Chefs and restaurateurs are celebrating the gradual extinction of the tedious spreadsheet and, even better, the pen and paper. With new forms of innovative inventory control software on the rise, the days of jotting down inventory items on a sheet of paper and entering them onto a spreadsheet are coming to an end. This, thankfully, should help foodservice managers eliminate wasteful spending while saving time.

“You can do it [inventory checks] in 20 per cent of the time,” said Bob Parrotta, foodservice director at Butchart Gardens, a bed and breakfast based in Brentwood Bay, B.C. “If a restaurant is of a certain size, I can’t see them operating without it.”

TORONTO — Kraft Canada has announced a new smartphone application to help users cook and entertain with ease.

The iFood Assistant gives access to recipes and offers the option to create shopping lists and source entertaining tips through PDAs. "People's lives are becoming increasingly complex and one of their biggest challenges is mealtime," said Ed Kaczmarek, director of Innovation, Consumer Experiences at Kraft Foods. "Now, they can use their iPhone, iPod touch or BlackBerry to make cooking convenient, delicious and more enjoyable."