When consumers treat themselves, they tend to splurge on food.1 And splurging includes adding an appetizer to the order! So, we know that you need some great appetizers on the menu that will encourage your customers to splurge, but there are so many choices! How do you know if you're featuring the right appetizers on yours?
Well, according to popularity of appetizers at McCain Foodservice, the top five appetizer types to have on your menu in the Midwest are:
- Cheese
- Onions
- Vegetables
- Peppers
- International-Style
But...wait! How can we go above and beyond a basket of cheese curds or a plate of onion rings? Well...here are some unique ideas from McCain to get you thinking about how to uniquely get these items on your menu!
- Chili Lime Cheese Curds featuring Anchor Breaded Wisconsin Cheese Curds
Wisconsin Cheddar curds tossed with chili seasoning with fresh lime and cilantro aioli. - The Pig Pen featuring Moore's Battered Onion Twiggs/Straws
A tangle of crispy onion straws topped with tender pulled pork, crumbled bacon, sliced jalapeños and tomatoes all drizzled with creamy cheddar cheese sauce and BBQ mayo. - Cajun Cauliflower Wings featuring Anchor Battered Cauliflower
Crispy "vegetarian wings" seasoned with Cajun spices and served with a spicy remoulade dipping sauce. - Crab Rangoon Poppers featuring Anchor Poppers Cream Cheese Breaded Stuffed Jalapeños
Crispy breaded cream-cheese-stuffed jalapeño poppers drizzled with warm sweet pepper jelly and served with crab rangoon dip. - Global Cheese Bite Flight featuring Anchor Breaded Cheddar Cubes
Crispy cheddar cheese curds served with a trio of globally-inspired sauces.
And don't forget to make sure that your servers are not only trained on asking every table if they'd like to order an appetizer but also that they can highlight some of your restaurant's signature appetizer options. It's even a good idea to have new servers try all of your appetizers so they can honestly suggest their favorites to customers.
Looking for more ideas? Click here for some great international-style ideas from Schwan's Foodservice!
1. McKinsey ConsumerWise Global Sentiment Data, August 2023, US n=4000
