Chef Christ Kimura from Lee Kum Kee (Hong Kong-based company specializing in Chinese and Asian sauces) says, “. . . innovation is one part creative, one part operational,”  To sustain your restaurant, the dishes have to have interest or connect with the customers, AND it has to be executed consistently.  The solution?  Rethink pantry staples.  Finding simple ways where one ingredient can be added to create a signature sauce or dish solves many challenges.  First, it reduces the ingredients a chef needs to order.  In addition it simplifies prep and streamlines the cooking process.  Implementing this simple solution goes along with the already shrinking menus and the financial need to purchase fewer ingredients.

Food costs are continuing to rise.  Whether it be supply chain challenges or inflation, everyone is feeling the effects.  As an individual, this affects your wallet and as a restaurant, you feel those effects with less foot traffic.  People are having to stretch their budgets, and often that means decreasing restaurant visits each month.  Mix this with the continual struggle to find hourly staff and the weight to keep the doors open is almost unbearable.  

Today’s chefs are constantly interrupted and their time is split in the kitchen and other day-to-day tasks.  Focusing on both innovation and execution is a challenge. However, a huge part of being a chef is creativity.  Being able to play in the kitchen and create new recipes is a vital part of the job.  And equally important, it keeps patrons returning.  So, how is a chef to innovate new recipes that attract customers while protecting the bottom line?

Take a look at your menu and find areas where you are using ingredients for only one dish.  Remove or tweak those recipes so that the ingredients are used all over the menu.  The fun part?  If done well, your patrons will never know that the star of your appetizer is also used in your signature dressing.

Maybe innovation is just one ingredient away?!

The post #1 Tip to Encourage Innovation in Your Restaurant appeared first on Pacific Coast Hospitality.

We’re Pacific Coast Hospitality…we recruit the best, most qualified leadership talent for top hospitality organizations across the western U.S. and British Columbia.

Market Bend, OR

Job Description 

Live and work in one of the west’s most desirable outdoor recreation communities, we have an outstanding Resort Sous Chef position to fill based in beautiful Bend OR. Excellent salary, benefits, work environment, and opportunity for career growth are all part of the package. Located in the heart beautiful Central Oregon, this property is positioned for tremendous sales growth and regional recognition. This is a chance to be part of something special, a once in a lifetime opportunity!

We are searching for a driven and talented Sous Chef with experience in high-volume restaurant and banquet management. The ideal candidate will possess a proven track record and passion for developing new menu items, mentoring and developing others, delivering outstanding guest experiences, as well as achieving superior financial results.

Requirements Ideal candidate will have the following:

• 3-5 years high volume BOH restaurant leadership experience
• Banquet and catering experience a must
• Strong kitchen organizational skills
• Passion for developing and mentoring a team
• Track record of achieving financial results
• Strong honesty, integrity and guest-oriented philosophy
• Personal and professional maturity is a key attribute

Salary Range & Benefits

• Salary – $45k – $60k (starting, based on experience level )
• Tailor made bonus program worth up to 10% of base salary
• Medical, Dental and Life Insurance Coverage
• Annual Performance / Salary Review
• Opportunity to live and work in the “outdoor playground of the West”, Bend is world famous for both its outdoor pursuits and pristine beauty.

Job Category Resort Sous Chef

Job Type Full Time

If this position seems like you – please click on this link to submit your resume and cover letter. https://www.pacificcoasthospitality.com/careers-in-hospitality/  We will contact you via telephone or email for an initial interview.

The post Job: Resort Sous Chef appeared first on Pacific Coast Hospitality.

We’re Pacific Coast Hospitality…we recruit the best, most qualified leadership talent for top hospitality organizations across the western U.S. and British Columbia.

Market Bend, OR

Job Description 

Pacific Coast Hospitality is searching for a Restaurant Manager to lead this authentic neighborhood spot serving up creative and inspired comfort food in the heart of downtown Bend, Oregon. This traditional-with-a-twist restaurant offers a delicious dining experience in a comfortable environment. From classic, nostalgic flavors to new and creative dishes, they cook food that is sometimes elegant, sometimes rustic and always honest. Just as important as the food is the way you feel when you’re there. One part retro neighborhood café and one part elegant bistro, a place where you and your family can get comfortable and have a good time. Their welcoming staff goes to great lengths to make diners feel at ease and well taken care of. So you’ll want to come back again and again.

Requirements Ideal candidate will have the following:

• 3 years’ experience working as Manager in the upscale, casual dining segment
• Must know and be passionate about food, craft beer, wine and cocktails
• Casual, yet corporate experience/background preferred
• BUSY environment, candidate must have the energy and mental toughness to succeed
• High volume “foodie” experience a plus
• Passion for developing and mentoring a team
• Track record of achieving financial results

Salary Range & Benefits

• Salary – $48k – $55k (starting, based on experience level )
• Generous and Obtainable Annual Performance Bonus Program
• Medical and Dental Health Insurance
• Annual Performance and Salary Review

Job Category Restaurant Manager

Job Type Full Time

If this position seems like you – please click on this link to submit your resume and cover letter. https://www.pacificcoasthospitality.com/careers-in-hospitality/  We will contact you via telephone or email for an initial interview.

The post Job: Restaurant Manager appeared first on Pacific Coast Hospitality.

We’re Pacific Coast Hospitality…we recruit the best, most qualified leadership talent for top hospitality organizations across the western U.S. and British Columbia.

Market Bend, OR

Job Description 

Pacific Coast Hospitality is searching for a Restaurant Executive Chef / Kitchen Manager to lead this newly opened restaurant in beautiful Bend Oregon. An authentic neighborhood spot serving up creative and inspired food in the NorthWest Crossings neighborhood (or NWX as it’s affectionately called here in the hood). This recently opened neighborhood gathering place boasts indoor seating for 75, with an additional seating for 40 more on their spectacular outdoor patio. Casual, comfortable and inviting, always cooked from scratch, using local ingredients whenever possible.

Requirements Ideal candidate will have the following:

• 5 years’ experience working as AKM /KM / Sous / Chef in the upscale, casual dining segment
• Must be knowledgeable and passionate about farm to fork, locally grown, organic food
• Casual, yet corporate experience/background preferred
• Ability and willingness to engage with guests and patrons
• BUSY environment, candidate must have the energy and mental toughness to succeed
• High volume “foodie” experience a plus
• Passion for developing and mentoring a team
• Track record of achieving financial results

Salary Range & Benefits

• Salary – $60k – $75k (starting, based on experience level)
• Generous and Obtainable Annual Performance Bonus Program
• Medical and Dental Health Insurance
• Annual Performance and Salary Review

Job Category Restaurant Chef

Job Type Full Time

If this position seems like you – please click on this link to submit your resume and cover letter. https://www.pacificcoasthospitality.com/careers-in-hospitality/  We will contact you via telephone or email for an initial interview.

The post Job: Restaurant Chef appeared first on Pacific Coast Hospitality.

Staffing is one of the biggest challenges a business owner overcomes. There’s a lot of juggling between interviewing, training and maintaining employees. The stats are in favor of promoting current employees when hiring managers with exceptional characteristics and work ethic.

The less time as a business owner you may have to spend seeking out new management, the more time you’ve got to begin hiring and training hourly employees to grow with your business.

So, what does it take for an hourly employee to look and act ready for a promotion into management?

They’re self-managed.

There’s a lot to say about an employee who arrives on time, takes care of business and is always solving problems for themselves in a professional manor. From the get go, it’s usually easy to see what standout individuals are a part of your team.

They lead in a way they’d want to be led.

Among the restaurant industry, there can be a lot of personalities which sometimes result in some unpleasant moments in the back of house. An employee ready to manage carries themselves in the way they’d want their own manager to handle conflict and works to keep themselves clear of causing personal conflict. Whether it’s getting along with every employee or you use her or him as an example of patience, performance and productivity – employees working towards promotion lead by example.

They invest their time with quality employees greater than themselves to learn.

It’s been said that you are the cumulative sum of the five people you spend the most time with. Outstanding team members tend to hang with people who they can learn from and look up to.

They set goals and achieve them.

Leaders set goals and develop a roadmap to accomplish them. And when they need help to accomplish their goals? They ask! Look at your timecards… who is putting in the hours during the busy days and during the times it is somewhat inconvenient to work, whether that be holidays or evening. The best future manager you can hire is the one who puts in the time today.

Working to identify and continue developing leaders within your staff who can grow with you and become a manager is one of the most stressful yet rewarding roles of owning a restaurant.

What’s been the top way you’ve been able to identify todays leaders that will be tomorrows managers?

The post When Is It Time to Promote? appeared first on Pacific Coast Hospitality.

You aren’t updating your resume for each application. Sure, the basic facts will always remain the same. Your last employer will always been your last employer and that alma mater is never changing, but there are some key things that should. You should determine with skills and experiences from past jobs to highlight based on the job description of the position you’re applying for. Maybe they’re looking for a kitchen manager with leadership experience? Be sure to highlight that specifically on the resume you submit for that opening.

You’re underestimating yourself. This one is what holds most people back. You see a long list of qualifications and duties on a job listing & immediately assume it isn’t for you without an extra second of thought. It’s important to take a step back and really look at your skills and experiences. Most of the time you’re more qualified than you think! If you meet most of the desired skills listed on a job posting, highlight them on your resume and go ahead and apply. Very rarely does anyone check every single box on the job description, so you’re only hurting yourself by holding back.

You don’t utilize professional staffing companies. Why wouldn’t you want the help of people who specialize in hiring and placing talent within your specific industry? Professional staffing companies work with both companies looking to hire and individuals searching for a job to find the best match for everyone involved. Many companies, like us here at Pacific Coast Hospitality, also offer additional services to help candidates put their best foot forward in the job hunt. Take a look at our candidate services here.

The post 3 Ways You’re Making the Job Search Harder Than It Has to Be appeared first on Pacific Coast Hospitality.

The post 3 Ways You're Making the Job Search Harder Than It Has to Be appeared first on Pacific Coast Hospitality.

The post KEY HIRING ESSENTIALS TO AVOIDING TURNOVER appeared first on Pacific Coast Hospitality.

We’re Pacific Coast Hospitality…we recruit the best, most qualified leadership talent for top hospitality organizations across the western U.S. and British Columbia.

Market Seattle, WA

Job Description 

We’ve acquired a very exciting new search for a Restaurant Director of Operations position for this iconic Seattle based, rapidly expanding QSR concept. Currently 15 units and more are coming! Founded 30 years ago, this company offers authentic recipes right out of America’s South and a genuine dedication to quality.

The high esteem for the brand, combined with strong concept components and excellent unit economics, provides solid positioning for expansion. More aggressive expansion is planned: four units in 2016, eight in 2017, and higher numbers in subsequent years.  The company intends to penetrate new markets within the next two years, on its way to becoming a genuine national brand.

A senior executive, with abundant experience growing food-service brands, has joined the founders to lead this concept’s growth. The company’s plans depend heavily on a highly-effective Director of Operations to assume the responsibilities of daily operations.  The rate of growth, and the success of new units, will be a direct function of the Director’s abilities.  Additionally, this person will be viewed as a possible successor to the President’s chair.

Requirements Ideal candidate must have the following:

• Minimum of 3 years of food service Director of Operations experience.
• Able to execute on high standards and procedures.
• Exhibit strong people skills…likeable, enthusiastic and caring.
• Personally display a guest 1st mindset.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to drive growth while continuously improving guest satisfaction.
• Proven track record in maintaining strong cost controls, and quality standards.
  • Major Areas of Responsibility:
    • Operations Culture
    • Sales & Profits
    • Guest Satisfaction
    • Facility Maintenance
    • Franchise Support
    • Management Development

Salary Range and Benefits

• $80,000 – $1200,000/yr. based on experience
• Cash bonus opportunity: 25% of salary
• Stock Incentive Plan
• Auto allowance
• Mobile phone allowance

Job Category Restaurant Director of Operations

Job Type Full Time

If this position seems like you – please click on this link to submit your resume and cover letter. https://www.pacificcoasthospitality.com/careers-in-hospitality/  We will contact you via telephone or email for an initial interview.

The post Job: Restaurant Director of Operations appeared first on Pacific Coast Hospitality.

Along with new flavor experiences everyone is looking for quality – what that standard of quality is may vary from consumer to consumer – whether it be taste, organic ingredients used, size of each pie, etc. consumers are starting to realize the art of pizza making and the quality they are receiving on each slice.

In general, most consumers haven’t let a sluggish economy get in the way of pleasing their palates; if anything, they’re getting pickier about quality. In a 2012 survey by research firm Technomic, 34% of diners said they were willing to pay more for gourmet ingredients, compared to 26% in 2010, while 27% said they’d shell out more for natural or organic ingredients, up from 21% two years earlier. In the same study, 33% said they were “interested in trying pizza with highly innovative toppings,” a big jump from 13% in 2010.

Want proof the consumers growing favoritism for specialty pizzas? The biggest pizza chains in the US today are even making alterations to meet consumers demands for artisan, hand crafted pies.  From Domino’s to Papa Murphy’s and many small pizza shops in cites all across the US, all have leapt into this new market concept, artisan pizzas.

With the economy of pizza ever growing and changing, the rise of careers available comes along too.  With consumers begging for new, bold and specialty flavors, now is the time to start your artisan career in the pizza industry.  More than just a hospitality position, PCH is looking to place artisans with a passion and desire to create and combine unique taste pizza consumers will rave about.

Want more information on positions we’ve got available in the pizza industry? Visit our website.

The post The Economy of Artisan Pizza appeared first on Pacific Coast Hospitality.