#658 in the Project is taken from a restaurant review in the Las Vegas Review Journal:
“If you’re even slightly tuned-in, you’re no doubt aware that Michael Mina is widely regarded for his skills as a chef, most notably with fish and seafood.
But you may not know that he absolutely rocks french fries and onion rings.
No lie, french fries and onion rings, two of the standouts of our recent dinner at Stripsteak at Mandalay Bay. The skillful preparation of them proved why these two simple things — often deservedly scorned — have solid footholds in the culinary landscape [great video on NBC Today Show featuring Michael Mina and the prep of the fries].
The french fries were a lagniappe, served shortly after we ordered our wine. Fried in duck fat, they had an extreme crispness that sharpened the contrast to their fluffy interiors. They were served as a trio (a favorite Mina conceit) with one portion dusted with smoked paprika and served with barbecue sauce, one served with aioli, the other with homemade ketchup. Servers at Stripsteak point out that entrees are served a la carte, but with a lagniappe as generous as this, that point is easy to argue.”
Marketing Lagniappe Takeaway: Create your own signature element. Here Michael Mina utilizes french fries prepared in duck fat. He goes further to create 3 varieties with 3 custom sauces. C’est magnifique!
Today’s Lagniappe (a little something extra) – One of my favorite pieces of trivia is the meaning of Las Vegas. 99% of the general populus has no clue what Las Vegas translates to. After I ask the question and receive blank stares . . . I offer that its Spanish for ‘The Vegas’. Actually it translates to ‘The Meadows’. Go figure.
Here’s is a funny one minute clip on freakin’ french fries:
Lagniappe defined: A marketing lagniappe, i.e. purple goldfish, is any time a business goes above and beyond to provide a ‘little something extra’. It’s that unexpected surprise that’s thrown in for good measure.
How do you stand out in the sea of sameness? How do you win repeat customers and influence word of mouth?
Where is the GLUE in your marketing?
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