The step by step experience I have with banqueting managers across this country is pretty much the same everywhere. And, banquet managers: There is room for improvement. Time and time again, this is how things go: Menus are negotiated and designed with catering and chef. I put a lot of notes on my BEOs for banqueting and […]
Ice, ice baby: February 2010 morsel
As we are entering the month of February I thought it would be only appropriate to discuss the very thing many of us experience in this blizzardy winter month — ICE! Do I like it ? Yes, I do. Do I think from a culinary perspective that it gets a bad rap? Yes, I do. Do […]
Beware when buying out fine dining restaurants: November 2009 morsel
Buying out fine dining restaurants is something I am a big fan of for several reasons. But lately, I am a bit frustrated. I negotiated a buyout of a big-name chef restaurant in Orlando and very clearly told the catering manager up-front that I was going have some menu tweeks. The catering manager said, “Fine, no problem. […]
Raising the bar: August 2009 morsel
This month, I am tying my shoelaces in double knots, taking a running leap and landing SMACK right in the middle of Rx for Catering LLC’s well-worn soapbox. Usually I jump up here to crab about, well — whatever is on my mind. But not this month! I proudly want to talk about two happenings that I think are great…
Enough is enough: April 2009 morsel
With the economy being what it is — and for our purposes let’s call that crappy — it never ceases to amaze me how hotels keep trying to charge new, and excessive, fees in their banqueting services. Listen to this one, courtesy of a hotel chain in Texas that will remain nameless: “The hotel reserves […]
The old attendant switcheroo: March 2009 Morsel
Folks, there’s an insidious practice that is becoming an industry standard, which I don’t think it is fair to the buyers. So cover your ears, I’m about to start screaming … I was in Anaheim at a big-name property doing a reception for 250 people. We had some action stations that carried a $150 per […]
