Article #2: Keeping Kitchens Humming

Article #2: Keeping Kitchens Humming
By Lisa Terry
http://www.htmagazine.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=8D86DF469BD74C098382D9532C904D8E&nm=Magazine&type=MultiPublishing&mod=PublishingTitles&mid=3E19674330734FF1BBDA3D67B50C82F1&tier=4&id=321C62497A1848C8BC24CF5E65CD4BC6

In the article “Keeping Kitchens Humming” , Lisa Terry outlines several different methods currently being used in restaurants that are ensuring overall quality in their product and service. The restaurant business is one that is extremely fast paced and based on customer satisfaction. The article highlights several technologies that are helping restaurants successfully turn out their food orders. Some key examples of these technologies are highlighted below.
A seemingly large breakthrough in restaurant technology would be a new method implemented by a restaurant named Bone Daddy’s. At Bone Daddy’s orders move through a computer system that shows cooks not with just words, but pictures to show how to cook the food properly and how long. The result is an increase in overall productivity. Food is coming out of the kitchen at a faster pace and with an exceptional amount of quality. Another technology seems to be rather helpful is a tool that tells cooks how long it takes to cook an item and when items should be cooked in regards to the other items on an order (Terry, 2008).
Overall, technologies like these seem to be an enormous step from the days when restaurants did not even have computers in their establishments. As a result of the various technologies being implemented by Bone Daddy’s Texas BBQ Chain, they have already seen a five percent increase in sales. It seems that the technologies being used in their kitchens are efficient and effective.
Technologies such as the ones listed above seem to be rather helpful for day to day kitchen operations. According to Terry, sales are increasing which is what companies obviously like to see. Also, with these technologies food is probably being served in a much more consistent manner. What I mean when I say this is that the dishes most likely look and tastes exactly the same every time they are cooked and brought of the kitchen and onto the customers table. This is very important for building and maintaining a certain standard of quality at any food and beverage operation.
The computers with pictures and guidelines on how and when to prepare food items leave little room for error. Tasks are becoming simplified as a result of the computer technology in kitchens and this overall will ensure quality. This has potential to really help quality, consistency, and overall sales in a restaurant as demonstrated in the article. The price is not mentioned but I imagine it will be rather expensive for many restaurants to use this technology. This still does not take away from the fact that these technologies are extremely beneficial.

Source:
Terry,Lisa. “Keeping Kitchens Humming”. http://www.htmagazine.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=8D86DF469BD74C098382D9532C904D8E&nm=Magazine&type=MultiPublishing&mod=PublishingTitles&mid=3E19674330734FF1BBDA3D67B50C82F1&tier=4&id=321C62497A1848C8BC24CF5E65CD4BC6