Stella's Lounge

Why I Don’t Drink Budweiser…and Why I’m Not Alone

Budweiser has always been far more about marketing than beer. The founder of Anheuser Busch, Adolphus Busch, refused to drink his own brew, calling it “that slop” (he was German, of cou…

Why we will no longer be a welcoming church

We’ve decided to quit being a welcoming church. No kidding. We’re giving it up. Like so many congregations, we’ve sunk an amazing amount of time and energy into becoming a welcoming church. We changed worship styles, trained greeters and ushers, wore name tags, brewed coffee, went to workshops on hospitality and put our friendliest people …

Supper vs. Dinner: Is There a Difference?

Why ‘Chopped’ Only Has One Ice Cream Maker

The popular Food Network show Chopped blends cooking shows, game shows, and a little bit of reality TV. Participants must create dishes using unusual combinations of ingredients that are then tasted by a panel of judges, typically creating an appetizer, entrée, and dessert.

The Secrets to a Perfect Date Night In

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at home this year with our secrets for the perfect romantic meal. Make it a Valentine’s Day date night in to remember.

The Easiest Way to a Better Cup of Coffee

If you’re trying to improve your coffee brewing it’s not hard to get overwhelmed quickly. There are lots of methods—French press, pour-over, sip...

10 tips to help you grill burgers to perfection

By Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press<br>Americans consume some 50 billion hamburgers a year. What’s so hard about shaping some ground meat into a patty and cooking it?<br>Meat experts, cookbook authors and chefs say plenty.<br>We use the wrong grind of beef. We handle the meat and shape them wrong. We cook t

Casual-Dining Chains Step Up to the Plate

Many casual-dining chains are reinventing themselves to be more contemporary. They are swapping out giant portions of food for small plates, and upgrading ingredients and décor.

3 Steps for a Casual Dining Brand Turnaround

As stakeholders in casual dining (CD) concepts continue to look at the turnaround potential of their investment, it is important to focus on techniques and strategies that accelerate success where others have failed.

You'll Never Guess Which Casual Dining Restaurant Is Everyone's Favorite

Diners may be having a love affair with fast-casual chains, but in the casual-dining realm, this experience still ranks at the top.

Four critical factors that drive brand loyalty for casual dining restaurants

We've defined the top retention strategies 50 winning restaurants count on to drive loyalty.

Are off-premise channels a silver bullet for the casual dining segment?

Restaurants have experienced declining sales for the past decade, but delivery, catering and carryout are yielding positive results for major chains.

Casual dining well-armed with appetizer offers

Brands battle for customer attention with starter deals

FreshFry Reinventing How America’s Restaurants Fry

Science and passion have often been at the forefront of modernization in the food industry. An exciting new innovation has come from a chemical engineer who has developed a product to introduce a change in the way restaurants fry that makes a big environmental impact...

Casual dining finds a ray of light: Takeout

Chains making a big push for delivery and to go, but will it be enough?

Tipping Guidelines For Non-Restaurant Services

Tipping etiquette outside of restaurant can feel like a gray area. These guidelines will help.

What's the Difference Between a Restaurant Service Fee and a Tip?

Nowadays, it seems that U.S. consumers are being asked to shell out more in tips and service charges than ever before. But is there a difference between the two?

How 10 restaurant companies performed in their latest quarters

While sales remain positive, casual-dining chains are suffering and quick-service brands thriving from The Great Trade Down

How food trucks are adding a fresh twist to casual dining

As the appetite for new foods grows and consumers seek out new dining experiences, the traditional lines between restaurants and street food are blurring.

Restaurants Are Evolving, Are You Ready For The Future?

Technology has entered the restaurant industry. We break down a few of the hot trends hitting the casual dining market.