Outstanding Virtual Kentucky Bourbon Trail Dinner

AZUR just finished hosting our Virtual Kentucky Bourbon Trail Dinner to a packed dining room. This event was "SOLD OUT". Our special guests: Chris Morris and Eric Gregory entertained and educated our guests about bourbon and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The four courses of bourbon infused food were excellent by executive chef Jeremy Ashby. This one is going to be difficult to beat but we already have some ideas.

Restaurant Numbers Shrinking

The number of restaurants (chains and independents) decreased by 1% in the last year. Yes, they were victims of the economic downturn. Unfortunately, it is highly probable that this trend will continue. Take a moment to think about restaurants in your area because they are most likely struggling to survive right now and may not make it to better times. Many of them are small businesses and cannot compete with the marketing power of the large chains. Sometimes good food, hard work and passion just aren't enough.

Pass the Tepary Beans Please!

Earlier in the year, Tepary beans found their way to a 2009 Top Ten Food Trends list. Haven't tried Tepary beans? Well, if you like beans in general, then you'll love Tepary beans. They are native to the Southwestern United States and have been cultivated for 100s of years. The taste is a unique nutty taste as well as sweet and creamy. Tepary beans are prepared like pinto beans and can be used in a variety of dishes or eaten just by themselves. We know that AZUR foodies are adventurous so give them a try.

AZUR: One Half Thousand Strong and Growing

Just over a week ago, AZUR reported that the Facebook fan number had reached the 400 mark. Well, this week we have surpassed the one half thousand number and still rapidly climbing. We truly appreciate the AZUR fans and the support everyone has given us over the last five (5) years. While others have modified their offerings, we have remained true to our founding principles: fine cuisine, ambiance and professional service. We are continually amazed by the word-of-mouth campaign that you are responsible for and we sincerely thank you for all your kind words. Thank you so very much! AZUR restaurant & patio

Virtual Kentucky Bourbon Dinner

AZUR is always pleased when one of our Chef Series dinners is "SOLD OUT" because it means that we're offering something that our customers are interested in. This dinner is special to us because it represents a product that is specific to Kentucky and is unique.

Benefits of Dining Out

Recently a study was done to identify the advantages of dining out vs. eating at home. The following is the TOP NINE responses in order:
1) Don't have to clean up
2) More of a treat/reward
3) Someone else is cooking
4) Crave restaurant fare
5) Being served
6) Saves time
7) Cannot make at home
8) Socializing
9) More courses

Equipment Failure Preparedness

Although AZUR really doesn't like to think about the "what if the _________ fails", we have to be prepared to address it quickly. Tonight, several hours were spent configuring a spare computer in the event one of the workstations fail. This is just one example of how we prepare for the worse case scenario. In the past, we have had to deal with the point of sales (POS) server failing, the ice maker failing, the walkin cooler failing as well as many other equipment malfunctions. We must have backup plans to cover our operations so our guests' AZUR experiences are not affected. Actually, many of the incidents mentioned above have occurred during service but if handled promptly and correctly, no one in the dining room is aware. That is always our goal.