In Praise of Gregg Rapp
In 2022 the Hospitality Hall of Fame honored Gregg Rapp as a member because of his pioneering work in the field of Menu Engineering. Here are some videos, photos, book excerpts, collages, links, press clippings, and memories of the wonderful, inimitable Gregg Rapp. The Washington State University event was held March 8-10, 2022.
Gregg Rapp Biography
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Gregg was born on September 5th, 1958 and grew up in Dayton Ohio. He graduated Washington State University and went on to pioneer the industry of Menu Engineering. No matter where you dine, there's a good chance you've ordered off a menu influenced by Gregg. He consulted with most of the major restaurant chains in the US and abroad to make their menus more appealing to consumers and more profitable for themselves. His science-based approach to restaurant menu design introduced a new empirical way to analyze and change restaurant menus. What was formally an art could now be more of a science.
Gregg lectured around the world at both companies, universities, and industry conventions, and he was frequently interviewed on television news programs. Although he lived in Palm Springs, California for most of his life, he spent most of his time traveling and "changing the world, one menu at a time." His work on restaurant menus was so ubiquitous that in 2020, he was asked to appear on as himself on the gameshow To Tell the Truth. His unassuming nature fooled all of the three celebrities, who wrongly selected one of the decoy contestants as the "real menu engineer." In 2019, his alma mater, Washington State University honored Gregg by working with friends and admirers to create the Gregg Rapp Menu Engineering Scholarship. In 2022, Gregg was honored again by being inducted into their Hospitality Hall of Fame (see video). Shortly after Gregg's appearance on To Tell the Truth was broadcast, Gregg passed away in Palm Springs on November 11, 2020. "His life and legacy lives on through the colorful and vast circle of friends he nurtured through his life." |
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Here's Three Videos Clips I was asked to send for
Gregg's Induction into the Hospitality Hall of Fame (2022)
Gregg Rapp's Impact on Restaurants and the Field of Hospitality |
Gregg Rapp's Impact on Me (and on my three daughters) |
"Tell us a Personal Story that Captures the Essence of Gregg Rappp." |
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Here's how I introduced Gregg in Slim by Design (pp. 80+)
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My Daughters made this Word Cloud Tapestry for
Gregg's 60th Birthday Party in Phoenix
This Plaque was a "Thank You" for the first time Gregg Lectured in my
Consumer Behavior course at Cornell in 2007.
In 2016, Gregg came out to visit me when I was visiting my parents in Iowa. Here's dinner at the Wansink household . . .
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This was a canvas wall hanging made for Gregg's 60th Birthday
