Pensacola Chefs Honor Florida’s 500-Year History at James Beard House

Viva Florida 500In celebration of 500 years of Florida history, five of Florida’s finest chefs will prepare a historic dinner at New York’s acclaimed James Beard House on March 27th as part of Viva Florida 500. Viva Florida 500 commemorates the story of how many nationalities and diverse cultures thrived together in Florida and how their legacy continues to shape America. To learn more about Viva Florida, visit their website.

This delectable culinary event, hosted by Visit Pensacola and the Pensacola Celebrity Chefs, will bring together delicious cuisine created from the Florida’s Gulf Coast’s local fare, taking historical recipes that have been used in Florida for hundreds of years and modernizing them with the chefs’ own inventive touch. We at Pinnacle Hospitality Systems are very proud to have assisted several of the Celebrity Chefs and their restaurants. Please browse the list of Pensacola Celebrity Chefs and the mouth-watering dishes they have in store for you.

Pensacola Celebrity Chefs include:

  • Dan Dunn of H2O at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front
  • Irv Miller of Jackson’s Steakhouse
  • Jim Shirley of the Fish House
  • Silivos of Skopelos/Nancy’s Haute Affairs
  • Frank Taylor of Global Grill

During the reception, the chefs will prepare:

  • Cracked conch and green tomato fritters with key lime mustard sauce
  • Turtle soup from local, farm-raised turtles with mirliton and bay shrimp relish
  • Pensacola Bay shrimp, rosemary and Worcestershire barbecue sauce and quick-fried artichoke bottoms
  • Tuna tacos featuring rare Gulf tuna with salsa verde, montego cheese and pickled jalapenos
  • Caramelized calico scallop skewers and crispy slab bacon with sweet peppers and spicy piccalilli jus
  • A 2007 Spanish Marques de Gelida Cava wine will be served

The tasting menu will feature:

  • Fresh Gulf red snapper with stewed collard greens and a roasted corn and red pepper beurre blanc
  • Pecan and country ham-crusted softshell crab stuffed with housemade seafood boudin blanc
  • Grilled cobia, sautéed mustard greens and field peas with preserved Florida lemons with spoonbread and smoked ham-hock sauce
  • Gulf grouper sautéed over Cantonment stone ground grit cake topped with Cedar Key clams and house-made chorizo in a chicken broth with tomatoes, jalapeno and black-eyed peas
  • Carpetbag steak with fried Apalachicola oysters inside seared slices of Snake River Farms flat iron steak atop baby greens with Maytag blue cheese cream and caramelized Vidalia onion and green chile pepper relish

Wines presented throughout the courses:

  • 2009 Napa Valley Ferrari Carrano Reserve Chardonnay
  • 2010 Napa Valley Cliff Lede Sauvignon Blanc
  • 2009 E. Guigal Cotes de Rhone Rose
  • 2009 Santa Rita Hills Stanford Pinot Noir
  • 2007 Napa Valley Whitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon

Dessert:

  • Warm white chocolate bread pudding with candied pecans and a fig bourbon sauce
  • Served with a 1927 Spanish Alvear Pedro Ximenez

Tickets will be on sale in February:

 

Pinnacle is proud to have assisted some of these top-rated restaurants and Pensacola Celebrity Chefs in providing unparalleled customer service. If you are searching for a POS system in Pensacola
and want to learn more about POSitouch, contact Pinnacle today by calling 1-800-771-7100.

Restaurants Mark Strongest Net Positive Sales Since 2007

Increase in SalesThis just out from the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI): Restaurants mark strongest net positive sales since 2007.

The RPI is a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry. It consists of two components, the Current Situation Index and the Expectations Index. The RPI measures the health of the restaurant industry in relation to a state level of 100. If the index is above 100, key industry indicators are in a period of expansion. If the index values lower than 100, this signifies a period of contraction in key industry indicators.

The Current Situation Index measures current trends in four industry indicators (same-store sales, traffic, labor and capital expenditures).  These indicators have signified industry expansion with its second time in the last three months that the Current Situation Index ratings are above 100.

The Expectations Index measures restaurant operators’ six-month outlook for four industry indicators (same-store sales, employees, capital expenditures, and business conditions). For the third consecutive month the Expectations Index stood above 100 which mean operators expect a positive outlook for business conditions in the coming months.

A look at some of the promising reports:

  • Capital spending on a rise: 46% of operators said they made a capital expenditure for equipment, expansion, or remodeling during the last three months (highest in five months).
  • Strongest net positive sales since August 2007: 54% of operators reported a sales gain.
  • Stronger customer traffic: 41% of restaurant operators reported high customer traffic levels between November 2010 and November 2011
  • Same-store sales gain: 50% of restaurant operators reported positive growth for the sixth consecutive month in November.
  • Operators optimistic about sales growth in the coming months: 41% of restaurant operators expect to have higher sales in six months (compared to the same period in 2010).

For a more detailed data and analysis, visit Restaurant TrendMapper, the National Restaurant Association’s subscription-based service that provides detailed analysis of restaurant industry trends; or to view the full report online by visiting the Association’s website.

If your restaurant is seeing an increase in business and expect this trend to continue like the rest of the restaurant industry, you may need to advance your technology. To make daily operations a seamless service from start to finish, check out Pinnacle Hospitality Systems. Pinnacle offers business solutions to integrate your point of sales system, accounting, credit authorization, online ordering, and inventory in a single easy to use interface with POSitouch. For more information, contact Pinnacle today.

Historic Downtowner Saloon Uses POSitouch

The Downtowner Saloon in Fort Lauderdale is a historical landmark in the city. The classic restaurant is located in a 90-year-old building on the New River, and attracts locals, sports fans and tourists alike. This Pinnacle Hospitality Systems South Florida POS customer offers guests delicious steak, seafood and American dishes in a laid-back atmosphere on the water.

Just a few miles from Fort Lauderdale Beach, the Downtowner Saloon invites customers to take in the sea breeze while dining al fresco on the patio, or just inside the airy, open dining area. Catch the big game on one of the Downtowner’s multiple flat-screen, high-definition televisions while taking advantage of a variety of daily specials. With the help of Pinnacle’s Fort Lauderdale POS system, the Downtowner serves up slow-roasted prime rib, sizzling sirloin, BBQ ribs, fish and chips, crab legs, seared tuna steak, a variety of delicious sandwiches and much more. POSitouch’s South Florida POS system makes changing daily specials in the computer a breeze. Come on Monday for a full rack of ribs for just $10.99, or stop by for the Downtowner’s other nightly specials:

  • Tuesday – Tacos & Trivia night.
  • Wednesday – 4-8 happy hour; ½ priced drinks; 2-4-1 appetizer menu.
  • Thursday – Surf & Turf special.
  • Friday – Steak night (from $10.99) & wine special.
  • Saturday – Rib day (all day)
  • Sunday – $12.99 Sunday brunch buffet from 11-2 p.m.; Sunday night – Mountain of crab special, 2 lbs. for $29.99

Also, don’t forget that every Saturday is live blues night! If you own a hospitality business in the Sunshine State and are looking for a South Florida POS, contact Pinnacle Hospitality Systems today. Whether you need a Fort Lauderdale POS system, or a quality point of sale system for any city in Florida or Alabama, Pinnacle has the knowledge and expertise to find the ideal solution for your business.

Benihana Key West Slices & Dices with POSitouch

When it comes to Teppanyaki, Benihana is the undisputed, nationally-recognized king. With locations in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, this Japanese restaurant has brought its delicious cuisine and unique dining experience to millions of diners.

A Doral-based restaurant, Benihana originated in the Sunshine State, and Pinnacle Hospitality Systems is proud to have provided the South Florida POS system for the chain’s Key West location. “Rediscover the personalized experience of having your choice of succulent seafood, tender chicken, juicy steaks, and garden-fresh vegetables grilled to delicious perfection in an extraordinary theater that will feed the senses and entertain the appetite,” instructs the restaurant’s website. Enjoy the aroma as your personal chef performs the ancient art of Teppanyaki, slicing and dicing while entertaining you as s/he prepares your meal right at your table.

Benihana offers an extensive menu, including both traditional Teppanyaki selections that include steak, chicken and seafood, as well as selections from the sushi bar. Don’t forget to order one of Beinhana’s signature specialty drinks, like the exotic mojito or the pomegranate hibiscus margarita. Or, keep with the theme of the meal and order hot or cold sake with your meal. With such an extensive menu, Benihana needed a reliable South Florida POS system. Pinnacle outfitted the restaurant with its Key West POS system. With POSitouch, managers can record and track financial information with the touch of a button, and staff enjoy an easy order process.

If you are searching for a Key West POS system, or are interested in POSitouch and Pinnacle’s other industry-leading POS systems in Florida or Alabama, contact us today by calling 1-800-771-7100.

Aroma Espresso Bar Manages Extensive Menu with POSitouch

With an “innovative design and inviting atmosphere,” Israeli-based Aroma Espresso Bar offers a fun and inviting environment with the tastiest, most unique café delicacies in the area. From Café Au Lait to Shakshuka, Aroma helps you wake up in the morning and fill up in the afternoon.

Aroma Espresso Bar is a Pinnacle Hospitality Systems customer that uses the POSitouch South Florida POS system. This Sunny Isles Beach café has an extensive menu that is easily managed with the help of Pinnacle’s Miami POS system. Aroma features an exceptional house roast for a fresh cup of coffee, with hot drinks like cappuccinos, lattes, espressos, hot chocolate, and specialties like Sachlav, a sweet, milk-based pudding with coconut, pistachio and cinnamon. Pastries include a variety of croissants, danishes, strudels, cookies, muffins, and delicious Bureka, a Bulgarian pastry filled with potato, spinach or feta. For something more substantial, try one of Aroma’s fresh sandwiches on white, whole wheat or light grain baked bread, always prepared to order. Healthy salad selections are served with bread, and come with fresh-cut vegetables piled high. You can even stop by for breakfast, as Aroma offers dishes to help you start your day on the right foot. Try the power breakfast, with 2 eggs, mixed greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, feta, olives and cream cheese with bread and butter.

If you are looking for a quality South Florida POS system, look no further than Pinnacle Hospitality Systems. With over two decades of experience, Pinnacle has the knowledge and expertise to offer complete, customized point of sale solutions to hospitality business in Florida and Alabama. If you are searching for a Miami POS system, contact Pinnacle at 1-800-771-7100 today.

Genuine Italian Restaurant Uses Pinnacle’s South Florida POS

Today, we at Pinnacle Hospitality Systems are featuring one of our South Florida POS customers, Cucina Mio in Boca Raton. Walking into Cucina Mio is like walking into a real Italian trattoria, with a warm homey feeling and the amazing smell of genuine Italian cuisine.

With lunch, dinner and take out menus, Cucina Mio offers a wide array of fine Italian dishes. Using Pinnacle’s South Florida POS system, Cucina Mio serves up delicious appetizers, like Bruschetta, Caprese Salad, Baked Brie, Fried Calamari, Meatballs and more. Try a salad creation, like the Pecan Crusted Chicken Salad or Portobella Mushroom Salad. Or, choose from any of Cucina Mio’s fine entrees, like Penne Alla Vodka, Rigatoni Bolognese or Lobster Raviolo. Cucino Mio honors its traditional heritage by offering a selection of fish, or “Peschi,” dishes, like Seafood Marinara, Shrimp Francese, Cucina Mio Pasta and more. Save room for dessert, as this Delray Beach restaurant offers decadent Mio Tiramisu, Mile High Apple Crumble, Ultimate Chocolate Cake and much more.

But Cucina Mio offers more than delicious Italian fare. Stop by and enjoy Mio’s Wine Bar, with an extensive selection of fine wines, both American and imported. Ask your server to recommend the perfect wine pairing to complement your meal.

Cucina Mio uses Pinnacle’s Delray Beach POS system, built to be very user-friendly and efficient. With POSitouch, staff enjoys a quick and easy ordering and checkout process, allowing them to spend more time with each customer. If you are interested in purchasing a Delray Beach POS system, or a POS system for any Florida city, contact Pinnacle Hospitality Systems today by calling 1-800-771-7100.

QSRs’ Widespread Adoption of Digital Signage

As 2011 quickly draws to a close, we have to mention the explosion of the use of digital technology across every industry. From interactive websites to social media, the technological revolution has given rise to a preference for digital marketing. This applies to the restaurant industry as well. Recently DigitalSignageToday.com posted an article detailing the widespread adoption of digital signage in the quick service restaurant (QSR) industry.

“QSRs are finding digital signage eliminates the need to print and distribute static signs each time a menu changes to save on costly printing and distribution fees,” said the article.  In addition, motion graphics attract the eye and “entice consumers to purchase specific menu items has been proven to increase the sale.” Digital menu boards help QSRs:

  • Increase profit per customer by highlighting menu items that spur impulse buys and larger sales;
  • Easily comply with nutritional information requirements that are growing across the country; and
  • Update menus as often as they want and coordinate offerings based on dayparts.

From self-service kiosks to social media, the tech revolution has made a lasting change to the industry. While traditional marketing is still alive and well, digital marketing continues to secure a larger and larger portion of company’s marketing budgets in every industry.

Pinnacle Hospitality Systems strives to keep abreast of the latest news that affects our industry. At Pinnacle, we have implemented a variety of the latest technologies into our product offering. We have been on top of the social media movement since Zuckerberg created The Social Network. Please feel free to “Like” the Pinnacle Hospitality Systems Facebook page, and if you’re searching for a quality POS system, contact us today to learn more about POSitouch.