Cost Savings in a Scratch Kitchen? Yes, it’s possible.
According to a recent Restaurant Success report, future food trends for 2020 will include local sourcing, fresh produce, healthy eating, and an emphasis on authentic items. Diners, it seems, are flocking to the comfort of kitchens that serve a variety of delicious food, so long as it doesn’t feel heavily processed. However, as Thrillist explains, “…the rise of the Golden Age “scratch kitchen” (in which everything is made in-house), long a point of pride for fine-dining kitchens, isn’t usually financially realistic in the more casual kitchens.” While many chefs may work to bake their own bread or cure their own meats in-house, the fact is scratch kitchens are expensive, labor intensive, and not often worth the financial expenditure.
At Dining Alliance, we focus on ensuring restauranteurs cost-savings opportunities that excite your front of house while saving you labor costs in your back of house. So how do you keep that scratch kitchen feeling without spending excess time on labor? Here are a few ways to keep the focus on the food and the money towards your bottom line.
1. Everyone Loves Hand Cut Fries
Lower your labor costs with precut fries that not only give you back valuable kitchen space but provide 40% more yield than fresh cut fries. Lamb Weston’s Hand Cut Fries offer both house cut and shoestring fries that have a faster preparation then fresh fries since they take 1.5 minutes less time to cook and use less oil than fresh fries. Interested in finding exactly how much money you could save? Explore then fresh vs frozen calculator to see your possible savings in real time.
Learn more about our Lamb Weston Program Here
2. Make your very own dipping sauce
Who doesn’t drool over a great aioli or house made dressing? From dips to sauces, many restaurants find customers clamoring back to have their one-of-a-kind house-made sauces. In reality, we know that a true scratch sauce comes with a lot of labor, kitchen space, and room for emulsification error. Now, what if you could have the same great flavor and save yourself the stress and time consumption from behind the scenes? Save yourself the time, headache on labor and start with something great. Unilever mayo can do magic as your base- just add in your own signature spices give your own restaurants dipping flare!
Watch this video of how one of our clients recently utilized Hellmann’s mayo as the base for 8 inventive custom dressings.
Learn more about our Unilever Food Solutions Program Here
3. Add your own spice
Nothing says delicious like a unique seasoning sprinkled across hot & crispy fries or mixed into your signature dish. Create your very own with McCormick spices, or take advantage of the blend their Chefs put together for you. Plus, the flavor pairings of McCormick spices with McCain French fries, onion rings, and mozzarella sticks can help you take your menu to the next level.
Explore some of the tasty innovations ready for your menu here.
