Foolproof Strategies for Establishing a Food Business

Nik Fields of Chic Chef Co has been able to build a multi-million-dollar brand by inventing her own spin on fun and whimsical gourmet foods, spice blends, and kitchen essentials, and transitioned her booming online business to expand to a brick-and-mortar spice shop and cafe located in her hometown Phoenix, AZ, where the queen rules the organic culinary throne.

She has been analyzing Black females in the culinary industry and states, “Black women are among the fastest-growing entrepreneurs, but only 4% are chefs or in the culinary industry. Then COVID happened, which led to a huge impact on the economy.”

Fields states people who opened businesses during the pandemic have certain advantages. Similar to start-ups competing with legacy companies, they may have lower overhead costs and the agility to adapt to a shifting environment easily outside of normal working conditions.

Nik has also formulated a strategy that will make establishing a business foolproof during the pandemic. Here are her business secrets:

  1. Create a marketing plan. This is the meat and potatoes of your business, written on paper for potential investors or partners.
  2. Location– The location of your business will determine your success. Think about what your guests’ needs will be currently.
  3. Since Covid-19, a lot of real estate agencies, landlords and property managers are offering full build-out options for new construction sites, rent abatement up to 1 year, location signage and tenant options that will cover move-in cost and equipment. A down market allows more room for negotiations, which means more perks and less capital given up front.
  4. Think About Your Digital Marketing Strategy– Let’s face it: Social media reigns supreme when it comes marketing, but posting on social media shouldn’t be your end-all of marketing and advertising. Create marketing campaigns, purchase ads, join Facebook groups and, obtain interns from high school or college to create content for your social media platforms.
  5. Master your esthetic, your style and rock it out! What’s your P.O.D? Point of difference. What makes you unique to the industry? Why would consumers want to shop or purchase from you? Capitalize on being you!

About Nik Fields

Chef Nik, better known as “Nik the Chic Chef or “Foodie with a Cause” has merged her passion for food and life and has gained national recognition for her amazing culinary art skills having prepared cuisine for celebrities such as Jess Hilarious, Supa Cent, Angie Stone, Vivica Fox, Tisha Campbell, Tichina Arnold, Snoop Dog, Sharon Stone, Tony Goldwyn, Famke Janssen, Shar Jackson, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Vincenzo Williams as well as Personal Chef to Phoenix Cardinals football player, Chris Johnson (CJ2K) and many others. Chef Nik has been featured in People Magazine, The Doctors on NBC, HGTV as well as several series on Bravo and VH1. Nik Fields’ philanthropic efforts to provide food and clean water to villages in the Dominican Republic has garnered international acclaim. Her nonprofit organization Waste Not Want Not (WNWN Inc.) encourages households and restaurants to limit food waste.

www.chicchefco.com

TasteTV Gift Guide: 4 Inexpensive Tools for the Home Office That You Can’t Believe You Didn’t Have

The Home Office has gone from a nice optional addition to a must have productivity space. To stay welcoming, comfortable and productive, it needs to organized. Even if the space is open to other areas without privacy, any way that you can reduce the feeling that there’s a bunch of junk everywhere is going to make you feel a lot better, and increase your self confidence.

The problem is that some of the easiest and obvious things we can do are often the last we get to unless prodded.

Consider this your official prodding.


D-Line White Cable Tube

You probably don’t even see them anymore, but your office is cluttered with cords. Cords from your computer, cords from your monitor, cords from your chargers, cords from your humidifier. What have we left out? It’s a cord Armageddon, but this inexpensive plastic tube works miracles. You just slip the entire bunch into it, and suddenly everything appears a lot more “under control.”

We all want a bit more control these days.

Find it on Amazon


Omoton Adjustable Cell Phone Stand

We don’t even need to explain how useful this is. Your hands and wrists will thank you, though.

Rest your phone in it facing you, and go about your daily business without constantly picking it up to check the latest news, grams or texts. The Omoton stand also comes in different sizes for different types of smartphones and tablets.

Find it Here.


Bookends

For your books.

Because you can’t just stack them everywhere.

Find them on Amazon


Office Paper Shredder:

It doesn’t need to take up all of the space on your floor, but it does need to be able securely clean up all of those private documents and credit card statements you’ve been piling up.

Find it on Amazon

TASTE AWARDS Winner and “Bar Rescue” Star Jon Taffer Launches new Taffer’s Tavern Franchise

Long known to television audiences for saving bar owners from ruin on seven seasons of Paramount Network’s Bar Rescue, as well as TASTE AWARDS winner, renowned hospitality expert and entrepreneur Jon Taffer is bringing his famed level of standards to his own customers with the opening of the franchise Taffer’s Tavern. The first outpost of the casual-dining brand opened in the Fall of 2020 outside of Atlanta in Alpharetta, Georgia, with additional franchise locations coming soon to Boston, Washington, D.C. and other U.S. markets.

“Taffer’s Tavern truly reimagines the modern restaurant, with an emphasis on comfort and trust that spans from the ambiance to the food to the peace of mind that patrons will feel from our dedication to people’s safety”
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Inspired by the quintessential neighborhood pub, a regular gathering place for locals and visitors alike, Taffer’s Tavern is designed with traditional Old World taverns in mind, its ambiance is inviting, warm and comfortable, distinguished by dark woods, soft leathers, copper accents and exceptional food and beverage offerings. With an emphasis on providing the highest quality products and service, the menu highlights include such selections as a 72-Hour Short Rib (slow-braised for 72 hours then topped with rich demi-glace sauce and paired with mac ‘n’ cheese), BLT (Belly, Lettuce, Tomato – slow-cooked pork belly crisped and seasoned with smoked sea salt, topped with lettuce, tomato and zesty tomato aioli) and Tot Roast Fries (an inventive Southern poutine of tater tots topped with slow-cooked shredded beef, mushroom béchamel sauce, and creamy cheese curds).

Taffer’s Tavern boasts a best-in-class beverage program that Taffer crafted with master mixologist Phil Wills of Bar Rescue, featuring a diverse selection of spirits, wines and beers, many of local and regional provenance. Its signature cocktails, employing some of the most advanced mixology techniques, include The Campfire (Taffer’s trademarked Brown Butter Rye Whiskey, bitters and simple syrup is a perfect blend of bold flavors balanced with velvet-like smoothness) and Berry-Impressive (fruit-infused vodka layered with lemon, served bursting with fresh mixed berries in a French Press).

The innovative restaurant concept, developed by Taffer long before the COVID pandemic, features the industry’s highest safety standards for both guests and staff led by the “kitchen of the future” and the latest advancements in food prep/service technology. Always ahead of the industry curve, Taffer established Taffer’s Safe Dining System™ as a signature approach that sets new safety standards for the restaurant industry. Some of these safety and hygiene measures include hand-scanning detection technology to monitor every hand wash for contaminates, advanced glass cleaning technology for all drinkware, and reduced contact through department separation. Other elements include protocols for a no-contact, third-party order pick-up system, eliminating the need for delivery drivers to come inside the restaurant, and a unique meal preparation technology where food is minimally touched to prevent cross-contamination.

Taffer’s Tavern truly reimagines the modern restaurant, with an emphasis on comfort and trust that spans from the ambiance to the food to the peace of mind that patrons will feel from our dedication to people’s safety,” stated Jon Taffer. “American urban sociologist Ray Oldenburg talked about the concept of the coveted ‘third place’ – the first place is home, the second is work, and the third is a gathering place and nexus for human interaction. That third place is Taffer’s Tavern and Alpharetta could not be a better city to open our first franchise location. After spending months there prior to opening, I have found a community that I know will embrace Tavern and the Taffer brand.”

Taffer’s Tavern will open daily at 11:00 a.m. starting October 29 through November 18 for preview and training in advance of the grand opening on November 19. For more information, to make reservations, and for franchise opportunities, please visit.

About Jon Taffer

Jon Taffer is an award-winning hospitality expert, entrepreneur and thought leader with over 35 years of success in the entertainment, hospitality and nightlife industries. He’s best-known as executive producer and star of Paramount Network’s reality TV show Bar Rescue, which just wrapped its seventh season spotlighting Jon as he saves failing bars from looming closure. In 2019, he launched Taffer’s Mixologist, a line of craft, high-quality, pre-made cocktail mixes and hard seltzers available in retail stores across the country, including Walmart. Concurrently, Jon runs Taffer Virtual Teaching, his digital teaching platform, and Taffer Dynamics, his business consulting firm. Over the years, he has consulted for a range of well-known brands, including the NFL Network, Anheuser-Bush, Ritz-Carlton, TGI Fridays, Buffalo Wild Wings, Famous Dave’s Barbecue and Fortune 500 brands such as Hyatt Hotels and Marriott International. Jon is also the author of the best-selling book Raise the Bar: An Action-Based Method for Maximum Customer Reaction and his newest book Don’t Bulls*t Yourself. For more information, visit www.jontaffer.com.

About Taffer’s Tavern

Jon Taffer, Bar Rescue star and award-winning hospitality expert, has launched his own innovative, full-service restaurant franchise concept, Taffer’s Tavern. Taffer’s Tavern is the quintessential pub, a place to gather with your old friends and make new ones along the way. The tavern will feature outstanding signature cocktails, delicious bar food, a streamlined hoodless/ventless restaurant format with small footprint, and the latest advances in food preparation technology, with partners including Cuisine Solutions, Krowne, PathSpot, and Shift4. Taffer’s Tavern will launch its first tavern in Atlanta, Georgia in 2020. For more information, visit www.tafferstavern.com/.

TasteTV’s Dog Surfing Gift Guide for Pet Lovers

YAPPY HOLIDAYS! SURFS UP, PAWS DOWN

 

The World Dog Surfing Championships and TasteTV would like to wish you a Yappy Holiday Season!

To help you find great Holiday gifts, plus to support small businesses, we’ve created our first ever

WORLD DOG SURFING GIFT GUIDE

 

Enjoy!

 


WDSC SWEATSHIRT: SURF DOG ON WAVE PORTRAIT #1

This live shot of an awesome surf dog has been recreated as a piece of watercolor art, on a warm and snug 50% cotton sweatshirt.
Show you have taste in dogs, cool sports, and modern art. On Your Chest!

DERBY CALIFORNIA HOODIES

World Dog Surfing Champs Derby & California are not only appearing now in Amazon Prime’s new series, The Pack, they also have a new line of groovy hoodies and t-shirts.
Be part of their fan pawparazzi!

A WDSC SURF PACK T-SHIRT

Speaking of Packs, you can form your own when wearing this WDSC Surf Pack long-sleeve t-shirt
You can call your pack whatever you want, BTW. Just not “Sam”

PET RENU SHAMPOO FOR CLEAN DOGS

Keep your (or a friend’s) pup clean, fresh, and flea free with this line of dog shampoos from Pet Renu.
A clean dog is a happy dog (owner).

FUN PET SERVICES AT WAG HOTELS

Wag Hotels is a great place to board your pet while on a trip away, but even if you stay in town it’s also great for daycare, training, and even stylish grooming.
Makes a nice gift certificate for 2021 too.

HANKS DOG STUFF POOP TRANSPORTER

Because when “someone’s got to go” someone else has to clean it up.
At least look stylish and prepared while doing it.

KEEP THEM DRY AND WARM IN A STUNT PUPPY JACKET

In the winter it’s colder and usually wetter… even if you have fur.
Stunt Puppy jackets will take care of that problem for the dog in your life. And, they look pretty cool too.

PET CBD FROM VETCBD

If your dog or cat has any issues like these then VETCBD can:
-Support joint mobility
-Support normal brain function
-Help maintain normal GI health
-Help promote calmness
BTW, not officially tested on humans, in case you have any bright ideas.

URBAN DENIM LOUNGE BED FROM PET P.L.A.Y.

You might want to curl up on this lounge bed yourself, but you’ll just have to stay on your sad old couch.
Lead-free zippers for chewers, Eco-friendly all around, and machine washable.

TASTY DOG-THEMED WINE FROM MUTT LYNCH WINERY

A long-time partner of the WDSC, Muttlynch is based in Sonoma County, and you know what that means.
Yup, It means that their wine is delicious.
Also, all of their bottles have dogs on them.

A COLD BOTTLE OF ALE FROM PEDRO POINT BREWING

OK, maybe it’s not just Ale.
It’s “Ale-armingly“ good! LOL
They also have Pilsners, IPAs, and Sour and Fruit beers too. And they LOVE dogs

A HIP NEW COLLAR FROM DOOG

What self-respecting pooch wants to wear the collar you have on them now? The answer, none! Or maybe, let’s say, a very small number.
DOOG has collars that your friends will stop you and say, “Dude, where did you get that cool collar, and why didn’t you get me one for the Holidays?” And you’ll be like, “Dude, I did!”

DOG FOOD AT PET FOOD EXPRESS

Because a dog’s gotta eat, so you might as well make it the best “eatings” they can get, from a wide selection and with the help of a knowledgeable and friendly staff.
They can also give that pup a good Holiday wash and trim, now or in 2021.

A DOG BANDANA FROM CALIFORNIA CANINE

You know the old saying, “If you really love someone, you’ll give them a cool dog bandana.” So, how much love do you have? That bandana needs to be on someone special’s gift list.
BTW, California Canine has other cool accessories too.

WORLD DOG SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS V2 COTTON CAP

We guarantee, you wear this hat, people will talk to you. Or at least give you great service. And a smile.
In 2020, that’s a lot.

THE GOUGHNUTS DOG TOY, YOU CAN THROW IT AND THEY CAN CHEW IT. EVERYONE IS HAPPY

You throw, they bring it back, then they chew on it. Maybe they don’t even bring it back, maybe they just sit down and have a good gnaw. A very good, happy, healthy, satisfying gnaw. That’s what a dog really wants. You can tell, this gift idea is just gnawing at you

SUPPORT ROCKET DOG RESCUE

A nice donation or adoption goes a long way to changing a life.

SUPPORT PENINSULA HUMANE SOCIETY

Saying it twice, because it’s still true.
A nice donation or adoption goes a long way to changing a life.

Tastemakers Summit Video: My Big Break, with Chef Jernard Wells and Danielle Chang

WATCH THIS GREAT VIDEO FROM the Media Tastemakers Summit on

MY BIG BREAK

In conversation with Food TV Celebs on How they Got, or Made, their Big Break, and strategies to Keep It. My Road to Celebrity and Success

Featuring Chef Jernard Wells, Host and Celebrity Chef, Food Network and Cleo TV; Danielle Chang, Executive Producer and Host, Lucky Chow television series; Moderated by Amy Sherman, Cooking with Amy



ABOUT DANIELLE CHANG

A cultural entrepreneur who builds brands across creative industries, Danielle is the founder and CEO of LUCKYRICE, a lifestyle brand that has been shining a spotlight on Asian culture through food and drink for the past decade. Under Danielle’s leadership, LUCKYRICE and its signature Festival series has expanded to eight key markets in the United States and has become the definitive voice for Asian culture today.

LUCKYRICE has also birthed two additional projects: Danielle’s first book Lucky Rice: Stories and Recipes from Night Markets, Feasts and Family Tables (Clarkson Potter) and the nationally broadcast TV show Lucky Chow, now in its fourth season, in which Danielle is the program creator and host.

Tastemakers Summit Video: Why Both Food and Travel Series are Hotter than Ever

WATCH THIS GREAT VIDEO FROM the Media Tastemakers Summit on

WHY FOOD SERIES & TRAVEL SERIES ARE HOT PROPERTIES

 

A Panel disucssion featuring Joanne Weir, Host, Cookbook Author, Restaurateur & Celebrity Chef, “Plates & Places (National Television Series)”. Mickela Mallozzi, Host & Executive Producer, “Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi” (National Television Series)

Theme: Why Both Food and Travel Series are Hotter than Ever, and How We Succeeded with Ours.



Joanne Weir: A 4th-generation professional cook and James Beard award-winning cookbook author, Joanne Weir spent 5 years cooking at Chez Panisse after receiving a Master Chef Diploma with Madeleine Kamman.
Joanne is a James Beard award-winning cookbook author, cooking teacher, and host and Executive Producer for several award-winning PBS Television series. Her newest 26-part TV series filmed in Italy, Greece, Spain, Morocco and France is called PLATES & PLACES and airs on Public Television and CREATE TV nationwide.

Joanne has written 17 cookbooks. Her most recent is a food memoir “Kitchen Gypsy:Recipes and Storiesfrom a Lifelong Romance with Food”, and features aforeword by Alice Waters. She is co-owner of Copita, a tequileria & restaurant in Sausalito, California.
Joanne writes for several national publications and travels and teaches extensively around the world as well as in her San Francisco studio kitchen.
Web: www.joanneweir.com, Social Media: @ChefJoanneWeir

Mickela Mallozzi: Mickela Mallozzi is the four-time Emmy® Award-winning Host and Executive Producer of Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi, a travel series highlighting the diversity of dance which airs on PBS member stations nationwide and on Amazon Prime Video globally. A professional dancer and trained musician, Mickela decided to start a journey around the world, taking her camera with her to follow dance in the lives of everyday people wherever she went. From re-discovering her family’s heritage in Southern Italy to dancing tango on the main stage in Buenos Aires, the series covers Mickela’s adventures as she experiences the world, one dance at a time. She has been featured in The New York Times, O Magazine, AFAR, Travel Channel, Dance Magazine, Forbes, Condé Nast Traveler, and more, and she has performed on various television shows including Sesame Street and The Doctor Oz Show. Since the global pandemic, Mickela has been hosting a weekly #BareFeetLIVE series on Facebook and Instagram to stay connected with the world through dance and music. And stay tuned for a 2-part special of Bare Feetcoming to PBS stations in February, featuring Carnival in the Guadeloupe Islands!
Website: http://travelbarefeet.com, Facebook: Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi
Instagram: @travelbarefeet