INFOGRAPHIC: What to Know About the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang
Here's everything sports bars and Olympic fans need to know about the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. From Russia banned, to no NHL, to Nigeria's first bobsled team. Get fun Winter Olympic facts & stats!
And don’t forget to download the complimentary 2018 Winter Olympics TV schedule by the SportsTV Guide.
DID YOU KNOWS…
Are We Heading to a Tequila Shortage?
Agave, the plant used to make tequila, is seeing a price hike due to the increase demand of tequila. Farmers in Jalisco, Mexico, the agave capital of the world, is unable to keep up with the demands. This could mean that we’re heading into a worldwide tequila shortage… which will probably make our livers super happy.
Test Your Meals for Food Allergies on the Spot
Food allergies are no joke. More than 15 million Americans suffer from some form of it, and it can be fatal for many. A new gadget called Nima is a portable food sensor, able to quickly test food to see if it contains any allergens. Game. Changer.
NCAA Tournament Selection Show Back to 2 Hours
TBS will be airing this year’s NCAA Tournament Selection Show. On top of that, the show will be back to a full two-hour slot instead of the 90 minutes slot in 2017. TBS says that the bracket reveal will be at the front of the broadcast, a move that addresses previous year’s criticism of the show.
If you haven’t yet, it’s time to start thinking about your March Madness promotions.
TIP-FREE (COULD BE) FOR ME
Why it matters to you: David Chang tries the no-tipping policy once more; will it catch on this time?
David Chang has been a known proponent towards moving the industry into the no-tipping model like in Europe. The idea behind is to a) try to bridge the pay gap between FoH & BoH and b) have your staff earn a livable wage without hustling for tips all night every night. Sounds great right? Chang had tried this model previously and failed at one of his restaurants once, so who is to say it won’t again?
Chang thinks that the first attempt failed because Nishi was a much more casual, less expensive restaurant, so it was more difficult to hide the added fees for employees in the menu items (a definite issue for any restaurateurs considering the no-tip model). He thinks no-tipping will succeed at Ko since the restaurant is higher end and padding the prices will be negligible to diners already paying $255 a head sans wine pairings.
If Chang struggled to implement his no-tip policy at his more casual restaurant, what does that mean for the rest of us? It failed and was repealed at Joe’s Crab Shack which in turn resulted in (a worst case scenario) -- 30-40% of FoH legacy staff being lost, something that can truly kill a restaurant. These long-term employees that are the rock of your establishment have relied on the ever-flawed tip-based system for years. Where do we go from here? Nobody has a for-sure answer yet but at least some are working towards a solution .
WING PRICES SOAR & DIP BUT YOUR COSTS DON’T HAVE TO
Why it matters to you: With the price of traditional chicken wings varying heavily every day restaurants are looking towards comparable & complimentary alternatives.
Wing prices these days are all over the place, from the highest in decades to the lowest in years, we are truly dealing with it in our wallets. The price varying can make it difficult to set item pricing without a potential loss. That’s why some restaurants are furthering their alternative option game and even trying to “bury” the wings on their menu by highlighting more profitable items first.
Arooga’s is trying this by offering guests five wings with a half rack of ribs and fries, or with sliders for essentially the same price of a traditional wings order. This method shifts focus by offering comparable menu items paired with a couple of wings, so customers get their fix but are filling up on items with a higher profit margin. Offering excellent boneless “wings” is another great and proven successful option everyone should be offering that has wings on their menu. Buffalo Wild Wings started offering wing-alternate options during their Wing Night and saw their stock soar 20%.
While there is no guaranteed solution to the wing conundrum, getting creative with your menu and combining deals with higher ticket items are an excellent start that will hopefully lead us though these trying times.
