August / 2024 / ferrarofoods.com
Back-to-School
Welcome to the August issue of Fresco by Ferraro! As we transition from the leisurely days of summer into the bustling back-toschool season, this issue is designed to help you gear up for a successful fall. We’ve curated a collection of menu inspirations to invigorate your offerings and captivate your customers, ensuring that your pizzeria stands out during this busy time.
In this edition, we’re excited to feature a special customer article highlighting Pope's Pizza, where you'll gain insights into their creative strategies and successful approaches that can inspire your own business. Additionally, we’ve packed this issue with practical tips and expert advice on preparing your restaurant for the upcoming season. From optimizing your menu to streamlining operations, we’re here to help you make the most of this transition and set your pizzeria up for a thriving fall.
Buon apetito, amici,
Ferraro Family
The
AUGUST 2024
BACK-TO-SCHOOL MENU INSPIRATION
A curated selection of back-to-school season inspired foods . Page 4
RECIPE: MAPLE DIJON GRILLED CHICKEN SANDWICH
The perfect grilled chicken sandwich for Fall. Page 8
AUGUST INDUSTRY INSIGHTS:
How restaurants can prepare for the back-to-school rush.
Page 9
CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT
Take a look inside Pope's Pizza. Page 10
FEATURED ITEMS
A few of our favorite non-food products. Page 12
VENDOR SPOTLIGHT
Learn more about our supplier partner, Plymouth Beef. Page 14
Back-to-School Inspired Ideas for your Restaurant
As summer winds down and the school year begins, many families are looking for comforting, nostalgic meals. At Ferraro Foods, we know how important it is to keep your offerings innovative and fresh, especially during seasonal shifts. This is why we have curated a selection of back-to-school season inspired foods that are sure to resonate with your customers of any age - bringing nostalgia and fun to any menu.
Elevated
Grilled Cheese Wedges
Elevating a grilled cheese can be a fun culinary adventure - and bring those nostalgic feelings of being a child! Here are some gourmet twists to take your classic grilled cheese to the next level and really ‘wow’ adults and kids alike.
• Truffle Mushroom Grilled Cheese - Sautéed mushrooms (such as shiitake, cremini or porcini), truffle oil, fontina cheese and garlic butter sauce
• Caprese Grilled Cheeseinspired by the classic Caprese Salad, this grilled cheese has fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, basil leaves, balsamic reduction and pesto.
• Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese - containing shredded chicken tossed in buffalo wing sauce, mozzarella cheese, blue cheese dressing and a sprinkle of chives.
• Pulled Pork Grilled Cheesea twist on classic grilled cheese with slow cooked pulled pork, smoked gouda cheese, BBQ sauce and pickled jalapenos
Lunchbox Wraps
Offer to-go wraps in a transportable disposable container for the busy on-the-go mom who may not have the time to make lunch for her child.
‘An Apple for the Teacher’ Salad
As a tribute to our amazing teachers, this would be a mixed green salad with thinly sliced apples, chopped walnuts, a crumbled feta cheese and your choice of dressing.
Report Card Pizza
On a plain pizza pie, with slices of pepperoni, put an ‘A+’ on the pizza for a fun school-inspired pie.
‘A Slice for Success’ Program
For example, you can have a sign by checkout saying, “At _________________, we believe in celebrating hard work and academic achievement. That’s why we are thrilled to introduce our Slice for Success Program! A special way to celebrate and reward students for report cards with grades of a B or higher with a free slice of any pizza! Just bring a photo or print out of your report card to checkout.
As your restaurant prepares for the transition into the season of ‘back-to-school’ for your customers, consider adding these nostalgic and convenient menu concepts. They are sure to resonate with customers of all ages and make the season fun for everyone!
Maple Dijon Grilled
Chicken Sandwich
Ingredients
• 1 lb chicken breast, cut in half lengthwise and then in half again.
• 1/2 lb sharp cheddar slices
• 2 cups mixed greens
• 1 medium apple, sliced thin
• 1/4 cup red onion, sliced thin
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, leaves only
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 4 burger buns
Directions
1. Preheat your grill to high heat. Scrape grates clean and spray with a high-heat non-stick spray.
2. Combine oil, vinegar, maple syrup, mustard, and salt in a jar, and shake till combined. Pour half of the dressing over the chicken and let it marinate while your grill heats up!
3. Next, add greens, cilantro, onion, and apple slices to a large bowl
4. Take marinated chicken to the grill. Grill on each side for 3 mins. Since the chicken is a thin cutlet, cook time is quicker! Once the chicken is cooked through on both sides, to 160 degrees, turn off the heat, and add slices of cheese to each piece. Close the grill and let cheese melt for 1-2 mins. Toast your buns at this time, too.
5. Pull chicken and buns from the grill, toss your salad with the remaining dressing, and pile your toasted buns with 2 pieces of the chicken, and a handful of salad.
August
A Fresh Lesson Plan for Restaurant Success This Fall
As the back-to-school season approaches, restaurants across the country are gearing up for the shift in dining patterns and customer demands. With families adjusting to new routines, students flooding local eateries, and busy weeknights on the rise, the fall season presents both challenges and opportunities for the food service industry. In this special update, we’ll explore how restaurants can prepare for the back-to-school rush, leverage changing consumer behaviors, and implement strategic lessons to make this fall their most successful season yet.
First up, chicken! As students return to their busy schedules, quick, proteinpacked meals are in high demand, making chicken a go-to option for both restaurants and diners. From crispy chicken sandwiches to grilled chicken salads, versatile poultry dishes appeal to both health-conscious consumers and comfort food lovers. This fall, restaurants can capitalize on this by offering creative chicken-centric menu items, limited-time offers, and meal bundles that cater to families looking for convenient yet flavorful options during their hectic school nights.
Data from Technomic shows that menu mentions of chicken increased 17.1% year over year. Coincidentally, sauces
are also speeding along, coming in as the second fastest-growing ingredient, with 16.2% growth. According to an RMS survey, "Provide a selection of sauces to cater to diverse tastes and elevate the appeal of chicken dishes," the report advises.
Pizza has long been a staple of the college student diet, thanks to its affordability, convenience, and ability to feed a crowd. Whether it’s latenight study sessions or weekend hangouts, pizza is a go-to choice for students looking for a quick, satisfying meal. To reach this key demographic, restaurants can focus on delivering value-packed deals, such as student discounts, customizable meal packages, and special promotions during busy times like midterms and finals. Digital engagement is also crucial—leveraging social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat can help drive awareness and engagement, while offering seamless
online ordering and delivery options ensures that students can access their favorite pizza wherever they are, whether it's at a dorm or during a campus event.
Navigating the back-to-school season provides a prime opportunity for restaurants to test out trendy menu items and innovative promotions. Introducing new, on-trend dishes or creative specials can capture the attention of students and families eager for fresh dining experiences. However, if these bold moves don’t resonate as expected, there’s no harm in reverting to tried-and-true favorites. This balanced approach allows restaurants to stay relevant and engaging while ensuring that their core offerings continue to meet the familiar comforts and expectations of their loyal patrons.
CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT
Pope's Pizza
Ocean City, MD
Interviewed: Joe Sinkaus
A Slice of History: The Birth of Pope’s Pizza
This past winter, Joe Sinkaus channeled decades of experience in the food and beverage industry to launch Trifecta Hospitality Group, culminating in the grand opening of Pope’s Pizza in Ocean City, Maryland, on July 8. In a bustling summer town like Ocean City, there’s no such thing as a “soft opening.” When the doors opened, everything—from the product to the presentation—had to be flawless. Catering to a diverse crowd from New England to the Carolinas and as far as Ohio and Tennessee, the team at Trifecta Hospitality Group focused on creating a highquality product using only the freshest ingredients. Their goal? To offer Pope’s Pizza to everyone, delivering both excellence and value. With over 25 pizzerias within a five-mile radius—five of them on the same street—it was clear that this demographic presented the perfect challenge for Pope’s Pizza to rise above the rest.
Joe Sinkaus envisioned Pope’s Pizza as more than just a single location. The objective was to scale corporately owned locations and offer a turnkey franchise for new operators. Existing franchisees could find a solid rebranding solution, while independent and family-owned pizzerias would gain a supercharged rebranding option to position themselves as market leaders. Reflecting on the early success, Joe shared, “Everyone has a favorite pizzeria, often passed down from their parents. I’m very grateful for the positive feedback from customers across the East Coast this summer. More importantly, I love that Pope’s Pizza made their ‘Pizza Night’ memorable, bringing family and friends together over great food.
Crowd-Pleasers: The Menu Favorites
While the classic cheese pizza remains a staple, Pope’s Signature Pizzas have quickly won over customers. Surprisingly, sales have been almost evenly split among the Signature Pizzas, with some standout choices like The OC Wing Pizza, Meatball Parm Pizza, Italian Salami Pizza, Pope’s Margherita Pizza, Traditional Margherita Pizza, Pope’s Pepperoni Extravaganza Pizza, and the Pope’s CBP— Grilled Chicken-Bacon-Pineapple Pizza. But pizza isn’t the only star on the menu; calzones, parmigiana dishes, chicken cutlets, subs, and wings also share the spotlight.
Pope's Pizza
11701 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City, MD 21842
Pope's classic cheese pizza
Pope's OC Wing Pizza
Standing Out in the Crowd: What Makes Pope’s Pizza Different?
In the competitive world of foodservice, every operator must evaluate their competition and strategically position their business for success. Pope’s Pizza aims to offer the best in every aspect, starting with a respectful, friendly, and clean work environment. The focus on quality begins with sourcing the finest, freshest ingredients and continues with meticulous systems and procedures to ensure that every dish meets the highest standards. Whether it’s 11 AM or 11 PM, Pope’s Pizza is committed to delivering the best experience to every customer, every time.
Partnering for Success: Why We Choose Ferraro Foods
When launching Pope’s Pizza, the team knew that their success depended not just on their internal efforts, but also on partnering with the right distributor. From the initial meeting with Val, Danny, and Dave, it was clear that Ferraro Foods had the capabilities to support their vision. Ferraro Foods has proven to be a dedicated partner, with sales representative Danny and his manager Dave going above and beyond to nurture the relationship. On multiple occasions, corporate support from Val has further solidified Ferraro Foods as a key ally in Pope’s Pizza’s success.
Words of Wisdom: Advice for Fellow Restaurateurs
Joe Sinkaus shares a valuable lesson learned from a mentor: when attending regional or national food shows, don’t focus on the free parties or meals. Instead, take advantage of the free learning seminars. Joe has always found ideas or improvements from seminars that have positively impacted his business. The National Restaurant Association and trade magazines often offer monthly Zoom sessions covering a wide range of topics relevant to operators’ concerns. “We’re all in this together—learning, growing, and sharing a passion for making great food for our customers,” Joe notes.
Giving Back: Pope’s Pizza and the Community
Pope’s Pizza is committed to working with the community, whether it’s supporting local schools, causes, or benefits. “Our community is our employee, our friend, and our customer,” says Joe. This communityfocused mindset is just one of the many ways Pope’s Pizza aims to make a difference.
Behind the Slice: What Makes Pope’s Pizza Special
Pope’s Pizza crust is described as thin, crispy, firm, yet airy, with a sauce that’s savory and satisfying. Their calzones are made to order, while parmigiana dishes and subs are served on traditional NY-style hero rolls. The subs feature both American classics like Ham & Cheese, Turkey, and Italian, as well as traditional Italian meats paired with fresh mozzarella. Pope’s wing sauce is made from scratch, offering flavors like traditional buffalo, garlic Parmesan, mango habanero, sweet chili, and a unique sweet-hot BBQ that fuses buffalo with brown BBQ. The chicken cutlets are seasoned, breaded, and made from 100% chicken breast. A new addition to the menu is the Signature Pope’s Pan Pizza, a delicious cross between traditional Grandma and Roman-style pizzas.
OLD GLORY PLATINUM ALUMINUM FOIL
NON-FOODS ITEMS THAT OFFER PREMIUM DURABILITY AND RELIABLE PERFORMANCE
Old Glory Platinum aluminum foil is designed for foodservice professionals who demand top-tier performance. With its exceptional strength and heat resistance, it ensures reliable coverage and protection, making it ideal for cooking, baking, and food storage in any kitchen.
Alum. Foil Roll 12" x 1000'
Ferraro# 5500062
Alum. Foil Roll 18" x 500'
Ferraro# 5500063
Alum. Foil Sheets 9" 10.75"
Ferraro# 5500064 | 6/500ct
Alum. Foil Sheets 12" 10.7"
Ferraro# 5500065 | 12/200ct
OLD GLORY GARBAGE LINERS
ROBUST, LEAK-RESISTANT DURABILITY FOR RELIABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT
OLD GLORY PLATINUM PLASTIC FILM
PREMIUM STRENGTH AND RELIABILITY FOR ALL KITCHEN TASKS
Old Glory garbage liners provide foodservice professionals with reliable, heavy-duty performance to handle the toughest kitchen waste with ease.
Liner Clear 36 Gal 30” x 36”
Ferraro# 6000024 | 145 ct
Liner Black 58 Gal
Ferraro# 6000025 | 80 ct
Liner Black 33 Gal Small
Ferraro# 6000030 | 150 ct
Liner Clear 58 Gal
Ferraro# 6000396 | 100 ct
Liner HD Black 60 Gal
Ferraro# 6000026 | 70 ct
Liner 45 Gal 40” x 46”
Ferraro# 6000028 | 100 ct
Old Glory Platinum plastic film offers foodservice professionals exceptional cling and durability, ensuring that food stays fresh and securely wrapped. Its high-quality design makes it a reliable choice for both storage and presentation in any commercial kitchen.
Film Plastic 12" x 2000’
Ferraro# 6000690
Film Plastic 18" x 2000’
Ferraro# 6000691
Film Plastic 24" x 2000’
Ferraro# 6000692
ALUMINUM FOIL
GARBAGE LINERS
PLASTIC FILM
VENDOR SPOTLIGHT
PLYMOUTH BEEF
Interviewed:
How did Plymouth Beef begin?
How have you evolved?
Plymouth Beef began 63 years ago with the start of our operation down at the 14th Street Market, in NYC. As we continued to grow through multiple channels of the foodservice arena (Diners, Sports Bars, Country Clubs, Restaurants, Hospitality, Pizzeria’s, etc.) We found the need to build a brandnew state of the art facility located in the Hunts Point Market, Bronx NY in year 2000. The new facility gave us the ability to expand and grow our business with distribution channels that take us throughout the Northeast. (From Maine to Florida)
What is your favorite product that you sell and why?
Our number one selling burger throughout the years has been our Fresh Steak Burger (All Sizes). This product is made up of solid muscle meat (Chucks and Chuck Trim). It is a pure Ground Beef Product with no additives, fillers, soy, or LFTB.
What is different about your beef company?
Strong Points of Differences with our product vs the competition is we produce a consistent high quality product week in and week out using the same raw
Anthony D'Urso, Director of Sales
materials from the G-6 Packers. We are not a portion control/ cut shop using bench trim which will give customers and inconsistent product. We are strictly a Grinding operation with HIGH concentration in the Hamburger and Ground Beef Category.
What would you be doing if you weren’t working in the food business?
Quite honestly I love what I do ever since my Grandfather and Father threw me into the meat coolers at age 7. I never looked back, nor would I want to do anything else. I am a true Meat Head.
Best thing about working at Plymouth Beef?
Family-owned 3rd Generation business with Great Ownership. Between the family and the employees (150), we all enjoy working together to produce a high quality product for the marketplace. Long Hours, hard work, and again working together as a team really says it all. Plymouth Beef #1!!!!
What is your ideal burger?
In my opinion our Fresh Prime 8oz Burger with American Cheese on a Martins Potato Roll, Dill Pickle, doesn’t get any better. My other option would be either our Fresh Smash balls or Fresh Pucks.
Marino ravioli combines tradition with taste, featuring a variety of premium fillings encased in perfectly crafted pasta. Each bite delivers a rich, authentic flavor experience, making Marino ravioli a standout choice for elevating any menu.
Round Cheese Ravioli 1.1 oz
Ferraro# 4100205 | 6/12 ct
Round Lobster Ravioli 1.1 oz
Ferraro# 4100183 | 6/12 ct
Spinach and Cheese Ravioli Frozen
Ferraro# 4100208 | 72 ct
trends, inspire your menu and learn more about what we have to offer your business.
