putting new dishes on the table might just be what customers expect from a top restaurant in Brooklyn. Turns out, seasonal menus have more orders. This is what diners want. Honestly, it is what many chefs want too. Quite possibly all.
The boring, predictable menu is very yesterday. Changing it up offers many benefits. Chefs can play with new flavors, new plating methods, new preparations. New ingredients. It nurtures relationships with diners. Keeps them excited. In anticipation. It strengthens engagement with staff. Diners have more questions. Servers have more to talk about. We could go on, but this is compelling enough:
1. Keep dishes fresh and trendy
Food trends matter in all famous Brooklyn restaurants. Keeping diners interested in the menu means keeping ahead of their ever-changing tastes. A fresh menu keeps an eatery on-trend. It attracts new diners. Creates new interests. Trends like veganism, for example, need inclusion. Avocado trends regularly as a top favorite, as does our specific niche, being locally sourced ingredients.
No matter the current trend, whether toasty avocado, health salads, or gourmet burgers, people will always look for it on the menu. Fresh, wholesome ingredients are always trending. The demand for fresh needs local produce, another plus for diners. We source all our ingredients locally. We forage, we hunt, we fish. We do not support the commercial food supply.
2. Allow chefs to properly explore their creativity
Cooking is very technical. Such skills are necessary. However, it is also very creative. Artsy. Frequent menu changes allow chefs to think out of the box. To attract diners with new menu creations. The best chefs all strive for such an opportunity. A chance to show off their skills. Their ideas. Creative chefs love menu changes. The more dishes they can make, the longer they tend to stay.
Diners love creative dishes too. They order many more of them. What is more, new dishes break the monotony of boring and predictable for other staff too. It gives front- and back- of house staff a springier step, and it encourages collaboration between colleagues. Menu changes keep chefs interested, staff interested, and diners coming back for more. Seasonal menus most of all.
3. Reduce food wastage significantly
According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, around 40 percent of the entire food supply goes to waste. The hospitality sector accounts for much of that, and it would be deceitful of the restaurant industry not to own its share of blame. Food waste overwhelms landfills instead of feeding the hungry. Further, the energy, water, and food used to produce this waste is also wasted.
Freeing up the menu for new dishes not only encourages the sourcing of local, seasonal produce, but it also reduces waste. Notably. Instead of throwing food away, chefs can use it in new, creative ways. In new dishes. What is more, it allows chefs to plan dishes with what they already have in the kitchen, as opposed to buying different ingredients for entirely different dishes.
4. Expand into new markets
Customers change. So do their tastebuds. Diners will flit in and out. New generations will have new preferences. New ideas. New trends. It is important to cater to them. By giving your menu an update, you can serve them all. No need to ever abandon older diners. Rather, you can expand into new markets, think vegans, gluten-free crowds, and there are many others. That way, all are happy.
5. Establish menu favorites
While the goal of updating the menu regularly is to bring change to our dishes, we still want to keep our crowd favorites. This establishes our reputation among our most loyal customers. If a new dish proves too creative, or too flamboyant, for some tastes, for example, then their favorites are still available. Whether a traditional dish, or a special signature meal, keep some staples around.
6. Provide an opportunity to try and test new dishes
It is important to try new dishes first. To test them. This is crucial for chefs to do firsthand, as well as all other staff members. Taste recipes, get feedback. When dishes pass our staff, it is time for diners to try them too. This gives opportunity for specials. You could offer them for a limited time. All comments are relevant. However, if diners are not happy with a dish, then do not commit it to menu.
7. Save on reduced costs
Using seasonal, local produce is significantly cheaper than not. A huge advantage of changing the menu is adjusting for specific seasons. Seasonal fruits, vegetables, fish, and more will lower costs and increase profits. This might also prove a good selling point, attracting more diners. If it costs less to create a dish, consumers will flock toward more reasonable prices.
Best Restaurants Brooklyn Knows
All famous Brooklyn restaurants change up their menus periodically. At Honey Badger, we do it perhaps more than others. There are multiple benefits for customers, restaurants too, yet many prefer to stay with the dishes they know work well. The traditional menu. Our little restaurant in Brooklyn reflects nature in its dishes. We forage, we hunt, we fish. Locally. Seasonally. Sustainably.