Side Dishes
Food and Mirth
There is a distinction between side dishes and accompaniments. Sides are generally priced individually (a la carte) and accompaniments are a component in a meal and accompany a meat and an other veggie or carbo.
Almost half (45%) of sides / accompaniments are carbos including potatoes, rice or beans. The remainder are divided between veggies (29%) and salads (26%).
Veggies, carbos and salads are served primarily as accompaniments to center of the plate entrees (70% of the time) compared to side dishes (30%).
Side Dishes and Accompaniments
|
Types |
Side Dish |
Accompaniment |
Total |
|
Carbos
|
37%
|
49%
|
45%
|
|
Veggies
|
35%
|
27%
|
29%
|
|
Salads
|
28%
|
24%
|
26%
|
|
Total:
|
100%
|
100%
|
100%
|
|
Menu Item Base:
|
3299
|
7762
|
11060
|
|
|
30%
|
70%
|
|
Side Dishes have a
deep association with country and
down home.
They are typical American fare. In fact,
over half (54%) may be classified as
American-Traditional cuisine. Other leading
cuisines for side dishes are Italian (10%),
Southern (7%), Mexican/Tex-Mex (5%) and
Southwestern (3%).. Side dishes rarely include
a meat.
Signature Sides at Top Chains---generally consist of a carbo with a sauce or cheese topping or a veggie with lots of seasoning and flavor enhancers.
| Claim Jumper---Fresh baked Idaho potato stuffed with skillet blackened and fresh vegetables, topped with fresh herbs and assorted cheeses. |
| Cracker Barrel---Hash Brown Casserole---w/ fresh chopped onion, natural Colby cheese |
| Don Pablos---Charro Beans---pintos w/ spices, tomatoes and onions |
| Hooter's---Jalapeno Chili Cheese Fries---Curly French Fries with jalapeno cheese sauce |
| Fuddruckers---Texas BBQ Baked Beans |
| Buca di Beppo---Garlic Mashed Potatoes---creamy, served with Garlic and Butter |
| J. Alexanders---Tequila Beans Marinated |
| Ruby Tuesday---Spinach Con Queso---creamy cheese, spinach & sun dried tomatoes and tortilla chips |
| Le Madeleine---Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes |
| Buca di Beppo---Escarole and Cannellini beans sauteed and topped with hearty tomato sauce |
| Baja Fresh Mexican Grill---Cebolitas---seasoned, fire roasted green onions |
| Semolina---Garlic Cheese Bread---whole loaf brushed w/garlic butter---provolone and cheddar |
| Chi-Chi's---Margarita Rings-Cuervo Style---large rings flavored with Cuervo Tequila, piled high in a margarita glass with fresh lime and dipping sauce |
| Waffle House---Hashbrowns topped with Jalapeno Peppers |
| Frontera Grill---Arroz a la Yucateca---Mexican rice flavored with achiote, studded with vegetables |
| P.F. Chang's China Bistro---Spinach Stir Fried with Garlic |
| Backyard Burgers---Baked Potato w/Chili & Cheese---cheddar, green onions, sour cream |
| Daily Grill---Potatoes Au Gratin---sliced and baked with cheese sauc |
Menumine Price Trends: Side Dishes
QSR Chains |
2003 |
1997 |
Annual Change |
|
QSR Chains
|
$1.59
|
$1.39
|
+2.3%
|
|
Midscale Chains
|
$1.59
|
$1.29
|
+3.8%
|
|
Casual Chains
|
$2.59
|
$1.95
|
+5.
|
Note: median prices
Source: FSRI MenuBook™
Sides in QSR and Midscale are now at parity with an average menu price of $1.59 (see table above). On an average annual basis, the median price of side dishes is going up at a rate of 2% to 6% per year depending on the sector. (see table above)
Side Dishes are seasoned mainly
with Garlic or Butter or
something hot and spicy!
Seasonings Used on Side Dishes |
|
|
Garlic
|
Butter & Salt
|
|
Mexican Spices
|
Ginger
|
|
Italian Spices
|
Seasoned Lightly
|
|
Butter
|
Southwest Spices
|
|
Cajun Seasonings
|
Onion
|
|
Chili Pepper
|
Horseradish
|
|
Garic & Butter
|
Rosemary
|
|
Cilantro
|
Chives
|
|
Cinnamon
|
Hot & Spicy
|
10 Billion Pounds of Potatoes
According to Brand Equity Share Trends™, the BEST Report™, foodservice operators are purchasing over 10 billion pounds annually of carbos--- with about 85% of total tonnage accounted for by potatoes, 8% by pasta and 7% by rice. (beans and bread are not counted in the above distribution)
Cheese sauce, a key ingredient in side dishes, tops out at over 50 million gallons annually, of which 25% is used in non-commercial venues such as schools, colleges, business & industry and healthcare. The remainder (75%) is used in chain and independent restaurants and in hotel dining.
Cheddar and Parmesan are the leading cheeses used on Side Dishes.
Cheese |
Menu Share |
| Cheddar | 47% |
| Parmesan | 15% |
| Mozzarella | 11% |
| Monterey Jack |
8% |
| Provolone | 5% |
| Colby | 3% |
| Others | 11% |
Chili Sauce, Hollandaise Sauce and Cream Sauce are the preferred sauces used by restaurants on side dishes.
Sauce |
Menu Share |
| Chili Sauce | 16% |
| Hollandaise Sauce | 13% |
| Cream Sauce | 11% |
| Marinara Sauce |
10% |
| Tomato Sauce |
9% |
| Garlic Butter Sauce |
8% |
| Gravy | 8% |
| Olive Oil |
&% |
| Butter Sauce |
7% |
| BBQ Sauce |
5% |
| Others | 6% |
Side Dishes may vary greatly from Cuisine to Cuisine. Bread side dishes are the leader in both Italian and Southern Cuisines.
Leading American Sides
|
Leading Italian Sides
|
Leading Southern Sides
|
| French Fries-----18% | Garlic Bread-----24% | Biscuits-----16% |
| Onion Rings-----10% | Breadsticks-----16% | Corn Bread-----9% |
| Baked Potato-----10% | Garlic Cheese Bread-----9% | Red Beans & Rice-----7% |
| Mashed Potatoes-----10% | Garlic Breadsticks-----3% | Baked Beans-----7% |
| Cole Slaw-----7% | Italian Sausage Side Dish-----3% | Sweet Potatoes-----7% |
| Sauteed Mushrooms-----4% | Spinach-----3% | Hash Brown Potatoes-----6% |
| Cheese Fries-----3% | Baked Pasta Side-----3% | Pinto Beans-----6% |
| Macaroni & Cheese-----3% | Garlic Toast-----3% | Greens-----5% |
| Green Beans-----3% | Baked Roasted Eggplant-----3% | Black Beans & Rice----5% |
| Grilled Onions-----3% | Garlic Mashed Potatoes-----2% | Hush Puppies-----3% |
| Broccoli-----2% | Fried Zucchini-----2% | Fried Okra-----3% |
| Corn Side Dish-----2% | Meatball Side Dish-----2% | Chili Fries-----3% |
| Corn on the Cob-----2% | Spinach & Garlic Side-----2% | Dressing/Stuffing-----2% |
| Creamed Spinach-----2% | Roasted Veggies-----2% | Black Eyed Peas-----2% |
| Cottage Cheese-----2% | Broccoli-----2% | Baked Potato w/Chili & Cheese-----2% |
| Apple Sauce-----2% | Artichokes-----2% | Corn Fritters-----2% |
| Hash Browns-----2% | Rissoto-----2% | Turnip Greens w/Ham Hocks-----1% |
| Spinach Side Dish-----2% | Escarole-----2% | Creamed Corn-----1% |
| Garlic Mashed Potatoes-----1% | Green Beans-----2% | Brown Rice-----1% |
| Others----- 12% | Others-----13% | Others-----12% |
| Total: 100% | Total: 100% | Total: 100% |
| Base: 1530 American Cuisine Sides |
Base: 284 Italian Sides |
Base: 187 Southern Sides |
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