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Restaurant Industry

The Best Food Scenes Are In These 10 States, Top Culinary School Says The Best Food Scenes Are In These 10 States, Top Culinary School Says
The Best Food Scenes Are In These 10 States, Top Culinary School Says Three states in the Northeast stood out in a nationwide study for their vibrant food scenes. New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey were ranked in the top 10 by the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts. While Hawaii easily claimed the top spot in the annual food scene rankings, New York scored high enough to earn second place. The study, which analyzed factors like restaurant spending, jobs, and independent eateries, highlighted these states for their vibrant food cultures and economic contributions. "Usually when we think of a restaurant "scene," we think on the small scal…
Why Are Americans Dining Out Less? A Closer Look At Changing Habits Why Are Americans Dining Out Less? A Closer Look At Changing Habits
Why Are Americans Dining Out Less? A Closer Look At Changing Habits Rising costs and shifting priorities are reshaping how Americans approach dining out.  Reports reveal a notable decline in restaurant visits, particularly among middle-class families and younger generations. Here are key factor driving the decline: Rising Menu Prices: Inflation has notably driven up the cost of dining out significantly. According to Yahoo Finance’s “6 Reasons the Middle Class Can’t Afford To Dine Out Anymore,” soaring food prices have left many consumers rethinking their restaurant habits. Economic Pressures: Broader inflationary trends are squeezing househo…
Popular Italian Restaurant Chain Files For Bankruptcy, Closing Multiple Locations Popular Italian Restaurant Chain Files For Bankruptcy, Closing Multiple Locations
Popular Italian Restaurant Chain Files For Bankruptcy, Closing Multiple Locations Buca di Beppo is Buca di bankrupt. The popular Italian eatery chain announced it had filed for Chapter 11 this week and would close several underperforming locations, including restaurants in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland.  Like many other restaurant chains, Buca di Beppo said the business hadn't bounced back since the COVID-19 pandemic. Customer spending is lower than expected, and supply costs remain high, according to court documents. It's a common tale for several "fast-casual" dining restaurants that have failed to thrive in recent years.   Revenue for…
CT Restaurant To Close After 10 Years In Business: Here's When CT Restaurant To Close After 10 Years In Business: Here's When
CT Restaurant To Close After 10 Years In Business: Here's When A Connecticut restaurant that has been a fave of many has announced it plans to close this week due to financial issues. New Haven County's Eli's Orange, located on Boston Post Road, has served American-style pub food and drinks for the past 10 years. The restaurant says it is "sad to announce we will be leaving this wonderful community." The restaurant, known for its wings, quesadillas, and craft cocktails, will celebrate its last day on Sunday, April 28, with customers from 3 to 6 p.m. with a special "thank you celebration." The restaurant said owners, managers, and employees will be pre…
Biggest Food, Beverage Trends Revealed In 2023 Grubhub Delivered Report Biggest Food, Beverage Trends Revealed In 2023 Grubhub Delivered Report
Biggest Food, Beverage Trends Revealed In 2023 Grubhub Delivered Report An analysis of orders from diners across the US in 2023  by Grubhub has uncovered the biggest food and beverage trends of the year. Spoiler alert: Spice is nice. In 2023, over 53 million items were ordered with added spice, the report on deliveries says.  Classic favorites like Sriracha (a sauce made from chili peppers) were added over 91,000 times, and buffalo chicken wings came in first as the most ordered wing flavor followed by lemon pepper, BBQ, teriyaki and garlic parmesan. The report notes that in 2023 diners enjoyed stepping out of their comfort zones and break…
5 Fairfield County Restaurants Ordered To Pay Over $858K To Employees: Feds 5 Fairfield County Restaurants Ordered To Pay Over $858K To Employees: Feds
5 Fairfield County Restaurants Ordered To Pay Over $858K To Employees: Feds Following a federal investigation, a total of six Connecticut restaurants and their owners have been ordered to pay over $858,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to employees, officials said. The restaurants, including five Fairfield County establishments and one in New Haven County, were ordered to pay back wages, withheld tips, and liquidated damages to 105 employees following an investigation and litigation conducted by the US Department of Labor, which announced the order on Tuesday, July 25.  The six restaurants included in the case are:  Scena Wine Bar and Restaurant,…
With 1,152 Avocados A Day, Guac Time Opens First CT Location In Norwalk With 1,152 Avocados A Day, Guac Time Opens First CT Location In Norwalk
With 1,152 Avocados A Day, Guac Time Opens First CT Location In Norwalk With a name like Guac Time, you’d expect the growing chain of restaurants would go through a lot of avocados. It does.  Up to 1,152 avocados a day are used at all six restaurants — including the latest (and first) in Connecticut in Norwalk.  That number will go up to 1,344 when the seventh Guac Time opens in Queens in the fall. Five of the six current eateries are either in New York City or on Long Island. Guac Time is the brainchild of a Stratford couple, Harmeet and Subodh Marwaha, and their two New York-based partners Akash Marwaha and Manny Singh. View this post …
Ex-Westchester, Fairfield County Restaurateur Mario Batali's Sexual Misconduct Trial Starts Ex-Westchester, Fairfield County Restaurateur Mario Batali's Sexual Misconduct Trial Starts
Ex-Westchester, Fairfield County Restaurateur Mario Batali's Sexual Misconduct Trial Starts The sexual misconduct trial of celebrity chef Mario Batali, who has run restaurants in New York and Connecticut -- in Westchester and Fairfield counties -- is underway in Massachusetts. On Monday, May 9 in Boston, a woman testified that Batali, age 61, kissed and groped her while attempting to take a selfie at a Massachusetts restaurant after the chef waived his right to a jury. Related story - Ex-Westchester, Fairfield County Restaurateur Mario Batali Now Under Investigation By NY AG Instead, a judge will decide Batali’s fate at the conclusion of the trial, where proceedings are expected…
Chef From Northern Westchester Voted World's Best Chef From Northern Westchester Voted World's Best
Chef From Northern Westchester Voted World's Best A celebrated chef from the region has been named the world's best by an association of highly-rated restaurants, according to a new report.  Les Grandes Tables Du Monde, an association of 179 restaurants across 23 countries, announced that Chef Daniel Boulud, a resident of Northern Westchester County, was voted the world's best restaurateur, according to AFP news. Boulud opened his flagship restaurant, "Daniel," in New York City in 1993. "At the heart of Manhattan, Restaurant Daniel is a celebrated culinary destination that blends refinement and sophistication with New York style and …
Chipotle Increasing Prices In Order To Raise Employees' Wages Chipotle Increasing Prices In Order To Raise Employees' Wages
Chipotle Increasing Prices In Order To Raise Employees' Wages Chipotle Mexican Grill is increasing menu prices to cover the costs of raising its workers’ wages, the company announced. Consumers will see price increases of approximately 4 percent at the popular Mexican food chain, with that money being used to increase employees’ paychecks following the company’s announcement that hourly wages for workers would reach an average of $15 by the end of the month. The price hike is likely not to be felt too badly by consumers, with company officials saying that it will amount to quarters and dimes while dramatically boosting their ability to pay employees. …
COVID-19: Cheers! CT Now Offers Free Drink To Those Who Have Gotten Vaccinated COVID-19: Cheers! CT Now Offers Free Drink To Those Who Have Gotten Vaccinated
Covid-19: Cheers! CT Now Offers Free Drink To Those Who Have Gotten Vaccinated Have a drink on them. Connecticut is offering an innovative new program to encourage residents to go out and get the COVID-19 vaccine. Participating restaurants in Connecticut are offering a free drink to customers who show their COVID-19 vaccination card between Wednesday, May 19, and Monday, May 31, provided the patron purchases food during the visit. Gov. Ned Lamont announced the initiative on Monday, April 26, noting that the limit will be one drink per person. A limited number of Connecticut restaurants initially opted into the program, with more expected to in advance of the program …
COVID-19: Founder, CEO Of National Restaurant Chain Dies At Age 65 COVID-19: Founder, CEO Of National Restaurant Chain Dies At Age 65
Covid-19: Founder, CEO Of National Restaurant Chain Dies At Age 65 The founder and chief executive officer of a national restaurant chain died by suicide amid a battle with COVID-19-related symptoms, the company announced. Kent Taylor, who launched Texas Roadhouse in 1993, was 65 years old. The symptoms included severe tinnitus, or ringing in the ear, and his suffering had increased in recent days, the company, Texas Roadhouse, announced in a statement sent to CNN. Taylor died on Thursday, March 18. "Kent leaves an unmatched legacy as a people-first leader, which is why he often said that Texas Roadhouse was a people company that just happened to se…
COVID-19: CT Restaurants May Return To Full Capacity, But It Comes Up With A Catch COVID-19: CT Restaurants May Return To Full Capacity, But It Comes Up With A Catch
Covid-19: CT Restaurants May Return To Full Capacity, But It Comes Up With A Catch Restaurants in Connecticut will soon be permitted to open up their businesses to full capacity, though certain COVID-19 restrictions will still be put in place, limiting restauranteurs. This week, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced that beginning on Friday, March 19, restaurants can open up to 100 percent capacity, up from the 50 percent they had been working through. However, while capacity is opening up wider, there will still be restrictions including social distance requirements, mandatory facial coverings, and cleaning protocols that will have to continue to be maintained, which co…
COVID-19: CT Rolls Back Economy Starting Today COVID-19: CT Rolls Back Economy Starting Today
Covid-19: CT Rolls Back Economy Starting Today Many Connecticut businesses will step backward due to mounting COVID-19 cases in the state, reverting from Phase 3 to Phase 2 reopening guidelines per an order issued by Governor Ned Lamont.  The changes go into effect Friday, Nov. 6. A month after loosening COVID-19 restrictions on restaurants and event venues, Lamont tightened restrictions on certain businesses in an executive order issued on Monday, Nov. 2. Since Oct. 8, restaurants have been allowed to seat 75 percent of their building's capacity. Now, they will only be permitted to allow 50 percent and must halt in-house dining b…
COVID-19: Here's What Will Happen To Outdoor Dining As Cold Weather Arrives COVID-19: Here's What Will Happen To Outdoor Dining As Cold Weather Arrives
Covid-19: Here's What Will Happen To Outdoor Dining As Cold Weather Arrives Restaurants already struggling to stay afloat due to the COVID-19 outbreak have a new challenge rapidly approaching as the weather begins shifting, limiting outdoor dining options. The pandemic forced extreme restrictions on restaurants and bars for the past six months, with many scrambling to arrange temporary, and now possibly permanent outdoor dining options, while even more were forced to shut down for good due to a lack of business. Since mid-March, occupancy at restaurants has been restricted, face coverings must be worn by patrons and staff, social distancing must be practiced at all…
COVID-19: College-Town Businesses More Likely To Stay Closed COVID-19: College-Town Businesses More Likely To Stay Closed
Covid-19: College-Town Businesses More Likely To Stay Closed College town businesses that closed due to COVID-19 conditions are 24 percent more likely to stay permanently closed once the virus is gone compared to communities without institutions of higher education, according to a recent Yelp analysis. Northern Connecticut and Western Massachusetts are home to many communities with economies that depend on business serving higher education institutions and people - especially: - Worcester, MA: (Clark University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Assumption College, UMass Worcester, Becker College, etc.), - Hartford, CT: (Hartford University, Trinity…
COVID-19: New Data Reveals Staggering Number Of Restaurant Closures During Pandemic COVID-19: New Data Reveals Staggering Number Of Restaurant Closures During Pandemic
Covid-19: New Data Reveals Staggering Number Of Restaurant Closures During Pandemic New data is revealing just how devastating the COVID-19 pandemic has been to the restaurant industry. Yelp's latest Local Economic Impact Report, released this week, reports that nearly 16,000 restaurants have permanently closed throughout the nation since the outbreak began in March. Of the 26,160 total restaurant closures listed on Yelp as of mid July, 15,770 were permanent. New York has seen the third-most restaurant closures at 8.4 percent, behind California (14.4 percent) and Texas (8.5 percent), according to Business Insider. Restaurants have passed the retail industry to accou…