Talkin' Shop

By: Michael Gorecki

Seven seconds is all the time it takes to form an opinion of something and give it a value. For restaurants, that means as soon as a guest walks through the door they must be wowed. That’s the value of having great decor, vibrant atmosphere, and a host or hostess there greeting patrons with a smile. However, with the increase of takeout and third-party delivery services, guests aren’t always getting the sensory experience of dining in the restaurant. Whatever is in that to-go bag determines what a guests’ first impression is and, almost always, those first moments leave them feeling a little unmoved.

Takeout can sometimes be the only interaction a guest may have with your restaurant. That means that the way your takeout is prepared and presented is extremely important to your brand. So what is their first impression? For many, it’s a brown sack with some plastic utensils, maybe a spork, and a few paper napkins on top of a box of travel-weary food.

So what can you do to make a great impression? Having beautiful, functional packaging is the easiest way to make an impactful and memorable delivery experience.

The Aesthetic

Think about the material you use. How does it feel? How does it look? Make sure that each aspect is consistent with your style and in-restaurant experience. If it all looks great from the outside, take it apart. Unwrap your packaging just like your guests would and lay it out. How does that presentation look?

By making your takeout visually stunning, you are providing a sensory experience your guests would have if they were dining in your restaurant.

Check out this beautiful packaging from Guactruck, in the Philippines, which uses an origami flower shaped packaging that creates the illusion of a bud opening up into a full bloomed flower. It is not only visually stimulating but it is also practical because of it functionality. And quite frankly, it makes us want to eat those nachos.

The Function

Coinciding with the visual aesthetics of your packaging is its functionality. Is your packaging easy to operate? Are there smooth fluid movements from opening the bag to reaching inside and grabbing the food or are you reaching into a giant hodge podge, blindly trying to find the fork.

We love this packaging from Sticks‘n’Sushi which takes its to-go packaging seriously. It uses a single box to hold separate smaller shelf-like boxes that all contain different types of cuisine. Its clear organization allows guests to easily see where everything is and leads to a smooth pleasurable dining experience. And how fun is this to unwrap!?

The Creativity

Having something delightfully unexpected can take delivery to the next level. But what is most important here is making sure that it is true to your brand – don’t tie your box in a beautiful silk bow when you are a fast-casual pizza joint.

Some ideas:

•Include a fun placemat

•Add a simple or personalized note: e.x. “Eat me.”

•Add in tissue paper and make it feel like they’re opening a present

By making your takeout packaging a part of the dining experience and not an afterthought, you can better reinforce and represent your brand, stand out from the crowded delivery market space, and provide an amazing sensory experience for your guests.

Make sure you make your guest’s first impression a great one…because there are no second chances at first impressions.  

By: Michael Gorecki

Sipping a few bottles of wine, eating great cheese next to a subtle water feature, is what I call a successful Wednesday night and Va de Vi Bistro and Wine Bar in Walnut Creek has all of those things. Get a table outside in the small alley and, for a moment, you might actually think you are dining out in Italy.

With a diverse selection of wine from California to Spain to Australia, the options are endless. Luckily, they have created an extensive and carefully thought-out list of wine flights for both red and white. Let the wine tastings begin!

Even though they are known for their wines – Va de Vi literally translates to “It’s all about wine” – the food menu does not fall short. With a great selection of small plates from ahi tartare to grilled flat iron steak, anyone’s hunger can be satisfied.

Overall, a great experience; servers could have been a tad more knowledgeable but definitely a must if you ever find yourself wandering around in the East Bay.

Where to wine, dine, caffeinate, and carbo-load in Portlandia, as told by Vanessa.

9 AM CAFFEINATE: Stumptown Coffee is an obvious Portland staple, and for good reason. Sip on their heavenly nitro brew and throw on your hipster reading glasses while you read the Portland Tribune like a true local in the hip lounge of the Ace Hotel 1026 SW Stark Street location.

10 AM PRE-HIKE CARBO-LOAD: Stop by Kenny and Zuke’s Delicatessen for a pre-hike carbo-load. Their Big Shot Breakfast Sandwich is out of control in the best way possible: 2 eggs, pastrami & swiss, grilled on rye. Yes I ate this food-coma-inducing-miracle, and no, I am not ashamed. Also, DON’T FORGET THE DONUTS: Voodoo lived up to the hype, but visit their Northeast location to skip the line (pro tip: get a sampler’s dozen, but make them add my personal favorite, the Memphis Mafia – a deep-fried donut topped with banana chunks, cinnamon sugar, chocolate frosting, peanut butter, peanuts, and chocolate chips). I’ve heard Blue Star is also great, and usually no line. Lastly, Lovejoy Bakery was a really sweet bakeshop in the Pearl District that had great seasonally-driven brunch and lunch options, baked goods, and coffee.

11 AM TAKE A HIKE: Work off those carbs in the woods! Multnomah Falls are absolutely breathtaking, though also very touristy. Stop by for a photo opp then head over to Eagle Creek for a less-crowded hike to Punch Bowl Falls. Hoping to stay in the city but still get a taste of nature? Stop and smell the roses (literally) at the International Rose Test Garden (#alloftheroses) in the heart of Washington Park.

3 PM BEER! (IT’S 5 O’CLOCK SOMEWHERE): We’re huge beer geeks, so we visited quite a few throughout the weekend. My favorite was 10 Barrel Brewing (they have great pub fare and a rooftop for when it’s nice out), Cascade Brewing (awesome sour beers if that’s your thang), Rogue Eastside Brewery (SF’s Portland-based sister, big outdoor patio), and Bridgeport Brewery (Portland’s oldest brewpub, or at least that’s what the guy next to us at the bar said so I’m going to believe him).

5 PM CHEEEEEESE: I try not to pick favorites, but a huge highlight of this trip was our trip to Cheese & Crack. Their sampler plate is TO DIE FOR (hello fire-torched brie brûlée!) and great for groups of 2-4 people. They also have frosé. Stick a fork in me, I’m done! Until dinner, that is…

7:30 PM DINNER: Head over to Northeast Alberta Street for some fun restaurant and bar options. Bollywood Theatre was a really hip fast-casual Indian dining spot. The decor and music was lively and playful, which perfectly matched the street-food style dishes and oh-so-tasty cocktails.

9 PM OUT AND ABOUT: Also on Northeast Alberta Street, we enjoyed visiting Radio Room which had outdoor seating, a firepit, and even more delicious cocktails. Down the road a bit further is The Bye and Bye which features quirky artwork in a moody setting (very a la Portland), another back patio, and if you’re still hungry, amazing vegan/vegetarian dining options.

11 PM PIZZA RUN: What is a night out without a nightcap slice of pie? Head to Sizzle Pie for some cheesy deliciousness (you won’t regret it).