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
CPK pizza
Menu Tracker: New items from KFC, Little Caesars
Boston Market, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Bahama Breeze, California Pizza Kitchen, Culver’s, Dairy Queen, Noodles & Company, Seasons 52 also introduce new items
Kevin Gillespie plans new Atlanta restaurant
Churrascaria-inspired Gunshow is set to open in May
Trending tables
Trending Tables: 50 hot restaurants
NRN looks at popular tables in 10 major cities
Salmon spring roll
Ada Street executive chef Zoe Schor uses house-cured Atlantic salmon as the wrapper for this spring roll.
Scott Nelowet
French Fry Heaven targets off-hours dayparts
Founder Scott Nelowet said the concept aims to grow by serving customer needs between meal times
Delicatessen blueberry pie sundae
Spring berries brighten dessert menus
Chefs are giving dessert classics the seasonal treatment
Seafood
Restaurant seafood sales rise during Lent
Americans ate more seafood during the period this year than in previous years, GrubHub finds
Buffalo Sweetbreads
Buffalo sweetbreads
New York City chef Jesse Schenker spices up sweetbreads with Sriracha sauce
Gordon Biersch ribs
Menu Tracker: New items from McDonald’s, Burger King
Wendy’s, Hardee’s, Carl’s Jr., La Madeleine Country French Café, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, Doc Popcorn also introduce new items
Lobster
High prices push lobster off restaurant menus
Late winter storms are shrinking the supply and driving up prices
The latest chefs on the move
Senior food editor Bret Thorn tracks the latest chefs on the move, including Marie Grimm, Kim Letzia and David Sears
Bret Thorn
Stay informed about what you're serving 
NRN's Bret Thorn looks at the increasing trend of consumer concern over sourcing
Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill’s Fresh Diamond Margarita
Chains boost sales with innovative cocktails, beers 
Restaurants like Hard Rock Cafe, California Pizza Kitchen and Red Robin Gourmet Burgers are increasing profits with new alcoholic beverages
Ruth's Chris Steak House
Consumer Picks 2013: Happy hours help keep Fine Dining top of mind 
Executives reported post-workday specials are helping Fine Dining brands boost sales between special-occasion visits
Butternut squash soup
Prospect restaurant in Brooklyn serves a version of this classic soup with espresso marshmallows and root beer cream
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