If you’re in the mood to celebrate, August offers some unique holidays your restaurant guests can enjoy! Celebrating food holidays gives your restaurant something to promote, a new way to get guests interested in your menu, and a fresh reason for customers to visit.
Here are some of the food holidays you can celebrate at your restaurant in August by making changes to your menu, getting guests talking, and reenergizing your staff for a little fun:
August 2: National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
Everybody loves ice cream, so this one is a sure-fire hit! Put your stamp on it with your signature, mix it up using brownies, or try out a sampler platter with a few minis for guests to share. And while ice cream sandwiches appeal to all ages, you might want to pay special attention to your kids’ menu, offering a create-your-own version, where kids can choose their own combinations to make it fun.
Get your customers thinking about having dessert for dinner as they get into the spirit with you.
August 8: International Beer Day
Summer is the perfect time for this holiday to come along, and as the temperatures heat up, celebrating this on your patio can be a blast. Consider offering flights, special happy hours, launching new beers, adding a beer pairing menu – and more – to make this one special. You may also want to partner with a local brewery (or two) to pour pints and offer merch to visitors ordering off the holiday menu.
Cheers to a successful International Beer Day!
August 10: National S’mores Day
These sweet treats make celebrating easy. Besides serving actual s’mores, there are a variety of ways you can incorporate this into your menu. Create a dip where guests can dunk graham crackers, kick it old school with fondue and marshmallows, or create a cake that embraces this flavour – even Rice Krispy squares can take on a s’mores theme.
It’s not just for dessert, though, s’mores flavoured martinis, shakes, and specialty coffee can all offer something special and help raise those cheque totals.
August 19: National Potato Day
Potatoes are always a popular side dish, but now it’s time for spuds to shine! Create a potato skin plate, come up with your own potato salad, or add a dish that’s potato-centric, like pierogies.
And nobody said you can’t include sweet potatoes in your celebration, so add in with creations that include both versions of this fan favourite.
August 30: National Bacon Lovers’ Day
As far as savoury ingredients go, this one is at the top of most people’s lists. A hit at any meal, bacon lends itself easily to being the star of your menu for the day by adding it to sandwiches, putting it in mac and cheese, and featuring a sweet and salty combination in your desserts.
If you don’t want to go whole hog, use bacon as a garnish for your Caesars or add it to your salads for a more subtle celebration.
Get excited to celebrate August’s food holidays at your restaurant! Give your guests something to talk about and a reason to come back to try the new items on this month’s menu.
