In the world of dining out midsummer can be a time for good deals; in great restaurant cities like Boston and New York City July and August are the height of the summer restaurant week season.
One of the industry's most popular promotional strategies, the restaurant week concept was born in 1992, the brain child of Tim Zagat of Zagat Surveys fame and the late Joe Baum, the legendary New York City restaurant magnate. The two developed the idea to capture business from the Democratic National Convention, which was being held in New York City that August. That first Restaurant Week, however, appealed to local residents as well as those visiting the Big Apple to practice politics, and the Week became an annual tradition as well as a promotional strategy subsequently replicated around the world.
Restaurant weeks are typically scheduled to build business during slow times of the year. In major metropolitan areas this often means the summer months, while restaurant communities like those on Cape Cod plan them for "off-season."
Perhaps the largest of restaurant week promotions is California Restaurant Month, an every-January extravaganza organized by Visit California, the state's destination marketing non-profit. Specific regions, such as Napa Valley, piggyback on the statewide promotion and establish separate weeks of their own within California Restaurant Month.
The idea has spread to Europe as well, where cities like London and Amsterdam have developed their own variations on the restaurant week theme.
Here in the Northeast, two major restaurant week events are part of the late summer calendar.
This summer’s New York Restaurant Week is currently underway and continues through Aug. 16. More than 370 establishments are participating, with prix-fixe offerings of two-course lunches priced at $26 and a three-course dinners at $42.
A comprehensive listing of NYC Restaurant Week menus can be found at the event's official web site, nycgo.com/restaurant-week.
Dine Out Boston, the Hub’s version of a restaurant week, will launch its summer edition on Aug. 18. The promotion, which has more than 100 Boston-area establishments signed up, will continue through August 30. Dine Out Boston’s pricing is tiered, with lunches offered at $15, $20 or $25 and dinners at $28, $33, or $38.
The official website for Dine Out Boston, which lists the restaurants involved and has links to their menu information and reservations, is bostonusa.com/dine-out-boston/.
Hard data on whether or not taking part in a restaurant week promotions "pays" isn't easy to come by, but a small-scale analysis undertaken in 2016 suggested that a revenue boost of about 25% was typical for those establishments who participated. The number of transactions and the size of the average check were also both positively impacted by restaurant week traffic.
An e-mail from Mike Desmarais, the restaurant's owner, brought word that the Comfort Kitchen and Bar in Huntington has recently expanded its operating hours.
Comfort Kitchen is now open for both lunch and dinner on Tuesdays; Desmarais has also begun serving weekend breakfast on both Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Along with the change in hours, Desmarais has made adjustments to his establishment's menu, expanding the availability of his three-course "Sunday Suppers" to Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Four different entree selections are part of his Sunday Supper deal each week.
In addition to a la carte dining, Comfort Kitchen also does catering, either on-site or at the restaurant.
Comfort Kitchen and Bar answers at (413) 265-5742, and the restaurant's web presence can be found at comfortkitchenandbar.com.
Table 3 Restaurant Group in Sturbridge has announced the topic of its August edition of Cooking with Rico and Eric.
This demonstration and sampling event is planned for Thursday, August 22 starting at 6:30 p.m., and the focus of the evening will be Cuban cuisine.
A style of cooking that brings together flavors from Spain, Africa, Italy, and even China, Cuban culinary traditions are expressed in a host of dishes the session will explore, such as torticas, ropa vieja, and comida criolla.
Cost to attend the session, which includes the opportunity to sample the dishes prepared, is $55 per person with wine pairings and $42 without. Tax and gratuity are not included.
Reservations can be made by calling Avellino at (508) 347-2321.
Smokey Joe’s Cigar Lounge on Dwight Street in Springfield is hosting its first-ever Sun Dress & Linen Day Party on Aug. 10 from 5 to 10 p.m. The get-together will feature nibbles, world class cocktails, great music, and giveaways. For more details contact Smokey Joe’s at (413) 391-7944.
The Boathouse in South Hadley will be the site of a Luau on the River on Saturday, August 3 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The evening will feature the Hu Ke Lau Hawaiian Show performers with showtime scheduled for 8 p.m. Food and drink will be available; those planning to attend are invited to bring blankets or lawn chairs.
General admission tickets are $10 and can be purchased from Eventbrite.com; that site will tack on a $2.24 per ticket broker's fee.
Friendly's Restaurant locations across Western New England are featuring several seafood favorites this summer.
Lobster Mac & Cheese is making a limited-time-only appearance as an entree item. Made with corkscrew pasta, three cheeses, and lobster in garlic sauce, the mac & cheese casserole is additionally garnished with breadcrumbs and bacon.
Lobster is also being featured in a Lobster Quesadilla, while a Fisherman's Platter brings together a trio of fish-fry favorites that include shrimp, clam strips, and battered cod filet.
For dessert Friendly's is serving a Strawberry Shortcake Sundae made with shortcake, berries, vanilla ice cream, and whipped cream.
These seasonal menu specialties will be available through Labor Day. Prices and participation will vary according to restaurant locations.
Mezze Bistro + Bar in Williamstown has announced that, with the start of the Williamstown Theater Festival, the restaurant is adjusting its operating hours.
In order to accommodate those who wish to enjoy dinner before the curtain time for Festival performances, Mezze will be opening each day at 4:30 p.m. for the balance of the Festival season.
Reservations at Mezze can be made by calling (413) 458-0123.
Poland Culinary Vacations has organized a holiday-themed itinerary for this December. Their "Magic of Christmas Markets in Poland" tours will provide participants with the opportunity to explore holiday markets in five cities - Warsaw, Poznan, Wroclaw, Krakow, and Zakopane.
The small group tours will run from December 5 through 14 and, in addition to Christmas market shopping, will include Polish cookery classes focused on Christmas baking and the preparation of traditional Wigilia (Christmas Eve) dishes.
For more details go to PolandCulinaryVacations.com or call (888) 703-8130.
On Aug. 3, the Mortensen Riverfront Plaza in Hartford, CT will be the site of the Taste of the Caribbean & Jerk Festival, a tribute to the food and culture of the Caribbean basin.
The Festival will run from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. In addition to an array of food vendors, each offering authentic tastes of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and more, there will be an all-day line-up of music and dance at two separate stage locations. Admission to the Festival is free.
Hartford-based Riverfront Recapture is co-sponsoring the Festival. They answer at (860) 713-3131; their web address is riverfront.org.
Hugh Robert is a faculty member in Holyoke Community College’s hospitality and culinary arts program and has over 40 years of restaurant and educational experience. Please send items of interest to Off the Menu at the Republican, P.O. Box 1329, Springfield, MA 01101; Robert can also be reached at OffTheMenuGuy@aol.com.
https://www.masslive.com/dining/2019/07/off-the-menu-restaurant-weeks-remain-popular.html 2019-07-27 10:42:00Z
0 Comments:
Post a Comment