Italian is so mainstream it might as well be considered American cuisine, reports Mintel. Meanwhile, growing interest in genuine ethnic fare aligns with a broader consumer trend, “The Real Thing.”

Ethnic food preparation and consumption has been on the rise over the past several years and, according to Mintel’s latest research, it will continue its growth. But what’s most important to consumers when it comes to their favorite ethnic fare? Authenticity. Two-thirds of Mintel respondents who eat ethnic food at home say authentic or traditional flavors is the most important factor when buying or eating ethnic food.

Charles Carroll’s proven techniques on how to retain staff and build an all-star team.

Courtesy of Kraft Foodservice

Finding and maintaining good kitchen staff are two major pain points for operators today. Although there's no silver bullet, Charles Carroll, CEC, AAC, believes he has the right formula. He’s on a mission to share that formula, to share his remarkable success in his own professional kitchen. Indeed, he boasts a retention rate that stays close to 95%. “If we lose someone, it’s because they’re moving on. They’re taking the next big job. I can’t remember the last time someone just quit,” says Carroll. When not running the brigade at the esteemed River Oaks Country Club in Houston, he tours the country and the world, delivering motivational speeches to restaurant organizations, culinary schools and dining operations, calling on industry folks to wake up to a brand-new day in employee management. He preaches about team building—about how the secret to staffing success lies in caring for the employee’s individual success.

If students can think of networking as a process of giving, not taking, it can be less overwhelming for them and often interesting and even positive.

By Dr. Fred Mayo, CHE, CHT

At this time of year, students who are looking for summer jobs or permanent jobs at graduation are probably involved in networking, a great way to meet people, expand connections, find jobs and increase professional connections. However, some students are scared to network, some don’t understand it, and some have no experience, while others are excellent at it. This column might provide some advice for the first three groups and a reminder to the fourth group. As a faculty member, you are probably good at it; maybe this column will help suggest some new ideas.

March is National Nutrition Month. And as the general rules of nutrition keep changing, students are mentally tuning out. Here, Chef Weiner explains how to emphasize the first four of 10 unchanging basic facts.

By Adam Weiner, CFSE

Culinary teachers at all levels tend to be uncomfortable teaching nutrition because:

• we are expected to be experts in the field, but have spent very little time being trained about nutrition,

• when we started cooking, “healthy food” was basically food that people wouldn’t want to cook or eat, our students have heard so much about nutrition and obesity they mentally turn off when we start talking about “healthy,” and
• most importantly, THE RULES KEEP CHANGING. Just when I figured out how to use a “pyramid” they switched me to a “plate.”

The Pork Checkoff honors 2011 Pork Industry Environmental Stewards

The National Pork Board honored four farm families as recipients of the 2011 Pork Industry Environmental Stewards Award at the annual National Pork Industry Forum recently held in Denver. The award, now in its 18th year, recognizes producers who demonstrate a firm commitment to safeguarding the environment and their local communities.

The 2011 award recipients are:

Golden Circle Pork, Woodward, Iowa
Rod and Missy Bice produce 6,600 wean-to-finish pigs annually on their farm set amid 1,400 acres of corn and soybeans. They and their children continue the farming tradition that began more than a century ago by both sides of the family. The Bices were also named Environmental Stewards for Iowa in 2010.