Senin, 28 November 2011
How To: Get Crispy Crust on Leftover Pizza
Leftover pizza is never as good as when it was first delivered/served. The crust has a tendency to be soggy, unless you've got time to waste reheating it in the oven.
Chef John of Food Wishes has found a quicker "magic" method to restoring leftover pizza crust to crispy. I haven't tried it yet, but it definitely looks promising.
(via Reddit)
Dreaming In Paint
Imagine what would it be like to wake up in Van Gogh's masterpiece Bedroom In Arles. Watch as filmmaker Grant Woolard finds himself walking through 25 famous works of art. How many do you recognize?
(via Neatorama)
Minggu, 27 November 2011
Reader Questions - Food Cost Software
I received lots of follow up emails regarding food cost control software options this month. At the current time, there are many good choices available to restaurant operators.
Single unit operators with small menus can take advantage of the many low priced options.
Although I have only worked with a few of these systems, I have heard of good results from people who use CostGuard, Optimum Control and ChefTec.
If you work in a complex operation (casino, major sports arena, ski resort, large beach resort, four season mountain resort, restaurant with a major catering component, etc.), you generally will look at battle tested, server based systems since you need many people on the same database. I am biased toward the FoodTrak solution due to many years working closely with clients.
Many of the companies who decided to work with me over the years took a look at Eatec. My first database implementation project ever was an Eatec recipe costing system I setup for a caterer in Lewisburg, PA. I know the Las Vegas casinos have a bias toward Stratton Warren. I do not have any experience with this system.
Although FoodTrak handles many complex tasks, two of my clients moved from even more complicated solutions (CBORD MMS and Eatec) because they did not need many of the reports. It's important to know your top priority report needs before going on these websites to get information.
When I moved from Canada to New York in 1990, I found American operators had not settled on a back office accounting solution. My background included auditing jobs before I became a controller and later the CFO in a remote site feeding company. We used AccPac Plus in Canada because the product was widely supported by consultants and chartered accountants in every province. In the US back in 1990, there were many accounting products and a few systems specifically designed to handle recipe costing and inventory control. QuickBooks had not been invented at this time. Today, every system seems to have a QuickBooks interface.
I began working with FoodTrak in 1992 after I had been unsuccessful in persuading 3 companies to use AccpacPlus. All 3 had chosen FoodTrak. They each had a different accounting package (DacEasy, One Write Plus and Cougar Mountain). FoodTrak had (and still does today) lots of interfaces.
Today, many operators are willing to put their entire accounting system on the Compeat solution. No doubt, the many experiments with interfaces and software updates just wore out the IT departments. Windows has so many different versions to support. You'll find many IT departments who insist on staying with older versions of their software for dependability issues.
From a hands on viewpoint, I have worked with Eatec, FoodTrak, ReMACS, Foodtech, iPRO, CBORD, Optimum Control, CostGuard and EZChefSoftware (listed in chronological order). Every system has strengths and weaknesses. I find the number one issue today is survival. There are so many solutions it's tough to decide who will be here in 2020.
ReMACS was merged into Radiant prior to their merger with Aloha. Aloha had merged with MenuLink just before the Radiant merger. So unless you know a rock solid ReMACS DOS consultant in your town, you won't get support. Foodtech was merged into Micros who used some of the reporting as inspiration for their own back office suite. They then became the inventory solution for Aloha for a short time. Today, I never hear of this system.
Agilysis purchased both Eatec and Stratton Warren.
Will your solution be merged into another company? Will support be available in the future?
The inability to answer these basic questions leaves me in a unique position. Although I love working with many inventory control solutions, at this time I have decided not to endorse any company.
I have an implementation plan which will help any operator with any system. Most companies fail to achieve success with food cost control software due to a poor initial implementation plan. They simply do not invest the time and resources necessary to succeed. Regardless of your choice, you need to spend the time it takes to do an excellent job on the setup.
Single unit operators with small menus can take advantage of the many low priced options.
Although I have only worked with a few of these systems, I have heard of good results from people who use CostGuard, Optimum Control and ChefTec.
If you work in a complex operation (casino, major sports arena, ski resort, large beach resort, four season mountain resort, restaurant with a major catering component, etc.), you generally will look at battle tested, server based systems since you need many people on the same database. I am biased toward the FoodTrak solution due to many years working closely with clients.
Many of the companies who decided to work with me over the years took a look at Eatec. My first database implementation project ever was an Eatec recipe costing system I setup for a caterer in Lewisburg, PA. I know the Las Vegas casinos have a bias toward Stratton Warren. I do not have any experience with this system.
Although FoodTrak handles many complex tasks, two of my clients moved from even more complicated solutions (CBORD MMS and Eatec) because they did not need many of the reports. It's important to know your top priority report needs before going on these websites to get information.
When I moved from Canada to New York in 1990, I found American operators had not settled on a back office accounting solution. My background included auditing jobs before I became a controller and later the CFO in a remote site feeding company. We used AccPac Plus in Canada because the product was widely supported by consultants and chartered accountants in every province. In the US back in 1990, there were many accounting products and a few systems specifically designed to handle recipe costing and inventory control. QuickBooks had not been invented at this time. Today, every system seems to have a QuickBooks interface.
I began working with FoodTrak in 1992 after I had been unsuccessful in persuading 3 companies to use AccpacPlus. All 3 had chosen FoodTrak. They each had a different accounting package (DacEasy, One Write Plus and Cougar Mountain). FoodTrak had (and still does today) lots of interfaces.
Today, many operators are willing to put their entire accounting system on the Compeat solution. No doubt, the many experiments with interfaces and software updates just wore out the IT departments. Windows has so many different versions to support. You'll find many IT departments who insist on staying with older versions of their software for dependability issues.
From a hands on viewpoint, I have worked with Eatec, FoodTrak, ReMACS, Foodtech, iPRO, CBORD, Optimum Control, CostGuard and EZChefSoftware (listed in chronological order). Every system has strengths and weaknesses. I find the number one issue today is survival. There are so many solutions it's tough to decide who will be here in 2020.
ReMACS was merged into Radiant prior to their merger with Aloha. Aloha had merged with MenuLink just before the Radiant merger. So unless you know a rock solid ReMACS DOS consultant in your town, you won't get support. Foodtech was merged into Micros who used some of the reporting as inspiration for their own back office suite. They then became the inventory solution for Aloha for a short time. Today, I never hear of this system.
Agilysis purchased both Eatec and Stratton Warren.
Will your solution be merged into another company? Will support be available in the future?
The inability to answer these basic questions leaves me in a unique position. Although I love working with many inventory control solutions, at this time I have decided not to endorse any company.
I have an implementation plan which will help any operator with any system. Most companies fail to achieve success with food cost control software due to a poor initial implementation plan. They simply do not invest the time and resources necessary to succeed. Regardless of your choice, you need to spend the time it takes to do an excellent job on the setup.
NPR Sunday Puzzle: Nov. 27, 2011
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Answer: MAYO (food item) → "YO, MAMA" (saying) → YO-YO MA (person's name)
NPR Sunday Puzzle for Nov. 27:Submit your answer to NPR for a chance to be on next week's broadcast and be sure to visit Jenny's Noodle next Sunday to see the correct answer!
Think of a common five-letter word in one syllable. Change the fourth letter to the next letter of the alphabet, and you'll get a common word in two syllables, also in five letters. What words are these?
Jumat, 25 November 2011
Selasa, 22 November 2011
Pay a Blogger Day
September 29 is Pay a Blogger Day!
Why pay a blogger?
Some of the wittiest most insightful content comes from bloggers doing it because they want to, not because of money and fame. That is all the more reason to give something back.
You may have noticed that I'm a blogger. And I'd also love to get paid. If you've enjoyed visiting Jenny's Noodle, please feel free to click the PayPal link on the sidebar to your right.
Thank you!
Why pay a blogger?
Some of the wittiest most insightful content comes from bloggers doing it because they want to, not because of money and fame. That is all the more reason to give something back.
You may have noticed that I'm a blogger. And I'd also love to get paid. If you've enjoyed visiting Jenny's Noodle, please feel free to click the PayPal link on the sidebar to your right.
Thank you!
Minggu, 20 November 2011
NPR Sunday Puzzle: Nov. 20, 2011
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Answer: 101 (the next number is a series of numbers, in ascending order, that can be represented in Roman numerals by two characters).
NPR Sunday Puzzle for Nov. 20:Submit your answer to NPR for a chance to be on next week's broadcast and be sure to visit Jenny's Noodle next Sunday to see the correct answer!
Name a food item. Divide this word in half. Take the second half followed by the first half twice, and you'll get a familiar saying. If you take the second half twice, followed by the first half, you'll name a well-known person. What are the food item, saying, and person's name?
Rabu, 16 November 2011
National UnFriend Day 2011
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Now in it's second year, the annual observance was created by late night's Jimmy Kimmel. And if you watch the video, he provides a handy-dandy checklist/point system to help you figure out who to cut virtual ties with tomorrow.
Minggu, 13 November 2011
Airplane Seating Chart
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(via Pleated Jeans)
All-in-One Thanksgiving Cupcakes
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| Photo credits: fetette |
The cakelettes may also be paired with another recipe that I'd like to sample, Candied Yam Tartlettes. Mmmmm...
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NPR Sunday Puzzle: Nov. 13, 2011
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Answer: 25 equilateral triangles.
NPR Sunday Puzzle for Nov. 13:Submit your answer to NPR for a chance to be on next week's broadcast and be sure to visit Jenny's Noodle next Sunday to see the correct answer!
What number comes next in the following series: 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 15, 20, 40, 60 and 90?
Jumat, 11 November 2011
Nobody Should Wear Velvet on 11-11-11
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Says who? The Corduroy Appreciation Club. Yes, it exists. But why did they choose to celebrate on 11-11-11? Because the elevens comprising this date most closely resemble the texture of Corduroy fabric.
Another point of interest is the CAC’s main public symbol, the whale. Whale is a homonym of wale, which is the name for the raised portion of Corduroy—the fabric's most distinctive trait.
Wow, hard core.
Kamis, 10 November 2011
Rabu, 09 November 2011
Food Cost Control Software Question
Dear Joe,
I have finally decided to stop working so hard to breakeven and take the time and effort to properly cost out all of our recipes andthen do it all over again for the catering division.
Years ago I looked into FoodTrak and ChefTek (?) and wonder what you would recommend for a small operation (less than 1.5 million in sales). I am also looking to take over another location and implement our menu and "brand" but surely don't want to do that until I have properly costed out and determined the best menu with the most effective profitability.
Please help!
Leslie
I would choose Chef Tec if my annual sales were less than $1.5 Million. FoodTrak is a superior system but it is designed for complex operations with many simultaneous users (think of an active ski resort). Generally, single person food cost control operators use Excel as the default. Before you spend a dime, make sure you are going to continue to use the software beyond the initial recipe cost cards.
As FoodTrak moved from a budget level DOS solution to a pricier Windows solution, profit center level reporting was added in early 2000. The software became relatively high priced for low volume operations. Complex operations found a home and the new FoodTrak customer community expanded into sports venues, resorts, clubs and contract catering companies.
Although I have never used Chef Tec, my understanding is the software was designed specifically for operations with no standard recipe cards. Chefs and food and beverage controllers could purchase the software for a fair price and achieve their limited objectives. The popular price allowed the company to add features and they have become the logical choice for small restaurants.
As ReMACS and Foodtrak left the door open in the late 1990s, many POS systems and 3rd party developers stepped through and created a fragmented marketplace. Recently, some developers decided to study the actual system usage and found many companies only used the software to cost their current menu. They only use the software after this chore is completed when they look at future menu changes. EZChefSoftware (uses Excel macros) and MenuMax (web-based solution) come to mind when I think of menu pricing projects.
Minggu, 06 November 2011
NPR Sunday Puzzle: Nov. 6, 2011
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Answer: PATTI LABELLE (singer) - P, I (first name) and L, E (last name) → AT&T (company) + A BELL(logo)
NPR Sunday Puzzle for Nov. 6:Submit your answer to NPR for a chance to be on next week's broadcast and be sure to visit Jenny's Noodle next Sunday to see the correct answer!
Take 15 coins. Arrange them in an equilateral triangle with one coin at the top, two coins touching below, three coins below that, then four, then five. Remove the three coins at the corners so you're left with 12 coins. Using the centers of the 12 coins as points, how many equilateral triangles can you find by joining points with lines?
Kamis, 03 November 2011
What to Do When the Internet is Down
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| Image credit: Pleated Jeans |
Also: Threaten to destroy evil
Rabu, 02 November 2011
It's Palindrome Day (11022011)
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| Image: ICHC |
Today, Nov. 2, 2011 (or 11022011), is a special date—a palindrome.
A palindrome is a word, line, verse, number, sentence or series of symbols reading the same backward as forward. You know, phrases like "a man a plan a canal panama," or your friend "bob."
According to a university professor who studies the phenomena, "After 2011, there will be one more year in this (21st) century containing two palindrome dates. That will be 2021, with palindrome dates Jan. 20, 2021 (1202021) and Dec. 2, 2021 (12022021)."
The more you know.
(via LA Times)
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