Bret Thorn

Senior Food Editor
Nation's Restaurant News

Bret Thorn is responsible for reporting on culinary trends in foodservice. He joined Nation’s Restaurant News in 1999, after spending about five years as a journalist in Thailand, where he wrote business and food stories. His columns in NRN won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award for best staff-written editorial or opinion column. A magna cum laude graduate of Tufts University in Medford, Mass., with a bachelor’s degree in history, Mr. Thorn also studied at Le Cordon Bleu Ecole de Cuisine in Paris.

Articles by Bret Thorn
Image: Getty Images/Brand X
R&D tips for creating a successful product launch 
Menu research and development experts from chains like Culver's offer product rollout best practices
Turmeric
Superfoods help restaurants differentiate health fare 
Restaurants are increasingly using superfoods to differentiate their healthful menu offerings and generate sales from health-conscious consumers
Potato gnocchi
Philadelphia restaurant Fitler Dining Room serves potato gnocchi with snails
Pambazo
Restaurants extend Cinco de Mayo promotions
Operators will start celebrations early for the Sunday holiday
Menu Tracker: New items from Chick-fil-A, Jack in the Box
Bojangles’, Blimpie, Rock Bottom, Habit Burger Grill, South Philly Steaks & Fries, Lazy Dog also introduce new menu items
The latest chefs on the move
Alex Ureña, Erik Battes, David A. Carson, Kevin Garcia, Armando Martinez, Boris Ilabaca, Jennifer Nguyen, Karie Brown
Pizzetta carbonara
San Francisco restaurant Luella serves a pizza inspired by pasta carbonara.
Captain D's
Captain D’s aims to attract younger customers
VP of product innovation Jason Henderson discusses grilled menu items meant to appeal to Millennials
Restaurant chains buy more beef despite rising prices
Study shows more beef purchases, including premium cuts, in 2012
Caroline Masullo discusses Pizza Hut's digital presence
The director of digital and social marketing for Pizza Hut on the innovative interview process for its new "manager of digital greatness"
Bertucci's 9-inch personal pizza
Full-service chains give lunch programs a makeover 
Chains like Bertucci's and Red Lobster are revamping their lunch programs to drive traffic with new service styles and menu items
Bret Thorn, Nancy Kruse discuss secret menus 
The menu experts agree that secret menus are marketing gold for restaurant operators
'21' Triple Crown
This cocktail combines classic Kentucky Derby drink ingredients
Season's 52 Quinoa
Consumers, restaurants embrace quinoa
Chains and independents alike are seeing success with the superfood
Kale is the green of choice on spring menus
The trending veggie appears in salads, flatbreads, condiments and even cocktails
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