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October 9, 2012 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF Share | Sign up | Archive | Advertise On the Front Burner    Darden tests cutting hours to cope with health care changes Darden Restaurants has launched a test at a handful of locations in four markets to gauge the effects of limiting workers' hours in advance of health care reforms that will require companies to provide health insurance to anyone working at least 30 hours per week. "I think a lot of those employers, especially restaurants, are just going to ensure nobody gets scheduled more than 30 hours a week," Mercer human resources consultant Matthew Snook said. Orlando Sentinel (Fla.) (10/7)       GHIRARDELLI® — Premium Mochas, Frappes and Hot Chocolate. A full line of specialty coffee products designed to grow your business. Our barista experts can help you craft recipes, promotions and increase sales. Learn more at www.ghirardelli.com/foodservice. Restaurant News    Soft drink firms, ABA to bring calorie counts to vending machines Major soft drink companies are partnering with the American Beverage Association on a program to bring more low-calorie beverages, calorie counts and display messages encouraging lower-calorie choices to vending machines next year. The program will start in municipal buildings in Chicago and San Antonio, Texas, before spreading across the country, and it will involve companies such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi America Beverages, Dr Pepper Snapple Beverage Concentrates and Latin American Beverages. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (10/8)       Price Chopper to move further into foodservice Grocery chain Price Chopper plans to create a concept store in Latham, N.Y., that will boast 16 quickservice dining concepts including a deli, Mexican restaurant and pizzeria surrounded by seating for 140 guests. The store will also feature a cooking school and an on-site garden. Supermarket News (10/8)       Investment firm takes stake in Tin Drum Atlanta's 10-unit Tin Drum Asiacafe chain has attracted the attention of investment firm BIP Opportunities Fund, which bought a minority interest in the company for an undisclosed amount. The chain plans to use the investment to speed expansion through both franchising and opening new corporate stores, founder and CEO Steven Chan said. FastCasual.com (10/8), The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (10/5)       Other News Subway teams with farmers to feed eggs to the hungry QSRWeb.com (10/8)       Firehouse Subs plans 42 Wisconsin units American City Business Journals/Table Talk blog/Milwaukee (10/8)       Layer on the flavor with Ricotta from Sorrento.® Subtle, savory Ricotta is the essence of all things Italian. That's why chefs choose the truly Italian Sorrento® brand. Its rich and creamy texture is steeped in the old world tradition. So you achieve consistent results in your signature entrées,desserts and more. For distinctive recipes, click here. Your Take  Does your restaurant have gadgets available for diners to use? Yes No, but we plan to offer them in the future No, and we do not have plans to offer them Leading Voices  October brings value to vegetarian dining October is Vegetarian Awareness Month, and this year advocates are dangling the promise of cash and prizes in addition to the promise of better health for diners. The North American Vegetarian Society will hold a drawing for prizes up to $1,000 for omnivores who eschew meat for the month, and the Philadelphia Daily News will award a vegan dinner for two to the reader who sends in the most photos of restaurants that have the "V" word in the window. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Food & Beverage (10/9)         Legal Sea Foods ties politics to the plate Boston-based restaurant chain Legal Sea Foods has tied the debut of two new menu items to the presidential election. The chain will count each order of the macadamia-coconut crusted mahi-mahi as a "blue plate" vote for Obama and each order of the “red plate” dish featuring pan-seared cod as a nod to Romney. American City Business Journals/The Bottom Line blog/Boston (10/8)       Starbucks preps big push for Verismo single-serve machine BBDO and Blast Radius are preparing a holiday blitz for Starbucks' Verismo -- one of the coffee chain's biggest single campaigns. Touted as the only triple-threat single-serve coffee maker on the market -- making espresso, coffee and lattes with special milk pods -- the campaign for Verismo is expected to exceed the $25 million spent on the chain's 2009 introduction of Via. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (10/8)       A Virginia McDonald's tests iPads in the dining room A single McDonald's restaurant in Hampton Roads, Va., added iPads on four tables that customers can use for free while they dine. About 20 European McDonald's units already boast the gadgets, but franchisee Hugh Fard's new Virginia store is the first in the U.S. to test them. The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk) (10/7)       Culinary Spotlight  Ruth's Chris reaches out to the entrepreneurial woman Ruth's Chris Steak House is trying to beef up its appeal among women by partnering with Marie Claire on a series on entrepreneurship, as well as advertising in Marie Claire@Work. The chain has also tweaked its menu to offer a wider variety of drinks and smaller, sharing plates. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (10/8)       Movers & Shakers  Famous Dave's taps online retail executive for CEO post CNBC/The Associated Press (10/8)       Food for Thought  When I use my strength in the service of my vision it makes no difference whether or not I am afraid." --Audre Lord, Caribbean-American writer, poet, librarian and activist       Position Title Company Name Location Cook II (Line Cook/Prep) Wegmans Food Markets NEXT DOOR BAR & GRILL,3220 Monroe Ave,Rochester, NY Server Assistant:Full-Time Wegmans Food Markets NEXT DOOR BAR & GRILL,3220 Monroe Ave,Rochester,NY, NY Advanced Cook/Lead Cook Wegmans Food Markets NEXT DOOR BAR & GRILL,3220 Monroe Ave,Rochester,, NY Click here to view more job listings. Restaurant SmartBrief Partners SmartBrief delivers need-to-know news in over 100 targeted email newsletters to over 3 million readers. All our industry briefings are FREE and open to everyone—sign up today! 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