Most people have a “What have I gotten myself into?” moment at some point during their lifetimes. For Andrew F. Puzder, odds are that moment came shortly after the former trial lawyer was appointed as president of Hardee’s in 2000, and...

As Hurricane Gustav churned toward the Texas Gulf Coast in August, Joseph V. Tortorice Jr. wasn’t sure whether it would hit his hometown of Beaumont, Texas. He was certain, however, that he was staying put. In his 59 years, Tortorice...

Ed Tinsley III, owner of the 19-unit K-Bob’s Steakhouse chain based in Santa Fe, N.M., is making a second attempt to win a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, running as the Republican nominee in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional...

Political analyst Charlie Cook wrapped up his pointed appraisal of the 2008 presidential election year topography with a quip that not everyone attending the National Restaurant Association’s Public Affairs Conference last month found particularly...

IN LESS THAN A MONTH AMERICANS WILL HEAD TO THE POLLS TO PUT TO AN END a presidential contest that has riveted citizens as surely as it has divided them. Given a nationwide financial crisis, ongoing warfare that has grown more unpopular and huge...

After running a couple of online job ads, independent chef-restaurateur Bob Finigan and his wife, Karen, had plenty of applicants to choose from for the opening of their new Blue Rooster Bakery & Café in Cranbury, N.J., an affluent community with...

When Denny’s was developing its new Allnighter menu, consumers were not just invited into the chain’s test kitchen to help the culinary team develop late-night dishes, they were brought in under the cloak of darkness. “We did it...

Big American restaurant chains have been hitting grand slams in the international arena, but a worldwide economic slowdown and a rising number of foreign foodservice competitors are threatening to shut out successful U.S.-brand expansions abroad...

As Americans become more obsessed with convenience and saving time, many use drive-thrus more regularly and expect their orders to be filled quickly, accurately and with a smile. For their part, operators are stepping up efforts to exceed carborne...