Industry Insights

Celebrating Food Allergy Awareness Month with ACF Chefs Las Vegas

May is Food Allergy Awareness Month, and what better way to honor it than by sharing knowledge that keeps our industry safer and more inclusive? At Restaurant Hospitality Institute (RHI), we hit the ground running—bringing our passion for food safety straight to the community with free training on our newest certification: the Food Allergen Safety Techniques (FAST) card!

We were thrilled to partner with the American Culinary Federation (ACF) Chefs Las Vegas chapter for their May meeting, where we helped provide a top-notch continuing education experience for their members. Did you know RHI offers in-person training and exam proctoring for groups? Yep—we’re all about making learning accessible, flexible, and tailored to your needs.

Since ACF meetings are always packed with great content, the group opted for a hybrid learning experience. Members received a special access code to take the FAST course online—on their own schedule and at their own pace—before the big meeting. Then, our amazing co-founder and Chief Operations Officer, Cara Huey Steele, joined them in person to proctor the final exam and share the scoop on all the other professional development courses available at RHI.

People take the RHI FAST Card Test
ACF Chefs Las Vegas member takes a test
Cara-Steele from Restaurant Hospitality Institute Addresses Crowd

We had such a blast connecting with culinary professionals and empowering them with tools that keep kitchens safer for everyone.

Big congratulations to the newest FAST card holders! You’re not only taking allergen safety seriously—you’re adding a stellar credential to your resume. Way to go!

RHI Cultivates Careers at The Blooming Bistro

The Blooming Bistro is one of Las Vegas’ newest venues to hit the dining scene. This restaurant is unique as it serves as a wellness and workforce training hub for disconnected and at-risk youth in Las Vegas.

Restaurant Hospitality Institute provides the hospitality training to employees of The Blooming Bistro.

“I’ve been in the hospitality industry for my entire life, but this project is near and dear to my heart,” said Mark Steele. “I am proud to have the opportunity to partner with my sister and continue our family legacy. By combining the missions of Restaurant Hospitality Institute and The Blooming Bistro we are using our hospitality expertise to provide a service that benefits youth and our community.“

The Blooming Bistro is the brainchild of Mark’s sister, Samantha Steele who believes that awareness, education, and the right support can transform lives. The program focuses on culinary and workforce training, substance use prevention, mental health education, suicide prevention, and whole-self wellness to empower and provide tools necessary to help the employee participants build a career path. Learning all aspects of restaurant service, they gain skills honed in a real world setting. Students who graduate from the program are battle-tested and ready to thrive in a hospitality setting.

Are you a local hospitality business in need of workforce-ready employees? Reach out to Mark Steele and he’ll connect you with students who are ready to work for you!

Protecting Guests, Elevating Hospitality: The Case for Food Allergy Training

Restaurant Hospitality Institute (RHI) has introduced an innovative hospitality course: Food Allergen Safety Techniques (FAST) to its list of classes and continues to remain in the forefront of the hospitality education industry. 

Why Food Allergen Safety Techniques is Essential for Restaurant Professionals

In the restaurant industry, providing an exceptional dining experience goes beyond delicious food and friendly service. It’s about ensuring every guest feels safe and welcome from the first interaction—especially those with food allergies. One in ten people live with a food allergy and the numbers are rising. Understanding how to handle allergens isn’t just good practice; it’s a necessity.

Food intolerances are even more common, though less serious than allergies, they can still make someone feel ill and stop them from eating out. Either way, food allergens need to be taken seriously in order to level up your hospitality, and the best response is a proactive approach. 

What’s at Stake?

When a guest with food allergies dines at your restaurant, your team’s actions could literally be life-saving. Accidental allergen exposure can lead to severe reactions, putting both the guest and your establishment at risk. Beyond health consequences, mishandling food allergens can be a major liability, damaging your restaurant’s reputation and leading to legal repercussions.

Despite these risks, food allergen training & protocols is often overlooked in many restaurants, leaving staff unprepared to handle critical situations, and the restaurant at risk of liability. Southern Nevada Health District does not currently review nor test anything allergy related, so having a food handlers’ and/or health card is not sufficient enough. It is completely up to the individual restaurants to train their staff. Recognizing this gap in training, RHI introduced this innovative course curriculum. This training equips restaurant professionals with the knowledge and skills to accommodate guests with food allergies safely and confidently.

Does your business have proper proactive protocols in place to prevent allergen exposures? Is your staff trained on them? Do they know what to do in the case that a guest does suffer an allergy attack? Are they armed with the information needed to protect both the guest, and your business? 

If you answered no to any of these questions, The FAST Course is for you and your staff. Think about the advantage your staff would have above your competitors if everyone was trained correctly.

What You’ll Learn

RHI’s FAST course is designed for all levels of restaurant staff—from hostesses and servers to chefs and business owners. It covers essential topics that can transform your restaurant into a safer, more inclusive environment:

  • Understanding Common Food Allergens – Learn about the nine most common food allergens, such as peanuts, shellfish, and gluten, and how they can affect your guests.
  • Practical Steps to Prevent Contamination – Discover strategies to minimize cross-contamination in the kitchen and at the table, ensuring allergen safety throughout the dining process.
  • Responding to Emergencies – Gain confidence in recognizing and managing the situation in the event a guest does have an allergic reaction.
  • Improving Hospitality Standards – Incorporate allergy awareness into your restaurant’s culture to build trust with your guests and foster loyalty.

Benefits of Training

Successfully completing the FAST course and passing the proctored exam earns participants a Food Allergy Safety Techniques Card. The FAST Card is a great resume builder, and more importantly, a potential human life saver. This credential demonstrates your commitment and your team’s commitment to responsible hospitality, reassuring guests that your establishment prioritizes their safety.

Flexible, Affordable and Family-Owned

RHI’s FAST program is available online 24/7 for just $35, making it accessible to individual employees. Larger groups can opt for in-person training, tailored to their specific needs. With RHI, you’re learning from a local, family-owned business with fourth generation hospitalian, Mark Steele, leading the helm. 

Elevate Your Dining Experience

Food allergy safety isn’t just about avoiding risks—it’s about creating a dining environment where all guests feel valued and cared for. With RHI’s FAST Card, you’re not just meeting state of Nevada requirements; you’re setting a higher standard for hospitality.

Invest in your team. Protect your guests. Grow your business. Learn more and enroll in the Food Allergy Safety Techniques course at rhinstitute.com. Enroll online or contact us to schedule a group training today!