Steps to Writing a Bed-And-Breakfast Menu

Craig Berman reports:

"Bed-and-breakfasts convey a sense of luxury, a change from the everyday experience. Your menu has to show your customers that you're giving them something they can't easily make for themselves. Accentuate the uniqueness of your dishes and select adjectives that make them sound as appealing as they taste...Come up with a selection of dishes you can easily make but that seem like something out of the ordinary. This doesn't necessarily mean making a recipe up from scratch -- putting a new spin on an old favorite can do the trick. Note what ingredients are available locally -- an omelette with eggs from the farm down the road or vegetables from your own garden sound much different than a meal with the same items that can be made at home...Generate enough options that guests staying for multiple nights don't have to eat the same things every day...Describe the care that goes into your dishes and what makes your offerings different from others, and accentuate that...Rather than simple 'blueberry muffins,' point out that your muffins are 'homemade' from 'locally-grown blueberries.' List special ingredients in your signature dishes to make them stand out, or provide recipes that show how they're made. Describe juices as 'fresh-squeezed' and breads as 'fresh-baked.'...You can increase your pool of potential customers by offering specialty menus, or stating that you'll create special dishes if requested. Being able to meet the needs of vegetarians and vegans, guests who need gluten-free or lactose-free meals for health reasons, or guests who prefer not to eat pork or other [items] for religious reasons can make your business more attractive. Display a sample menu online and detail how much advance notice you'll need to meet special requests...Focusing on a particular niche can help make your bed-and-breakfast stand out. For example, being known as an eco-friendly bed-and-breakfast will attract guests looking for that particular experience."