Next month is National Rice Month, and what better way to observe it than with recipes that can catapult a traditional side dish ingredient into the limelight? Your customers are already ordering rice. The recipes that follow offer something a little different because they call for fresh mango, pears, caramelized onions and more. According to MenuTrak 2006, a study conducted by RESTAURANT HOSPITALITY, within the past year rice was on the menu in restaurants in 82% of survey respondents in the Hotel/Motel/Resort/Casino category; 63% in the Fine Dining category; 61% in the Casual Dining/Theme Restaurant category; 40% in the Family Restaurant/Cafeteria/Buffet category and 12% in the Fast Casual category. The MenuTrak study focuses on menu items or ingredients used or offered in the past 12 months, as well as plans to increase or decrease usage of those items.
