The Coronavirus has obviously brought about a whole new world, and for a hospitality business to thrive (or even survive) they must be adaptive, creative, flexible and innovative. We wanted to share some of our ideas on food service and specifically, breakfast service at smaller hotels, bed and breakfasts and inns.
Why are WE talking about this? Way back when we owned The Woolverton Inn in NJ, we began offering the option of breakfast delivery to guest rooms, and it became a key part of our service. Afterwards, over the last 15 years we’ve photographed hundreds of interesting breakfast ideas and creative approaches to breakfast service.
Here is what we will cover in this post…
- “What can I serve?” How to make this new breakfast an “upgrade” rather than a “downgrade” from previous service.
- “How can I serve it?” How to adapt to this new world and be flexible.
- “How can I describe these changes photographically?” Tips on taking your on photos so you can promote and communicate NOW.
Menu Offerings and Creative Presentations
In this post we are assuming many properties will be offering more in-room delivery or pick-up of breakfast in light of the health concerns surrounding the virus. At our inn, a solid 50% of our breakfasts were delivered in-room; it was a huge hit and we believe supported higher room rates and occupancy. The best way to approach this is to MAKE IT SPECIAL. Make it feel like an ENHANCEMENT rather than a DOWNGRADE.
Think outside the box! Add elements that make the presentation more exciting and surprising. This is a great opportunity to wow your guests–they may go from mourning your big communal breakfast table to being suprised and delighted by fun new offerings.
PIZZA! PIZZA! PIZZA! We love the idea of breakfast pizza! Make it special by delivering it in a small pizza box with your logo stamped on it! Pizza boxes cost less than 20 cents each. Your guests can customize their pizza from an ingredient list you provide the night before. Carry the box to a room with a mason jar of yogurt or fruit and a container of coffee and juice and you’ve got a complete breakfast tray, with a twist!
Here are a few ideas for breakfast items that travel well and can be delicious and MEMORABLE!
- Breakfast sandwiches of all varieties
- “BLT in a Box” – a breakfast salad in a chinese take-out box with a poached, boiled or fried egg, crisp lettuce, crunchy croutons, bacon, tomatoes and a simple salad dressing. Great on a hot summer day!
- Quiches – awesome whether hot or at room temperature
- Ebelskeevers – baked scandinavian pancakes that hold well and are FUN
- Shakshura – a middle-eastern baked egg dish, with tomatoes and peppers, served in a mini cast iron pan …trendy, colorful, healthy and urbane
- Breakfast tacos with menu choices (like breakfast pizza, choose night before)
- Bagels, Cream Cheese and Lox with pickled onions
- Shrimp and grits
- Creme brulee oatmeal – oatmeal baked in a cool individual dish and “brûléed” under a broiler…so easy
- Molletes – the delicious Mexican toast with beans and melted cheese – get creative–add an egg or some guacamole!
- Croque Madame – a savory French classic in an individual casserole
- Giant Biscuit sandwiches
- Breakfast hash with potatoes, mushrooms, onions herbs and an egg on top in a chinese take out container
Themes Can Make Breakfast More Fun!
Take the menu items above and “theme” them. Folks won’t be traveling as far afield, so give them something exotic–and make it fun! Here are a few theme ideas…
- “Breakfast in Paris” – go simple with a baguette or croissant and stellar jam and coffee…or go fancy with a croque madam or filled crepe
- “New York, New York” – bagels and lox, cream cheese, maybe a black and white cookie!
- “Southern Comfort” – biscuit sandwiches, shrimp and grits, an individual creole egg bake, or a peach cobbler
- “South of the Border” – Go Mexican! Tacos, burritos, the posssibilities are endless!
Consider adding champagne, mimosas or bloody marys to your menu offerings. People have been cooped-up and want to make memories!
Other Considerations and Serving Ideas
Some guests may still want to dine in a dining room or outdoor dining space. Some guests will want breakfast in their room but may feel uncomfortable with a staff member at their door. Consider the logistics of a safe dining room breakfast experience if permitted in your area. Experiment with configurations to space out your breakfast tables. Consider more breakfast seatings. Many inns have a common room that could double as a make-shift breakfast room in the morning. Outdoor dining is another option that should be explored…Also consider the guest who wants a contactless pick-up spot so they stay away from people. Maybe your dining room, if taken out of service, can serve as a pick-up spot for the breakfast “baskets”, cookies, etc.
Also, we noticed older guests were less enthusiastic about in-room dining, especially where there was no table or chairs for dining. You may need to anicipate the need for cafe tables in the room; if there is limited space, consider tray tables which can be stored easily. We would recommend you consider adding (if you do not have) in-room refrigerators and microwaves (perhaps on request) for handling take out food at a time when open restaurants may be difficult to find. This might be a good time to upgrade your in-room coffee or tea service, since it might not be appealing or safe to have self service coffee/tea in a common space. A tea kettle is another great thing to supply in room. People will be looking for the comforts of home in this difficult period.
from Port d’ Hiver Bed and Breakfast in FL
Everything holds well and is such a nice presentation.
Here are some serving ideas and resources we love…
- Breakfast trays from West Elm– they have a great and affordable selection
- The nifty, eco-friendly and attractive containers from Happy Tiffen – we first saw them at Herman Hill Inn in MO. (see picture below)
- Ever since we tasted the coffee from San Francisco Bay Gourmet Company we were hooked. The only pod-Keurig style coffee I’ve ever loved. AND they are compostable!
- Picnic baskets are cool and fun way to deliver breakfast
The old-fashioned milk jug is perfect for the theme and note the beehive shaped butter.
Beyond Breakfast
With many dine-in restaurants closed, guests might find advantages to staying a vacation rental with a kitcken rather than just a bedroom at a inn or hotel. Anticipate the question; “where are we going to eat dinner?” Eliminating that concern will help increase your bookings.
If you are lucky enough to have a restaurant as part of your business, be sure you have enticing options for in-room dining or outdoor cafe dining. L’Auberge Provencale in Virginia has a fabulous restaurant onsite but has always offered what they call “The Repast” (see photo below). Because it’s basically soup, charcuterie, wine and dessert, most inns could pull it off at some level. Hermann Hill Inn in Missouri is a Bed and Breakfast, but always has pizza available.
at L’Auberge Provencale in VA
It’s inevitable that many great restaurants will have either limited service or will sadly not make it–prepare yourself for this challenging environment. Work closely with your favorite local restaurant to help them succeed and manage these turbulent waters by ordering take out dinners for your guests. It is a win-win-win!! At the very least, make it easy for guests to navigate take-out options and changing service conditions at restaurants. Be proactive and involved so you can provide solutions!
Another great idea is to partner with a local catering company to provide dinner to your entire inn. So many weddings and events have been cancelled this summer, they are desperately looking for opportunities. Perhaps they could even provide a private chef experience in your empty dining room (for B&Bs) for special occasions. Safe, romantic and intimate.
Iris Inn in Virginia has a “Sip and Simmer” package where their chef creates a basket of easy to cook or warm-up food with wine and all the fixings. They have many vacation rental style suites so this makes so much sense right now.
Private Dining at Cedar Crest Lodge in KS
Taking Your Own Breakfast Photos
In a perfect world a professional photographer would magically (and for FREE!) show up on your doorstep to capture these new ideas and service offerings. But money is tight and you need the images now. Over the years we’ve writen extensively and led many industry talks on this DIY subject. After reading this blog, you will be quite well-equipped to take your own food photos! One of most popular blogs on the subject is here.
Here are a few key points..
- Always use natural window light and turn off ALL artifical lighting! Diffuse the window light with a skrim of some kind (a white sheer curtain works) and use a white board to soften shadows. (See Photos below)
- Mobile cameras now offer many apps that shoot RAW files (this is the format professionals shoot with). That will help SO much with color and light processing, right on the app. One good one is Obscura Camera.
- What part do you want in focus?? Remember to “Touch to Focus” on the most important part of the photo. It’s simple, but I see novices screw this up all the time!
- Keep the message simple–do not overcrowd the plate. Less is more.
- The tighter the subject, the better chance you will have of getting a great picture. Leave large interior spaces up to the pros.
- You can get great photos with recent model mobile phones!
- Here is some inspiration from our portfolio
