Dennis Knows Food

Recorded during the filming of their hands-on pizza dough video, the conversation follows the process from frozen dough ball to finished pizza, covering the techniques and details that contribute to a better finished product. Along the way, Tina shares practical tips on thawing, proofing, stretching, portioning, and baking pizza dough, while Chef Trevor puts those ideas into practice at the bench....

Listen in to discover why, as Trevor cleverly puts it, "In the cheese business, it really comes down to the culture." Craig Gile, National Food Service Sales Director with 22 years at Cabot, shares fascinating insights from his journey through the company—including his time as a professional cheese grader hand-selecting the perfect cheddars. Meanwhile, Jenni Tilton-Flood brings the farmer's perspe...

In Episode 77 of Dennis Knows Food, host Luke LaBree leads a timely discussion on restaurant staffing with Dennis Food Service team members Samantha Hammond, Teagan Anne, and Corporate Chef Trevor Lizotte. With spring hiring season approaching, this episode offers fresh perspectives for foodservice operators who've exhausted traditional recruitment methods. In this episode we’ll explore how cultiv...

In this episode of the Dennis Knows Food Podcast, Samantha Hammond, Marketing Coordinator at Dennis Food Service, sits down with our new Corporate Chef, Trevor Lizotte. Chef Trevor discusses his culinary journey, from starting in a small-town kitchen at the age of 15 to leading a restaurant kitchen for over a decade. He shares his excitement about joining Dennis Food Service, where he aims to use...

In this episode of the Dennis Knows Food podcast, host Luke LaBree explores the challenges of maintaining work-life balance for restaurant owners in the digital age. LaBree presents seven simple strategies to help foodservice professionals manage their online presence without sacrificing personal time or business quality. From integrating digital tasks into daily routines to leveraging user-genera...

Recorded live from the main stage at Maine-Stay 2023, this episode offers a front-row seat to Luke's insightful discussion on maximizing your marketing impact without breaking the bank. From traditional methods to cutting-edge digital solutions, Luke unpacks a diverse array of strategies designed to elevate your business's visibility and drive growth. Join us as Luke delves into topics such as com...

Recorded live from the main stage at Maine-Stay 2023, this episode offers a front-row seat to Luke's insightful discussion on maximizing your marketing impact without breaking the bank. From traditional methods to cutting-edge digital solutions, Luke unpacks a diverse array of strategies designed to elevate your business's visibility and drive growth. Join us as Luke delves into topics such as com...

Recorded live from the main stage at Maine-Stay 2023, this episode offers a front-row seat to Luke's insightful discussion on maximizing your marketing impact without breaking the bank. From traditional methods to cutting-edge digital solutions, Luke unpacks a diverse array of strategies designed to elevate your business's visibility and drive growth. Join us as Luke delves into topics such as com...

This isn’t a how-to guide. Click here for that. This is a breakdown that incorporates real experience and dives deeper into what it means to have a podcast as a business. Discover the often-overlooked challenges of podcasting, such as finding your niche, maintaining consistency, growing and improving, and handling technical hiccups. Michael Mirarchi returns as a continually fascinating guest, and...

An authentic website instantly adds credibility to your business. When potential customers find your website, they are more likely to perceive your establishment as trustworthy and professional. The benefits of having a website far outweigh the costs, as it enables you to maintain better control of your brand's online narrative, attract new customers, and stay resilient in the face of digital chan...

Christine is an entrepreneur, engineer, and inventor who focuses on using technology to protect businesses and their customers from the threat of illnesses and outbreaks. Her creation, PathSpot, is a Hand Hygiene System used at thousands of restaurants, airports, schools, offices, and manufacturing facilities worldwide. In just two seconds, PathSpot scans hands and detects harmful contaminants tha...

The start of a new year is always a good time for restaurants to evaluate and update menus for profitability. But, as you'll hear in this episode, given inflation and rising overhead costs, it's best to build this task into your regular workflow, helping ensure your menu consistently meets expectations and desired margins. Menu management is one of Josh's favorite parts of the job. In this episode...

In this episode Luke and Samantha go off the rails discussing how restaurants can create and use free QR codes. You’re guaranteed to leave with at least one important takeaway. This episode is also the first of our new two-person format; casual conversation that compliments, shares, and simplifies topics and trends that are valuable to independent food service businesses.   Whether you were driven...

In her article " The Smells That Make Shoppers Spend More " Marisa discusses how smell has a strong link to emotion and, therefore, spending. How scent marketing and scent branding are complex strategies involving science and art, intended to enhance customer loyalty and spending. And how using ambient scents to make your business smell good can have other applications, such as decreasing stress a...

Do you need an agency-built website or is DIY for you? What other digital marketing opportunities should you consider? How does your social presence factor in? Why does design affect user experience? If your gears started turning following episode 67 part 1. If questions came to mind. If you’re now motivated to dive deeper… Well, you know what to, hit play on episode 67 part 2! Special thanks to t...

In this 2-part episode, host Luke LaBree talks with the website development and marketing experts Peter Anania and Dustyn Bailey about what goes into a well-branded website and how that can lead to better business across the board. The best practices covered in this episode go deep and apply to your business–whether you’re a multi-million dollar operation working with an agency or a small family-o...

Derek Fasset, Workforce Development Director at HospitalityMaine, recently took the reins of a multi-year workforce development plan. His top priority is building momentum by creating self-filling pools of hospitality workers across the state. As we know, these employees are essential. Whether you're a small independent business or a multi-million dollar resort, a successful season depends on your...

Even though you couldn’t be there with us, I promise you’ll take something away from this talk. This episode has been edited down from its original length. Thank you to Chef Tim, he recorded the session on his phone. The video version includes the full discussion, minus round-table portions, and closed captioning for any parts that you might not be able to understand. To see a video recording of t...

Joining the conversation is the gang from Restauranttopia, a fun and informative podcast from Hillcrest Foodservice in Ohio. Get ready to take notes, there’s a wealth of wisdom piled into this pod! Like Dennis, Hillcrest is a member of the UniPro Foodservice cooperative. With over 850 member locations, UniPro Foodservice, Inc. is the largest food distribution cooperative in the United States. In f...

In this episode we’re talking about delivery – getting food from point A to point B... from your kitchen to your customers. In mid 2020, with dining rooms across the country shuttered, the question of “how to get food to customers without a dine-in option” quickly became one of the foodservice industry’s top priorities. Stepping in to address this pandemic-driven problem were platforms like GrubHu...

Maine's statewide ban on disposable polystyrene containers takes effect on January 1st, 2021. UPDATE: The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is delaying its enforcement of the "foam ban" until July 1, 2021. See the news release: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MEDEP/bulletins/2b2649b Given that the change is right around the corner. I thought you might enjoy hear...

The most valuable weapon you have in the battle for eyes, ears and engagement online is content. Content is as important to your digital presence and marketing efforts as the food you serve is to your dining room. It shows who you are, what you do and what you’re capable of – but most importantly – it can impact a visitor’s decision to return. Like a great meal, great content helps customers estab...

Six figure sales swings, last minute website launches, loss mitigation, oncological humility and a philanthropic culture… Paul Saval shares how his team never backed down from the pandemic and what he hopes is on the horizon. If you work in the food industry, provide distribution services, conduct sales calls or are at all curious about the chaotic world and persevering positivity of an independen...

Wisdom nuggets with a twist. We're cross-pollinating podcasts in this episode! Full Comp host Josh Kopel takes the reins and joins Dennis Knows Food host Luke LaBree to discuss some of their biggest takeaways from past interviews. Episode 59 reflects on the experiences and advice of several widely different foodservice professionals. Timeless and relatable wisdom; the ideas and insights flowing in...

A discussion about using restaurant reopening guidelines as a to-do list for marketing messages. In this episode of Dennis Knows Food host Luke LaBree talks with Cary Weston, partner at Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications. The idea at hand… What if foodservice operations used restaurant reopening checklists as a guide for marketing their businesses? Sharing your adherence to safety and sani...