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Top 6 Features That Help You Spot A Top-Notch Restaurant

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Most people these days dine out because they enjoy the entire dining experience provided by the restaurants as well as the convenience of having a meal prepared by others. Also, the opportunity to relax and enjoy a great meal in good company is something that most modern working men and women love. Some restaurants are more successful than others are, and they attract more customers. Customers who get the experience they are looking for are likely to make return visits. If you are a food lover, here are features or qualities that are common in successful restaurants that you should certainly look out for.

Great Ambience

The atmosphere of a restaurant has a huge effect on the entire dining experience and it can make or break the business. The best food in the world will not keep customers coming back if they do not enjoy the atmosphere. Any professional restaurateur knows that a huge investment will be required to achieve success in the business.

The ambiance is created through the restaurant décor, the comfort, the background music, the lighting and other factors. Getting all factors right will achieve the required atmosphere and will go a long way in attracting customers.

Good Food

When people decide to order dishes in a restaurant, they are fully expecting to enjoy the meal. No one wants to spend money on a meal that leaves him or her feeling cheated of their money. Without good food, a restaurant might as well close its doors. The foundation of any great restaurant is the food and many businesses will go out of their way to hire the best chefs they can afford.

People go to the restaurants looking for culinary experiences ranging from exciting flavors, interesting new fusion dishes, authentic dishes and groundbreaking innovations among others. Even the food presentation can offer an experience to look forward to. It is very important to maintain consistency so that customers know that they will get great food every time they visit.

Excellent Service

Another key quality of a successful restaurant is great service. Good food served with a bad attitude can never go down well! Restaurant patrons fully expect to pay for full service and that includes the food and how it is served. Hiring rude unprofessional staff is the quickest way to get rid of customers.

Some of the things that put off customers include slow service, rude staff, hovering staff and getting the wrong meal. Excellent service is characterized by prompt responses and flawless efficient presentation from staff that are barely visible.

Hygiene and Cleanliness

Maintaining high Cleanliness standards is essential in the restaurant business and it helps to create a good impression. Patrons want to feel that they are eating healthy food and the condition of the restaurant will affect their dining experience.

Restaurant management and owners have to ensure that they avoid anything that could negatively affect the health of the customers. All the areas of the restaurant must be kept clean, from the kitchen and the rest rooms, to the main restaurant area. The cleanliness should also extend to the employees. No one wants to be waited upon by someone who is in dire need of a bath!

Good Management

A restaurant can only be successful if the management is good. An experienced owner and highly qualified staff will help to ensure that guests get the best service. Good management will ensure that all patrons get efficient service every time they are in the restaurant. It also helps to ensure that everything about the business, from staffing, to menu selection and marketing, is running efficiently to ensure profitability.

Reasonable Prices

The success of a restaurant will also be determined by the price of the food. People expect to get what they are paying for. If the prices are high, the patrons will expect great service and exquisite food to match the cost. If the prices are too high, it can discourage returning customers because there is a limit to how much people will spend on food. On the other hand, considerably low prices will give the impression of low quality and it makes many patrons suspicious. Good restaurants have learnt the art of setting a balance between the service they provide and what they charge for it.

Also, another feature of great exotic restaurants is the ability to provide something different, people are constantly on the lookout for different experiences and restaurants that stand out from the rest tend to be quite popular. A good restaurant will adhere to all legal requirements including health and tax regulations too. Have you found your favorite restaurant yet?

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The author of this post, Neena James, works for a prominent Indian restaurant in Brick Lane. She thinks one of the best things about working at a restaurant is that she gets to interact with many people on a daily basis.

Measures To Prevent Masonry Chimney From Deteriorating

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A masonry chimney, whether it is crafted from bricks, natural fieldstones or concrete blocks, easily lends a rustic charm to any home. Beyond the aesthetic value it can give, however, it also effectively carries smoke or gases to the outside of the structure without causing damage to the structure it is attached to.

Although masonry chimney is inherently durable, frequent exposure to the effects of changing weather conditions can make it susceptible against different types of damages. As the chimney masonry itself is being heated by hot gases coming from the fire and then exposed to cold, wet temperatures outdoors, it experiences repetitive expansion and contraction, which in turn creates a lot of unnecessary movements to the masonry materials. Over time, such movements can cause the masonry materials and mortar joints to crack and crumble, resulting to the chimney’s early deterioration.

If you own a masonry chimney, of course, you want to ensure that you will be able to enjoy its service for a long time. To achieve that it is necessary to protect it against possible physical damages that can lead to its early deterioration. Here are some preventive measures you can follow to prevent your masonry chimney from failing.

Pay attention to the crown

 

As the crown or roof of your chimney is the main part that is always exposed to the elements outdoors, it should remain stable at all times. Make sure that the correct materials are used in making the crown of your chimney. It should also have the right design so that it will function correctly. If you find that the crown or a portion of it has cracked or deteriorated, carefully assess its condition and make the necessary repair to address the issue at hand. Where repair is not practical, it is a good idea to remove the crown completely and replace it with a new one.

Immediately repoint eroded mortar joints

 

As with any other masonry surfaces, the mortar joints of your masonry chimney may deteriorate due to constant exposure to freeze-thaw cycles. If let in such state, damaged masonry joints may allow moisture to penetrate through the mortar, which in turn can alter its structural integrity. To avoid that from happening, make sure to include repointing as a part of your chimney’s regular maintenance. However, rather than doing the repointing job on your own, it is best to hire a licensed stonemason to get the job done. This will ensure that the new mortar mix is compatible with your chimney’s masonry and it will be applied correctly into the joints.

Apply water-repellant coating

 

Due to the severe weather exposure that your masonry chimney is subjected to, it is a good idea that you give it an additional layer of protection in the form of water-repellant coating. This type of coating, which is applied on the “skin” of the masonry, will prevent water and salt penetration. Take not, however, that water-repellant coating should only be used after all the necessary repairs have been made on your chimney. If you apply it before doing repairs, the water-repellant coating will only hasten your chimney’s deterioration.

Have it inspected regularly

 

Of course, do not forget to have your chimney regularly inspected by a qualified stonemason. This step is crucial to determining the state of your chimney and will also allow you to immediately address issues before they become worse. As a rule of thumb, masonry chimneys should be inspected at least once or twice a year.

Ericka, who wrote the article above, is a freelance writer who has written a number of posts about stonemasonry. She also regularly writes content for McIntyre Masonry, a professional stonemason Glasgow company.






Leather Bags For Men

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Purses  and leather bags are extremely convenient. They hold all the things a person might need. A modern-day survival kit, purses seem to contain the things we need when we need them. Does your kid have a runny nose? Not to worry, there are tissues stashed in the life-saving bag. Did you forget to deliver your project to the boss on time? Pull your laptop out of your bag and get to typing! Are you about to ruin a wedding with your bridesmaid’s dress, which somehow got covered in cat hair? Grab the lint roller from your purse and you’re in business again. Purses are a girl’s best friend. The day-saving potential of a purse is out of this world, so why should women get to have all the fun?

Why It’s a Must for Men

These days, designers are coming up with some handsome leather bags just for men. They’re sturdy, rugged, and masculine; they reflect everything a man wants to be and they’re becoming more socially acceptable to carry. From the Indiana Jones-inspired leather shoulder satchel to the studious and trendy messenger bag, there is a style for every guy. Leather bags for men are quite attractive; they give off a vibe that says, “I know how to be prepared at all times and look good doing it.”

But what would a guy stuff his leather bag with? Even the simplest of men can make use of a bag. The following list will show you just some of the items that you’ll be able to take along with you by using a man-purse:

-wallet
-keys
-snacks
-mp3 player
-cellular phone
-laptop
-emergency clothing (boxers, t-shirt)
-gum and mints
-cologne
-hair product
-moist towels for hands
-hand sanitizer
-lip balm

Online stores have featured various styles and cuts of leather bags for men. It’s no longer a surprise to see lots of designs and variations of laptop bags, satchels, messenger, wash bags, doctor’s bag and a lot more. With a few clicks, anyone can easily choose which among these displays suits him best.

When you check displays online, make sure you have that list on your mind. With so many choices displayed, you might find yourself overwhelmed. Since men are keen on buying what they need, there’s really no reason to go beyond. First, look for the type of bag that you really need. If it’s a working bag, then  the leather type is the most advisable thing to purchase. Functionality comes next. When you wish to carry a bag that isn’t too bulky, then medium sizes can be chosen. It is equally important to choose an authentic leather for more lasting use.

For men on the go, it is just fitting to choose a reliable and sturdy leather bag. As you can see, you can pretty much carry your life in a bag. Women have been doing it for years, so it’s high time that men wear them as well. They’re the most functional and classic accessory, so grab a leather bag today, boys. It’ll change your life.

The writer, Danielle Smith, loves to blog about leather bags, clothing and accessories. Read more about her interesting finds in sbuckinghams.com

How To Get Into Great Shape For Your Wedding (Men)

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Getting married is a stressful enough event in terms of the logistics of planning and the sheer amount of money you’ll be spending. Although you’ll no doubt enjoy the day and it’s of course a very happy occasion, that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a big deal and something you’re going to want to get right first time.

Trading My Pocket Protector for My Pocket Square

To make matters worse though, getting married also necessarily means being put up on a pedestal and gawked at by hundreds of guests like a fish in a fishbowl. You’ll going to be very much on ceremony here, and everyone in attendance is going to be expecting you to look your very best. If you’re feeling and looking a little rough around the edges – perhaps with something of a beer belly going on – then this can be frightening enough in itself.

Fortunately, there are certain things you can do to make sure you look the part on your big day. Here we will look at how you can get into perfect shape for the ceremony so that you fill out your suit like Daniel Craig.

Weight Loss

Lose weight now

If you’re trying to look awesome in a suit, then weight loss is of course one of the first priorities to make sure that you don’t look like a sack of potatoes. Weight loss is particularly important around the belly where it can make you look a tad ridiculous, but note that you can’t ‘target’ fat loss. All you can do is train to burn calories and then hope that it comes off in the right order.

The best way to burn calories fast is with something called ‘interval training’. Essentially, this is training where you will hit it hard for a few minutes, and then go more slowly again for a short period afterwards. In other words, try running as fast as you can on the treadmill for two minutes, then jogging slowly for five afterwards. This will help put your body in an anaerobic fat burning state, and will result in the production of more growth hormone (that causes you to build muscle even when you’re not moving). Use this kind of interval training for half an hour to forty minutes, three to four times a week, and you’ll see impressive changes in a short amount of time.

Muscle Development

Next you want to build some muscle and if you’re trying to look good in a suit then that should mean building very specific muscle that will help you to fill it out. In particular you should be aiming to broaden your shoulders (use lateral raises) and to puff out your chest (use the bench press). This will help you to strike a heroic figure in your suit and make sure it’s tight in all the right places and loose where you want it to be at the same time.

Again, there is a secret to getting fast results which is to keep your training as intense as possible. Hit the gym hard and fast and leave yourself only a short period of time for recovery between repetitions. Once you’re finished, you’ll hardly be able to climb out of your wedding limousine.

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Alice Robins, the author of this post, is an ardent blogger and she enjoys writing on a wide range of topics that interest her. She works for a leading limousine service company by day.

Buying Groceries In Bulk For Convenience And Cost Saving

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How often do you go to the grocery store? How much are you spending per trip? If you’re not planning your grocery bills, you could be wasting hundreds of pounds a month. Do you know off the top of your head how much food your family eats? If not, keeping track of it and starting to buy in bulk might be a great way for you to save on both money and time. With a bit of planning at the start of every week, you could be taking advantage of supermarket promotions.

How?

When you buy in bulk you usually get a bulk discount. This is the most obvious benefit of buying large amounts of food. The downside, of course, is that you’re stuck with more food than you can eat all at once. Before you start buying in bulk, make room. Do you have any empty cupboards or extra room in the pent shed? Anywhere is fine as long as it’s out of sight. Make a list of things your family eats on a fairly regular basis, these are the things you should be looking out for when you buy in bulk. Then, start scouring the internet for coupons and good promotions for multiple items. Remember that you may need to ask for some extra muscle to help you load up the car.

What?

Choose foods that will last indefinitely or almost indefinitely. Canned and dry foods are the best choices. Canned food has been known to last over a decade if kept properly, but are difficult to store and can get rather expensive. Dry foods such as beans, rice, and pasta can last a long time if properly stored and are amongst the cheapest, most nutritious foods. A store of canned and dry foods can be a lifesaver in an emergency as well.

What about perishables?

Fruits and vegetables are the most delicious fresh, so avoid them in bulk unless they are frozen. As an exception, root vegetables like potatoes tend to keep longer and can be stored in a pent shed or other dark places. Buying meat in bulk, though, is a great idea. As long as you have Ziploc bags and a permanent marker, meat is effortlessly stored in your freezer. Divide up a large package of meat from the supermarket into serving size bags and date them. Use them in order, before they spoil, and you’ll have saved however much buying the big pack saves you.

Overall, buying in bulk saves you both time and money. Planning a meal schedule might seem too time-consuming, but spending the extra time driving to and from the grocery store most likely takes up even more time. It’s nice to be able to walk to the pent shed and find enough food to cook an entire meal for your family on a snowy day. Not having to shop for groceries all the time also frees you up to try different recipes and improve your cooking so you don’t have to order in again.

Jamie Finch finds that buying in bulk can help him save a lot of money while also being very convenient. He uses his pent sheds from I like sheds to keep his freezer in which he stores a lot of his food.

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