Starring Chef Jordan
Episode 1 - Pandemonium… Put a lid on it!

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Chicago’s role as a training ground for tourism-industry managers will expand dramatically next fall when DePaul University launches a School of Hospitality Leadership in its business school with help from a $7.5 million gift from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

The grant, to be formally announced Wednesday, is the second-largest private donation received by the university, which has committed to raising another $9.1 million to match it.

“We are talking to a number of other hotel chains,” said Ray Whittington, dean of DePaul’s College of Commerce.

America’s Second Harvest today announced that sales of the U.S. Foodservice cookbook Recipes From the Heart™ has thus far raised more than $395,000 to help feed the nation’s hungry.

Recipes from the Heart™ is a 336-page cookbook filled with more than 350 delicious recipes, together with many heartwarming stories from the hearts and kitchens of associates of U.S. Foodservice. Net sales of the cookbook, priced at $24.99, are donated directly to America’s Second Harvest.

As more operators, commercial and non-commercial alike, continue to embrace the notion of sustainable foodservice, they seem to do so with an emphasis on the ingredients they use. And much like the morning glories that continue to grow rampantly in my backyard, the movement seems to show no signs of slowing down.

iTrade Webinar Offers Range of Suggestions for Maintaining Profitability
In order to protect margins in the face of today’s economic deceleration and overwhelming food cost inflation, foodservice supply chain trading partners must tightly and precisely manage their businesses and relationships, according to three operators that participated in an iTradeNetwork webinar earlier this week. 

The margin-protecting solutions were not only meant to remove costs but also drive business to restaurants.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration issued the following press release:

The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced international visitation to the United States rose 15 percent, and visitor spending increased by 20 percent in the first quarter of 2008 over last year. In March 2008, visitation to the United States climbed substantially to 4.7 million, an increase of 19 percent over March 2007.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration issued the following press release:

Over the years I have bought and sold several rental properties. One of my recent houses needed some work done since the yard sloped toward the house and caused a water problem.

I was going to build a deck but first I needed to work on solving the water problem.

I started with a shovel. That lasted about 15 minutes. I knew there had to be a better way so I headed to the equipment rental company.

“In the 50 years that I have been involved in foodservice distribution, I have never experienced such a challenging atmosphere for our industry, which also includes our customers and vendors,” said Stephen Horowitz.

The closest period I can remember is when we had price controls, which caused great problems.

Restaurants are facing far higher costs of product, ever increasing labor and other operating costs, and lower revenues. With fewer customers, restaurants are reluctant to adequately pass along their cost increases.

By FES Staff—Foodservice Equipment & Supplies

More than half (54 percent) of people who dine out regularly are cutting back on restaurant spending because of the economy, according to a recent report published by Mintel, a Chicago-based research firm. Rising gas and food costs, home foreclosures, and a fear of recession have caused many Americans to curb out-to-eat spending, the report said.

By FES Staff—Foodservice Equipment & Supplies

In front of a capacity crowd of more than 340 foodservice professionals, FE&S named Zena Dater of Oswalt Restaurant Supply in Oklahoma City, its 2008 DSR of the Year. Dater accepted the award during FE&S’ annual Dealer of the Year & Industry Awards Gala at the Chicago Four Seasons Hotel.