At its 2011 Global Business Conference last week in Dallas, Texas, Carlson Restaurants, parent of T.G.I. Friday’s, announced plans to double the number of T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants globally.

“With the strength of our Friday’s brand, our management team and our franchise partners, we are uniquely positioned to dramatically increase the footprint of our business,” announced Nick Shepherd, president and chief executive officer of Carlson Restaurants.

Shepherd unveiled the company’s strategic plan, Ambition 2015, to an audience of more than 1,400 company employees, franchisees, lenders and key suppliers.  Focusing on its ambition to become the restaurant, employer and investment of choice by 2015, the company outlined detailed plans to accelerate growth over the next five years, and to use that growth as a springboard to achieve its long-term goal of doubling the footprint of the T.G.I. Friday’s brand around the world.

“Our foundation for growth is an organization-wide focus on enhancing all elements of the guest experience,” said Shepherd.

Central to that experience is Friday’s unique promise to its guests of “In Here it’s ALWAYS Friday”. To reinforce its brand promise, Friday’s has embarked on an innovation program focused on its menu, service delivery and marketing. This focus has led T.G.I. Friday’s 2010 performance to be among the industry leaders. For the year, Friday’s outpaced the casual dining market in the United States by 1.6% as measured by Knapp Track. The company’s international performance was especially impressive during 2010 delivering a 3.2% increase in comparable sales (local currency results for restaurants open at least 12 months) while opening 30 restaurants across its international markets and being on track to open nearly 40 new restaurants in 2011.

“Our performance during 2010 underscores the strength of the Friday’s brand and the tremendous growth opportunity we have, based on the significant and unique connection we have with our guests around the world,” said Shepherd.

T.G.I. Friday’s is already the casual dining leader internationally with more than 350 restaurants in 60 countries outside the United States. 

“T.G.I. Friday’s is a powerful and iconic brand,” said Hubert Joly, president and chief executive officer of Carlson, parent of Carlson Restaurants. “It has outstanding growth opportunities in the United States and internationally, and we are keen to pursue these opportunities.”

Whether it’s a slam dunk or the luck of the Irish, Friday’s restaurants are giving guests many reasons to get that Friday feeling with events and specials throughout the month.  To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and the men’s college basketball tournament, Friday’s is satisfying guests’ appetite for celebration with themed drinks, signature dishes and great prizes.

“From green beer to basketball, March is jam-packed with festive events that are best enjoyed in an energetic locale and in the company of friends,” said Trey Hall, chief marketing officer of Friday’s. “Our restaurants and bars across the U.S. will be pouring specialty drinks, serving great food and hosting activities for guests looking to inject the Friday’s spirit throughout the month.”

Through April 4, Friday’s will be the go-to destination for watching great college basketball. With games featured on big screens, food specials, enticing cocktails and great beer selections, Friday’s will be the choice place for alumni groups, friends, and fans to gather over a plate of Buffalo Wings or our new Tapa-tizer skewers while getting their basketball fix. All month long, guests at participating locations can try for their chance to win an all-expense paid trip to the 2012 men’s basketball championship in New Orleans.

On Thursday, March 17, guests looking for a four-leaf clover are in luck when they come into Friday’s. Whether Irish or Irish for the Day, guests can try out the St. Paddy’s Peach or Irish ‘Rita, which are said to be worth their weight in gold. The St. Paddy’s Peach is Jameson Irish Whiskey and peach puree, and the Irish ‘Rita puts a twist on a classic with Jameson Irish Whiskey, Sour Apple Pucker, Midori, fresh lime juice and Friday’s own margarita mix. Of course, St. Patrick’s Day at Friday’s wouldn’t be complete without green beer paired with our signature Black Angus Jack Daniel’s burger.

Check local Friday’s restaurants for holiday hours and additional details.

T.G.I. Friday’s announced it is now serving the “Friday feeling” in 350 international locations. The newest Friday’s restaurant opened in January 2011 in Arequipa, Peru by Franquicias Alimentarias SA, a licensed franchisee of T.G.I. Friday’s.

The first T.G.I. Friday’s opened outside the U.S. in Birmingham, England in March 1986. Twenty-five years later, Friday’s now delights well over 40 million international guests annually in 60 countries, providing them with authentic American food, exciting drinks and an energizing Friday feeling – any day of the week. The brand also has the most American casual dining restaurants around the globe.

“Friday’s was the first American casual dining company to open its doors abroad and by reaching these two significant milestones, it’s clear we remain the industry leader,” said Ian Saunders, president and chief operating officer, T.G.I. Friday’s International. “Friday’s promises that wherever you are in the world, “In Here, It’s Always Friday.” Thanks to the strength of our brand and franchise partnerships, Friday’s always delivers on this promise.”

Friday’s Ambition 2015 strategy is to add at least 150 new international locations to its portfolio by 2015, increasing the number of Friday’s locations to nearly 1,100. The latest opening in Peru brings the company one step closer to this goal.

Friday’s also took several steps in 2010 to reach its Ambition 2015 objectives such as opening 30 new international locations and signing six additional development agreements to increase its international presence, including the most recent agreement with Americana Group (Kuwait Food Company) to add 30 new restaurants in the Middle East over the next five years.

As the top ten T.G.I. Friday’s bartenders prepare for the World Bartender Championship (WBC) Finals on March 14, 2011 in Dallas, Texas, bartenders and fans from across the globe are getting involved and supporting bartending’s bid to be recognized as an Olympic sport.

Brian Zachau, the 2009 T.G.I. Friday’s Greatest Bartender in the World, petitioned the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in November 2010 to request bartending as the next Olympic sport. Bartending is a viable consideration as an Olympic event since it has been in existence for centuries, is practiced on every continent and is represented by the International Bartenders Association in 57 countries.

“Brian, our bartenders and most importantly, the fans, have the power to get bartending officially recognized for the sport it is,” said Trey Hall, chief marketing officer of T.G.I. Friday’s. “Given our deep history and involvement with the sport of bartending through our World Bartender Championship, Friday’s is also behind this movement to make bartending an Olympic event.”

Despite silence from the IOC, and the noticeable omission of bartending from the 2012 Olympic schedule released on February 15, Brian Zachau and other Friday’s bartenders are still encouraging fans to show their support by signing an online petition to the IOC. Fans can also show their encouragement by voting for their favorite bartending finalist or demonstrating their personal athletic bartending skills by uploading videos or photos for a chance to win Friday’s food and drinks for the rest of the year.

2011 marks Friday’s 20th anniversary of the WBC Finals and the crowning of “The 2010 Greatest T.G.I. Friday’s Bartender in the World.” Each year more than 8,000 Friday’s bartenders showcase their knowledge, skill and bartending flair in WBC competitions which originate at the local store level and progress to regional and divisional rounds leading up to the Finals on March 14.

For more news and updates from T.G.I. Friday’s, follow the brand on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TGIFridays), Twitter @TGIFridays and YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/tgifridays).

T.G.I. Friday’s, the casual dining leader, today announced Anita Phillips as the president and chief operating officer of T.G.I. Friday’s USA company-owned restaurants. She has been serving in this role on an interim basis since November 2010 and will report to Nick Shepherd, president and chief executive officer of Carlson Restaurants, parent company of T.G.I. Friday’s, and serve on the executive team.

Phillips will be fully responsible for leading and executing strategy across the 300 company-owned Friday’s restaurants throughout the US, ensuring guests enjoy the legendary “In Here, It’s Always Friday” experience.

Phillips will serve alongside Lee Sanders, president of Friday’s USA franchise business, as they strive towards delivering Friday’s Ambition 2015 goals of being the guest-preferred restaurant and bar, the employer of choice and the investment opportunity of choice in the industry.

“Anita has an infectious energy that embodies what T.G.I. Friday’s represents,” said Shepherd. “Her broad business and management experience makes her highly qualified for this position. Anita is a natural leader, which enables her to engage the right people in doing the right things to deliver the right results.”

Phillips has worked for Minneapolis-based Carlson for more than 20 years. She has served in various leadership positions including chief financial officer for Carlson Marketing, vice president, finance and strategic sourcing for Carlson, group finance director for Carlson Leisure Group in the United Kingdom and vice president for Carlson Travel Group. She began her career at Carlson as assistant corporate controller. Phillips is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.

Most recently, Phillips was the senior vice president and chief financial officer for Carlson Restaurants. She resides in Lewisville, Texas, with her husband Jim and daughters Marie and Nicole.

T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants offer authentic American food and exciting drinks in an atmosphere that provides an energizing Friday feeling – any day of the week. Friday’s guest recognition program, Give Me More Stripes, rewards our loyal guests with great deals and fun events year-round, creating an engaging customer experience. As the original casual dining restaurant, T.G.I. Friday’s differentiates itself with a unique point of view which promises to exhilarate its guests with the feeling of Friday. T.G.I. Friday’s, which operates more than 900 restaurants in more than 60 countries, is also famous for its knowledgeable and charismatic bartenders, approximately 8,000 of whom compete annually for the title of the “Greatest T.G.I. Friday’s Bartender in the World.”   

T.G.I. Friday’s is part of Carlson, a privately held, global hospitality and travel company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn.  Carlson encompasses more than 1,070 hotels including, Radisson, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, Park Inn and Park Plaza; more than 900 T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants; and a majority stake in Carlson Wagonlit Travel, the global leader in business travel management.  Carlson operates in more than 150 countries and its brands employ about 150,000 people. For more information, visit www.carlson.com or www.fridays.com.

T.G.I. Friday’s and the Detroit Red Wings invite hockey fans to experience a game at the Joe Louis Arena in style. In February, three lucky Michigan residents will win a VIP prize package that includes a private suite for 20 guests, as well as food and beverages (non-alcoholic) throughout the game.

From Feb. 7 – 28, fans can enter by visiting one of 17 participating T.G.I. Friday’s locations across Michigan and completing an entry form. Alternatively, fans can go to www.DetroitRedWings.com/TGIFridays and fill out the online form.

“Michigan fans are known for their spirited energy, camaraderie and dedication to the Red Wings,” said Reid Neumann, regional marketing manager, T.G.I. Friday’s. “This contest is our way of giving back to those fans who have cheered on their favorite team at our regional locations season after season.”

Winners will be announced each week during the three-week promotion. The VIP suites will be given away for the following games:  March 28 (vs. Chicago Blackhawks), March 30 (vs. St. Louis Blues), and April 3 (vs. Minnesota Wild).

Guests can call their local T.G.I. Friday’s for details or visit the Red Wings website for the official rules.

For more news and updates from T.G.I. Friday’s, fans can follow the brand on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TGIFridays), Twitter @TGIFridays and YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/TGIFridaysNews).

T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants offer authentic American food and exciting drinks in an atmosphere that provides an energizing Friday feeling – any day of the week. Friday’s guest recognition program, Give Me More Stripes, rewards our loyal guests with great deals and fun events year-round, creating an engaging customer experience. As the original casual dining restaurant, T.G.I. Friday’s differentiates itself with a unique point of view which promises to exhilarate its guests with the feeling of Friday. T.G.I. Friday’s, which operates more than 900 restaurants in more than 60 countries, is also famous for its knowledgeable and charismatic bartenders, approximately 8,000 of whom compete annually for the title of the “Greatest T.G.I. Friday’s Bartender in the World.” For more information, visit www.fridays.com.

With a focus on fresh, quality ingredients, T.G.I. Friday’s is introducing bold, new flavors in 2011 that transport the dining experience from ordinary to extraordinary.  Beginning today, guests can get carried away with any one of Friday’s 14 new menu additions including Hibachi and Mediterranean Style Skewers, Black Angus Burgers and Skinny Margaritas.

“At Friday’s, we constantly work with our chefs and mixologists to create great tasting menu items that appeal to our guests and capture emerging food and drink trends,” said Ricky Richardson, executive vice president and chief concept officer, T.G.I. Friday’s.  ”Much like our new Caribbean menu additions last year, we know that our guests will find something fun and unexpected from the revamped Friday’s line-up.”

The new menu includes bold, zesty flavors guaranteed to spice up any meal.  Guests can choose from enticing appetizers, burgers and entrees like the Spinach Florentine Flatbread, Kansas City BBQ Burger and Chicken Piccata Pasta, to rev up appetites.  We’ve also added chocolate delights for those with a sweet tooth and skinny cocktails for health-conscious guests.

For more news and updates from T.G.I. Friday’s, consumers can follow the brand on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TGIFridays), Twitter @TGIFridays and YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/tgifridays).

Learn more about the new menu

New Appetizers:

• Tapa-tizer Skewers – Get carried away with skewers that match your (Black Angus Sirloin or Grilled Chicken) style: Japanese Hibachi (garlic & black pepper soy sauce with wasabi-miso glaze) served with grilled pita and ginger-lime slaw or Mediterranean (marinated, and grilled with lemon-garlic sauce) and served with tzatziki cucumber yogurt sauce.
• Spinach Florentine Flatbread – You’ll be transported back to the Great Renaissance with this starter.  Oven-baked crispy flatbread topped with creamy spinach and artichoke heard spread with bruschetta mix of diced tomatoes, garlic and freshly chopped basil.

New Burgers:

Black Angus Burgers – Friday’s has upgraded to 100% USDA choice Black Angus beef, fire-grilled to perfection and arranged on a brioche bun with lettuce, pickles, onion and vine ripe tomatoes.  For those interested in variety, Friday’s now offers the option of substituting a flavorful fire-grilled ground turkey patty for any Black Angus Burger at no additional charge.

• Jack Daniel’s® Burger – Our signature Jack Daniel’s® sauce, crispy bacon and melted provolone cheese.  Whiskey goes with everything!
• Cheeseburger – Our classic cheeseburger topped with melted American cheese.  Can’t go wrong with that!
• Southwest Burger – Topped with melted pepper jack cheese, sauteed peppers and onion, crispy Cajun-spiced fried onion strings, with chipotle spread and fresh sliced avocado.  A burger with a kick!
• New York Cheddar & Bacon Burger – Here’s a bite of the Big Apple.  Melted New York sharp cheddar, Applewood-smoked bacon, Cajun-spiced fried onion strings and a sweet chow-chow relish.
• Kansas City BBQ Burger – A variation of the New York Cheddar & Bacon Burger topped off with our Jack Championship BBQ sauce.  You’ll probably want some extra napkins with that.
• Turkey Burger – You’ll love this flavorful ground turkey patty that’s fire-grilled, seasoned just right, and served with all your favorite garnishes.

New Entrees:

• Friday’s® Fusion Skewers – Same as our tapa-tizer skewers (above), but in an entree portion served with jasmine rice pilaf, vegetable medley and grilled pita.  When you can’t get enough of a good thing.
• Chicken Piccata Pasta – A taste of Italy with the best American ingredients.  Citrus-seasoned chicken breast sauteed with California heirloom garlic, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers and capers, then tossed with multi-grain angel hair pasta and a lemon white wine sauce with a touch of fresh basil.

New Dessert – Our guests have spoken and we listened.  Back by popular demand:

• Oreo® Madness – Cookies ‘n cream ice cream sandwiched between rich layers of Oreo cookie crust with caramel and fudge.  So good you won’t want to share.

New Drinks:

• German Chocolate Cake Sipper – A mix of Jagermeister, Kahlua, Baileys, Butterscotch Schnapps and Malibu Rum.  Let’s just say it’s dessert in a glass.
• Skinny Margarita – A refreshing blend of Hornitos Reposado Tequila and house made skinny agave sour.  At less than half the calories of our Ultimate Margarita on the Rocks, you won’t feel bad for having a glass or two.
• Skinny Blackberry Margarita – Sacrifice nothing but calories with this crisp, refreshing, fruity drink. Made with Sauza Gold Tequila, skinny agave sour mix and blackberries.

American restaurant icon T.G.I. Friday’s recently began serving brunch in its Longmont, Colo., restaurant. Brunch is Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features classic brunch favorites like southern cornmeal pancakes and an egg white breakfast burrito, along with new creations like Tostado Nachos Rancheros and Crab Cake and Eggs. Friday’s brunch is currently only available in Longmont.  

A Friday’s menu wouldn’t be complete without creative adult beverages, including mimosas, Bloody Marys and coffee drinks, concocted especially for brunch. Friday’s brunch menu is part of the restaurant’s new menu introduction in Colorado. The restaurant launched its re-energized menu with more than 30 new items to six metro-area restaurants, including the Longmont location, in October.

Inventive dishes cooked to order with fresh ingredients and shareable plates are the centerpiece of the new menu, and the brunch menu is no different. Friday’s food experts have taken classics, like the breakfast burrito, and added a Friday’s twist. For a lighter brunch option, the breakfast burrito is made with egg whites, sauteed jalapenos, onions and red peppers, wrapped in a soft spinach tortilla with fire-roasted tomato salsa. The Ham, Bacon and Cheese Breakfast Pizza has tender natural ham, crispy applewood-smoked bacon, fresh diced tomatoes and scrambled eggs piled atop a pizza crust with Friday’s creamy cheese sauce and mozzarella. French toast Italienne, egg, asparagus and creamed spinach Benedict, and a fried egg sandwich, with Friday’s Happy Hippy multigrain bread, are other standouts on the new brunch menu.

“Friday’s new menu is a reflection of us and how our customers eat today. Our new brunch offering is a great addition to our menu, giving our diners a whole new taste of Friday’s,” said Ricky Richardson, Friday’s chief concept officer.

Brunch is currently only available at the Longmont restaurant. Denver has six T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants: Northfield at Stapleton, Town Center at Aurora, South Aurora on Parker Rd., Lone Tree at Park Meadows Mall, Thornton off of 120th, and Longmont.

T.G.I. Friday’s is an American icon, having started in 1965 in New York City. It has grown into a place where people venture for great food, innovative cocktails and good times with friends and family. It’s a place to escape the everyday, and its new brunch menu is poised to bring diners new, unexpected flavors and tastes. In a phrase, “In here, it’s always Friday.”

For more information about Friday’s new brunch menu and other changes at Denver-area Friday’s, visit www.ItsAlwaysFriday.com.

Bartending as an Olympic sport? From keg-lifting to synchronized flairtending, bartenders around the globe have been world class athletes since the first cocktail was poured. And now, their time has come. T.G.I. Friday’s, the global casual dining leader and home to the World Bartender Championship (WBC), has just named its WBC finalists and is now setting its sights on the Olympics.

Together with Brian Zachau, the 2009 T.G.I. Friday’s Greatest Bartender in the World, Friday’s has petitioned the International Olympic Committee requesting official recognition of bartending as the next Olympic sport. As the top Friday’s bartenders prepare for the WBC world finals in Dallas on March 14, 2011, support from their fans could send them to London, Rio and beyond. Fans can show their support by signing an online petition on the T.G.I. Friday’s Facebook fan page as well as the World Bartender Championship web site.

T.G.I. Friday’s World Bartender Championship started twenty years ago as a one-off challenge between bartenders and has since grown into a full representation of the Friday’s brand. Each year more than 8,000 bartenders showcase their knowledge, skill and flair-style bartending in WBC competitions which originate at the local store level. WBC illustrates the athletic ability of bartenders around the globe and combines charismatic style that is met only by figure skaters and gymnasts.

“What other sport requires ten-hour routines, absolute precision and a fully-memorized playbook? Bartending can be a whole new playing field for Olympic sport,” said Trey Hall, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of T.G.I. Friday’s. “Twenty years of World Bartender Championships have shown that bartenders at Friday’s are no stranger to athletic competition, and our newly awarded 2010 finalists are no different. As a federation of thousands, the sport is ready to go for the gold.”

The ten global finalists include six winners from the U.S. divisional level competitions as well as four international winners from Hungary, Japan, Peru and Sweden. To win his/her division, each competitor performed an eight- to ten-minute flairtending demonstration showcasing extreme skill and athleticism. Photos and video footage are available for each of the following winners: Santiago Emeric, Orlando; Andy Hool, Bloomington, Minn.; Brad Kaplan, East Plano, Texas; Jes Perrine, Hanover, Md.; Gabor Stanczik, Wayne, N.J.; and Kristian Mihailin, Las Vegas.

To honor its long-standing history in the Long Island community, T.G.I. Friday’s restaurant hosted a night to remember at its newly renovated, flagship location in Westbury, NY. For nearly 30 years, Long Islanders have frequented the Westbury bar and restaurant for special celebrations or simply to blow off steam after a long workday. Since the early 1980s – when T.G.I. Friday’s first popularized the Long Island Iced Tea cocktail – T.G.I. Friday’s has expanded its Long Island presence to 15 locations.

To celebrate the grand re-opening, T.G.I. Friday’s invited Long Island guests and local dignitaries for a night of entertainment. On December 9th, attendees were treated to food, drinks, a flair show from the company’s famous World Bartending Champions and a special performance from Atlantic Records recording artist and Long Island-native Ryan Star.

“T.G.I. Friday’s prides itself on knowing how to throw a party,” said Ricky Richardson, Chief Concept Officer for T.G.I. Friday’s. “Westbury is one of our oldest and most successful locations on Long Island and our guests fully embody T.G.I. Friday’s infectious energy. In that spirit, Ryan Star’s performance for our guests was the perfect ending to the celebration.”

The 10,200-square-foot location features a renovated interior and exterior. The large, multi-level design incorporates the best elements from some of the top T.G.I. Friday’s locations around the world. This includes exposed brick walls, red dining furniture, dark wood tables, a tin ceiling, and pop culture memorabilia accents. The new four-sided bar area, located at the center of the restaurant, serves as a symbol of T.G.I. Friday’s heritage in and knowledge of mixing the greatest drinks and hosting the best happy hours.

The flagship bar and restaurant is located at 829 Merrick Ave, Westbury, NY 11590-6693. Hours of operation are from 11:00 a.m. ET daily to 1 a.m. ET on weeknights and 3 a.m. ET on Fridays and Saturdays.

T.G.I. Friday’s is celebrating Veterans Day all weekend long. Beginning today through November 14, 2010, retired and current military personnel with a military or veteran’s ID will receive one free entree with the purchase of another at participating restaurant locations across the country.

Additionally, as a special thank you to veteran and active military guests for their service, the store manager at participating locations will give veterans and military personnel a five dollar “Bonus Bite” at the end of their meal to redeem on their next visit to Friday’s.

“T.G.I. Friday’s wants to extend a formal ‘thank you’ to all of the men and women who have served our country,” said Trey Hall, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of T.G.I. Friday’s. “We hope this gesture will encourage current and former members of our armed forces to let loose and have some much deserved fun – which is exactly what Friday’s is all about.”

The buy-one-get-one offer includes any regular menu item, including pasta, chicken, burgers, sandwiches, steak, ribs, seafood and the Jack Daniel’s Grill.

For more news and updates from T.G.I. Friday’s, consumers can follow the brand on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TGIFridays) or Twitter @TGIFriday’s.

The Michelin Guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country 2011 was released this week, marking the fifth edition for the area.  This year’s guide features 519 restaurants, 74 of those are in the Bib Gourmand category.  The San Francisco area also boasts two of only 91 restaurants in the world receiving three or more stars from the group.

As of September 15, 2010 T.G.I. Friday’s has been offering guests a new allergen supplement menu.  The new menu makes it easier for guests with food allergies to make informed food choices.  The new menu features icons detailing the food groups present in each dish.

T.G.I. Friday’s has also announced an updated restaurant and bar menu in the Denver area.  The new menu features 20 new dishes and drinks for guests with a heavy focus on meal customization options.  The new menu is currently only available in participating Denver locations, and may expand to a national menu in the future.

Wall Street is optimistic on the restaurant front.  Over the past year shares of Chipotle, DineEquity, and BJ’s Restaurants increased by 141%, 89%, and 87% respectively.  The optimism and growth has been driven by three months of positive signs coming from increased traffic in the restaurant industry.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers has announced it will open a new location in Brookfield on Monday, November 8 at 11 a.m.  The company will celebrate the grand opening of the restaurant with a weeklong fundraiser in conjunction with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.  During the week, 50 cents from each gourmet burger sale will be donated to the NCMEC to support child safety programs.

For the fourth consecutive year, McDonald’s is teaming with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund to present the McDonald’s Steps for Success College Workshop.  The event will be held in Los Angeles on November 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The bi-lingual workshop is free and offered to students and their parents.  The application process, financial aid, and the McDonald’s scholarship program will be prominent features of the event.

Buffalo Wild Wings has announced the results of their third quarter ending September 26.  The company announced that overall revenue increased by 14% compared to the same quarter last year.  Company-owned restaurants also saw an uptick in sales to the tune of 13.9%, while system-wide same store sales increased by 2.6%.  The strong quarter left the company with an increase in net earnings of 23.7%.

Kona Grill released the results from the company’s third quarter ending September 30.  Overall, sales at the restaurant grew by 7.1% over the previous year.  However, same store sales showed no change, while comparable non-same store sales increased by 12.8%, resulting in an operating profit margin of 12.8%.  Even with the positive signs, the company reported a net loss of $0.05 per share, which was down from a $0.11 loss per share last year.

Bravo Brio Restaurant Group has announced the completion of their initial public offering of 11.5 million shares of BBRG common stock.  The shares were listed at $14.00 each.  BBRG began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market on October 21.  The total proceeds of the offering after deductions and underwriting expenses was nearly $62.4 million.  BBRG will use the net proceeds to repay debt and other corporate expenses.

NTN Buzztime, Inc. has announced a new restaurant and bar trivia game for Canadian players.  The new game will feature trivia questions in history, politics, sports, entertainment, and geography specific to Canada.  The one-hour game debuted on October 26 and will air each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at participating locations.

It is easier and more convenient than ever for guests with food allergies, or those who have gluten sensitivities, to dine at T.G.I. Friday’s, thanks to a new Allergen supplement menu that is in place at participating Friday’s restaurants as of September 15, 2010.

Using easy-to-read icons T.G.I. Friday’s new allergen menu will break down what food groups/categories may be found in each menu item, including eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, shellfish and more. This new Allergen menu will help guests make informed meal choices regarding their food allergies and help them find the perfect meal to satisfy their appetite.

“We are sensitive to what our guests require and we absolutely owe it to them to take this extra step and have this new Allergen menu available,” said Ricky Richardson, chief concept officer of T.G.I. Friday’s. “People expect to have a great time with great tasting food and beverages when they come to T.G.I. Friday’s and our new menu supplement will help our guests find the food that is just right for them.”

T.G.I. Friday’s is also refreshing its current menu by adding the most popular items from its recent Caribbean Summer menu, including Grilled Caribbean Wings, Tropical Splash Salad with Ginger Lime Chicken, Conga Line Caribbean Chicken Sandwich and the great taste of the Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum Sauce on steaks and seafood.  The same goes for the bar, where T.G.I. Friday’s will add several new drinks to keep the variety as fresh and lively as ever.

American restaurant icon T.G.I. Friday’s has paid close attention to the evolving tastes of its consumers. Friday’s has answered the call with an updated restaurant and bar menu with Friday’s favorites and more than 20 fresh and exciting brand new dishes and drinks that reflect Friday’s innovation and energetic vibe. Friday’s is a gathering place to re-energize from the stresses of the day, and the new menu encourages diners to taste new flavors, share with friends and family and simply, to have fun. The new menu is available now at Denver-area Friday’s restaurants.

Friday’s re-energized menu features fresh, bold flavors for today’s modern palates. Denver-area diners will find a new menu that looks and feels familiar but has a modern twist. They’ll find new dishes like Ahi Tuna with Avocado Crisps, Tuscan Summer Spinach Dip, Roccoli Broccoli Salad, Diamond Grilled Norwegian Salmon, and Broiled Tilapia with Tomato Cucumber Vinaigrette. New inventive burgers, fresh salads and crisp pizzas round out new menu items. Of course, Friday’s has kept customer favorites like the Jack Daniels Grill, Crispy Green Bean Fries, and its delectable desserts.

Inventive new dishes cooked to order with fresh ingredients and a whole new section of sharable plates are the centerpiece of the new menu. Friday’s is a place where people come to unwind and re-energize and part of that is being with friends and family. The new menu is elevating that Friday’s vibe to a whole new level.

“We’ve added even more freshly prepared, made-to-order dishes – the kind of food on which Friday’s was built. We’re known for creating new, creative flavor combinations on both our food and bar menus. Our new menu is no exception. It embraces freshness and flavor, giving our diners more reasons to come in and see what’s new at Friday’s,” said Ricky Richardson, Friday’s chief concept officer.

A Friday’s visit wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the bar, the place from where Friday’s energetic vibe radiates. Friday’s bar and drink menu are also getting an upgrade, featuring local brews, new wine selections and bold new cocktail concoctions with fresh berry purees.  

Denver has six T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants: Northfield at Stapleton, Aurora Mall, South Aurora on Parker Rd., Lone Tree at Park Meadows Mall, Thornton off of 120th, and Longmont. In addition to the menu changes, three restaurants will undergo cosmetic changes, spreading the fun Friday’s vibe from the bar into the dining area. As part of the menu unveiling, T.G.I. Friday’s has planned tasting parties, bar events and promotions throughout the metro area.

T.G.I. Friday’s is an American icon, having started in 1965 in New York City. It has grown into a place where people venture for great food, innovative cocktails and good times with friends and family. It’s a place where people go to forget about their day and re-energize. It’s a place to escape the everyday, and its new menu is poised to bring diners new unexpected flavors and tastes. In a phrase, “In here, it’s always Friday.”

For more information about the changes at Denver-area Friday’s, visit www.ItsAlwaysFriday.com.

Olive Garden has its never ending pasta bowl. Red Lobster has endless shrimp. So when some San Diego T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants began running a “never ending shrimp” special, the Orlando-based owner of Olive Garden and Red Lobster had something to say about it.

Darden Restaurants has filed a federal lawsuit, saying the term “never ending shrimp” infringes on the trademark for Olive Garden’s 15-year-old annual pasta special.

Darden says T.G.I. Friday’s has caused further confusion by combining “never ending” with shrimp, the focus of Red Lobster’s all-you-can-eat promotion under way now. Red Lobster’s “endless shrimp” is also trademarked.

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 T.G.I. Friday’s today announced it has named pohmedia as Media Agency of Record for its national advertising account, effective immediately. pohmedia will handle media strategy for the company and will partner with Horizon Media Inc. on most of the media buying. Publicis and Digitas will continue as creative agencies for the brand.

“Having worked with the pohmedia team in the past I am excited to bring them on board to help the T.G.I. Friday’s brand,” said Trey Hall, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for T.G.I. Friday’s. “I believe that their nimble, media neutral approach and forward thinking attitude will help T.G.I. Friday’s make the most of our advertising investment in today’s fast moving and ever changing media environment.”

“We are extremely pleased to be working with T.G.I. Friday’s and their top notch creative partners,” said Jim Poh, president of pohmedia. “We look forward to making many positive contributions to their collective efforts.”

T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants today introduced its new Caribbean-inspired Summer menu featuring fourteen new appetizer, salad, sandwich, entrée and combo dishes starting at $8.99 including selections that are glazed with Friday’s new Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum sauce for a limited time at participating restaurants in the U.S.

“T.G.I. Friday’s new Caribbean-inspired Summer menu will send your taste buds on a tropical vacation every day all summer long,” said John Neitzel, president and chief operating officer of T.G.I. Friday’s USA. “These incredible new selections are packed with island flavors and exotic spices that you’ll only find at T.G.I. Friday’s. So, head to your local T.G.I. Friday’s, where it’s always a party. It’s just another reason to celebrate and it’s your ticket to paradise this summer.”

T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants new Caribbean-inspired Summer menu includes:

Captain Morgan Island Appetizer

• GRILLED Caribbean Wings – Caribbean-seasoned chicken wings glazed with delicious Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum sauce and fire-grilled to perfection.

Seaside Salads and Sandwiches

• Tropical Splash Salad – A refreshing salad with choice of Ginger-lime marinated chicken, sirloin flap steak basted with Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum sauce, or Ginger-lime marinated shrimp served on a bed of mixed greens tossed with fresh pineapple, mango, cucumber, red pepper, avocado, cilantro and crisp wontons, tossed with tangy fruit vinaigrette.
• Captain Morgan Caribbean Conga-Line Chicken Sandwich – A Caribbean seasoned chicken breast fire-grilled and basted with Captain Morgan™ Original Spiced Rum sauce served on a bun loaded with flavor – seasoned sour cream, pineapple pico, fresh cilantro and avocado, served with sweet potato fries and extra sauce for dipping.

Captain Morgan Beach Side Entrées

• Caribbean Rockin’ Reggae Ribs – Mouthwatering, well-seasoned baby back ribs cooked fall-off-the-bone tender and glazed with jerk-inspired Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum sauce, served with crispy sweet potato fries, coleslaw, and garnished with pineapple pico.
• Caribbean Steak – A juicy 7 oz. Black Angus sirloin flap steak, char-grilled to order, then glazed with Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum sauce, served with coconut jasmine rice, a fresh vegetable medley and a fresh garnish of pineapple pico.
• Caribbean Chicken – Two fire-grilled Caribbean-seasoned chicken breasts smothered in Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum sauce, served with coconut jasmine rice, a fresh vegetable medley, and a fresh garnish of pineapple pico.

Captain Morgan Caribbean Combos

• Caribbean Rockin’ Reggae Ribs Combo – Half a rack of well-seasoned baby back ribs with a choice of a Caribbean chicken breast or a skewer of jumbo butterflied shrimp, all fire-grilled and smothered in Caribbean inspired Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum sauce.
• Caribbean Salmon & Jerked Jumbo Shrimp Combo – A jerk-inspired 7 oz. salmon fillet and a skewer of shell-on jumbo shrimp fire-grilled and glazed with rich Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum sauce.
• Caribbean Chicken & Jerked Jumbo Shrimp Combo – A skewer of jumbo shrimp fire-grilled, shell-on, and glazed with jerk-inspired Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum sauce along with a Caribbean seasoned chicken breast.
• Caribbean Sirloin & Jerked Jumbo Shrimp Combo – A well-seasoned 10 oz. Black Angus sirloin grilled to-order and glazed in our bold jerk-inspired Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum sauce along with a skewer of Caribbean shell-on jumbo shrimp.

Sunset Sweet Stuff

• Island Breeze Sundae – Vanilla ice cream and sweetened wonton crisps served with pineapple, mango and strawberries, then drizzled with caramel sauce and topped with whipped cream. Can be ordered for one or served on a sizzling platter for the table.

Earlier this month, T.G.I. Friday’s provided a sneak peek of the islands when it introduced eight Caribbean Cocktails, all of which remain available at participating restaurants in the U.S. for a limited time:

• Coco‘Mon n’Lime – Captain Morgan Original Spiced Run and Malibu Rum, fresh lime juice and Coke
• Tropical Fruit Coladas (available in Passion Fruit, Strawberry or Peach flavors) – Refreshing frozen cocktails made with fruit puree, pina colada mix, Malibu Rum and fresh pineapple
• Captain Morgan Island Rum Punch – A blend of Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, Myers’s Dark Rum, Disaronno Amaretto, passion fruit puree and pineapple juice
• Tropical Mai Tai – A mix of Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, pineapple and peach nectar.
• Fresh Mango Lemonade – ABSOLUT vodka mixed with Malibu Rum, fresh lemon juice and fresh agave sour mix, shaken tableside poured over fresh mango puree
• Ultimate Mango Berry Daiquiri – A frozen blend of Bacardi Superior Rum, peach schnapps, mango and strawberry purees and house made fresh sour mix with fresh squeezed lime

T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants announced it will feature its premium “3 courses for $16.99″ menu this Father’s Day (Sunday, June 20, 2010), with hundreds of full-course appetizer/entrée/dessert combinations from a list of upscale indulgences at participating restaurants in the U.S.

“T.G.I. Friday’s has you covered this Father’s Day with 3 courses for just $16.99. We’ll handle the grill so you can let Dad chill,” said John Neitzel, president and chief operating officer of T.G.I. Friday’s USA. “Dad can choose the perfect combo from a list of premium items such as our Black Angus Sirloin or Jack Daniel’s® Chicken & Shrimp. So bring the whole family and treat Dad to an awesome meal. Don’t forget to add a cold draft beer or one of our signature cocktails.”

T.G.I. Friday’s “3 courses for $16.99″ menu includes new items such as Italian Wedge Salad, Southwest Wedge Salad and Classic Wedge Salad, signature starters such as Tuscan Spinach Dip, entrées such as Friday’s® Black Angus Flat Iron Steak, Cajun Shrimp & Chicken Pasta and Sizzling Chicken & Shrimp as well as T.G.I. Friday’s famous desserts, including Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie and Vanilla Bean Cheesecake. Featured items may vary by restaurant.

With more than 900 restaurants in 60 countries, including approximately 600 restaurants in the U.S., T.G.I. Friday’s offers great food, innovative drinks and a unique experience filled with flair and a Thank God It’s Friday’s™ attitude. Friday’s authentic, engaging atmosphere makes it the perfect place to escape, socialize and connect with people while getting a rejuvenating second wind. Members of Give Me More Stripes®, Friday’s guest recognition program, receive free stuff and special perks year-round. As the original casual dining restaurant, T.G.I. Friday’s has a rich heritage which includes being credited with popularizing Happy Hour, Long Island Iced Tea and Loaded Potato Skins. T.G.I. Friday’s is also famous for its flair bartenders, approximately 7000 of whom compete annually for the title of the “World’s Greatest T.G.I. Friday’s Bartender.”

Carlson Restaurants Worldwide Inc., the parent company of TGI Friday’s Inc., is a privately held company owned by Minneapolis-based Carlson, a world leader in the hospitality and travel industries. As of May 2010, Carlson Restaurants Worldwide owns, operates, franchises or licenses more than 1,000 restaurants in 60 countries.

BiState Bistro Associates of Chesterfield, which operates a dozen TGI Fridays restaurants, included an outline for a reorganization plan and said it hopes to cut its more than $9.5 million in debt in a bankruptcy it filed June 2.

The Chesterfield business, controlled by Steve Bell and Bradley Bax, sought bankruptcy June 2 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Eastern Missouri. The action came after facing increased expenses with a TGI Fridays remodeling program that came at the same time revenue at its restaurants started to drop as the economy declined, BiState Bistro said in its bankruptcy disclosure. Its largest secured creditor is General Electric Capital Corp., which is owed about $5.6 million, according to bankruptcy court documents.

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Nick Shepherd, president and chief executive officer of Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, parent of T.G.I. Friday’s, today named Trey Hall as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of T.G.I. Friday’s and a member of the Carlson Restaurants Worldwide executive team.

In his new role, Hall, who will report directly to Shepherd, will be responsible for T.G.I. Friday’s global marketing activities.

Prior to joining Friday’s, Hall held marketing leadership roles with Pizza Hut, Inc., Boston Market Corporation, where he was Chief Marketing Officer and later Chief Brand Officer and Quiznos Master LLC, where he was Chief Marketing Officer. Most recently, Hall was the Chief Marketing Officer for Consumer Capital Partners, a private equity firm.

“Trey is a proven innovative marketer, a creative and strategic thinker and has established himself as a successful brand builder throughout his career,” said Shepherd. “He will play a key role in our future growth and we are thrilled to have him at T.G.I. Friday’s.”

Hall, who received his Bachelor of Arts in Advertising from Brigham Young University and his Master of Science in Advertising with an emphasis on Integrated Marketing Communications from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, will reside in Dallas and be based at the company’s headquarters in Carrollton, Texas. Hall’s first day in his new position will be May 24.    

With more than 900 restaurants in 60 countries, including approximately 600 restaurants in the U.S., T.G.I. Friday’s offers great food, innovative drinks and a unique experience filled with flair and a Thank God It’s Friday’s™ attitude. Friday’s authentic, engaging atmosphere makes it the perfect place to escape, socialize and connect with people while getting a rejuvenating second wind. Members of Give Me More Stripes®, Friday’s guest recognition program, receive free stuff and special perks year-round. As the original casual dining restaurant, T.G.I. Friday’s has a rich heritage which includes being credited with popularizing Happy Hour, Long Island Iced Tea and Loaded Potato Skins. T.G.I. Friday’s is also famous for its flair bartenders, approximately 7000 of whom compete annually for the title of the “World’s Greatest T.G.I. Friday’s Bartender.”  

Carlson Restaurants Worldwide Inc., the parent company of TGI Friday’s Inc., is a privately held company owned by Minneapolis-based Carlson, a world leader in the hospitality and travel industries. As of May 2010, Carlson Restaurants Worldwide owns, operates, franchises or licenses more than 1,000 restaurants in 60 countries.