AI in Action | Epicurean Digital

Why AI Matters for Hospitality

The hospitality industry is undergoing a digital revolution, and AI is at the forefront of this transformation. From automating routine tasks to creating personalized guest experiences, artificial intelligence is helping restaurants, cafés, and pubs work smarter, not harder.

Save Time

Reduce administrative work by up to 70% with AI tools that automate social media, menu design, and customer communications.

Reduce Costs

Cut design, marketing, and operational expenses by leveraging AI to create professional content without specialist hires.

Increase Revenue

Grow your bottom line with data-driven menu engineering, targeted promotions, and enhanced customer engagement.

At Epicurean Digital, we constantly test and implement the latest AI tools, bringing enterprise-level technology to independent food businesses. This page is updated weekly with our latest findings and practical ways to implement these tools in your operations.

Featured AI Tools

Video Generation

Sora (OpenAI)

Transform simple text descriptions into cinematic-quality videos for menu items, promotional content, and restaurant atmosphere.

Hospitality Use Case

Create stunning 10-15 second promotional videos for new menu items without hiring a videographer.

Before vs. After

From £500 per video with professional videography to £15-30 per video with AI, ready in minutes instead of days.

See How To Use Official Site

Google Gemini AI interface showing business applications

Multi-Modal AI

Gemini (Google)

Google's powerful AI system that can understand and generate text, images, and code—perfect for content creation and business intelligence.

Hospitality Use Case

Build landing pages for seasonal menus, special events, and promotions in minutes without coding knowledge.

Before vs. After

From 2-3 days of web development work to just 30 minutes of AI-assisted content generation.

See How To Use Official Site

Voice Synthesis

11Labs

Generate ultra-realistic, natural-sounding voiceovers and narration for your marketing content, training materials, and menu introductions.

Hospitality Use Case

Create professional narration for chef videos, menu explanation videos, and virtual restaurant tours.

Before vs. After

From hiring voice talent at £200+ per recording to generating unlimited voiceovers for £16/month.

See How To Use Official Site

Image Generation

MidJourney

Create stunning, photorealistic images of food, interiors, and restaurant atmospheres from text descriptions in seconds.

Hospitality Use Case

Generate professional food photography for menus, social media, and advertisements without hiring a photographer.

Before vs. After

From £300+ per professional food photography session to £30/month for unlimited AI-generated images.

See How To Use Official Site

AI of the Week

Featured Tool

MidJourney for Menu Photography

This week, we're highlighting MidJourney's exceptional ability to create photorealistic food imagery that can transform your menu and marketing materials.

Success Story: The Olive Branch Bistro

The Olive Branch Bistro in Bristol needed visuals for 12 new seasonal dishes but couldn't afford a professional food photographer for their launch.

"Using MidJourney, we created stunning visuals for our entire spring menu in just one afternoon, at a fraction of the cost of professional photography. The images performed brilliantly on social media and helped drive a 27% increase in orders of our new dishes."

James Harrison, Owner

MidJourney-generated food photography showing beautifully plated dishes

MidJourney-generated food photography of gourmet dessert

Key Benefits

Create imagery before dishes are finalized to test customer response
Generate consistent visual style across all menu items
Produce seasonal variations quickly without repeated photo shoots
Save 80-90% compared to professional food photography costs

Learn How to Use MidJourney

Practical Applications

Here's how to implement these AI tools in your hospitality business, with step-by-step guides that anyone can follow, regardless of technical expertise.

Using Sora for Menu Promotion Videos

1

Write a Detailed Dish Description

Start with a rich, detailed description of your dish, including ingredients, plating style, lighting, and atmosphere.

"A close-up of a perfectly plated tiramisu dessert on a white porcelain plate, with a dusting of cocoa powder and a mint leaf garnish. The camera slowly moves around the dessert, showing layers of mascarpone cream and coffee-soaked ladyfingers. The scene is set in a warm, rustic Italian restaurant with soft, golden lighting."

2

Generate the Video with Sora

Input your description into Sora and specify the desired length (typically 10-15 seconds works best for social media).

Pro tip: Add "cinematic quality, 4K resolution, food photography style" to your description for best results.

3

Add Your Branding and Text

Use a simple video editor like CapCut to add your logo, dish name, and call-to-action.

4

Distribute Across Channels

Share on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Use as website headers or in-store digital displays.

Results You Can Expect

Time Saved

~5 hours per video

Cost Savings

£300-500 per video

Engagement Increase

+42% on average

Example results from our client implementations:

Italian bistro saw 52% more clicks on promoted dishes
Cocktail bar reported 38% increase in featured drink orders
Bakery achieved 3.2x ROI on paid social using AI videos

Using Gemini for Landing Page Creation

1

Provide Event/Menu Details

Ask Gemini to create a landing page for your special event or seasonal menu with specific details about your offerings, dates, and theme.

2

Request HTML & CSS

Ask for complete HTML and CSS code that can be directly implemented on your website or through platforms like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress.

3

Refine & Implement

Review the generated page, request refinements if needed, then implement on your website platform.

Sample Prompt

"I need a landing page for my restaurant's Valentine's Day special event. We're offering a 4-course prix fixe menu for £75 per person including a glass of champagne. The theme is 'Romance in Paris'. The menu includes: Starter options of French onion soup or goat cheese salad; Main course options of beef bourguignon or salmon en croute; Dessert options of chocolate soufflé or crème brûlée; and a cheese board to finish. We need to emphasize limited availability and include a booking form. Our brand colors are burgundy and gold. Please create the complete HTML and CSS for a responsive landing page that I can add to my website."

Using 11Labs for Menu Narration

1

Write Menu Item Descriptions

Create compelling descriptions for featured menu items that you want to highlight in videos or audio guides.

2

Select Voice & Style

Choose from 11Labs' library of voices or clone a voice that matches your brand personality (with proper permissions).

3

Generate & Implement

Create audio files and add them to your videos, QR code experiences, or digital menu boards.

Using MidJourney for Food Photography

1

Craft Detailed Food Prompts

Create detailed descriptions of your dishes, including ingredients, plating style, environment, and desired photographic style.

"An overhead shot of a perfectly plated avocado toast on rustic sourdough bread, topped with poached egg, microgreens, cherry tomatoes, and a drizzle of olive oil. The toast is served on a matte black ceramic plate against a light wooden table. Natural morning light is coming from the left. Professional food photography style, sharp focus, f/2.8 aperture, 85mm lens."

2

Generate Multiple Variations

Create 4-10 variations of each dish to find the perfect angle and presentation.

3

Edit & Implement

Make minor adjustments in photo editing software if needed, then use images across your marketing materials.

Pro Tips for Food Images

Use "food photography", "professional", and "award-winning" in your prompts
Specify lighting: "natural light", "soft lighting", or "golden hour"
Include camera details: "85mm lens", "shallow depth of field"
Mention specific food photographers: "style of David Loftus"
Create a consistent aesthetic across all images by using the same style descriptors

Weekly AI Updates

Stay ahead of the competition with our weekly AI tool updates specifically for hospitality businesses. Each Friday, we'll send you the latest tools, practical applications, and case studies.

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Request a Demo

Want to see these AI tools in action with your specific business needs? Schedule a personalized demo where we'll show you how to implement these tools for your unique situation.

Custom Implementation Plan

We'll create a tailored strategy for your specific business needs.

Live Tool Demonstration

See the tools in action with your own menu items, space, and brand.

ROI Analysis

We'll provide a detailed breakdown of expected time and cost savings.

Schedule Your Demo

AI Tool Archive

Access our library of previously featured AI tools and their hospitality applications.

April 17, 2025

GPT-4 Turbo for Personalized Guest Experiences

Harness GPT-4 Turbo's advanced understanding to create dynamic, personalized experiences that drive guest engagement, loyalty, and revenue across all touchpoints.

View Guide

April 10, 2025

AI-Powered Dynamic Ambience for Restaurants

Create seamless, adaptive soundscapes and lighting that respond in real time to your restaurant's atmosphere, foot traffic, and time of day to enhance the dining experience.

View Guide

April 3, 2025

AI Social Media Automation for Restaurants

Streamline your entire social media strategy with AI-crafted content, optimized posting schedules, and audience insights tailored to your restaurant's voice and target market.

View Guide

March 27, 2025

AI Video Marketing for Hospitality Businesses

Transform simple smartphone footage into compelling promotional videos with AI-driven editing, storytelling, and optimization for different social media platforms.

View Guide

March 20, 2025

AI-Driven Menu Engineering and Pricing Optimization

Leverage advanced AI to analyze your menu performance, optimize item placement and pricing, and increase profitability while enhancing guest satisfaction.

View Guide

March 13, 2025

Predictive AI for Staff Scheduling and Management

Optimize workforce management with AI that forecasts demand, creates efficient schedules, reduces labor costs, and improves employee satisfaction and retention.

View Guide

March 6, 2025

AI Chatbots for Restaurant Customer Service

Implement 24/7 intelligent virtual assistants that handle reservations, answer FAQs, and provide personalized recommendations, freeing your staff to focus on in-person service.

View Guide

February 27, 2025

AI Revenue Management for Hospitality

Maximize profitability with dynamic pricing algorithms that analyze market conditions, competitor rates, and demand patterns to optimize your pricing strategy in real-time.

View Guide

February 20, 2025

Voice AI for Contactless Hotel Experiences

Enhance guest comfort and operational efficiency with voice-activated room controls, service requests, and information delivery that minimizes physical contact points.

View Guide

February 13, 2025

AI-Powered Inventory Management for Restaurants

Reduce waste, optimize ordering, and predict inventory needs with AI systems that track usage patterns, seasonal fluctuations, and supply chain variables.

View Guide