Try It: Culinary staples bring on-trend menu options to life

Sponsored by McCain Foodservice Solutions

There’s a simple way into every diner’s heart: great food. Operators know that expanding menu offerings with on-trend culinary creations can delight customers and keep them coming back for more. However, catering to trends can be challenging, especially when it comes to inventory management. That’s what makes product versatility essential for today’s foodservice operations. The more customizable a product is, the more value it provides across the menu.

The good news? Today’s operators don’t have to look far for a versatile product that fuels culinary creativity. In fact, some of the most familiar food products can serve as the backbone of inspired wow-worthy recipes. And few kitchen staples are as applicable — or versatile — as the potato. 

Customers love potato products for their satisfying texture and flavor-enhancing qualities. Traditionally reserved as a complement to the main course, potatoes are one of the most eclectic food products on the market today. Everything from waffle fries and tots to wedges and spirals have enhanced entrées and menu items for decades. But what if potato products were featured as more than a side dish? Many operators have started to use versatile potato products, such as McCain Mini Mashers™ potato bites, to reimagine culinary classics, including Philly cheesesteak hash, potato frico, patatas bravas and a variety of other well-loved dishes.

The beauty of potato products is that they are highly customizable and as familiar to diners as they are to operators. Whether they’re roasted, mashed, fried or sautéed, these back-of-house stalwarts effortlessly hold onto flavors customers love. So, why not expand upon the beloved potato?

As operators continue their never-ending search for foodservice creativity, new products such as McCain Mini Mashers™ potato bites allow restaurants to reinvent the potato, bringing fresh life to a beloved staple. With attributes that expand upon the texture and flavor that make potatoes great, these innovative potato shareables can inspire new takes on everything from jalapeno poppers and gnocchi-based dishes to ice cream sandwiches and more.

PUT A NEW SPIN ON A CULINARY CLASSIC

While potato products like French fries and hashbrowns will undoubtedly remain on the list of fan favorites, new products such as McCain Mini Mashers™ potato bites can offer additional value to operators who are searching for unique ways to evolve their menu offerings. Regardless of how they’re prepared, these culinary innovations can bring trending flavors to life, resulting in palate-pleasing creations that distinguish today’s restaurants from their local competition.

“Any opportunity to put a new spin on a foodservice favorite is exciting,” said chef Spike Mendelsohn, co-founder and culinary director of PLNT Burger, former chairman of the DC Food Policy Council and customer of McCain Foodservice Solutions. “Innovative products like McCain Mini Mashers provide chefs with a unique culinary base that is perfect for building upon. The possibilities are endless.”

Diners know potatoes, and operators can take this familiarity to the next level with customizable products that transform classic recipes into demand-driving menu favorites. Integrating potato innovations across the menu can expand a restaurant’s culinary canvas, resulting in great-tasting signature dishes that can not only generate traffic and return customers, but also boost margins throughout the year. How appetizing is that?