In an industry increasingly driven by experiences, food flights offer precisely that: a curated culinary adventure. The ever-expanding popularity of food flights presents an opportunity for restaurants to gain new customers and increase their bottom lines. In this article, we look at the benefits they offer restaurants, why customers love them, and how to create a successful flight using a range of creative serveware.
Who’s Loving Food Flights? (Hint: Everyone!)
So, who exactly is the ideal customer for a food flight? It’s a diverse group, encompassing adventurous eaters who relish the thrill of discovering new favorites, Instagram users seeking out appealing presentations to share on their feeds, social diners looking for fun group experiences, and indecisive patrons who just can’t commit to a single option due to their FOMO.
One of the primary reasons for the popularity of food flights lies in their ability to cater to the modern diner’s desire for variety and exploration. In an era where culinary curiosity is at an all-time high, customers are eager to sample a wide array of flavors in a single meal. Food flights cater to the “try before you commit” mentality, allowing guests to sample a range of dishes without the commitment of a full-sized plate.
Turning Small Bites Into Big Business
In the oversaturated restaurant industry, differentiation is key to success. Food flights offer restaurants a multitude of benefits beyond the obvious appeal to a wider customer base. To start, they’re a perfect opportunity for chefs to showcase their creativity and culinary expertise. Plus, adding them onto a menu is easier than you might think:
- Start by identifying dishes on your existing menu that lend themselves well to smaller portions.
- Consider the flavor profiles, textures, and visual appeal of each item.
- Aim for a balance of flavors and textures within each flight, ensuring that the components complement each other rather than clash.
- Ensure flights are visually appealing, with each dish artfully arranged in serving platters, miniature bowls, and other accoutrements that will elevate the dining experience.
Food flights can also be a powerful tool for upselling and increasing average check size. By offering smaller portions at a slightly higher price point per unit, restaurants can generate higher profit margins compared to traditional full-sized dishes. Additionally, food flights can encourage customers to try new items on the menu, potentially leading to repeat orders in the future.
Moreover, food flights can also serve as a platform for introducing seasonal ingredients and promoting local producers. Incorporating fresh, seasonal produce into flights can highlight the flavors of the region and support local farmers and suppliers.
Plating Perfection
For foodservice professionals, mastering the nuances of food flight presentation is just as much an aesthetic pursuit as it is a strategic imperative to differentiate their establishments. With a growing consumer desire for experiential dining, where sampling diverse flavors in curated portions takes precedence, creating compelling food flights necessitates a departure from conventional plating techniques. Instead of a single, generously portioned dish, the focus shifts to a harmonious arrangement of smaller, meticulously crafted components. Here are some tips to help inspire plating ideas.
While traditional plates can be employed, consider exploring alternative options that add novelty, whimsy, and sophistication. Many of the items already found in your commercial kitchen can serve as unconventional canvases for culinary artistry.
The arrangement of elements within a food flight should adhere to a deliberate design principle. Consider incorporating the rule of thirds, a classic compositional technique that divides the serving area into nine equal parts, guiding the eye and creating visual balance. Employing this principle ensures that each component of the food flight receives due attention, while contributing to the overall aesthetic harmony.
Creating a narrative behind a food flight will significantly enhance its appeal. Flights can include a story that connects the components, highlights the inspiration behind the dish, or the provenance of the ingredients. Present this narrative on your menus, a brief description from the server, or a QR code that links to a digital presentation.
Transform Your Food Flights With These Presentation Pieces
Next, we’ll look at specific serveware collections that will bring your food flights to the next level.
As we mentioned, the success of a food flight hinges on its presentation. The right platter, plate, or vessel will transform a simple dish into a visually stunning experience that is more fun than the average singular menu item. Below, we’ve curated a range of products from TableCraft that bring something different and special to the table, while beautifully showcasing your food.
Wooden Boards, Trays, and Paddles
Rustic and charming, wooden boards help to create a relaxed, approachable, and invitingly warm atmosphere. Beyond the traditional rectangular shape, explore circular and oval boards for a more organic feel.
- Made from real acacia wood
- Each piece is naturally unique with acacia graining
- Select from a variety of shapes and sizes
Mini Fry Pans and Serving Pans
These miniature versions of classic cookware add whimsy and playfulness to food flights. Imagine a flight of mac and cheese variations, each served in its own mini skillet. Or a flight of miniature cobblers or crumbles, still warm from the oven. Consider using different sizes and shapes of mini cast iron pans for added visual interest.
The rustic, home-style vibe of mini pans works well for comfort food-focused restaurants or those with a farm-to-table ethos.
- Stainless steel base with black, non-stick PTFE coating
- Oven and heat lamp safe up to 350°F
- Available in 12-28 ounce sizes, depending on the style
- Dishwasher safe
Stainless Steel Side Servers
Versatile and durable, stainless steel side servers make portion control and serving easy. Moreover, their clean, minimalist aesthetic allows them to seamlessly adapt to virtually any cuisine, décor, or tableware collection. The neutral, reflective surface of stainless steel allows the colors and textures of the food to take center stage.
- Stainless Steel (200 Series) Mirror Finish
- Dishwasher safe
- Available in 7.5‒12 ounce capacities
Taco Taxis
These specialized holders are designed to keep tacos upright and prevent them from spilling. Their squiggly organic shapes are a fun and practical way to serve taco flights, allowing diners to easily sample different fillings and toppings. The playful, casual vibe of taco taxis perfectly captures the spirit of taco-centric restaurants or those with a lively, social atmosphere.
And no need to limit yourself to tacos. Their shape and size also work with bao and lettuce wraps, and grilled pita sandwiches.
- Available in stainless steel and black melamine
- Select from a variety of capacities that hold 1‒4 tacos
- Dishwasher safe
Sauce Boats
While traditionally used for gravy, these portion-sized sauce boats have an accommodating shape that can be repurposed to present small bites, salads, aiolis, and much more. The sophisticated, traditional look of sauce boats works well for upscale restaurants or those with a classic, formal ambiance.
- Traditional design has a classic look. They are available in 18/8 stainless steel with a brushed finish to hide fingerprints
- Modern design is stackable for easy storage and comes in brushed stainless steel, black melamine, or white melamine
- Both designs are available in multiple capacities, ranging from 3‒12 ounces
- Each boat features angled handles for comfortable handling
- Dishwasher safe
Food Flights Are a Win-Win
Catering to the desire for variety and exploration, while providing opportunities for creative expression and strategic upselling, makes food flights beneficial to both the business and the guest. As highlighted, using imaginative presentation with eclectic serveware is key to transforming these small bites into memorable, impactful meal that keep customers coming back for more.
Partnered With
Founded in 1946, TableCraft Products Company opened its doors in Chicago as an import distribution company serving the foodservice industry and continues to be a family-owned business to this day.
By virtue of their simple mission to offer unmatched service and conscience-driven foodservice innovations, they’ve since grown significantly to offer well over 3,000 products. In businesses large and small, you’ll find TableCraft products in the front-of-the-house, the back-of-the-house, in kitchens, and on tabletops.
From beautiful and multi-functional buffet service collections to classic and contemporary tabletop products, TableCraft brings creative designs, elevated style, and one-of-a-kind product versatility to foodservice customers around the world.
