{"id":5524,"date":"2021-11-01T15:47:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-01T20:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/live-gordon-food-service.pantheonsite.io\/make-comfort-food-menu-star\/"},"modified":"2023-05-24T13:18:22","modified_gmt":"2023-05-24T18:18:22","slug":"make-comfort-food-menu-star","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gfs.com\/es-us\/ideas\/make-comfort-food-menu-star\/","title":{"rendered":"Make Comfort Food a Menu Star"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article originally appeared in the Gordon Food Service Foodscape<\/a> publication.<\/em><\/p>\n

Consumers’ tastes and preferences change, but one trend that sticks around is comfort food. People gravitate toward comfort food. As the holiday season approaches, it\u2019s a good time to make it a menu star.<\/p>\n

Taking comfort foods to new heights takes more than just adding time-tested favorites to the menu. As with any recipe for success, it takes a pinch of nuance and a dash of playfulness.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a great idea to elevate your comfort food offerings to make it your own version,\u201d says Chef Matt Dummar, a Gordon Food Service Culinary Specialist in Houston. <\/p>\n

He recommends three ways to make comfort food a menu star:<\/p>\n

1. Elevate it<\/strong>\u2014improve the perception and value for customers.
\n2. Create a service mashup<\/strong>\u2014marry two comfort food icons.
\n3. Classic with a twist<\/strong>\u2014get global with it.<\/p>\n

Elevating comfort food<\/h3>\n

By definition, comfort food is enjoyable. Even so, getting customer orders calls for a strong menu description. Consumers pay more when menu descriptions are enticing and unique. <\/p>\n

Weak:<\/strong> Shepherd\u2019s pie.
\nStrong:<\/strong> Shepherd\u2019s pie with Guinness demi glace and topped with Stilton mashed potatoes.<\/p>\n

Weak: <\/strong>Mashed Potatoes
\nStrong:<\/strong> Whipped Yukon Potatoes with mascarpone and chives<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t want to overdo it,\u201d Dummars notes. \u201cBut a small investment in one or two very flavorful and perceived exotic elements can send a dish to a much higher level.\u201d<\/p>\n

Create a new service mashup<\/h3>\n

Mashups aren\u2019t new, but comfort food can appeal to many tastes. Some consumers aren\u2019t willing to try something unfamiliar. By elevating the classics with a global mashup, you attract both adventurous and guarded eaters.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe creative by swapping out one or two key ingredients with unique offerings,\u201d Dummars says. \u201cSwap out the egg noodles in chicken noodle soup with ramen noodles, and add a touch of coconut milk, ginger and soy sauce to your otherwise classic recipe, and you have a global mashup.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some quick overhauls allow expanded comfort food offerings with minimal work. The practice calls on cross-utilization of ingredients<\/a>. Advantages include:<\/p>\n