Persuading a rock band to develop your milk shake, transforming a pizza chain by serving pasta and creating a 150-outlet restaurant empire are just a few of the achievements this year’s class of MenuMasters award winners have accomplished.
Each feat has played a key role in introducing creative menu items that have raised the bar in foodservice research and development with limited-time offers, menu revamps, healthful innovations, line extensions and more.
The MenuMasters Innovator, David Burke, has brought fun and wit to the fine-dining experience for decades, and now he is doing the same in the fast-casual arena.
Big Bowl Fresh Chinese and Thai has been named Menu Trendsetter for its Fair Trade coffee program, local buying practices and green initiatives.
Denny’s won the prize for best Limited-Time Offer for its Plain White Shake, a decadent milk shake.
Culver’s Butter Burgers and Frozen Custard’s BBQ Brisket Sandwich smoked the competition for the title of Best New Menu Item Rollout.
Chick-fil-A’s Chargrilled & Fruit Salad was honored for the Best Menu/Line Extension.
Pizza Hut won the award for Menu Revamp for its Tuscani Pasta Line.
Qdoba Mexican Grill got the nod in the Healthful Innovation category for its “naked” meals.
And this year’s Hall of Fame inductee, Wolfgang Puck, easily ranks as one of most influential chefs of the past 50 years, as reflected in his numerous trendsetting restaurants and cutting-edge menu innovations.
This year’s MenuMasters’ winners were selected by the editorial team of Nation’s Restaurant News. A celebratory party featuring tastings of the winning items will take place May 16, 2009, in Chicago at the Drake Hotel during the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show. The MenuMasters Awards are produced by Nation’s Restaurant News and sponsored by Ventura Foods LLC.
MenuMasters Awards 2009 Innovator: David BurkeBest new menu item rollout: Culver’s BBQ Brisket Sandwich Best menu revamp: Pizza Hut Tuscani Pasta Dinners Best healthful innovation: Qdoba’s Smart Meals Best menu/line extension: Chick-fil-A’s Chargrilled & Fruit Salad Menu trendsetter: Big Bowl Fresh Chinese and Thai Best limited time-offer: Denny’s Plain White Shake
