Commercial Refrigeration Catering Fridges

Commercial refrigeration or catering fridges offer so many choices when it comes to choosing refrigeration for a catering business.It may seem at first glance that refrigeration is just a storage cabinet or under counter unit that keeps food chilled until required. If you're a caterer or chef, however your requirements will be so much more diverse and demanding than just a standard domestic refrigerator or freezer.

Catering fridges have to be reliable and robust if they are going to meet the demands of a full on day to day catering kitchen or food handling outlet. Doors are opened and closed constantly during food prep or service  and so cooling down processes need to be able to meet with this constant change from external air rushing in. Forced air or fan assisted cooling will help to keep temperatures more stable more efficiently.

It is essential that the commercial refrigeration fridges and commercial freezers for catering also accept GN containers as these are widely used in professional kitchens. It is easier to store the same containers that you cook with or use at service to refrigerate ingredients or dishes. This saves time, washing up and improves staff efficiency.

Chest freezers are suitable for storing frozen ingredients or meats as they offer large capacity without racking or specific spaces for allocated dishes. Although this may also work as a negative as the space inside the freezer is vast and you may find meat and frozen produce gets forgotten if left without tidying for a long period. They can also be less organised than the cabinets or under counter units which have shelves for more control.

Catering fridges can come in all sizes to suit the space you have available and also the food handling tasks you carry out each day. Restaurant freezers can also come in different sizes and layouts to best suit your kitchen. For catering kitchens or food handling outlets that have lots of refrigerated or frozen produce you may also wish to consider  walk in cold rooms.  These are vast rooms size refrigerated units that can have shelving to store goods effectively. They can be offered in many different configurations and sizes to suit any business needs. The walk in cold rooms offer a commercial refrigeration solution that can also offer catering fridges and catering freezers combined in one room.

Food Prep Machines Commercial Appliances For Easy And Quick Food Preparation

Food prep machines are a boon to the busy catering kitchen. These kitchen machines offer a simplified and industrial way of preparing dishes prior to service. Food service industries such as catering and food service outlets need help with all the various preparation tasks that are required for a professional hospitality outlet. It's not just important to have quick food preparation it has to also be skilled and done correctly.


Commercial Catering appliances are made to be used in professional catering kitchens. The food prep machines will make light work of the mundane day to day tasks that take place in the kitchen before dishes are even created. These include vegetable preparation and spice preparation or juice extraction ready for a busy service. Commercial food prep machines are made with a busy catering kitchen in mind they can handle the day to day preparations with ease and are made to be robust to cope with the harsh environment of the professional catering kitchen.


Food prep machines includes kitchen machines that will prepare vegetables at speed and to the specification of the chef. These can be used by less qualified staff to create all the vegetables and fruit to suit the specific dishes that chef will create at lunch or dinner service. vegetables may be cut to julienne style for stylish presentation or grated for salads and coleslaw or even diced for inclusion in casseroles, pies and oven baked dishes. There are also specialised kitchen machines that assist with potato preparation such as peeling or chipping. These are great for fish and chip shops, takeaway outlets, restaurants, canteens and also care homes where a large capacity of potatoes are required for food service. 


Food prep machines such as ice cream machines allow homemade ice cream or sorbets to be made on the premises allowing chefs to add a twist to desserts and customers appreciate the home made authenticity of the dishes made. With the emphasis on diners wanting to know the provenance of their dishes food prep machines are ideal for caterers wanting to promote locally sourced or healthy dishes on the menu. Create homemade burgers, sausages, ice cream, freshly prepared meat dishes using the kitchen machines that will make light work of preparing meat, vegetables and fruits.


Spice grinders make light work of producing large quantities of spices, pods and herbs for inclusion in chefs dishes.These are particularly suited to Indian or Chinese restaurants where spices need to be handled carefully but take a lot of the chefs time if it all needs to be done manually.


Other kitchen machines or food prep machines that can be used by the professional caterer are slicers and mixers to create finished dishes from raw ingredients. Mixers obviously are able to create a whole array of prepared dishes from scratch saving time and stress for the busy kitchen. Juice extractors are also great for creating a whole range of refreshing drinks these are ideal for breakfast service but are also great for juice bars, leisure spas and sandwich shops.


So whatever the food preparation task you have in mind there should be a food prep machine to help with the task. Make sure you choose from catering equipment commercial appliances to ensure they can match the pace and requirements of your catering or food service outlet.

Drinks - Hot Or Cold? - Using Drinks Dispensers

Beverage machines cover a whole range of drink dispensers equipment. Drink dispensers are available for all businesses not just restaurants but also for conference centres, rest rooms, staff rooms, care homes and hotels. Juice bars will benefit from a chilled drink dispenser and outdoor caterers will find hot water boilers invaluable for drinks and washing up. A coffee machine will enable you to offer your customers a range of coffees, from espresso to lattes.

Hot water boilers are available in LPG or gas versions and prove invaluable for outdoor caterers. Not only can they be used for making hot drinks and cooking tasks but also for washing up tasks,too. Gas hot water boilers are great when mains electricity may not be available such as camping with Scouts, Guides or youth groups. Plug in hot water boilers are very much valued by church groups, WI and fund raising groups where constant hot water is required. Plumbed in hot water boilers are increasingly popular in staff rooms or rest rooms in busy local authority departments where staff are constantly coming and going and the use of a kettle is inefficient.

A chilled drink dispenser will keep cold drinks at optimum temperature for dispensing. It will also serve as a merchandiser so customers will see the cold drinks ready to serve and be tempted to buy, thus increasing sales.

A coffee machine can be a simple jug and hotplate filter coffee machine in a pub or a shiny espresso machine in a high street coffee outlet. A filter coffee machine will ensure you have a ready supply of hot coffee or fresh brewed tea on the go ideal for after meals in pub diners or smaller sandwich shops and cafes. These are really easy to use and jugs of coffee can be taken direct to the table for refills.

A coffee machine or espresso machine can be used to create many different styles of coffee, from cappucinos with the frothy milk topping to lattes. These machines normally have a steam wand and a frothing wand, dependent upon style and make, which allows for the creation of many hot beverages. Hot beverages look great served in special coffee glasses or specifically designed crockery cups.

Choosing A Till For Your New SME Business

Choosing cash handling equipment for small businesses can seem daunting. You need to know that your cash register or EPoS systems will be easy to use whilst the business is in it's infancy. An important factor is also that the tills will be able to grow with your business in the future. It's no good having to buy new tills as your business develops. EPoS terminals offer point of sale for retail or hospitality businesses. They can be simple cash tills or more complex touch screen versions.

EPoS terminals are cash tills that are 'backed up' by PC technology. EPoS stands for Electronic Point Of Sale. We've all seen these EPoS tills in action at checkouts in supermarket outlets or in our local restaurant as a touch screen till. They are basically a computer system with an easy to use interface for the business this may be a scanner and monitor screen for retail outlets or a touch screen for restaurants and bars. These EPoS terminals are increasingly more affordable as the technology has become more popular and available. So for a new small business costs are not prohibitive and yet the control and management of your business will be much enhanced by using a reliable and future proof EPoS system.

It is prudent for small businesses to buy a reliable and easy to use cash register even if you decide to go for one of the simpler cash tills on the market. Cash registers will give you a safe and easy way of taking payments from customers. Any cash register will enable you to record your sales for accounting purposes. The more complex tills will allow you to keep an eye on sales of particular products, track stock and give receipts to customers. Receipts are also a good marketing tool allowing your company and any sales/advertising message to be promoted to customers. For cash handling you may also want to consider security devices such as note detectors or under counter safes.

EPoS systems and many of the more complex tills will give you greater control in your business. They will help you with stock control and stock auditing, sales data, wastage, managing promotions and offers and keeping an eye on staff sales / voids. EPoS terminals can even be linked to credit card payments, hand held electronic order pads, advertising screens and cash and carry warehouse ordering systems.

Make sure you get advice and build a good relationship with your cash register salesperson. Ensure sure you ask about after sales support and training and that you buy a system,which is future proof. Buy the best solution that you can afford but take into account your future business needs, too.

Dining Tables Make Them Look Professional For Any Dining Occasion

Create a professional presentation to your dining tables with  table top display items. It can make all the difference to presentation to use a table candle or other restaurant equipment such as a stylish cruet set or table number stands. Tablemats or placemats can give a professional contemporary feel for dining occasions. Beautiful table presentation is easy with table top display items also items like table number stands can also help with organising diners or ensuring seat plans are kept to.

A table heater can not only help with making a table top display look elegant but has a practical use, too. Keep food warm for diners at the table with a table heater, allowing dishes to be served a little at a time from a main dish or keep side orders warm whilst eating the main dish. A table heater consists of a metal stand with a cavity underneath for tealights to be lit allowing the heat to keep food warm.

Restaurant equipment such as tablemats and table top display items are also suitable for pubs, hotels, hostels, home dining and care homes. This restaurant equipment offers catering quality items, which offer a hard wearing solution for any dining occasion. Placemats and tablemats are available in a range of designs and finishes to suit any dining table, choose faux leather for a contemporary feel or melamine for more austere setting. Granite tablemats offer a very rustic but simple way to make a table top display stand out as a design piece .

Other table top display items, which can enhance a table top setting include a cruet set. These cruet sets can be simple salt and pepper pots or a set and stand containing oil bottles and condiments. The cruet sets can be simple affairs or more authentic salt pepper and spice mills in a range of styles and finishes from traditional wood to Cole and Mason elegance to add design presentation to any dining table.

A table candle can add a really lovely ambience to any dining table. There are all sorts of table candle available , from chuch style candles to rechargeable battery operated. These offer a flameless candle solution, which would be ideal for outdoor dining or where lit candles aren't appropriate.
Table number stands are stylish table top display items, which are also practical for restaurants, hotels and events caterers. For weddings, christenings or hospitality functions these table number stands can prove invaluable with organising guests and ensuring seating plans are maintained.

Choose Commercial Catering Crockery For Hard Wearing But Elegant Tableware

When thinking of crockery should you aim for robustness or elegance? The fact is that if you choose commercial catering crockery you can have both! Catering crockery is designed to withstand the rigors of a catering environment but is also designed to look good on the dining table. Dinnerware and tableware can be both attractive and hard wearing. Catering crockery offers a glamorous solution for dining occasions with plates, dishes and dinner service items available in whiteware or patterns.

Dinner service crockery is available in the Lumina range of fine bone china with a beautiful finish. The range has some beautiful pieces including oval milk jugs and beverage pots as well as mugs, plates and dishes to enhance any dining occasion. Churchill crockery also offers some wonderful dinnerware with plates, cups, dishes and bowls available in white or a wide range of crockery patterned designs to give a complemented look at all courses.

A range of catering crockery whiteware is available for day to day dining, with great value for money in mind. The white dishes, plates, bowls, mugs and cups and saucers will complement any meal occasion from every day supper to dining celebrations. This whiteware catering crockery is rugged and great value with a more budget priced range available. The budget catering crockery is much more robust than china available in cook shops or department stores for the same price. It is made for restaurants, canteens and bistros and so will withstand many servings, washes and handling.

All of the catering crockery has strengthened edges for chip resistance. The crockery finish is fully vitrified, which gives a durability to the glaze and also offers heat and shock resistance. Most of the catering crockery is also oven, microwave, dishwasher and freezer proof so anyone can appreciate that this crockery is durable, robust and made to last.

The crockery available from the catering crockery ranges has an elegance from the simplicity of pure white dinnerware to the contemporary elegance of patterned crockery ranges. Whether you are offering a homely dining experience and want pottery effect stoneware crockery for are serving up a modern mix of dishes and need coloured porcelain crockery you will find it in the catering crockery ranges. Because this crockery is catering crockery it is proof itself of design in conjunction with strength.

Health and Safety Regulations - planning and organisation for your business

Health and safety at work is an important aspect of organisation within your business. There are statutory and enforceable requirements applicable to all businesses. Insurance to cover your legal requirements, workplace health and safety adherence and staff knowledge is key to being organised to meet the standards required by law. Be organised with first aid, fire safety and health and safety at work and you will be ensuring your legal position. HSE at work has advice and guidance for business.

Fire safety at work is essential, as are regular fire alarm tests and evacuation drills. Fire exit signs are easily recognised - printed in green and will pointout nearest exits and evacuation assembly points. Fire exit signs and fire safety will form part of any risk assessment for business owners. Part of the risk assessment will also form an awareness and prevention of fires in the first place. Fire safety is about reducing risks and being aware of possible fire hazards not just having fire exit signs. No smoking signs are also available to comply with the no smoking legal requirements.

First aid in the workplace should be adequate and appropriate. A suitably stocked first aid kit suitable to your business - for instance a catering first aid kit for catering outlets available to all staff and suitable for the number of employees is a minimum requirement. First aid workplace health and safety compliance also requires an appointed person to take charge of first aid arrangements and information for employees about first aid arrangements.

With regard to workplace health and safety employers have a legal duty under the Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations (HSIER) to display health and safety posters in a prominent position in each workplace or provide each worker with a copy of the equivalent leaflet outlining British health and safety laws.

A good place to start is to be organised with health and safety nominate one person as a competent representative, ensure you have sufficient relevant insurance and make risk assessments and a written health and safety policy and ensure you register with the relevent bodies. For further advice and guidance visit the HSE site.

Flexible Baking With Flexible Silicone Moulds

Of all the cake baking supplies silicone bakeware is probably one of the most exciting. Cookware made of silicon is available in flexible non stick moulds for cake making, patisserie products or chocolates. Bake ware made from silicon has benefits over traditional metal cookware. These silicone cake making supplies provide many different shapes for making cakes from favourites such as muffins and madeleines to pyramids and heart shapes - wonderful cake baking supplies for enthusiastic cooks.

Silicone bakeware is used by professional chefs but is equally as useful for the home baking enthusiast. These flexible cake making supplies are available in a range of many different shapes so giving a wide scope for experimenting in the kitchen. The non stick moulds are made from 100 percent food quality silicone are dishwasher safe and can withstand temperatures between -40 to + 280 degrees C.

The silicone bakeware are ideal as baking supplies as they allow the cook to simply push the finished cakes out of the moulds once cooked. This cookware has great thermal properties, too allowing the cook to bake cakes and pastries at 10 degrees below the temperature required for traditional metal baking trays. This saves energy and allows a greater degree of control and flexibility in choice of ingredients.
Silicone bakeware is the modern alternative to traditional bake ware it offers a non stick piece of cookware. The bake ware does not require greasing and is not susceptible to rust. The flexible silicone bakeware is flexible and robust even after many washes. This cookware has many exciting benefits over traditional bake ware. So if you feel like experimenting in the kitchen and want to break free of your traditional baking of cup cakes and muffins get yourself some silicone bakeware. The future for your cakes and pastries is as flexible as the moulds themselves.

Your Reception Area Is Your Window To The World - Make It Work For Your Business

Your business's reception or lobby area is often your window to the world. For great customer service organise your reception area to reflect your business strengths and image. If you think of a hotel reception area it will give you a good idea. A great hotel lobby will be stylish, have visitor information, a tidy hotel reception desk and possibly barrier systems to filter queues. Great customer service requires good organisation within the lobby by using hotel supplies this can be achieved.

Hotel Supplies such as visitor information displays and folders enable you to tell visitors about your company and to promote information that the visitor will find useful. Let people know if you have won awards or have something special to offer. Good customer service isn't just about offering something from your company hotel supplies leaflet and card holders displaying useful information offer the edge over your competitors. Or indeed promoting your latest charity support, which will always make a lasting impression on visitors. This is known as CRM or cause related marketing.

Hotel reception desks are ideal for many reception areas as long as they are kept tidy and clean. Again this is your interface with visitors so show an organised, well planned lobby desk area to make a good impression.

Barrier systems are ideal for organising you lobby areas and giving a professional image to visitors and clients. Barrier systems can be traditional rope barriers or more modern systems. These can ensure that your lobby is organised with discreet queuing in place and allowing free flow around the reception area.
You will also find suitcase trolleys in a hotel lobby area this may not be applicable to your average business reception area but may be useful to spa and leisure centres. Training and conference  centres may also find use for suitcase trolleys for delegates briefcases and luggage. By being organised and thoughtful you are giving good customer service by ensuring that everything is taken care of.

Refrigeration Systems - Ice Cube Makers - Cubes, Flakes And Crushers

Commercial ice makers offer refrigeration equipment solutions for bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants. Ice makers offer varying production and ice storage levels with ice cube makers suited to all businesses. Ice flakers are ice machines that produce ice flakes instead of cubes. These ice flaker refrigeration systems are suitable for fishmongers, cocktail bars, delis and butchers. The ice flakes are suitable for storing or displaying delicate and perishable foods. Ice machines include ice crushers.

Commercial ice makers come in all sizes and production levels. Small under counter ice machines are ideal for pubs, bars and nightclubs. Ice will be produced over a 24 hour period and will be stored in a storage tank area. Mains fill ice makers are plumbed into a water system and fills automatically.
Paddle system ice makers eliminates the need for water pumps and spray jets and are ideal for hard water areas. These ice machines create a hollow ice cube, which cool drinks faster and for longer.
Trickle down commercial ice makers are less complex machines with fewer moving parts, which means there's less to go wrong and it's easier to clean. These refrigeration systems also use less water.
Spray ice machines create longer lasting clearer ice with less clogging together.

When buying commercial ice makers ask yourself how much ice you need to be produced within 24 hours and also do you need a large storage bin so ice is always readily available. look at what ice maker you have already and consider whether this size is adequate or you need to improve on production rate. Ice cube makers are also available as manual fill ice makers ideal for smaller units or where plumbing isn't available.

The Right Glassware And Drinking Glasses Enhance All Dining Occasions

From day to day drinking through to special occasions the right glassware will enhance any occasion. drinking glasses can be either basic such as pint glasses for beers and ciders or wine glasses for everyday use. Glassware such as cocktail glasses, whisky glasses, champagne glasses and shot glasses are more specialist and will complement occasions such as a party or celebration. Crystal glasses will make any occasion seem special.
Glassware wine glasses are also known as stemware obviously due to the look of the glass.Wine glasses are available for white or red wines. An ideal wine glass for red would have a rounder, wider bowl which allows increased oxidation and gives the red wine a well formed taste. Tall wine glasses with a wide bowl are ideal for full bodied wines such as Bordeaux as they direct the wine to the back of the mouth. Bigger or broader bowl drinking glasses would be ideal for more delicate red wines as it directs the wine to the tip of the tongue.
Other popular stemware comes in the form of champagne glasses or champagne flutes these are delicate very slender drinking glasses. The champagne glasses allow the bubbles in sparkling wines to stay in the glass giving a better taste and visual effect. Champagne glasses are designed like white wine glasses to be held by the stem so that the wine isn't warmed by the hand.
Cocktail glasses are really fun pieces of glassware shaped to ensure that your cocktail glasses match your specific cocktail. They are ideal for parties, weddings and celebrations. There is also a trend towards having cocktails at dinner parties as a welcome drink with aperitifs. Whether you fancy a Martini, Capri, Margarita or Jazz Sling cocktail glasses that complement your drinks will be very much appreciated by your guests.
Drinking glasses that are crystal glasses are also available for wine and champagne. The crystal glasses are exquisite and offer sophisticated elegance. The clarity and presentation of your drinks will be enhanced by using crystal glasses.
For every day drinking beer glasses come in different styles and are offered in pint glasses or half pint. Beer glasses for parties and or dining occasions are also available in pilsner or stemmed glassware styles and can be used as beer glasses or for ciders and mixers. Nucleated drinking glasses are available in pint glasses or half pint these specially designed glasses give a good head to beer and maintain it's effervescence.
Whisky Glasses and shot glasses tend to be used specifically for spirits or shorts or shooters. Shot glasses can be used for small amounts of shots such as tequila or as chasers in drinks. Whisky glasses tend to be squat tumblers with the capacity to add water, soda or mixers if required. Whisky glasses are sturdy and solid giving a sense of tradition.

Catering Food Storage - Organise Stock For Rotation, Food Regs and Less Wastage

Food storage is probably one of the most important organisational tasks in the catering kitchen. Plastic food containers used wisely can help in organising food storage for effective rotation and less wastage. Obviously food regs have to be met with strict adherence so food storage containers are essential kitchenware utensils. Kitchen storage may consist of tupperware style food storage or plastic storage boxes like ingredient bins. Buy all types of food storage at http://www.caterfor.co.uk.
GN or Gastronorm food storage is widely used in the professional kitchen for food storage. They are stainless steel food storage containers that may be used in the oven, in bain maries and in refrigerated stores. They are very versatile for food storage throughout the kitchen and servery area for both storage of food and display.
Plastic food containers such as ingredient bins and kitchenware are great for storing dry ingredients and produce as well as pre-cooked food and are specifically designed forrestaurant supply. Kitchen storage such as tupperware style food boxes are great asfood containers. They seal in all types of foods and ensure that food storage is safe and easily managed with rotation and food regulations in mind. Plastic storage boxes or bins for dry ingredients ensure that older stock is used up before newer ensuring strict rotation and less waste.
Storage of food may also require certain exacting requirements such as keeping food warm whilst in transit or keeping drinks and food chilled. Food storage for hot food may consist of Thermos style flasks, insulated pizza bags or insulated plastic storage boxes. These thermos style boxes maintain food heat and quality, therefore reducing wastage. Plastic food containers are also available as cold drinks dispensers, these are ideal for events caterers, outdoor catering events and hospitality.
Make sure you have a good range of food storage containers and food boxes to meet all your organisational needs in the kitchen.

Boost Sales With Display Fridges - Use Commercial Refrigeration To Present Food And Drink To Increase profits

Commercial refrigeration display fridges can boost your profits with effective presentation of products. Bottle coolers, beer fridges and display fridges used as a merchandiser is your advertising space to encourage new, increased sales. A shop display of cans, bottles and food can also increase sales with fully stocked items to encourage impulse and multi buys. Catering equipment such as display fridges and display freezers can be used in both catering and retail. Buy at  http://www.caterfor.co.uk/.
Commercial refrigeration is an essential piece of catering equipment in bars, pubs and clubs bottles can be kept in bottle coolers, which are essentially display fridges for back bar use. These can be bottle coolers or beer fridges where bottles of juices, beer, wine and mixers can be stored at optimum temperature for serving to customers. The benefit of these display fridges and bottle coolers is that they display your drinks selection without drinkers having to look at a menu or asking for items you don't have. Often these bottle coolers and beer fridges are placed in a position where they prompt people to buy something they may not normally and so increase sales. The merchandisers are well lit with clear glass doors so the bottles are displayed well and look inviting.
Clever merchandising or presentation of products can increase your sales and profits. Caterers use refrigerated merchandisers to show products at their best. These restaurant supplies allow products to be displayed in eye catching displays in display cabinets to encourage diners to buy desserts and cold starters. If the food looks appealing it will increase sales of dishes and with the display being refrigerated there is less wastage.
Serve over counters are becoming more popular as food display counters they can be used in sandwich shops, delicatessens, shops and take away restaurants. Products can be displayed in an attractive way that will encourage customers to buy. Why not add some extras such as juice, fruit or chilled food to encourage them to buy more? Serve over counters are also great for butchers, greengrocers or fishmongers to enable a lovely food display within the correct temperature.
Commercial refrigeration can also be used for shop display of chilled items such as cans of drinks, bottles and food. A well stocked food display chiller displayed in a prominent position will encourage impulse buys of bottles and cans. A range of goods can be presented in display fridges and display freezers with glass doors encouraging sales and saving energy as customers only open the doors to take products out when buying. Display fridges such as multidecks can be used for dairy products, sandwiches and even fruit giving customers a good range to choose from.
Refrigerated display cabinets when properly presented and stocked will enable you to maximise sales and boost profits, encouraging more customers and impulse buys.

About the Author

I currently work for a catering equipment supplier offering pre purchase advice and after sales care. Bottle coolers, Beer Fridges and Display Fridges And Freezers for catering and retail are available on our web http://www.caterfor.co.uk/

Care Home Equipment - Give High Quality Customer Service To Elderly

When we say customer service we normally think of shops or service industries. But customer service is relevant in residential care homes, too. The customer being the resident who needs elderly aids, medical supply equipment and ethical care from caring staff. It is essential that nursing home supplies are bought that will enhance the life of the elderly or make their existence as comfortable and safe as possible. Care home equipment will also help you to meet regulations. http://www.caterfor.co.uk/
Nursing home supplies include elderly aids such as mobile commodes, medical supply cupboard essentials such as disposable gloves and urinals, whilst disability aids such as wheelchairs and easy grip cutlery. Medical aids, nurses uniforms and  privacy screens are all available from Cater For Care Home Suppliers. All these items of care home equipment will enable residential care providers to ensure that great customer service is adhered to by providing for the needs of all residents.
Medical aids are not the only things that enable care homes to give good customer service to elderly residents. The food that elderly people are served every day has to be nutritional, easy to cook and also look good. With cooking machines for the kitchen you can create tasty good value meals giving good customer service. Food service microwave ovens can ensure you address food allergies and medical requirements, simply and within budget. The customer service bit is producing high quality meals to satisfy all residents using cooking machines that offer versatile and speedy cooking.
The Care Quality Commission who regulates residential care homes has guidance for professionals information online which will help you through the expected standards and expectations for care home businesses.

About the Author

I currently work for a catering equipment supplier offering pre purchase advice and after sales care. Care Home Equipment such as nurses uniforms, medical aids and cooking machines are available on our web http://www.caterfor.co.uk/

Clever merchandising can increase sales - use food display equipment to boost your catering sales

Clever merchandising or presentation of products can increase your sales and profits. Caterers use servery and food display machines to show products at their best. People use their sight or smell before they buy food so monopolise on this with restaurant supplies like servery or food merchandisers.Catering outlets can install display cabinets either ambient, hot or chilled for food display. Display cabinets with well presented food can help boost sales. Buy them at http://www.caterfor.co.uk/
With hot food or pre-prepared food display cabinets are ideal restaurant supplies. Cooked hot pies and pastries can be stored in merchandisers and heated display cabinets. They look and smell wonderful and that alone can boost sales. Pie cabinets can be used in canteens, takeaways and even for outdoor caterers with LPG versions available.
Servery equipment is also great for food display. This catering equipment may include bains marie, soup kettles, carvery and heated food display where diners can see the food they are ordering so enticing their senses and hopefully improving your sales. Some of the equipment is also ideal for self serve so customers can help themselves to hot soup (display fresh crusty bread rolls near by in lovely willow bread baskets to really tempt them!) Other items can be stored in bread baskets or serving dishes, too. Encourage customers to buy extras with their meal by making it easy to see, appealing to the senses and readily available.
Restaurant supplies also include ambient food display cabinets or merchandisers these are great for cakes, chocolate bars and sundries in small shops, coffee shops or takeaways. They enable customers to see a range of extra products in the shop display tempting them to buy whilst they are waiting for their meal or sandwich to be prepared. A lot of these are used as serve over counters, too. So whilst they take up space on the counter it is valuable advertising space, which can also be used when serving customers.



About the Author

I currently work for a catering equipment supplier offering pre purchase advice and after sales care. Servery And Food Display Machines such as pie cabinets and soup kettles and Shop Display for catering and retail are available on our web http://www.caterfor.co.uk/

Corporate Hospitality Events - Beverage Machines For Refreshments

Beverage machines are ideal for corporate hospitality where groups are to be entertained. Often it's the little details that make a difference so if you are hosting a training event or a conference make it count. Ensure that delegates are kept happy and alert with a range of beverage machines to include a coffee dispenser, tea drink dispenser, air pot or water jugs. Beverage machines catering supplies should be also be added to your list.  Buy beverage machines at http://www.caterfor.co.uk/
The air pot is a great piece of catering equipment and can be either manual operation pump handle or electrical push button. The air pot will keep hot water, tea and coffee warm whilst meetings or presentations are running and then can be used immediately in the interlude. They are easy to refill, can be labelled and are easy to use. These beverage machines and catering supplies can be bought from beverage service supplies.
For outdoor corporate hospitality or where facilities are limited LPG water boilers are really great. These will boil up water for hot beverages and even provide washing up water at events.
For more sophisticated events the range of beverage machines offers products such as espresso machine, coffee maker, teapots and cold beverage machines offering a range of drinks for delegates. A drink dispenser can dispense an array of drinks. If your company is health conscious you may even wish to set up a juice bar with a cold drink dispenser. These beverage machines can even be set up in staff room areas for trainers to have space to take time out and enjoy a rest.
Catering supplies such as teapots, jugs, cafetieres and coffee grinders can all be useful when organising corporate hospitality events refreshments.

About the Author

I currently work for a catering equipment supplier offering pre purchase advice and after sales care. Beverage Machines such as the coffee maker range and other ranges of drink dispenser are available on our web http://www.caterfor.co.uk/beverage-machines

Home Made Pasta - Excellent Food Rewards Patience

History of pasta...

Although we think of Pasta as a fairly modern dish it's history may date back 4000 years to the Qijia culture of China, where evidence of noodles made with millet has been discovered.
Pasta was a popular dish for the Romans in the 1st century, which resembled most closely the modern pasta we have today. The pasta was made with durum wheat, as it is today, it was called 'lagane' and was a noodle style dish favoured by the Etruscan Romans. Although It was baked in the oven rather than boiled to create dishes.

Why home made pasta?...

There are so many modern pasta dishes on the market and ready to cook pasta is widely available. It is therefore so tempting to think making your own is too much hard work and that buying ready made is preferable.  But don't be put off - excellent food rewards patience. And modern pasta maker machines are a boon for any chef who wants to make home made pasta.
As with any product we buy ready made versus home made pasta is tastier and more versatile when made from scratch and with the correct catering equipment utensils to hand the task becomes feasible.
A Pasta maker will allow you to work the homemade pasta dough into sheets or ribbons to use in pasta dishes. These utensils allow the simple handling of the dough to easily create all your favourite types of pasta from lasagne to ravioli, fettucini to spaghetti. Making home made pasta is most fulfilling and in a world where we are all increasingly aware of our food integrity it allows us to know the origin of our pasta dishes.

Pasta machines - equipment for catering ...

A popular brand for commercial catering equipment pasta machines are manufactured by Imperia. These machines can either be manual or electric operation and can be used in catering outlets where it is required that 'pasta home made' appears on the menu. These pasta makers are great for speeding up and simplifying the making of dough into pasta shapes for catering outlets or domestic homes.

Pasta Home Made - making and cutting

In order to make enough pasta for a starter for four people you will need 400 g fine white flour (grade 00 Italian flour is best as it is very fine), 4 eggs (you can increase the number of yolks / decrease the whites to make a richer pasta) and a pinch of salt. Put all the ingredients into a food processor and mix to a smooth dough. Turn out onto a well floured surface and knead lightly. take a piece of dough the size of an orange and set pasta maker to thickest setting and pass the dough through the machine to stretch and press it. Decrease the thickness setting each time and repeat passing the dough through as before. Ensure the pasta is coated in flour to stop it sticking. (You can make a smoother finished homemade pasta by folding pasta and passing it through the machine on the thicker setting numerous times if required before decreasing thickness down)
The pasta should be quite thin especially for ravioli. Once you've reached the desired thickness attach the cutting device and pass the dough through the pasta maker once more giving you the desired end result.
Here's a fantastic recipe for homemade linguine in a mussel and tomato sauce with pesto by James Martin.

The final word - pasta...

In 1874 the word pasta was adopted by the English from the Italian (along with the word caffe latte in 1927). So far from being a modern food pasta has a well rehearsed history. Pasta can mean the raw material made with wheat or a full dish made from the dough with sauces and meat or vegetables added. The latin translation of pasta being dough or pastry.

Whatever you create with your pasta enjoy it's history and a sense of achievement gained from knowing that excellent food rewards patience!

About the Author

My vast experience of jobs include working in catering and retail outlets. With my present company Cater For my insight into catering proves to be invaluable when supplying catering equipment to businesses. Having worked at the sharp end in these business arenas has given me empathy with the challenges faced.
A love of both food, catering and writing enables me to explore areas that may also interest other people with an interest in cuisine, either professionally or as an enthusiastic amateur.

Industrial Catering Equipment - Cooking Machines

With such an array of industrial cooking machines available for every conceivable task it's sometimes confusing as to which catering equipment is best for business owners to choose. But with a little care and aforethought caterers can buy cooking machines that will multi task. So saving on the amount of professional cooking machines that you need in the kitchen but also reducing the amount spent on non essential catering equipment. http://www.caterfor.co.uk/ for commercial kitchen equipment.
A boon for busy caterers are microwave combination ovens, which are versatile pieces of catering equipment that allow the speed and ease of use of a normal microwave oven to be combined with the properties of a grill or convection oven. The microwave combination ovens or combi ovens as they are often called can cook dishes quickly and easily, even by less qualified staff in commercial catering kitchens. You can use these microwaves as a cooker to cook a variety of food such as pastry, roast meats, vegetables and pre cooked dishes. A versatile and quite modestly priced piece of equipment for catering.
Bratt pans are a piece of heavy duty kitchen equipment that allows you to griddle, shallow & deep fry, boil, simmer and stew. These heavy duty commercial cooking machines are ideal for high production food prep areas.
Lots of the ovens and ranges in the cooking machines equipment for catering are available in gas, electric and LPG so they are suitable for lots of different catering outlets, even events or mobile caterers. These are very versatile as they are used as normal hobs and ovens to create a range of dishes for restaurants, residential care homes and canteens.


About the Author

I currently work for a catering equipment supplier offering pre purchase advice and after sales care. Cooking machines such as bratt pans and microwave combination ovens are available on our web http://www.caterfor.co.uk/

Making The Most Of Your Culinary Creations With Buffet Display And Food Presentation Tips

Having spent so long in the kitchen perfecting your latest culinary masterpiece how do you elucidate that loving enthusiasm to your diners?
As we all know if food looks tempting it will be so. Mostly we all taste our food by what we see and smell before we actually place it into our mouths. If food looks slightly jarring to our eyes then we will probably decline to eat it. In the same way food that looks good, whether that be the food itself or the way it is displayed will entice diners to eat. I know that personally even at home I like food to be displayed on my plate rather than just dump loaded onto the nearest receptacle. I know it sounds silly but I like my tea in a bone china cup because I perceive it tastes better. Again, when I was served up chunky vegetable soup in rough earthen crock bowls somehow it added a sense of sustenance and home made appeal to supper.
Obviously when catering for an event you have to take into account what type of guest will attend, what menu is to be created and how to best entice guests to your food. There may also be other problems to overcome, too. Does the food need to be kept warm or chilled? Does it need to be covered over prior to the guests arriving? Do you have enough space to display items beneficially? It's never good to have an overcrowded table.
With Buffet Display it's great to use generic products such as display stands, food trays and serving platters. There's a great range available at www.caterfor.co.uk. Stainless steel platters offer a fantastic option for food presentation - the mirrored surface gives a depth to finger buffet food and sushi and adds food appeal. To add a stylish twist why not use willow or rattan baskets or Tuscany wooden board Food Trays to add a certain authenticity to rustic dishes? It's always good to use colour to offset dishes,too. So go for black or white salad crocks as a backdrop to pasta, rice dishes, fruit or salads.
Flower arrangements always give a feeling of art to any table setting and more than anything can help to set a mood. They don't have to be elaborate, in fact hand tied bundles of fresh meadow flowers or tiny dishes of floating buds add another dimension to your dining or buffet table. Just be careful that any possible toxic flowers do not make contact with food. You could even use pine cones, leaves or pebbles or small bowls of gold fish, if you're brave!
Adding dimension to any stylish food display can also be achieved by raising food up on rank display stands or risers. This gives an added depth with certain foods raised above the platters and bowls directly on the table. There are some really unusual tiered display trays available for Food Display , which offers versatile presentation, too.
If you need to keep food warm at the table use a professional chafer. Chafers are large presentation dishes with a reservoir of water underneath to maintain food temperature. These can either be electric or gas chafing dishes, where small gas canisters burn under the water in a separate chamber. And for chilled food there are many options from trays with hidden cooler blocks to plug in refrigerated display cabinets. Again if our eyes see food preserved and served at the right temperature it's integrity won't be compromised upon tasting.
So next time you entertain whether you're a professional chef or enthusiastic amateur cook take some time to extend your skills to the table to give your food presentation the vitality it deserves, after all if you're a master in the kitchen let your diners know all about it.

About the Author

I have vast past experience of many job tasks including working within catering and retail outlets. Working at the sharp end of both of these business areas gives insight and empathy with the difficulties and challenges met in either retail stores or catering outlets in general. I currently work for Cater For supplying catering equipment online at http://www.caterfor.co.uk/
A love of both food and writing enables me to explore areas that may also interest other people with an interest in cuisine, either professionally or as an enthusiastic amateur.

Professional Cookware - kitchen utensils to help you cook like a pro!

Professional cookware isn't automated help in the kitchen like a food mixer but it still helps you cook like a professional. Having the right pots and pans and kitchen equipment helps when creating dishes. Instead of your old pans use some professional cookware that real chefs use. Kitchen stuff like food smoking equipment, pizza equipment and kitchen utensils enhance our skills making us more confident and making cooking, which we see on TV more achievable. Buy from http://www.caterfor.co.uk/.
Stainless Steel saucepans are suitable for use with all cooking surfaces such as gas, electric, halogen and induction hobs. These hard wearing steel pots and pans are great for creating professional results in all types of cooking. These saucepans give even heat distribution, stay cool handles and hard wearing finishes that last.
Why choose a cast Iron casserole or cast iron pan? These utensils are greatly valued by chefs as they offer brilliant heating efficiency as they hold heat in keeping food hotter for longer. This is great for cast iron casserole dishes as they ensure you can serve from oven to table giving a rustic feel to dishes. Professional cookware cast iron pans are suitable for use on all heat sources you can even cook dishes on the hob and transfer in the pan to the oven. Cast Iron pots and pans if looked after and oiled properly add a richness to foods and can be used to sear or griddle meat, fish or vegetables.
Cookware for food smoking is becoming more and more popular as kitchen equipment. The smokers are ideal for producing any smoked flavoured food. You can achieve different flavours by using different food smoking chips - Alder is great for fish and meat.
Pizza Equipment is ideal for home baking. How impressed will your guests be when you pull out your fresh pizzas on professional cookware pizza pans? Pizza equipment is just one of many kitchen utensils, which can help you cook like a pro!
 
About the Author:

I currently work for a catering equipment supplier offering pre purchase advice and after sales care. Professional Cookware, pots and pans and cast iron casserole oven to tableware are available on our web http://www.caterfor.co.uk/

Restaurant Supply - Commercial Dishwashers And Bar Glasswashers

Industrial commercial dishwashers and glasswashers for pubs, bars and bistros are invaluable pieces of catering equipment for busy businesses. Glasswashers will ensure your glassware is clean, sanitised and sparkling. Commercial dishwashers are built to cope with the rigours of any catering or dining outlet where large output of dishes and tableware is used every day. Dish washing is made easy with these industrial catering equipment machines. Restaurant equipment from http://www.caterfor.co.uk/
Commercial dishwashers are designed to offer thorough washing of catering equipment at high temperatures but short cycle times. Obviously they need to do a thorough job of dish washing quickly and efficiently. Combined with waste disposal units they are the ideal piece of restaurant equipment for catering kitchen environments. Features of commercial dishwashers include 3 minute wash cycles, auto cycle that starts as soon as the water temperature is reached and large easy to access door openings and internal space. Restaurant supply waste disposal units will get rid of bulky food matter left on plates, dishes and cookware easily so reducing smelly overflowing bins and then the dish washing can be completed with a commercial dishwashers. Commercial dishwashers for restaurant supply are often double skinned, which means they are more heat efficient and quieter in operation.
Restaurant equipment also includes pass through dishwashers (or conveyor models), which are stainless steel fabrications which often have sink areas, wash down facilities and work surfaces attached.
Glasswashers are great for use within bars, whether that is in pubs, clubs, nightclubs, student unions, hotels, restaurants or leisure clubs. There's nothing worse than a dirty glass to put drinkers off and spoil the head of a beer! Glass washing machines are quick and easy to use and come with glass baskets to stack glassware safely. Want to know what size glass washing machines you need? Roughly speaking a 350mm square basket will hold up to12 pint glasses, 400mm square basket will hold16 pint glasses and a 500mm basket will hold up to 25 pint glasses. We also supply all other bar supplies online, too.

About the author:

I currently work for a catering equipment supplier offering pre purchase advice and after sales care. Commercial dishwashers, glass washing machines and waste disposal units are available on our web http://www.caterfor.co.uk/

Small Business - Few Staff - Speed Up with Food Prep Machines!

The dilemna of small businesses is having few staff but lots of tasks to complete. This is very true in catering. Food preparation takes up lots of time prior to actually cooking. To help make the most of few staff use food prep machines. Food processors, potato peelers and juice extractors can be a real boon to small businesses. Little skill is required to use them, they produce large amounts of prepared food and reduce the amount of time spent on food preparation.  http://www.caterfor.co.uk
Potato peelers are great for preparing potatoes for cooking in small catering businesses. Commercial appliances such as potato peelers are also ideal for fish and chip shops, takeaways and residential care homes or anywhere that a large amount of food preparation is required. These potato peelers are easy to install, use and clean and can also come in a range of sizes.
Catering Equipment such as meat mincers, food processors and juice extractors are invaluable for helping with food preparation tasks. These food prep machines can be bought from a reliable catering equipment supplier and will prove to be invaluable to any small catering business.
Food processors are like an extra pair of hands to any small catering business. they reduce the hands on laborious tasks that seem to slow you down in the kitchen. Food processors will beat, whisk, stir, make dough, slice and shred vegetables, grate cheese, chop herbs and grind spices. They really are the do all of kitchen equipment. This food machinery, including the food mixer and food blenders can be used as juice extractors for fruit and vegetables and also to make purees. This catering equipment will make light work of food prep and free you up to get on with other tasks. And by using commercial appliances for food preparation you know that you are using catering equipment that has been made for the job in hand.

About the author:

I currently work for a catering equipment supplier offering pre purchase advice and after sales care. Food Prep Machines such as food processors, juice extractors and potato peelers are available on our web http://www.caterfor.co.uk/