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Restaurant apps make healthy dining out easier.

Allison Jacobs
Special to the Jewish News

= FOOD '1 RIPP

ou've heard the phrase,
"There's an app for that!"
Back in 2009, Apple coined
this catchy mantra in a commercial that
aired for the iPhone 3G, emphasizing
that apps can serve almost all basic
needs. While there are limitations, there
has been a surge in app development
and usage since the first generation of
iPhone and Android smartphones.
Social media apps such as Instagram
and Snapchat are designed for social
connectivity. Taking "selfies" is all the
rage, but sharing pictures of mouth-
watering meals is also a pleasurable
pastime. As a result of a growing num-
ber of so-called "foodies," apps dedicat-
ed to cooking and eating are becoming
increasingly popular.
Nowadays, there is probably an app
for your favorite chain restaurant, apps
that allow you to scan grocery items to
determine nutritional value and oth-
ers that review restaurants. Best of all,
apps like "Grubhub" or "Push for Pizza"
deliver food to your doorstep in record
time.
At jacapps, a Metro Detroit-based,
family-owned app development com-
pany, their team of app developers and
marketers is keeping up with foodie
trends. Jacapps is constantly searching
for ways to enhance smartphone users'
experience — known as the UX —
when it comes to dining out or eating
in.
Alex Burnstein, who heads up the
marketing sector for jacapps, is in-
the-know when it comes to innovative
food-based apps. Burnstein grew up
in Farmington Hills and Huntington
Woods, where she currently resides.
She earned a degree in advertising at
Michigan State University with a spe-
cialization in public relations. While
she isn't working hard on marketing for
jacapps, she is an active member of the
Tamarack Alumni Committee.
Burnstein is a proud team member
in developing the app "Food Tripping:'
The idea for the app was coined by
Hollywood star Adrian Grenier (best
known for his role as Vinnie Chase in
HBO's Entourage). Grenier co-founded
an initiative called SHFT with indepen-
dent film producer Peter Glatzer. The
idea for Food Tripping was to allow
mobile users to easily find healthier res-

44

August 6 • 2015

F. The Juice Bar
Juice Joint Smooiniee

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taurants and grocery stores across the
United States.
There's a Detroit connection, too.
SHFT is partnered with the Ford Motor
Company as is jacapps. That collabora-
tion makes it seamless for the Food
Tripping app to work with voice com-
mands in Ford's Sync-enabled vehicles,
making it safe to find restaurants even
while driving.
Wanderlusts using Food Tripping can
locate alternatives to typical fast food
options, in addition to health-conscious
eateries, farmers' markets, vegetarian/
vegan options, specialty grocery stores
and even microbreweries nearby.
So what makes food-centered
apps like Food Tripping a great app?
According to Brandon Dalaly, former
project manager at jacapps, usability is
key.
"It's about making people feel com-
fortable with technology that is still
new for some; he says.
Due to its user-friendly design, Food
Tripping has received 4+ star feedback
among mobile customers. User reviews
from the App Store include, "easy to
use" and "intuitive says Kim Arnette,
mobile app developer at jacapps.

Van" 2.1. With A
Arnette and the jacapps team empha-
size that the healthy spin on dining
options helps Food Tripping stand out.
Customers are concerned about where
they should eat, as well as what types
of foods to include or eliminate in their
diet. The "Dirty Dozen/Clean 15" app,
for example, eliminates the question of
"organic or non-organic?" while shop-
ping for produce.
Apps that sync with fitness tracking

devices like the Fitbit are also becom-
ing increasingly popular. When you
download the app, you can easily track
aerobic activity, calories, sleep data and
more. Fitbit owners can monitor prog-
ress over time and participate in fitness
challenges with other users.
While health-oriented apps provide
intrinsic rewards, other food and res-
taurant apps aim for instant gratifica-
tion, which people crave almost as
much as their next meal. "One thing
a lot of restaurants are doing is using
their apps as reward systems;' Arnette
says.
For instance, Starbucks junkies who
use their branded app can accumulate
rewards after buying a certain number
of items. They also receive weekly dis-
counts, free music and app downloads,
access to Starbucks' menu, a Starbucks
locator and even a gift-card generator
all in one convenient spot.
As an alternative to apps, some res-
taurants continue to use QR (Quick
Response) codes for reward redemp-
tion. While they can be easily scanned
with a smartphone, QR codes are
unable to hold the vast amount of infor-
mation that an app can.
Food-based apps not only provide
accessibility to discounts and rewards,
they also cater to an increased desire for
speed and convenience.
"That's where the apps need to go for
food — making your life easier:' says
Burnstein.
While the jacapps team is unsure of
their next food-related app endeavor,
they clearly understand the shift in
customers' needs and the importance of
making the world of eating and dieting
a less overwhelming, less expensive and
healthier place.

❑

Capitol Park Welcomes
Local Coffee Shop
The latest retail tenant at The Albert in
Capitol Park is Rochester-based Dessert
Oasis Coffee Roasters, which will open
its second location in September 2015.
Neighbored by Detroit Bikes, the
specialty coffee roaster known for its
nightly live entertainment will occupy
about 2,600 square feet of ground-level
retail space in the luxury apartment
community.
"As an up and coming community
of artists and young professionals, it
is only fitting that a local coffee house
joins Capitol Park," said Richard Broder,
Broder & Sachse CEO. "At The Albert,
we've set out to provide amenities that
exceed the expectations of our renters.
The addition of Dessert Oasis Coffee
encourages a community atmosphere in
Capitol Park where our residents, locals
and visitors can come together."
Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters special-
izes in small-batch coffee roasting and
brewing by the cup. Accompanying the
specialty coffee are specialty desserts
freshly baked each morning, light lunch
items, chocolate and cheese fondues
served tableside anytime and live music
acts nightly.

Beer On The Lake

The Greater West Bloomfield Republican
Club will hold its first ever craft beer
and BBQ festival from 6 to 9 p.m. on
Thursday, Aug. 19, at the home of
Orchard Lake Councilman and Mrs.
Jerry Kosmensky.
"Republicans love to celebrate
Michigan's glorious summers and this
craft beer festival is a natural way to
support our local craft breweries and
to raise funds for our ongoing activities
in the area," said Janine Kateff, GWBR
founder and president. "Gail and Jerry's
beautiful Cass Lake home will provide a
stunning venue for this 'Pure Michigan'
event:'
For details and registration, call
(248) 444-5700 or visit www.gwbr.com .
Tickets are $60 per person.

❑