AI is everywhere — yes, even in the dining industry!
At Parkhurst Dining, we approach AI with the goal to enhance innovation without replacing the human touch. After all, people are still our most valuable resource.
One of the ways we utilize AI is through menu ideation.
“We personalize the menus to what makes the most sense for our guests, clients, and our teams,” says Tim Fetter, Project Lead – Culinary Innovations and Standards. “AI helps us come up with very dialed-in ideas we can reference during the planning stages. The great thing is that what used to take hours or days of research for a specific event or menu can be cut down to a few minutes. It’s just another tool in the toolbox that helps free up time to focus on other ways we can create a smile.”
Hannah Dillon, Catering Manager at Chatham University, uses AI for a multitude of tasks that helps spark ideas and simplify processes, including:
- Crafting emails
- Creating custom menus based on client requests
- Restructuring or developing new menus based on old menus
- Coming up with team member engagement ideas based on demographics
- Ideating over mocktail name ideas from lists of ingredients, school names, and themed events
- Pairing drinks and desserts based on their flavor profiles
- Devising topping ideas for build you own bars and menus based on local produce
- Minimizing waste by creating menus based on ingredients that need to be used before expiration.
“AI hasn’t replaced my expertise,” says Dillon. “It’s amplified it! By simplifying daily tasks like menus and emails, I can focus on what matters most: crafting unique, memorable experiences for every guest.”
Unlike the one-size-fits-all solutions often associated with AI-driven approaches, we value customization and individuality. By taking the time to know our guests, their needs, and how AI can help them, we can use this tool to effectively create menus that are as diverse as the communities we serve. This personalized approach ensures that each dish reflects local tastes, dietary preferences, and wellness goals, making every meal meaningful and memorable.
While AI may excel at analyzing trends and synthesizing research, human connection is necessary in understanding and implementing this data. We look forward to continuing to use AI to be a better partner in our future!
