Menu Concepts & Diner Insights
Explore ideas for building exciting menus around beef.
beef in the spotlight
Get cutting-edge intel on menu planning, customer preferences, operations and more.
Inspiring Ideas: Beef Makes Every Menu Better
There’s no shortage of options for getting more beef on your menu, from appetizers to mains to seasonal specialties.
bbq beef cut guide
Beef cuts for barbecue go far beyond just brisket. There is a wide variety of beef cuts that can be utilized on the grill or in the smoker. No matter the budget, or application, this guide will help you find the perfect cut to enhance the BBQ eating experience.
Fajita Cut guide
Explore the range of versatile cuts to create delicious beef fajitas! Fajitas reign as a beloved favorite dish in restaurants and home kitchens. The flavorful beef strips can be crafted from an array of traditional and lesser-known cuts.
LEAN BEEF AS PART OF A HEALTHY MENU
Check out this inspiration sheet for lean beef nutritional information and some inspirational menu concepts you can bring into your own kitchen.
CORNED BEEF MENU INSPIRATION
While most consider Corned Beef synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day, this versatile cut of Beef Brisket offers a variety of unique and delicious menu inspirations that can be featured year-round.
SIRLOIN BAVETTE MENU INSPIRATION
This boneless cut comes from the Sirloin primal and is similar to Skirt and Flank Steaks. While commonly used as fajita strips, the Sirloin Bavette provides chefs with a canvas for creative and innovative menu ideas.
beef and alcohol menu pairing
Looking for ways to maximize both beef and alcohol sales? Check out these creative menu applications that are likely to resonate with your customer base.
Asian beef trends
Flavors from Korea, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines are influencing beef dishes across the country. These cuisines can stand on their own or be fused together, evidenced by the French-Vietnamese, Pacific-Rim and Pan-Asian fare trending on menus today.
ribeye cap menu inspiration
Removed from the outside of the Ribeye, the Ribeye Cap — aka Spinalis — offers a tender, flavorful cut of beef which can be used in a variety of menu applications. Introduce your diners to a meal they won’t soon forget.
SHOULDER PETITE TENDER MENU INSPIRATION
Don’t let this little cut from the Chuck primal fool you — the Shoulder Petite Tender is loaded with flavor and makes a great addition to any menu and is well suited to a variety of applications, from appetizers to entrees.
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diner and operator data
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THE BEEF BURGER: HOW TO DESCRIBE THIS MENU STAPLE
There are many kinds of crave worthy foods. From foods that are sweet and salty to savory, there is one crave-able item that sure gets consumers talking. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, recently conducted research on consumer preferences for burgers when dining out. Consumers’ own words highlight just how enticing burgers are for them.
STEAK: WHAT CONSUMERS KNOW AND WANT
Steaks are top of mind for consumers, in fact, 48% of consumers eat a steak on a weekly basis, according to research recently conducted by National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff. The research determined how consumers define a quality steak, what factors are most important to them, and what cuts, cook, toppings, and more, consumers prefer most to help drive consumer steak satisfaction in your operation. .
BEEF’S SUSTAINABILITY: BEEF’S ROLE IN A RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEM
The path to sustainability is never complete. Rather, it is a continuous journey being carried out by the farmers and ranchers responsible for raising and supplying beef to the U.S. and across the world. To the beef community, sustainability comprises much more than environmental considerations. Today, a sustainable food supply balances efficient production with environmental, social and economic impacts.
LOVE BEEF TENDER: HOW AGING AFFECTS BEEF’S TENDERNESS
Tenderness is one of the biggest influencers of consumer approval of beef. Since most consumers can differentiate between tough and tender beef, improving tenderness is a high priority for the beef industry. One of the best methods to do this is by aging beef.
SUSTAINABILITY AND YOUR BOTTOM LINE: HOW BEEF PLAYS A ROLE
Restaurant foodservice operators know sustainability is more than just a buzz word… it impacts an operation’s bottom line and restaurants’ sustainability efforts factor into about half of diners’ decisions on where to dine.
BEEF QUALITY ASSURANCE: RAISING BEEF THE RIGHT WAY
PROMOTING BEEF ON POSTMATES
To gauge effective strategies for reaching consumers, we partnered with Postmates to determine which common beef-related keywords would affect consumer behavior when boosted within the platform’s search feature.