Caribbean Summer Salad

This gorgeous summer salad was presented to me at Bimini, a beautiful restaurant in the Marina Village at the Atlantis Hotel in Nassau, Bahamas.

The huge shrimp were complimented with a fruit and balsamic vinegar dressing. The "breadstick" was a spiced bean paste on the inside of a deep fried and rolled tortilla.

Fresh greens and grilled pineapple rounded out the salad.

It was as delicious as it looked.

The Milkshake Machine

At the Diner we make a lot of milkshakes. We do them the old fashioned way, a stainless steel cup, fresh ice cream plus fruit and milk. Our banana shakes are made with real bananas. Our strawberry shakes are made with fresh frozen strawberries. You get the picture!

For 40+ years, the same Hamilton Beach Blender has been kicking out the shakes day after day. But finally 2 out of 3 motors quit and instead of a working 3 head machine, we were flying with just one blender. Knowing that it too would quit and we are too busy a shop to make milkshakes just one at a time we sought out a brand new blender.

Direct from the factory we received a 3 head Waring brand model. Long story short, the staff hated it. I have never had the girls feel so strongly about a piece of equipment. And for me, each time it fired up it sounded like an underpowered engine. It struggled to blend ice cream and milk. That's a HUGE problem since it's ONLY purpose is to blend ice cream and milk! So it went back to the supplier.

The old machine came out of retirement for a bit and we searched for a "new" old Hamilton Beach 3 Head. It didn't take long to find one as they are quite coveted and so well made they last and last.

Cleaning it up and getting it ready for service and the staff were glowing! Again, I didn't expect so much emotion over a machine. We fired it up, giggled and made 3 shakes at once. Success!

Since this machine will be cherished and well used, we christened her with a name... BETTY. Hamilton Beach "Betty." We are hoping for many great years, and thousands of shakes together. The Retro Diner feels completely right again!

It's a team thing

You know how in baseball you have different players that specialize in different areas? Well, the Retro Diner is certainly no different!

I have a distinct preference as to who I want beside me (cooking) on a Friday at dinner and I know who I like to leisurely start Sunday mornings with.  It's like baseball, you're not going to ask your third baseman to pitch, and you're not going to get your left fielder to play first base.  Different people are better at different things. This is my mantra. I tell my kids this all the time. Each child (or person) has a gift, you just need to find it. And sometimes, those people need outside guidance to find their skills.

In my kitchen, I like a second baseman who can cover "first" if called upon.  I like a second baseman who is going to step up and make the play if I can't. And I like having someone at my side who will back me up if I should happen to drop the ball.

My assistant manager, Desiree used to say, "if you only show up with half a brain, and I do the same, we should be fine today." It makes me smile to think of that.  We coasted through many a Monday that way. I'd make the salad, and she'd do the entree. No chit chat, no discussion. She would go left, I'd go right. If I forgot to start the take-out order, she'd start the chit chat at the register. (Kill some time.) It worked soooo well!

It's a team thing!

Bring them back

If you've ever been to a Disney resort or on a cruise you'll recognize the term "Bounce Back" offer.

If you know you have shown your guests a good time, or you are even somewhat confident that they'd return for your product, you should really consider making a bounce back offer.

How do you do this? Easy. Staple a savings coupon for your restaurant to their take-out order. Offer a free lunch draw for people who leave their business cards. Ask your fans to follow you on Facebook and Twitter.

Simply find a way to interact, beyond at the table side.  If you're top of the mind for your guests,  and you provide consistently good food and service, why wouldn't they come back?

Simply invite them!

Mother's Day at the Diner

Mother's Day at the Diner was a busy one! We enjoyed a new one-day sales high. That success can be attributed to our approach to advertising that day.

We advertised our special as a dinner for 4 complete package, with soft drinks and dessert included. We did not discount our prices, but simply showcased our feature meal and stated the price.

The key to the ad's appeal was the "easy" call and complete package. With one phone call, Dad or the kids, could arrange to pick up our Mother's Day meal approximately 30 minutes later. It was easy peasy and did not require reservations or any advance booking.

The hardest choice was which pie to choose.

Seasonal Chopped Salad

With warmer weather in sight, guest's appetites turn to salads and lighter menu items.

In the winter, we all think hearty and comforting food. In the summer, it's the polar opposite.

One delightful choice I made recently was this chopped salad. It was a seasonal vegetable medley with a light dressing and fresh grated cheese. It was a meal in itself. The only think I thought was missing is the very trendy beet. Seems everyone is grilling and loving beets lately. Albeit, not currently in season, they are still readily available in many forms, including pickled.

Even if you own a retro burger joint (as I do) you can still offer a salad. You already have lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and cheese for the burgers. All we do is add a few creative vegetables, like snow peas, peppers and broccoli for a nutritious and colourful alternative to fries.

Mother's Day in the Kitchen

Mother's Day is the busiest restaurant day of the year. Whether you work at KFC or Spago, it's bound to be a ridiculously busy event.

I think of it as "Game Day." It's the real event. It's not a drill. Every other day has been practice so that we can execute our plan and work to our maximum efficiency on Mother's Day.

As a mom it's tough though. You want to be with your own family. However, if you work in a floral shop or restaurant, you know that it's work first... and your own Mother's Day activities after.

The absolute majority of moms are treated to brunch or dinner that day. And as a restaurant owner, it is my pleasure to cook for others and I'm glad to do it on Mother's Day.

Restaurants who do NOT advertise for this event are making a big mistake. Let's face it, dads and kids need the obvious hints. Your Mother's Day advertisements don't need to be for a sale. Don't discount your prices. In fact, this is your time to charge full price, and provide your best service and experience possible. You will need your best staff working.

Your advertisements could showcase a special menu, or even a simple reminder to make reservations. Your goal is to make sure you are at the top of the list when families are planning their gifts/events for mom.