As an inn or restaurant owner, the experience you create for guests is unique, separating you from all others. With choices to numerous to count, what you have to offer needs to rise above the ordinary in order to catch the eye, palate – and memory – of your guests.

Quite possibly, what helps make you stand out is a special dish (or two! or three!) that leaves guests awestruck. We’ve all been there… we’ve had that meal that tastes like heaven on earth; that meal that you find yourself craving in the middle of the week on a Wednesday afternoon. Now, if only we had the chef’s recipe, we could at least attempt to recreate the masterpiece in our own kitchen. However, more times than not, chef’s are hesitant to release such treasures into the hands of just anyone. It may seem counter-productive to offer up the exact secrets behind what makes you successful, but just think if you did on only a few items. How grateful would your guests be, being able to prepare what equates to a fond memory in their own kitchen?

While maintaining some illusion of secrecy in order to increase allure is sometimes important, it can be equally, if not more, beneficial to share small glimpses. By sharing a recipe or two, it can greatly help your audience relate to you and your business, while also conjuring up unforgettable moments at your place.  By allowing them to recreate a dish at home that they loved while staying or dining with you, it deepens the emotional connection they have with your business, leading them to think of that return trip they can make back to you. No one wants to be the place that’s visited once, eventually forgotten about. Sharing recipe’s almost guarantees that you will not fade into oblivion.

Inns or restaurants that want to take things one step further and aren’t worried about sharing that “secret sauce” may consider putting together a keepsake recipe book. Nowadays you can produce these yourself, branding it with your logo. Websites such as Blurb and Lulu offer services to help put together projects and books, which you could then sell off your website or even at your location. Not only do they get a neat souvenir, but they have something that they can put to use when they return home. What better reminder of you or simple aid is there to remind them to plan another trip to experience the “real thing”?

So go on, give them a taste of the good stuff; let ‘em remind themselves what they’re missing Photo Cred: cathy.fong