The Westin Diplomat Introduces "ingredients"

The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa now offers a new lobby café called ingredients (some assembly required). The Westin Diplomat joins two other Starwood flagship hotels in offering this new café concept. ingredients (some assembly required) is open daily in the lobby of The Westin Diplomat.  

ingredients (some assembly required) is an innovative “grab ’n go” concept combining fresh, healthy ingredients with made-to-order gourmet meals in a fast-casual environment.  “ingredients” refers to the long list of high-quality ingredients that are available. “some assembly required” highlights the fact that food is prepared in front of the customer. Breakfast, lunch and dinner items are available from the menu.

The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa is committed to offering only the best assortment of superfoods for all menu items in the restaurant and for catering services.  Superfoods, like blueberries, are high in nutrient content and contain no saturated fats, artificial ingredients, food additives or contaminants. The Westin’s initiative for healthy living is part of a bigger campaign called “For a Better You,” which also includes the Westin Heavenly Bed®, WestinWORKOUT® and more.

For further information, visit online at www.diplomatresort.com/ingredients-restaurant.

Unilever Food Solutions' ‘Seductive Nutrition’ Approach to Menus

Click to download the World Menu ReportUnilever Food Solutions’ ‘World Menu Report’ Shows U.S. Diners Face Barriers to Choosing Healthier Options, Launches ‘Seductive Nutrition’ Approach to Menus

New Program Highlights Need for Slightly Healthier Dishes That Taste and Sound Good

Unilever Food Solutions’ latest World Menu Report titled "Seductive Nutrition" finds that U.S. restaurant guests want the choice of eating healthier when dining out, but those good intentions do not always translate into action. While 52 percent of U.S. diners surveyed said they frequently look for healthy menu options when eating out, 70 percent prefer to treat themselves when they place their order. Nearly 40 percent of diners say the “healthy” option sounds less “tasty” or may not be as filling. To help diners overcome these barriers and change perceptions, Unilever Food Solutions is recommending a simple solution for restaurant chefs and operators called “Seductive Nutrition.”

“Seductive Nutrition” is a new approach to menu development that nudges guests to choose a slightly “healthier” option when eating out. It includes a “Seductive Nutrition” tool that takes a before-and-after look at ten top menu items updated with small changes to improve their nutrition profile, reduce calories and enhance their menu descriptions. The good news for the industry is that this approach can help make operators’ businesses healthier too. “Seductive Nutrition” and the report’s focus on health and nutrition highlight one of the fundamental initiatives that Unilever Food Solutions is dedicated to addressing through its enhanced consultation services. Through its “Your Menu” service area, Unilever Food Solutions provides tools to chefs and operators to help create nutritious, healthy and profitable menus. 

Click to read more ...

Considering Art for Your Business?

The Cook, Watercolor on Paper, 60x40, By Gustavo CastiloBy Susie McKinley

Art through the ages has been a constant. It has defined the human condition since the beginning of time. Man’s earliest recorded expression of creativity was through art in the form of cave painting. Art has inspired humanistic movements; it expresses the cultural heritage of civilizations.

There is something about art that reaches deeply into the human soul. From painting to sculpture and even abstract art, there is a piece of art that appeals to each and every one of us.

Window to the Sea, Acrylic on Canvas, 48x72, By Gustavo CastiloOur beautiful state has a rich cultural heritage and as a business owner, you can utilize Florida’s treasures in your hotel or restaurant. A beautiful work of art or objet d’art can be the centerpiece of your restaurant or lodging establishment. It can define the ambiance or atmosphere that you hope your business inspires in guests, or it could simply decorate your place of business and bring color and light to the interior of your restaurant or lodging property. Guests are looking for reasons to enjoy and relax in your business. Artwork appeals to everyone and may the set the tone for an evening or for a well-deserved holiday.

Artwork can range from a standard print of fine art to a giclee, which is a higher quality of print, to original artwork or photography. Original sculpture or carvings are typically made of various media: wood, metal, stone or ceramics. Copies of sculpture or carvings can be comprised of just about any synthetic material that mimics the original.

Click to read more ...

Disaster Preparation Basics

By Lauren Searcy

Hindsight is 20/20. But when disaster strikes, you don’t want that to be your motto. Hurricane season begins June 1 and runs through November 30. Now is the time to get your business prepared. Having a plan will help save you time, money and could help position your business after a disastrous event. Knowing the basics will help you plan out the rest.

EOC Basics:
Disaster recovery happens in three phases. First, local response teams step in, state aid is sent in as needed, and national aid comes in as a last resort. Your county or area Emergency Operations Center (EOC) should be your initial contact as to what is happening prior to, during, and after a storm.  County EOCs are comprised of law enforcement agencies, firefighters, paramedics, weather experts, area business leaders, and local elected officials. They will be able to let you know when you need to close down your business for evacuation and how soon you will be able to reopen. It’s a good idea to go ahead and have a contact readily available in case you need other services, like a tree removed from your building or a gas leak contained. Your local EOC will also be able to help you with that. State Emergency Operations Centers can assist you in creating a plan for your business. You can now store files, numbers, and information on their database. Floridadisaster.org has a myriad of information on how to create a plan, important contacts, and links to every county EOC website. National relief only comes in if state and local efforts are overwhelmed, as was the case in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Click to read more ...

Florida Residents Travel Deal: 25% Off Orlando's Newest Resort

With summer travel fast approaching, many Florida residents will be heading to Orlando, one of this year’s hottest travel destinations that recently topped the Hotwire 2012 travel value index study for best U.S. value destinations. The new Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek (www.wyndhamgrandorlando.com) is welcoming Florida residents with an exclusive resident’s rate of 25% off, making the starting rate for resident’s $105!

A few of the resorts most interesting attributes include:

• deep blu seafood grille84 bunk rooms (complete with an alcove for tiny travelers with twin bunk beds and an extra sink in the bathroom at children’s height)
• Three signature gourmet dining facilities with deep blu seafood grille (www.deepbluorlando.com), offering gourmet dining of sustainable fusion fare for resort guests and park goers alike, recently named an OpenTable Orlando Diner’s Choice Winner
• Creative activities that engage and involve all family members and ages including resort wide scavenger hunts, poolside blackjack tournaments, and the Wyndham Grand Kids Club
• Zero-entry, lagoon-style pool and adjacent pool complete with a pirate ship waterslide
• Stunning, full-service Blue Harmony Spa with products and treatments infused with filtered sea water
• Located within the Disney complex in beautiful Bonnet Creek