A few years ago, I was the marketing manager for a Hawaiian restaurant group. My goal was to sell restaurant franchises. But I faced a few major problems.
differentiating. With numerous Hawaiian BBQ restaurants out there, it was hard differentiating from the competition. Sure, we can hire a live Hawaiian band or bring [...]
Entries from September 2008
the Clinic:Restaurant w/ hospital theme
September 26th, 2008 · 1 Comment
Tags: Business · Uncategorized
Lobster Entrepreneur Brothers: 30 Under 30
September 22nd, 2008 · No Comments
Age: 28 (John) and 26 (Brendan)
Location: Portland, ME
2007 Revenue: $10 million
Employees: 20
Year founded: 2004 (Ready Seafood) and 2007 (Catch a Piece of Maine)
Inc. magazine recently published an article title 30 Under 30 featuring thirty young entrepreneurs under thirty years old.
One story that caught my eye was about two brothers that started a lobster [...]
Tags: Business · Culinary Education
Food Fight: Education through Creativity
September 22nd, 2008 · No Comments
With my eyes wide open, I listened to Martin Yan (Yan Can Cook) as he spoke about the secrets on his success. As he mentored me with fascinating stories, he taught me that he has been able to teach cooking in an entertaining way. He captures his audience with rapid knife skills and humor.
This [...]
Tags: Culinary Education
David Chang Momofuku: Most Influential Chef in New York
September 17th, 2008 · No Comments
$2.49 a Steak Sale – Omaha Steaks. Offer ends 9.28.08.
“Congratulations, you choose one of the hardest job in the world…try to do it right.”-David Chang
Age: 31
Training: French Culinary Institute
Momofuku empire
{noodle bar}
{Ssam}
{ko}
Esquire recently name David Chang, one of the most influential people. New York Magazine Chronicles his path to success. With a $130,00 [...]
Tags: Business · Chinese · Korean
Wendy’s: Viral Video Swing
September 14th, 2008 · No Comments
This is Wendy’s first swing at viral video. I was disappointed. The viral video is not funny and not appetizing. Basically, it is not worth talking about at the water cooler.
The article in Advertising Age is a great article going into more detail about the video.
2 Major Reasons to Create Viral Videos
Money. As [...]
Tags: Uncategorized
Donut Craze: Koreans eating it up
September 10th, 2008 · No Comments
Many American food brands have tried to scale (grow or expand) globally. Donuts have become a big “craze” in Korea.
Tags: Business
Robot Bartender: Innovation
September 10th, 2008 · No Comments
“Sh&t, that bar tender was rude.”
Only if I had a robot beer man.
Asahi is innovating by creating a robot beer man. This is a great marketing campaign that caused news worthy buzz in the industry.
“My Tokyo ice tea is too sweet.”
In this clip, the robot bartender mixes drinks with precision. No need to [...]
Tags: Culinary Education
Fortune Cookie: Fooled You
September 10th, 2008 · 2 Comments
Often times, friends ask me to recommend an authentic Chinese restaurant. The truth is that many restaurants in the United States have altered their menu for Western taste. Chicken feet would not be a popular item or cow tripe.
On a business trip in Chicago, I met a Caucasian man and he [...]
Tags: Chinese · Culinary Education
Slow Food Nation: Food + Education Fair
September 6th, 2008 · No Comments
As the name suggest, Slow Food Nation was, well… slow. Especially the lines to taste each food. Arriving at Fort Mason on a Sunny evening, I was excited about a festival filled with great quality food.
Workshops included talks about the Slow Food movement with Alice Waters from Chez Panisse.
A pavilion filled with eager eyes. [...]
Tags: Culinary Education
Ceramic Knife: food + cutlery
September 6th, 2008 · No Comments
Improving knife skills is essential to great cooking. I love sandwiches and having a thinly sliced tomato provides the perfect amount of sweet tones. My Ceramic Knife is a blog test driving ceramic knives.
Tags: Culinary Education
CAL Cooking Club: UC Berkeley learns about food
September 6th, 2008 · 2 Comments
CAL Cooking Club
“Damm, that mushroom soup is great.”
One slurp, then I quickly dunked bread into the full bodied soup.
With strong earthy notes, the soup excited my palate.
This was the reward after a playful lecture.
Last week, I returned to my alma mater UC Berkeley. Walking along the leafy road that leads to Valley Life Science [...]
Tags: Culinary Education
Amanda’s: Healthy fast food
September 6th, 2008 · 1 Comment
Dear Culinary King,
Fast food without the guilt. Can this truly ever exist?
Just an hour ago, I finally got to try Amanda’s, located on the leafy streets of Berkeley. Before setting one foot into the door, bright lights radiate a sense of discovery. Perhaps Amanda’s attempt to destroy the term “good tasting [...]
Tags: American
Little China Kitchen: Healthy Chinese Food
September 3rd, 2008 · No Comments
Little China Kitchen
215 E. 3rd Ave.
San Mateo, CA 94401
Tel: (650) 348-3890
M-T: 11am – 9:30pm
Friday – Sat: 11am – 10pm
Sunday: 12pm-9:30pm
www.littlechinakitchen.com
Free Delivery with $15 purchase
Price Range: $15 and up
Contrary to its name, Little China Kitchen serves a big menu creating fusion delights across the board. Patrons can easily bypass the less than spectacular façade and [...]
Tags: Chinese
Bento Box: Art in a Lunch Box
September 1st, 2008 · No Comments
Most of the time, just a few dash of creativity spice can move our senses. O Bento is a Japanese site dedicated to creating art work in the lunch boxes.
While traveling in Tokyo, I saw hundreds of salary men/women wake up early in the morning and commute to work. It a nice surprise [...]
Tags: Japanese
Tea Spa: Eating Fish
September 1st, 2008 · No Comments
Many have wondered why I have not been writing much. It is because I had a gigantic writing cramp. It was a needed break. As a published food writer, I was too caught up in writing a fluid prose, focusing too much on typing the right adjectives or nouns.
I have also [...]
Tags: Korean

