Mobile Applications Give Restaurants, Supermarkets, and Food Service Businesses Momentum in 2011

Mobile Applications are a business increasing trend for Restaurants, Supermarkets, and other Food Service Industry Businesses

Is your restaurant or food service business ready to get even more interactive with customers with mobile applications? The use and development of mobile applications for iPhone, iPad, Android, Palm, Blackberry, Nokia, and Windows operating systems is on the rise. Consumers have taken notice and food service industry leaders are taking action. Big foodservice industry players like Culver’s, Subway, Domino’s Pizza, Pizza Hut, Baja Fresh, California Pizza Kitchen, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Outback Steakhouse, Starbucks Coffee, Food Lion, Safeway, and Kroger already use mobile applications, while Papa John’s Pizza has mobile application software in development. Smaller players’ private owned small chains, diners, and restaurants are joining the mobile marketing club.

Mobile application technology allows customers to interact with your business conveniently through mobile devices. Mobile applications make is easier for consumers to spend money at restaurants.  In 2011, mobile application use will continue to rise and will be a competitive tool to gain advantage over the competition and improve relationships you’re your customers.

Food Related Mobile Application Interactive Tips:

1. Weekly specials
2. Recipes
3. Menu
4. Comments
5. Directions
6. Shopping lists
7. Read social network feeds
8. Make reservations
9. Loyalty programs
10. Coupons
11. Product location
12. Replenish funds on store or restaurant cards
13. Get creative – try something new!

 

Holiday Treats with Amana ACE-14 Microwave – Quick Recipe of the Season

ACE14 Microwave – Nordon has you covered – Demand it!

Orange Cranberry Muffins:

Suggested tools: muffin tin, Pillsbury orange cranberry muffin mix

A Dozen Muffins in 3 minutes! – Preheat ACE14 to 475 °F. Prepare orange cranberry muffin mix (starting temp 65-75 °F) and pour into muffin tin.  Place in ACE14 and cook on Stage 1 for 3 minutes at 50% MW. Enjoy!

Winglets:

Suggested tools: ¼ sheet pan, TGI Friday’s winglets, ranch or blue cheese dressing

4 Winglets in less than 1 minute! – Preheat ACE14 to 475 °F. Place 4 winglets ¼ sheet pan according to preparation suggestions. Place pan in ACE14 and cook on Stage 1 for 45 seconds at 100%MW. Add a side of ranch or blue cheese dressing and enjoy!

**Do not consume uncooked meat. Nordon recipes are a guideline for your culinary creations using top of the line commercial food equipment.

Visit Nordon today to learn more about food service equipment and where to buy www.nordoninc.com or call 800-544-0400 to find a dealer near you.

Healthy Asparagus with Amana AXP Commercial Microwave – Recipe of the Week

 

 

 

Cooking is easy with Amana's AXP

 

Suggested tools: Parchment paper, fresh asparagus spears, paper towel, Teflon basket, rock salt (if you like!)

Steamed Asparagus in 50 seconds – Preheat AXP to 520 °F. Place 2 pieces of water soaked paper towel on a 12” x 12” piece of parchment paper. Wrap 20 asparagus spears in the paper towel first, then the parchment. Place on Teflon basket. Place in AXP and cook on Stage 1 for 50 seconds at 100% MW, 10% fan, and 100% IR.

Your finished fresh steamed asparagus will be crisp with an al dente exterior and softer tender inside.

The AXP cooks fresh Asparagus in just 50 seconds

*Flavor tip – Season asparagus with rock salt before steaming.

Visit Nordon today to learn more about food service equipment like Amana Microwaves (and much more) and where to buy www.nordoninc.com or call 800-544-0400 to find a dealer near you.

Tips for Using Twitter to Promote your Restaurant

Twitter is an amazing free social media tool that should be used to promote your restaurant. The key is to use Twitter effectively to engage followers without a Tweet overload or lack of human touch in your daily communications.  I understand that restaurant owners and managers have much to worry about running their restaurants business every day turning social media campaigns into a burdensome task that will be ineffective without consistency.  I would never suggest using a third party for automatic direct messages – this method is impersonal – the opposite of what social media is meant to be. To save time and keep your social media campaign on track, consider using a schedule tool such as HootSuite, SocialOomph, or CoTweet.

 Now, the do’s and don’ts of promoting your restaurant with Twitter:

• DO : Tweet daily specials
• DO : Tweet your location if you are a mobile food vendor
• DO : Promote with contests and giveaways such a free dinner to a follower that retweets your message
• DO : Tweet like a human. Don’t just talk about your business in specials. Share insights and fun information and anecdotes
• DO: Post photos and videos of your restaurant, your staff, your dishes and special events! Try twitpic or yfrog to upload and tweet pics
• DON’T : Use third party auto response direct message (DM) services
• DON’T : Spam restaurant industry leaders with @mentions. Instead follow them and retweet RELEVANT tweets
• DON’T : Over-Tweet by sharing links, specials, promotions, or thoughts all at once
• DON’T : Overuse hashtag to suggest other followers. Pick and choose wisely
• DON’T : Repeat the same marketing message each day

 

12-3-10 Maria V – Marketing Manager for Nordon - The  Food Service Industry’s Trusted Advisor for Equipment, Parts, Service, Marketing, Education, and more. Learn more about Nordon today.

Cooking Right with Amana HDC 21 – Recipe of the Week

Amana HDC21 - Constructed of Durable Stainless Steel

Baked Potato – Take a 10 0z potato in a ceramic bowl or parchment paper. Qty: 10 oz Accessory: Ceramic bowl or parchment paper. The starting potato temp should be somewhere around 65 degrees. Place inside Amana HDC21 and heat for 2 minutes and 45 seconds on stage 1 at 100% power. End temp should be 160 degrees.Tip: Let rest 1 minute after heating.
Salmon – Take a 6 oz salmon fillet on a ceramic plate or plastic wrap. The starting temperature on the salmon fillet should be between 35-40 degrees. Place inside Amana HDC21 and heat for 1 minute and 10 seconds on stage 1 at 100% power. End temperature should be 165 degrees.

Cook up in an Amana HDC21 and enjoy!!

Visit Nordon today to learn more about the food service industry here www.nordoninc.com

Economy Restaurant Supply hosts Team Cooking Live in new test kitchen 11-4-10

Invitation to Economy Restaurant Supply Team Cooking Live Event

Economy is a longtime industry leader that has been supplying restaurant supplies and equipment to local restaurants and food service establishments. Economy recently opened up its new test kitchen and will be hosting Rational Team Cooking Live featuring the SelfCooking Center® on Thursday, November 4th, starting at Noon. Nordon’s Chef Frank Becker will be cooking and free food will be provided at this “lunch and learn”. Sitting is limited at the event -To RSVP for, contact Lenny at www.economyrestaurantsupply.com

Halloween 2010 – Nordon Style

The Nordon Team is Festive for 2010 Halloween

This year the Nordon team showed up at Langhorne Corporate Festive and ready to celebrate! The record for costume wearing at work was 5, but 2010 absolutely broke that record hands down. Team spirit prevails at Nordon, as we strive together to be the leader in Food Service Equipment.