FSR May 2023

CONTENTS

69 72 FSRmagazine.com May2023 No.113

®

SALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Danny Klein dklein@wtwhmedia.com

GROUP PUBLISHER Greg Sanders gsanders@wtwhmedia.com NATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Eugene Drezner 919-945-0705 edrezner@wtwhmedia.com NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Amber Dobsovic 919-945-0712 adobsovic@wtwhmedia.com NATIONAL SALES MANAGER John Krueger 919-945-0728 jkrueger@wtwhmedia.com NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Edward Richards 919-945-0714 erichards@wtwhmedia.com ADMINISTRATION 919-945-0704 www.fsrmagazine.com/subscribe FSR is provided without charge upon request to individuals residing in the U.S. who meet subscription criteria as set forth by the publisher. REPRINTS THE YGS GROUP 800-290-5460 fax: 717-825-2150 fsrmagazine@theygsgroup.com Sponsored content in this magazine is provided to the represented company for a fee. Such content is written to be informational and non promotional. Comments welcomed at sponsoredcontent@ fsrmagazine.com. SALES SUPPORT AND DIRECTORY SALES Tracy Doubts 919-945-0704 tdoubts@wtwhmedia.com

FSR EDITOR Callie Evergreen cevergreen@wtwhmedia.com QSR EDITOR Ben Coley bcoley@wtwhmedia.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Sam Danley sdanley@wtwhmedia.com DIRECTOR OF CUSTOM CONTENT Peggy Carouthers pcarouthers@wtwhmedia.com CUSTOM CONTENT ASSOCIATE EDITOR Charlie Pogacar cpogacar@wtwhmedia.com CUSTOM CONTENT ASSOCIATE EDITOR Kara Phelps kphelps@wtwhmedia.com ART DIRECTOR Erica Naftolowitz enaftolowitz@wtwhmedia.com PRODUCTION MANAGER Mitch Avery mavery@wtwhmedia.com CUSTOM MEDIA STUDIO PRODUCTION & DESIGN

BUFFALO WILD WINGS / BRANDON AMATO

FIRST COURSE 11 Menus of the Future

to take advantage of the wild energy market and add some certainty into your restaurant operating budget. 69 Inspire’s Entrepreneurial Activist BEHIND THE SCENES As a multi-unit franchisee under Inspire Brands, Karim Webb is working to embolden the diverse leaders of the future. 72 Start Me Up Helmed by restaurateurs Miguel Hernandez and Damian Otero, Rreal Tacos is going into growth mode and expanding beyond its four units in Atlanta. ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 4 Highlights from FSRmagazine.com 4 Brand Stories in Print and Online

Eight innovative trends are being baked into the cutting edge menus of the future, from modernized comfort foods to flavor contrasts. 14 Cherry Fever The ruby red superfood is gaining popularity across res taurant menus—and not just in dessert dishes.

BACK OF HOUSE 65 Building Up Steam

LinkedIn.com/company/ FSR-magazine Instagram.com/FSRmagazine Facebook.com/FSRmag Twitter.com/FSRmag

ON THE RISE With seven loca tions across Alabama and Tennessee, Cajun Steamer Bar and Grill is bringing its party atmosphere to new states and plates, led by president Gaston Lanaux. 67 Controlling Your Energy Costs YOUR TAKE Rising inflation has affected more than just the price of eggs. Here’s how

2016 MAGAZI NE OF THE YEAR TOP 10 AWARD 2015 MAGAZIN E OF THE YEAR

FOUNDER Webb C. Howell

6 Editor’s Welcome 71 Advertising Index

FOLIO: Eddie Awards 2022 BEST FULL ISSUE HOSPITALITY 2022 BEST SPONSORED CONTENT 2021 BEST PROFILE FEATURE 2017 BEST FULL ISSUE FOOD & BEVERAGE 2013 BEST DESIGN, NEW MAGAZINE 2013 BEST FULL ISSUE, FOOD SERVICE/HOTEL

FSR is a registered trademark of WTWH Media, LLC. FSR is copyright © 2022 WTWH Media, LLC. All rights reserved. The opinions of columnists are their own. Publication of their writing does not imply endorsement by WTWH Media, LLC. Subscriptions 919-945-0704. www.fsrmagazine.com/subscribe. FSR is provided with out charge upon request to individuals residing in the U.S. meeting subscription criteria as set forth by the pub lisher. AAM member. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any fashion without the express written consent of WTWH Media, LLC. FSR (ISSN 2325-2154) is published monthly by WTWH Media, LLC, 1111 Superior Avenue Suite 2600, Cleveland, OH 44114. Periodicals postage paid at Cleveland, OH and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FSR, 101 Europa Drive, Suite 150, Chapel Hill, NC 27517-2380.

2

FSRMAGAZINE.COM

MAY 2023