Menu Development as a System: Driving ROI Beyond Food Cost

August 23, 2026
Educational Theater 1001
Menu development is often treated as creative, but it is a structured system. This session explores how cohesion, cross-utilization, and menu engineering;similar to a fashion collection—drive profitability, while introducing how recipes themselves can be leveraged as assets through licensing, standardization, and scalable menu design beyond traditional food cost metrics. 1. Understand menu development as a system, not a list of recipes Learn how cohesion and structure impact operational flow and overall performance. 2. Identify workhorse and high-performing items within a menu Understand how different dishes contribute to volume, stability, and profitability. 3. Apply cross-utilization strategies to improve efficiency and reduce waste Learn how shared ingredients support consistency, prep efficiency, and cost control. 4. Evaluate menu performance beyond food cost percentage Gain a framework for analyzing how menus function operationally and financially."
Speakers
Larien Clark
Larien Clark, Food & Beverage Consultant - LARIEN