FoodLab Chicago Presents: Storytelling & Menus Workshop

Monday, April 7th
9:30 am- 4 pm
In-person @ Discover Shine Bright Community Center
8560 S. Cottage Grove Ave

We encourage those who are able to attend in person. The event will be livestreamed for those who are unable to make it in-person.

Menu engineering is part science, part art. By utilizing data, research, and industry knowledge, restaurateurs and operators can make impactful decisions on their menus to produce specific, measurable results in profitability and guest satisfaction.

Simply put, Menu Engineering is how we build powerful and profitable menus!

Source: https://www.menuengineers.com/

• Crafting a compelling business story
• Marketing strategies that resonate
• Leveraging AI for your foood business
• Optimizing menus for profit and impact
• And much more!

Why is Menu Engineering important?

• Past FoodLab participants have increased their menu's profitability from 3-38%
• Highlights your more desirable &profitable menu items
• Eliminating poor-performing items from the menu, helping your food costs
• Improves customer satisfaction

Who is Sean Willard, Menu Engineering Specialist?

Sean Willard is a seasoned Menu Engineer dedicated to assisting restaurateurs and hospitality operators worldwide in the creation of optimized menus. His approach melds the precision of science, the finesse of art, the insights of data, and a wealth of industry experience to empower restaurateurs in crafting menus that not only bolster profitability but also elevate the overall guest dining experience.
With a distinguished academic background from Cornell’s Hotel School and an extensive tenure within the restaurant industry spanning over two decades, Sean brings a wealth of knowledge and practical expertise to the realm of Menu Engineering. His journey into this specialized field was cultivated under the mentorship of the late Gregg Rapp, a luminary in the discipline who laid the foundations for many of the methodologies and principles still revered today.

Sean can be reached at [email protected] or via the official website, www.MenuEngineers.com.

One-on-One 90-minute personal consultation with Sean Willard

Menu Engineering Workshop attendees can participate in a 90-minute in-person consultation with Sean Willard. If interested, please email [email protected] to receive the questionnaire.

Continental Breakfast
Coffee, juice, and a light breakfast will be provided in the morning.

Lunch
Lunch will be provided

Entrance & Parking:
Please use the parking lot south of the Discover Center. Enter through the visitor's entrance (you may need to ring the bell)

Thank you to our sponsors and partners:

Chicago Community Trust
The Coleman Foundation
Greater Chatham Initiative

For more information, please contact the FoodLab Chicago Team:

Email FoodLab Coordinators, Enrique Torres or Tonya Patterson at [email protected]
Call the Greater Chatham Initiative Office at 773-644-1451

This workshop is brought to you by the Greater Chatham Initiative, a place-based southside nonprofit committed to fostering growth and innovation in the culinary industry. Don't miss this opportunity to gain invaluable insights and connect with like-minded food enthusiasts.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Shine Bright® Community Center, 8560 South Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago, United States