Change of Menu

[Cathy Schofield]

I have a small tea shoppe with a soup lunch menu. We are open from 9 - 8 - monday to friday and saturday and sunday 10 -5. I am finding that more people are requesting a breakfast - but have NO idea as to what to have - something very simple as i have not found a line cook todate. Any suggestions would be great.

[John]

How about an assortment of baked goods? Do you currently do anything like that such as muffins or scones?

[Cathy Schofield]

Hi john - yes we serve scones/ muffins/ pies/ cheese cakes/ not sure what else to have. Sometimes cookies. I try to bake as much as I can - the pies/cheesecakes /muffins and cakes are all brought in.

[Chris Rawlings]

I used to manage the Atlanta Bread Co. in Columbia, SC. Our biggest sales were bagels, muffins, pastries such as filled croissants, danishes, and of course muffin tops (uses special pans follow link) Our next largest seller was something so simple that it really needed no special equipment. Hot Breakfast Sandwiches. We offered ham, sausage, bacon(precooked from Sysco/UsFood), eggs, and three different cheeses. They were served on choice of bagel, or croissant. Sam's Club / Costco / BJ's Club all have fresh baked bagels, muffins, pastries and croissants if you are not good at baking...however a house made product is better and has less waste and well usually costs less.

We used:
1.5oz Folded Egg Patty (used 1.5 pieces)
1.25oz Sausage Patty (used 2 pieces)
(use the best quality you an afford and ask for samples...don't get cheap greasy ones...so try them 1st)
1 Slice of cheese
2oz Ham
3 Slices precooked bacon

Best Selling Coffees: (Used airpot brewers. Ran four at a time...you HAVE to keep it coming fast!)
Seattle Roast - Very Strong, robust and lightly smokey
Vanilla Nut - Medium Roast
Vanilla Nut Decaf - Same
House - Light to Medium Roast
House Decaf - Same
***However we have a local company that make the most AWESOME coffe...

I would humbly suggest....1 Strong roast. 1 Medium Roast (Flavored, possibly seasonal) with its Decaf counterpart. 1 House Blend (your favorite choice of mild to medium roast, not flavored with its decaf partner)


Good luck!
Have some good coffee and offer an incentives program for the hot breakfasts and of course the coffee!! We used buy 6 and the 7th is free. Worked like a charm and helped to build lots of regular customers. Offer FREE refills!!!! This will get them to stick around and 70 percent will get more food as they sit a while and read the paper. Also you WILL have to BE QUICK about service! Get to know them by name! They will return to a friendly smile especially on Monday! :0)

[Cathy Schofield]

Chris - thank you -= that looks great - this is very simple and I am sure that I can handle it - the egg patty - are they already to go when purchased - I already use Sysco -do scrambled eggs work - would recommend them??? what price range did you look at -

Have a good day - talk to you later

[Chris Rawlings]

Yes the egg patties come IQF (individually quick frozen) and ready to be heated and served. I would recommend thawing some (like a days worth) overnight beforehand in the fridge for best results. (once thawed they keep only about 2 to 3 days in fridge) But yes just keep them frozen and thaw before use. They are a great product! I have used Sysco's Easy Whole Eggs but only in omelets. Best to keep it simple to begin with. You might save a few bucks with doing the egg yourself but then you have to add time to cook it, measure it and then properly freeze it. Even then you might save only 5 or 10 bucks. Not worth the time and effort.

Keep me updated as to how everything is working out and if you need anything feel free to contact me. :0)
www.gourmet2gocatering.com

[Cathy Schofield]

Chris - i love your breakfast ideas - so simple - thank you - i am not sure what to charge our customers - also what would i put on the plate with this - to garnish - or do i need too - so croissants and bagels - with the egg, sausage /ham or bacon with cheese - - sounds great - have muffins and scone already -

have a great day - talk to you later

Cathy

[Penny]

How about offering a few varieties of quiche?
Homemade or prepared that you bake?
Add an orange slice, a few grapes and a small muffin or bagel.

[Dale Anderson]

You can get the premade patties. I use these for our kids at school, so fast, so easy. I get mine through Sysco,. We also used these at the Bagel shop I use to work at. I make mine in no time, egg patty, sausage, bacon or ham, and slice of cheese. I pop in the oven for several minutes. Put them in a warmer and then it is self serve. I also get some fabulous, premade, cinnamon roles. The dough. All I do, the night before I need, I take out what I think I will use, let them rise overnight in the refrig. Next morning, pop in oven for 10 minutes or so, frost with a confectioners sugar icing. (Milk and sugar). You get that great aroma going too! I cannot make enough of these things.

[Bruce Brouker]

my best seller was a fried egg with cheese on a grilled hard roll

[Brad Bulot]

Another idea for fresher eggs is what Einstein Bagels does. Small disposable trays with liquid eggs, then microwaved as needed.

[Jay]

We operate a small boutique hotel with 50 rooms and we serve a small buffet breakfast. We do an egg casserole that includes, eggs, a little milk, red & green peppers, onions and cheese. We do it in a 1/2 size, 2" deep steam table pan. It's easy to cut into portions and it freezes well so you only have to pull out what you need. Also, we do local yogurt with granola and fruit options. We, also, do fresh baked waffles and we have the frozen sausage patties and heat and serve bacon. It's a very limited selection and easy to do but it seems to have something for everyone.

[ChefCameron]

If you could get some pre made breads like cranberry walnut or bannana nut. You could make a non traditonal french toast with it and or sell pieces of the bread by the slice .
David Laberinto
Eurest