While there is much to celebrate in December, looking ahead to January for ways to stand out and attract customers can help restaurants extend the momentum of the holiday season. Get guests excited to visit in the new year by promoting events early and creating innovative celebrations that will keep guests and staff feeling festive.
January 4: National Spaghetti Day
Go traditional to celebrate this comfort food, complete with marinara sauce and meatballs, or choose a lighter version with zucchini or spaghetti squash noodles for a vegetarian or vegan option. This could be a great opportunity for groups to gather so consider offering a menu of shared plates or family-style dishes to attract larger crowds and get more people through the doors.
January 12: National Hot Tea Day
This one may not resonate with you right off the bat, but it could be an excellent opportunity to draw in takeout customers during their daily commute. Create your own fancy tea lattes, add a few new flavours, offer tea tastings or for a sit-down option, host a traditional afternoon tea event. Make your to-go options meals by offering combos with bagels, croissants, or muffins to provide something different and maximize guest cheque totals.
January 13: National Gluten-free Day
Maybe you haven’t really experimented with gluten-free items on your menu, but here’s your chance to appeal to a whole new demographic. From pizza to sandwiches and desserts, the sky’s the limit on gluten-free options. Think about creating a separate menu for the day to make it easy for customers to locate these features, and spread the word to get the attention of a whole new audience.
RELATED: Mastering social media
January 23: National Pie Day
This holiday can be celebrated with sweet or savoury features – or both, if you don’t want to choose! Offer a traditional fruit like apple, a variation like banana or Boston cream, or a savoury selection from chicken pot pie to steak pie. This might be a good time to create a board or tasting menu featuring mini versions of customers’ favourites so everyone at the table can share.
January 25: Robbie Burns Day
This holiday celebrates Scottish poet Robbie Burns, and it is most often celebrated with traditional dishes like haggis, neeps and tatties (mashed potato and turnip), cock-a-leekie soup, and more. Embrace the celebration with live entertainment, themed décor, dancing, and poetry. This holiday can get quite busy, so consider taking reservations to better manage your staff and service.
Keep guests in the holiday spirit and offer them something unique with January’s best food holidays!
