On the Plus Side

Labor. Costs. Time. This back-of-house triple threat has been propelling menu development for more years than anyone cares to count, and there’s little optimism for a reversal of these drivers anytime in the foreseeable future. Foodservice operators who recognize the not-so-new normal is here to stay must continue to prioritize out-of-the-box thinking in creating signature dishes, menu specials and LTOs that deliver differentiation and maximum impact with minimal execution and complexity.

A key element of this savvy strategy is imaginative cross-utilization of ingredients—seizing, in particular, the advantage of pantry staples that can serve as an easy “surprise” element that elevates a traditional menu item or creates something wholly different, without requiring the long lead times of supply chain procurement and menu application testing. This “plus-one” approach is an effective solution that can be applied by virtually any restaurant concept, across foodservice segments.

“Having a versatile and delicious ingredient, one that is pre-approved in your restaurant pantry, is shelf stable and efficiently priced is the epitome of a plus-one item,” says Alissa Davis, Director of Marketing, AFP advanced food products llc. Operators can easily plus-one menus—for any daypart—with the wide variety of adaptable ingredients from AFP. These range from cheese sauces, dips and spreads, cooking sauces and puddings, many available in plant-based formulations.

Plus-ones can be transformative, dialing up the craveability of fan favorites, giving you easy ways to expand your menu with daily or weekly specials that boast built-in appeal. Plus-ones can also be wildly imaginative, yielding brand-new dishes sure to intrigue and entice. “Operators can also level up with tiered menu offerings, keeping the original, but adding a plus-one option for an increased price,” notes Davis. And these low-labor executions can work for every part of your menu, whether dishes are consumed on- or off-premise. Here we present creative explorations featuring three categories of AFP products: cheese sauces, dips and spreads and puddings.

PLUS CHEESE SAUCE

Davis identified Muy Fresco^® Cheddar Cheese Sauce as a plus-one starting place. “Dip a burger in a warm pool of cheddar cheese. Bake up a delicious brunch casserole. Smother fries or tots for loaded totchos. Step up the creaminess (and speed up the prep) of a homemade mac and cheese. Whip up some broccoli cheddar soup,” she suggests.

Three additional menu inspirations further showcase the breadth of opportunity:

• Tap into the enthusiasm for a loaded fries shareable with an elevated take in this Poutine-Style Truffle Fries, featuring Muy Fresco^® Cheddar Cheese Sauce in either a conventional or plant-based form smothering a base of shoestring fries. This twist on the Canadian favorite includes chopped truffles, a parsley garnish and, of course, cheese curds.
• Loaded Pizza Bread Sticks are another way to go, pairing the Muy Fresco^® Cheddar Cheese Sauce with mozzarella, marinara sauce and pepperoni slices for a riff on breadsticks, pizza and the “loaded” trend. The cheddar drizzle lends an extra “wow” factor.
• Add Muy Fresco^® Nacho Cheese Sauce to eggs, chorizo crumbles and veggies for a hearty breakfast Chorizo & Cheesy Egg Bake. Make it plant-powered by using the Plant-Based version of the Muy Fresco^® sauce, along with vegan chorizo crumbles.

Other flavors in the AFP cheese sauce line include Monterey Jack, Chipotle, Premium Jalapeño, Alfredo, Cheesy Enchilada and more.

PLUS DIPS & SPREADS

Shelf-stable dips, spreads and salsas are valuable assets, especially when it comes to items and condiments that may not move at the same pace on your menu as their next expiration date. “Ever open guacamole, but not be able to use it all before it oxidizes and turns brown? Have you factored in the life of the sour cream used in the sweet onion dip? These issues don’t exist with AFP dips and spreads,” says Davis. “Our products provide the taste and quality of fresh-made alternatives, with greater ease and efficiencies. Further, you’ll save time and money on purchasing multiple ingredients that can be substituted with a single dip or spread SKU.”

While the AFP line in this product category includes a wide variety of flavors—such as cheese, Guacamole-style, Mediterranean hummus and Southwest Black Bean dips—take a closer look at the rich and delicious plus-one opportunities to be discovered with a single product: onion dip.

• Move over bread, hash browns are the new morning toast! Take a breather, avocado, because the Everything Hash Toast features frozen hash brown patties spread with Muy Fresco^® Creamy Onion Dip, topped with crispy bacon pieces and finished with a punch of everything seasoning.
• Muy Fresco^® Creamy Onion Dip is an excellent plus-one for a craveable Hot French Onion Dip Wrap. Spread the dip across a warm tortilla, add sliced roast beef, roll into a wrap and grill over the stove on both sides. Serve with warm au jus for the ultimate melt-in-your-mouth flavor experience.
• Savory steak slices may be the hero ingredient, but it’s the addition of Muy Fresco^® French Onion dip that elevates the NY Strip Sandwich with French Onion Horseradish Aïoli. Simply mix the dip with mayonnaise and horseradish for a creamy, flavor-forward spread over the warm baguette and tender meat.

PLUS PUDDING

“On the surface, some may see shelf stable pudding only as a lunchbox treat, but at AFP, we see a world of sweet possibilities,” says Davis. “Our cleaner-label offerings stand out against other sweet treats. Real Fresh^® pudding is a low-cost ingredient that can deliver value and versatility for out-of-the-box menu applications spanning multiple menu categories and dayparts.” In fact, Technomic recently identified “dessert-inspired breakfast starches” as one of the top-rated LTOs in January 2024. Using pudding as a plus-one makes sense—and cents. Consider these three inspirations as starting points:

• You can serve up breakfast or brunch bliss with your next a.m. LTO by pairing French Toast Sticks with a Loaded Chocolate Dip. This irresistible treat starts with Real Fresh^® Chocolate Pudding and adds tasty toppings like pretzel pieces, crushed cookie sandwiches, mini chips, candies, nuts, potato chips and more. Make it customizable, allowing diners to select their choice of two or three mix-ins.
• Stuffed Pancakes is another way to reimagine pudding for the morning space. Alternate layers of pancakes and both Chocolate and Vanilla flavors of Real Fresh^® Pudding, dust the crown with powdered sugar and top with fresh fruit. It’s a dish that’s simple to execute, stunning to view and scrumptious to taste.
• Consumers are hungry for fresh takes on the ever-popular empanada. Swap savory in favor of sweet with Chocolate con Canela Empanadas filled with Real Fresh^® Chocolate Pudding, rich cream cheese and spiked with a little cinnamon sugar. Another prep time-saver: Use crescent roll dough sheets as a substitute for puff pastry.

Look for other plus-one inspirations found in additional pudding flavors in the Real Fresh^® foodservice line, including Milk Chocolate, Lemon, Rice, Banana, Butterscotch and Tapioca.

DO THE MATH

The decision to use shelf-stable pantry favorites to plus-one your menu mix is hardly a complicated equation. Trusted, affordable, delicious products you already rely on PLUS unexpected versatility in creative applications PLUS purchasing and storage efficiencies PLUS easy, speedy, low-labor executions equals premium impact for your customer, your reputation and your bottom line.

Source:

Flavor & The Menu, https://getflavorcom2.packawhallop.com/on-the-plus-side/