News

Quiznos, Taco Del Mar snag former Qdoba culinary expert

May 3, 2019

Rego Restaurant Group, which owns Quiznos and Taco Del Mar, has hired Chef Mike Gieseman, as its director of Culinary and Innovation. Gieseman, who was manager of Research and Development for Qdoba Restaurant Group, and has served as a consultant for a variety of companies, is now reformulating the menus of Quiznos and Taco Del Mar, according to a company press release.

"Mike brings a tremendous understanding of the culinary experience our guests are seeking when they step into one of our restaurants," Mark Lohmann, Rego chief brand office, said in the release. "As the leader of our culinary center of excellence, his consumer insights-driven methodology is a major competitive advantage for our portfolio of turnaround brands as we continue to drive a transformational agenda. Even if the menus at each of our restaurants are drastically different, the notion of fully understanding what the guest craves is a central driver across brands."

One of Gieseman's first areas of focus is continuing to improve the quality of the dining experience at Taco Del Mar as well as creating the restaurant's latest limited-time offer — the Lobster and Seafood Taco, according to the release. Served chilled, it features lobster salad with cilantro, onions and serrano peppers, served over shredded cabbage and topped with house-made pico de gallo and Taco Del Mar's white sauce.

For Quiznos, the brand has been honing recipes that feature brisket and prime rib. These moves align with the portfolio's direction toward introducing higher-quality meats and unique sauces, Gieseman said.

"I'm incredibly excited to add the next premium items and look forward to adding more quality recipes that guests will love," he said in the release.  "If we look back to understand what's worked and what hasn't, we see that we don't need to come up with some over-the-top, crazy concoction. Instead, our consumers want simple, back-to-basics recipes that meet their cravings."

Based in Denver, Colorado, and backed by High Bluff Capital Partners, Rego Restaurant manages nearly 800 restaurants in 32 countries.