California Olive Industry - Foodservice

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Recipe of the Month [ top ]

January: Sausage Soup
February: Fennel Goat Cheese & Ripe Olive Double-Crust Pizza
March: Roasted Garlic Potato Salad
April: Orzo with Lamb, Olives and Feta

Endless Ways to Eat Well. [ top ]

Toss together fresh flavors, nutritious ingredients and a little bit of indulgence and you're eating well. Try Artichoke & Ripe Olive Tuna Salad, Provolone & Olive Stuffed Chicken Breast, Corn & Green Bean Salad or Tomato & Smoked Mozzarella Sandwiches and your customers will acquire a taste for the healthfully delicious.

January Promotions [ top ] National Soup Month Most of us can't resist the comfort of steaming bowl on an icy day. Break out your ladle and serve it up! Celebrate National Soup Month by offering daily soup specials including Creamy Tomato Vegetable Soup, Mexican Shrimp and Corn Chowder, and Fish Soup Provencal. As customers warm up to your latest creations, extend your menu by offering lunchtime soup specials. A cup with a half of a sandwich or a bowl with a salad, now that sure takes the sting out of a cold winter's day.
Love Yourself Month Table for two, sure. Table for four, alright…But what ever happened to dining solo? Sometimes, it's the best way to enjoy a memorable meal. This month, add some incentive to this underrated indulgence. Advertise a singles special offering a free dessert or half priced appetizer like Saganaki Salad, Roasted Vegetable Salad, or Provencal Olive and Tomato Tart for those who brave the restaurant scene alone. Could a singles dining club be far off in the future? Then again, wouldn't that take the adventure out of flying solo! Download the olive heart art for or .
January 1-7: Resolution Week Yeah, yeah, get in shape, eat right and make more time for ourselves…We commit to these ideas every year, but who really sticks with it? It would sure help if the people around you were cheering you along. Give your customers a hand this year by developing a unique "I resolve" menu full of creative healthy items that actually taste good, like Lime Marinated Seafood Salad, Tossed Salmon Salad and Lettuce Wrapped Lamb Burgers. Print menus with tips on healthy habits that everyone needs help remembering throughout the year. Create a "health club" punch card that diners can use throughout the year. Each time guests order from your "I resolve" menu, the card gets another hole punched. Five holes earns a free appetizer sized salad or half priced entrée salad such as California Shrimp Salad, Mendocino Mixed Greens and Smoked Turkey Ripe Olive and Lentil Salad. Now that's a way to keep business healthy over the horizon.
January 8: Elvis's Birthday Graceland here we come…Well, even if renting a bus with your 50 best customers is out of the question, there's no reason to let the King's birthday go unnoticed. Make sure waitstaff comes dressed appropriately as their favorite form of Elvis and encourage customers to do the same. Why not open up a Karaoke mic for a full-on amateur impersonation contest. Contestants can purchase t-shirts saying, "I was the King for a night at "Your restaurant"" and the winner will receive a meal on the house. A menu full of the King's favorites like Seared Corn and (Jailhouse) Rock Shrimp Cakes, (Love Me Tender) Tapenade Roasted Chicken and Root Vegetable (Hounddog) Hash, will set this night apart from the rest. With jailhouse rock blasting in the background, this isn't just a party fit for any royalty…We're talking "The King". Download the olive musical notes art for or .
Hot & Spicy Food International Day: January 16 Baby it's cold outside…What better time to turn up the heat? Treat your customers to a sizzlin' special menu with offerings like Sicilian Cauliflower Penne, Chipotle Olive Turkey Chili, Sweet Habenero Olive Snapper, Sephardic Simmered Chicken, Harissa Lamb and Olive Bulgur. Don't forget the salsa music. Download our the Spicy Recipes Flyer.
January 24th: National Compliment Day Nothing complements great cooking like the right choice in wines. Since it's an intimidating task for most, help your customers by putting together a wine and food menu, where each item is matched with its perfect liquid accompaniment. How about Golden Tuscan Chicken with your favorite chardonnay, Northwest Coast Pinot Halibut with a pinot noir and don't forget Smoked Salmon, Olive and Herb Tartine with a glass of bubbly? A night like this and compliments to the chef will naturally follow.
February Promotions [ top ] Blah Buster Month The sky might be grey and the temperature chilly, but we say it's no better time to add some new color to your menu. Change out some of those items that have been collecting cobwebs in the corner and bring new creative ideas to center stage. Let's talk spice, color, adventure! Items like Southwestern Cobb Salad, Mexican Cabbage Slaw, and Spicy Olive and Seafood Spaghetti are certain to change the Blahs into Ahhs. Advertise your new menu in your local paper and you'll draw in new customers as well as regulars. Keep the crowds coming and one thing's for certain, your waitstaff will be anything but bored this month!
February 2nd: Groundhog Day Whether the Groundhog sees his shadow or not, a gourmet meal is just the thing to entice your customers out of their winter caves. Promote a Groundhog Day special and give guests the opportunity to vote on "shadow" or "no shadow" when they make reservations by February 1. Those who guess correctly will receive a coupon at the end of their meal worth 20% off their next visit. And everyone will get an early taste of spring when you offer items like California Shrimp Salad, Dijon Roasted Chicken Salad and Roasted Vegetable Salad.
February 14th: Valentine’s Day Calling all sweethearts. There's no better night to turn on the romance and enjoy a long, intimate meal with someone you love. Host a "Table for Two Night" where guests make reservations for either an early or late night seating, every table in your restaurant is reserved for twosomes and the menu is all about sharing. Make sure to run specials that tap into the evening's mood like Citrus Olive Crab Salad, Ravioli with Fire Roasted Tomatoes and Olives, and Parchment Roasted Salmon. Play mellow R&B in the background and instruct your waitstaff to blend into the background. Send every couple on their way with a complimentary box of chocolates, and don't be surprised when they return on their anniversary. Download the hand-holding olive art for or .

March Promotions [ top ] March Madness No matter where in the country you are, you can't avoid the madness. And why would you? The revelry around the NCAA Hoops Championships has become one of our countries biggest reasons to hoot and howl. Open up your restaurant and welcome the crowds. With a big screen TV, pennants from all of the contenders and concessions galore they'll be cheering for you too. Of course, what good is the madness, without the right kind of munching? Make sure to have a full Madness Munchies Menu stocked with favorite nibblers like, Grilled Shrimp and California Ripe Olive Skewers, High Desert Tamale Tarts and Rocky Mountain Stuffed Potatoes. Your customers may be routing for different teams every day, but they'll all agree that you're the MVP of the whole month. Download the olive basketball art for or .
American Red Cross Month We may not think about them until we need them, but the American Red Cross is always there for us. Time to give a little back. Host a blood drive sign up at your restaurant. Work together with a local hospital to schedule customers for appointments to donate their blood. Each customer that returns with proof of their donation will receive a coupon for a free Red Hot treat like Steamed Clams with Spicy Sausage and Olives, Chipotle Chicken and Olive Empanadas or Sicilian Cauliflower Penne when they come in for their next meal. And hey, if that's not enough incentive, there's always cookies and juice!
National Youth Art Month With art classes dwindling out of school budgets all over the country, it's important for the rest of the community to encourage our budding little Van Goghs and Monets to hone their creativity. This month, offer a children's coloring book menu complete with pictures of all the foods that kids love like pizza, ice cream and California Ripe Olives. Host a favorite foods coloring contest at the end of the month where winners earn gift certificates for your own children's specials like Crispy California Pasta Cakes, Smoked Cheddar and Olive Mac ‘n Cheese and Creamy Tomato Vegetable Soup. Looking to make an even bigger impression? Host a Children's Food Art Carnival before your restaurant is scheduled to open. Charge a family admission price for all activities and invite parents to bring in their kids for hours of deliciously, messy fun. Using pizza doughs as their canvases, sauce as paint and California Ripe Olives for decorations, see what these young talents can create. How about a fruit and vegetable sculpture garden? Perhaps, a little pudding painting? Maybe even a little performance art with California Ripe Olive finger puppets? Let your imagination run wild, and you know they will. With full bellies, a change of clothes and scrumptious memories, this is bound to become an annual event. Download the olive portrait art for or .
April Promotions [ top ] Cancer Control Month There are some things in life we can't control; cancer is not necessarily one of them. Educate your customers on the benefits of eating foods high in phytochemicals and antioxidants which can help the body ward off certain types of cancers. Need a little tutorial? It's easy, the more color in your fruits and veggies, the better they are for you. Load up your menu with a rainbow of colorful dishes that taste delicious and pack a powerful punch with items like bright red Farro Baked Tomatoes, orange, yellow and green Roasted Vegetable Salad and purple, green, yellow and black Technicolor Vegetable Sauté. Choosing from inventive dishes like these flowing from your kitchen, healthy eating has never been so easy. Now controlling the crowds in your dining room, that's another story.
April 15th: Tax Day It's that time of the year when everyone's looking for a break, anywhere they can find one. Spread the word around town that you'll be giving a tax break to the first 20 customers that come into your restaurant every night this week. No, you can’t mess with their 1099s, instead, you'll take care of sales tax and offer discounts on entrée specials such as Spicy Chicken Olive Pozole, Turkish Sea Bass and Golden Tuscan Chicken. And for those who really need a break at this time of the year, offer a CPA special lunch menu throughout the month where those who have proof of their profession (sagging eyelids don't count) can purchase a quick prix fixe grab and go meal. Just think, from your Beet, Lentil and Cracked Wheat Pilaf to Olympic Souvlaki Sandwiches to Provencial Olive and Tomato Tarts, your culinary creativity may be the only thing getting these folks through all the filing. Download the olive frown art for or .
April 22nd: Earth Day Celebrate the earth's bounty featuring foods grown all over the globe. From grains to vegetable to fruits, if you look to the land for inspiration it's easy to fill up a full menu without ever touching meat. In addition to your regular menu, tonight offer customers the opportunity to try going vegetarian for once in honor of conservation. Highlighting lesser known grains in items like Moroccan Spiced Millet, Minted Multigrain Salad and Farro Baked Tomatoes or unusual vegetable combinations in salads like Mendocino Mixed Salad, California Caponata or Tricolor Potato Salad, conserving our nature's resources somehow won't seem like much of a sacrifice after all. Download the globe olive art for or .
Ongoing Promotions [ top ] Soup it up! Break out your ladle and serve up the comfort of a steaming bowl. Offer daily soup specials including Pesto Olive Minestrone, Mexican Shrimp and Corn Chowder, and Fish Soup Provencal. As customers warm up to your latest creations, extend your menu by offering lunchtime soup specials like a cup with a half of a sandwich or a bowl with a salad.
Bring Back the Bird Who says the early bird special is all but extinct? Offer a different discount every hour from 3-6 o'clock starting with half priced nibbles from 3-4pm including Tomato Citrus Marinated Olives, California Tapenade Toasts and High Desert Tamale Tarts. Move on to discounted drinks from 4-5 and cap it off with an early bird special from 5-6 including Tomato Fennel Braised Chicken, Sweet and Spicy Bulgur Lamb and Seared Steak and Spinach.
Going For The Grains. All the news about the importance of grains in the diet means customers are giving this long-neglected food group a new look. And old-world grains are getting some new treatments in Minted Multigrain Salad, Baked Tomatoes with Olives & spelt or Moroccan Spiced Millet. Or download all 8 recipes. Download the Great Grains Recipes Flyer.
Can You Top That? Take a cue from the popularity of trivia shows, by setting up your own ‘Can you Top That?” daily (or weekly) trivia quiz. Customers are invited to submit one answer each time they visit. (So, the more times they visit, the better their odds.) Correct answers are put into a weekly (or monthly) drawing, with the winners receiving free food items, such as a free dessert or an appetizer. Post a picture of the winner with the question and answer. To help promote the “Can You Top That?” the menu should also include a “Can We Top That?” menu promotion, with options to “upgrade” standard offerings with a “Tapenade Topping.” For a (minimal) cost increase, customers could add tapenade to: Hamburgers, Cheeseburgers, Omelets, Caesar Salads, French Breads, Pizza--or any number of items on your menu. Set up signage that asks: “Can We Top That?” Here are some top-notch tapenade recipes for your promotion: California Tapenade, Roasted Garlic Tapenade and Tapenade With Tuna. The internet is a great source of trivia questions & answers for “Can You Top That?” Some questions might be: Q: The largest pumpkin was how many pounds? (A. 377); Q: A can of spam is opened every ___ seconds/minutes. (A. 4 seconds). Q: How many cans of California Black Ripe Olives are opened each second? (A. 12)
Special Menus for Diabetics. 17 Million Americans now have diabetes. Your goal should be to make sure that changing what they eat doesn't mean changing where they choose to dine. Here are some recipes, complete with the nutritional exchange information. (By the way, they taste great; so you don't need to be diabetic to give them a try.)
Pasta! Pasta! Pasta! Help satisfy your customers' noodle-mania with these 8 new pasta recipes. Hunter's Style Pappardelle, Crispy California Pasta Cakes, Orichette Gratin, Rosemary Olive Chicken Fusilli, Creamy Asparagus and Olive Bowties, Lemon Salmon Linguini, Grilled Orzo Salad, and Ravioli with Fire Roasted Tomatoes & Olives. Or for the entire selection, Download the Pasta Recipes Flyer.
Dinner-To-Go Cross Promotion. If you are in a high-traffic area, such as a mall, you might consider doing cross-promotions with nearby shops. Ask the stores to post your "special ready-to-travel take-out menu at the cash register and, in turn, you could offer a percentage off to customers who say they were sent by your store partners (or who present a sales receipt). The goal is to drive new traffic to your operation. Some great takeout dishes include: Technicolor Vegetable Sauté and Tricolor Potato Salad. Download the olive and fork art for or .
Ripe For A Change. Offer a "Ripe For A Change" special that puts California Black Ripe Olives on your existing sandwiches, salads and pizzas. Or add these sandwiches or salads on your special "Ripe For A Change" menu: Grilled Vegetable and Ripe Olive Panini, "Shaved Beef" ‘N Olive Italian Sandwich, Roasted Milanese Salad, Crunchy Chicken Taco Salad. Use signs and menu sheets to make your campaign offer: "Ripe For A Change?" Add California Black Ripe Olives to any sandwich or salad, just 25 cents. Download the sandwich olive art for or .
Tapas Night. Tapas (small shared plates) are not only hot, they're great for upping check averages-- and a good way to generate traffic on slow nights. It's easy to start a Tapas night. Just hang some piñatas, play some Spanish guitar music, offer pitchers of sangria and feature a special tapas menu. Here are 8 recipes to get you started. Cheddar Olive Arapas, Grilled Adobo Pork, Puerto Rican Steak and Peppers, Lemon Braised Snapper, Chipotle Chicken and Olive Empanadas, Mexican Shrimp and Corn Chowder, Caribbean Citrus Olive Shrimp and South American Garbanzo Salad. Download the new Latin Recipes Flyer. Download the olive maracas art for or .
Top It Off. Use a variety of tapenade to upgrade standard menu offerings such as burgers, chicken sandwiches, omelets and salads, etc. For a (minimal) cost increase, customers could add tapenade their selection. For example, you could make signage that says: "Can We Top That?" or "Tap it off for 25¢". Here are some top-notch tapenade recipes for your promotion: California Tapenade, Roasted Garlic Tapenade and Tapenade with Tuna.