707 795-4489 ABOUT US PROMOTIONS & COUPONS EMPLOYMENT NEWS CONTACT US DISTRIBUTION STORAGE PRODUCT CATALOG SUPPLIERS ORDER ONLINE NOW News How Chili Combats Cold Weather November 24, 2021 The coldest months of the year are here, and the harsh weather has a significant impact on customer eating habits. Hot foods that warm the soul are in high demand this time of year. From hot sandwiches to hearty soups, there are a number of different menu items that bring value to customers looking for relief from the cold. Chili is one dish that can separate your restaurant from the competition this season. Chili is the ideal menu item for customers that are seeking a hot dish with tremendous flavors. The integral part of any chili recipe is the tomato sauce, as it is the base ingredient. However, the remaining ingredients largely depend on the recipe. Ground meat, such as beef or turkey, is typically added to bring protein to the dish. Excluding meat from your chili recipe is an easy way of adding a vegetarian option to the menu. A collection of different vegetables are often included to finish off the dish, such as onions, mushrooms, and peppers. The high versatility of chili, in addition to its terrific taste and warm temperature, provides tremendous value for restaurant operators this winter. The product catalog at Cotati Food Service contains all the necessary ingredients to create warm, delicious bowls of chili for your valued customers. We carry multiple brands of high-quality tomato products that serve as the crucial foundation for the dish. Our assortment of ground meat will help your restaurant create different types of chili on the menu. Lastly, we can supply your operation with a variety of beans and fresh produce to complete a mouth-watering bowl of steaming hot chili. Contact Cotati Food Service to learn more about our fresh solutions that will improve your seasonal menu! The Versatility of Potatoes November 17, 2021 Potatoes are one of the most prominent ingredients in the food industry. People all around the country enjoy potatoes in many forms. Potatoes are often served as hash browns, french fries, and tater tots. From breakfast to late night snacks, potatoes hold a significant place in the diets of many Americans. There are many different tastes and textures that potatoes can provide. Baked potatoes offer a buttery, smooth taste with a fluffy texture that melts in your mouth. It is a perfect side item for a chargrilled chicken breast or seasoned flank steak. The size and shape of French fries help to create a convenient, salty snack that has proven to be a traditional favorite to pair with burgers and sandwiches. Hash browns combine a crispy exterior texture with the soft, smooth taste of a potato to form an ideal side for any breakfast. Potatoes have the versatility to provide tremendous value for your menu. Cotati Food Service can supply potato products to improve the menu at your restaurant. These items will fill many different needs for your operation. The high-quality taste of our Russet potatoes can instantly create several “stars” on your menu, such as: Baked Potatoes Loaded Baked Potatoes Twice Baked Potatoes Our collection of potato products can also improve your breakfast and appetizer selection. We carry Hash Brown Patties that can bolster your breakfast to-go menu. Looking for a unique appetizer to help increase sales? Our Sweet Potato Tater Tots can be served with a variety of tasty dipping sauces and will help your restaurant generate more appetizer sales. Contact one of our sales representatives to learn more about how Cotati Food Service can supply your restaurant with the products to improve your menu! Flavorful Holiday Entrees with Cotati November 9, 2021 When people think of holidays, they think of food. While side dishes are important, the entrees are the star of the show. Luckily, there are many delicious entree options that can help create a wonderful holiday feast. Read on to learn about the most flavorful holiday entrees with Cotati! Related: Offer Savory Snacks for All TURKEY Obviously, turkey is the most important food served at Thanksgiving. Besides classic stuffed turkey, there are many ways one can dress up a turkey for Thanksgiving. You can dress up a turkey with smoked bacon, pomegranate molasses, or cornbread stuffing! CHICKEN A classic holiday entree! Balsamic cranberry or apple glazed chicken are great options for those looking to make their holiday chicken more festive. Other great options include chicken pot pie, buffalo chicken meatballs, lemon and herb-roasted chicken, or garlic-breaded chicken. SALMON Salmon is a great alternative holiday entree for those who don’t eat meat or are just looking for something different for their holiday entrees. You can make holiday salmon with a nice orange pomegranate glaze. Creating a holiday entree menu for your customers is a must during the holiday season. Contact Cotati Food Service today for help choosing the right foods for your holiday menu! Offer a Comforting Thanksgiving Experience November 2, 2021 Thanksgiving is one of the coziest holidays of the year! Everyone eats delicious food, curls up under warm blankets, & spends time with loved ones. Creating a flavorful & comforting Thanksgiving experience is important, as this is what most people have come to expect. How do you do it? It all has to do with choosing the right side dishes. Read on to learn more! Related: Provide an Exceptional Experience at Your Restaurant CORN: You can serve corn by itself with a heaping spoonful of butter, or you can try your hand at making cornbread or corn pudding. MASHED POTATOES: Mashed potatoes are always a crowd-pleaser on Thanksgiving! The key is to serve them with a generous portion of gravy. MAC & CHEESE: Macaroni & cheese is a classic side dish. The key is to bake & allow the layer of cheese on the top to form a crust. Add some breadcrumbs for an extra crunch! STUFFING: While stuffing makes a great side dish, many people also put it right in the turkey. You can check out Cotati Food Service to get the right ingredients to create a flavorful Thanksgiving menu. If you have any questions, contact us TODAY. Provide an Exceptional Experience at Your Restaurant October 26, 2021 Many consumers view eating out as more than a meal. It is an all-inclusive experience that is typically shared with family or friends. Restaurants that provide a memorable experience, along with superior food, will have positive customer satisfaction. A 2017 study from Deloitte displayed that a positive experience will encourage 60 percent of guests to be returning customers and dine again at the restaurant. Many customers will also pay more money for an improved experience. 67 percent of customers will pay more for a great experience, according to a Salesforce report. Here are three tips to improve the dining experience at your restaurant: Train Your Staff to be Engaging with Customers Cater to your customer’s personal preferences Read and take action on customer reviews These tips will improve the experience at your restaurant, encourage customers to return, and bolster dine-in sales. Contact Cotati Food Service to learn how our fresh products can help your restaurant! Offer Savory Snacks for All October 20, 2021 Are you looking for ways to help your customers sit back & enjoy a snack? According to Food Insight, snacking is on the rise. In a recent survey, 97% of respondents said they snack at some point during the week, & 24% of respondents said they snack multiple times per day. Read on to learn how to bring more snacks to your business! Related: Go Clean With These Vegetarian Dishes Make sure your business offers a variety of snacks. You should offer EVERYTHING from baked goods to appetizers to fresh fruits & vegetables. Choose a distribution center that can work well with you so you can get fresh snacks to your customers on time! Just as certain fashions go in & out of style, so too do certain types of snacks. For example, charcuterie boards are a very popular snack now, so make sure you offer plenty of cheeses & meats. With Cotati Food Service, it’s a guarantee to succeed! Contact us TODAY to learn more about our quality ingredients for your cooking needs. Warm Coffee PERFECT for Cold Weather October 13, 2021 People love hot drinks when it’s cold outside. A steaming hot cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate can help warm up the entire body & make cold weather bearable. Warm drinks are more popular during the cold weather months of fall & winter. Operators can offer specific hot beverages that will increase sales and capitalize on demand. There are SEVERAL different ways restaurants can serve hot coffee to customers. Almost every restaurant will have traditional black coffee & serve it with milk, half & half, or sugar. Operators can invest in an espresso machine to help stand out against their competitors. While some customers may enjoy straight shots of espresso, the real opportunity for restaurants is adding the option of a latte to the menu. The latte has become a customer favorite in recent years! The taste of rich espresso & texture of frothed milk have made it EXTREMELY popular. From a morning wakeup to an afternoon pick-me-up, lattes are ordered throughout the day. They can also fit a variety of different dietary demands! This largely depends on the type of milk used, ranging from whole milk to nonfat to almond. The versatility of the latte attracts customers with different eating preferences. The fresh solutions at Cotati Food Service can provide operators with the ingredients to add these drinks to the menu. We have Torani Pumpkin Spice Syrup in our product catalog, which quickly turns a standard latte into a seasonal delight. We also offer ground nutmeg, which is a vital finishing touch to any Eggnog Latte. Spice up your holiday menu & offer warm delights this season! Cotati Food Service has you covered with quality ingredients needed for success, contact us TODAY. Say CHEESE with Cotati October 5, 2021 Cheese is a fantastic addition to any dish. The wide variety of melting, salty, savory flavors can pump up the personality of ALL recipes. The United States generates a staggering six million metric tons of cheese every year. From tangy cheddar to soft brie, there are a thousand ways to blend them into your new menu! Cheese Varieties Cotati is well aware of the variety of cheeses you need to address your hungry consumer base. Our product catalog includes: Classic American Slices Jalapeno Cheddar Asiago Blue Cheese Crumble Brie Mild Cheddar Medium Cheddar Cambozola What sort of tasty recipes can you craft with cheese? Cheese Ravioli: Popular among both adults and children, cheese-based ravioli is a tasty dinner that’s easy to customize! You can pair the ravioli with different sauces or grilled greens for a balanced finish. Vegetarian Lasagna: Who says you have to be a meat lover to enjoy a good meal? Vegetarian lasagna has all the gooey goodness of the classic dish, with the meat swapped out for squash, zucchini, or veggie sausage. Top it off with layers of mozzarella or brie for a melt-in-your-mouth result! Grilled Cheese & Soup: Crispy grilled cheese with a hot bowl of soup is a comforting meal on a cold day. Go for classic mild cheddar or shake things up with Asiago. Related: 3 Types of Pasta to Add to Your Menu The autumn season is ripe for gooey, hot cheese-based dishes. Contact Cotati Food Service today to stock up on all your essential ingredients! Go Clean with these Vegetarian Dishes September 28, 2021 Consumers have been keeping track of where their products come from lately, and food is no exception. “Clean eating” is a trend that refers to eating whole, minimally processed foods, and it shows no signs of stopping. Here are some tasty vegetarian dishes that most customers would love to see on a menu. Surprisingly Healthy Vegetarian Recipes Vegetarian Lasagna This dish is loaded with whole grains and veggies and is the perfect lasagna alternative for vegetarian customers. Vegetarian Chili Everyone loves a good chili. This recipe is packed with healthy vegetables, beans, and practically screams “football season.” Roasted Vegetable & Feta Quinoa Bake It’s hard to go wrong when you combine vegetables, cheese, and a superfood like quinoa. This tasty dish is simple to make and gives vegetarians a delectable, exciting menu option! Related: Ways to Key Into the Plant-Forward Trend Black Bean Burger Every restaurant needs a killer veggie burger. Taco seasoning and guacamole give this burger a flavorful kick that is sure to garner rave reviews. Add some vegan cheese to kick it up a notch. Vegan Spaghetti Squash Alfredo Vegans, vegetarians, and meat-lovers alike will be shocked to learn that this dish contains ZERO cheese. Nutritional yeast is the secret to making this delightfully healthy recipe seem way more decadent than it is. Need to expand your vegetarian options? Cotati Food Service has you covered – check out our product catalog! Seafood Entrees for a Refreshing Fall Meal September 21, 2021 Fresh seafood is the perfect thing to add to your fall menu. If you’re looking for a new and exciting way to utilize seafood, we have everything you need to make your restaurant dish shine. Fresh seafood is a great way to please your customers and spice up the menu! Seafood entrees are refreshing for a fall meal because they have a light flavor mixed with traditional fall flavors, such as pumpkin or cinnamon. The best part about adding seafood to your fall menu is you can pair it with anything – from sweet potatoes to wild rice and still highlight the fresh seafood. Related: 3 Types of Pasta to Add to Your Menu Some perfect pairings are: Salmon and asparagus, paired with wild rice Scallops and pumpkin risotto, paired with a salad Tilapia and sweet potato hash Cod and zucchini pasta Crab cakes and a side salad Shrimp, scallop, or calamari sautéed with garlic and olive oil served on gnocchi Or even a mixed seafood platter! Any one of these dishes would be sure to please your guests. Seafood is a great way to bring your guests together for a happy fall meal. Breakfast can also be brought into the mix with seafood frittatas or quiche. You can have an entire meal that starts out with scallops on the menu without it being too overwhelming for ANYONE. Try Cotati Food Service TODAY for fresh, high-quality seafood. 123…21Next » Recent News How Chili Combats Cold Weather The Versatility of Potatoes Flavorful Holiday Entrees with Cotati Offer a Comforting Thanksgiving Experience Provide an Exceptional Experience at Your Restaurant 800 834-3447 | 707 795-4489 | info@cotatifoodservice.com Copyright 2021 Cotati Food Service