Peter Romeo

Herman Cain still has a chance of becoming the Republican Party's candidate in the 2012 presidential race, the campaign dropout argued in a speech opening the Restaurant Leadership Conference.

Frustration with the federal government bubbled over during a session of the Restaurant Leadership Conference, with attendees angrily complaining to the chairman of the National Restaurant Association about the political process and the group’s role in it.

Restaurateurs have to fulfill a slew of professional roles, from accountant to marketer to motivational speaker, if they want to remain successful. This week’s crop of ideas shows why “psychiatrist” should often top the list. Consider, for instance, how one place contended with a crazy riff on the old dine-and-dash scam.

A roundup of developments affecting franchisees and franchisors.

A roundup of developments affecting franchisees and franchisors.

No one’s calling you a thief, pal. But the restaurant business certainly abounds in “coincidence.” A successful idea hatched by one operator tends to appear in short order throughout the industry—in almost exactly the same form! Mini-desserts anyone?