World gourmet fast health food facility

Abstract

A method for providing quality exotic foods or foods from a variety of countries at prices comparable to fast food restaurants where the restaurant includes a menu selection book used to pick a food item. The table area includes the ability to order the food. Payment for the food can be made from a self-pay station at the table or at a self-pay cashier station exiting the facility. The restaurant facility specializes in international gourmet foods representative of popular foods typically found in various countries around the world. The menu book includes informational data related to a food item being considered for selection including one of pictures of the food item, seasonings in the food item, history of the food item, ingredients within the food item, nutritional data and any combination thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a representative conceptual depiction of a fast food facility according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a conceptual depiction of a menu selection device from which a customer can view details of offered food items and then make a selection that is transmitted to the staff in the food preparation area of the facility

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention, generally referred to as 10 herein, is a method for providing quality exotic foods or foods 40 from a variety of countries at prices comparable to fast food restaurants comprising providing a restaurant facility 12 specializing in international gourmet foods 40. The facility 12 has tables 14 and chairs 16 for customers to sit and eat selected food items 40.

Means for selecting the food items 40 are provided. Preferably, this can be in the form of a menu selection book 18. One conceptual example of such a menu selection book 18 is depicted in FIG. 2, wherein the menu selection book 18 includes informational data related to a food item being considered for selection including one of pictures 18a of the food item, and textual data 18b that may include seasonings in the food item, history of the food item, ingredients within the food item, and nutritional data and any combination of said informational data. The food items 40 available for selection comprises a variety of ethnic foods representative of popular foods typically found in various countries around the world.

Means for ordering the selected food item 40 at the table 14 is also provided. One example of this are buttons 18c associated with each food item 40 that can be activated from the menu selection book 18 and adjacent to it. This order means would be in electronic communication with a menu order screen 30 displayed in the kitchen or food preparation area of the facility 12.

Means for a staff member working at the facility 12 is provided to warm-up and/or cook the selected food item 40 when appropriate. This can be in the form of a microwave and food warmer equipment area 26. The food items 40 are initially anticipated to be prepared at an independent supply source 24 and stored at the facility 12 in a frozen state in refrigeration equipment area 28.

Means for advising a customer that an ordered food item 40 is ready for pick-up is also provided. On example of such means may include activating the order button such that it flashes as shown by light waves 18d in FIG. 2 for one of the order buttons 18c. Other methods can be used such as a speaker announcement that an order for a specific table is ready.

Means for the customer to pay for the selected food item 40 consumed at the facility 12 is also provided. One example of this is where a payment can be processed using an automated computerized machine 20a located at the table or at a self-pay cashier station 20b before exiting the facility 12.

The objective of the invention 10 is to have selected food items 40, which are ready for pick-up within a time span comparable to that experienced in typical fast food restaurants and prices for available food items are comparable to those prices typically found in said fast food restaurants.

As mentioned above, the food items 40 are pre-processed at a food supply source 24 independent of the facility 12. The facility 12, on the other hand, includes minimal means 26 for warming and/or cooking selected food items 40 required to be warmed and/cooked. This allows for any odors associated with food preparation being significantly less than food odors typically associated with odors generally associated with typical fast food restaurants.

It should be understood that the preceding is merely a detailed description of one or more embodiments of this invention and that numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The preceding description, therefore, is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for providing quality exotic foods or foods from a variety of countries at prices comparable to fast food restaurants comprising: providing a restaurant facility specializing in international gourmet foods, said facility having tables and chairs for customers to sit and eat selected food items;providing means for selecting the food items from a menu selection book, wherein the menu selection book includes informational data related to a food item being considered for selection including one of pictures of the food item, seasonings in the food item, history of the food item, ingredients within the food item, nutritional data and any combination of said informational data, wherein the food items available for selection comprises a variety of ethnic foods representative of popular foods typically found in various countries around the world;providing means for ordering the selected food item at the table;providing means for a staff member working at the facility to warm-up and/or cook the selected food item when appropriate;providing means for advising a customer that an ordered food item is ready for pick-up, wherein the customer can then pick up the selected food item; andproviding means for the customer to pay for the selected food item consumed at the facility,wherein selected food items are ready for pick-up within a time span comparable to that experienced in typical fast food restaurants and prices for available food items are comparable to those prices typically found in said fast food restaurants.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein payment can be processed using an automated computerized machine located at the table or at a self-pay cashier station before exiting the facility.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the food items available for selection are pre-processed at a food supply source independent of the facility.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein where the food items are pre-processed at a food supply source independent of the facility, said facility includes minimal means for warming and/or cooking selected food items required to be warmed and/cooked, wherein any odors associated with food preparation are significantly less than food odors typically associated with odors generally associated with typical fast food restaurants.