How-To
Choosing the Best Induction Range
Induction cooking is one of the most exciting advancements in professional kitchen technology, and lately it has become quite affordable. An induction cook top allows chefs to work on a surface that stays perfectly cool even as it heats a pan and its contents faster and more 
evenly than traditional gas or electric ranges and ovens. Since these ranges work through the use of an electromagnet, any restaurant equipment that is magnetic should be suitable for induction cooking. Considering all of its benefits, any restaurant will profit from investing in such a product. To decide which induction range is best for your commercial kitchen, think about your specific needs relating to the type of food your chefs prepare and how much space you have available.
Benefits of Induction Cooktops
For the professional chef, one of the biggest advantages of induction technology is the reduction in cooking time. Especially during lunch and dinner rush, cutting cooking time by twenty to thirty percent on average – and sometimes in excess of fifty percent – means quicker service and happier clients. Make sure, however, that you train your staff in the particulars of this type of cooking since water or oil will heat so quickly that ingredients need to be chopped and ready when the liquid is poured. ...continue reading
Beer Battered Beer Meatballs with Mustard Sauce
Who do you predict to win the Super Bowl this year- Giants? Patriots? Honestly, I find that this year is a bit hard to predict since fans didn’t believe that they would have to choose between the Giants and the Patriots as the winning team. Super Bowl Sunday is a time for partying. 
The fans will be yelling at the screen while the non-fans will find reason to party with pals. Everyone loves to have football parties and food and drink play an immense role in the success of the party.
Most menus include the super bowl regulars such as chicken fingers, Buffalo wings, nachos ’n cheese, dips, mini sandwiches, etc. You want to add things to your menu that will give your patrons reason to choose your place to party at over your competitors.
What’s any party without beer? How about adding beer into your finger foods? After all, football= meat and beer. These beer battered dipped meatballs are guaranteed to disappear quite quickly and give die hard football fans and non-fans reason to head to your place over your competitor for the next football party, not to mention all the days in between. ...continue reading
Should You Have a Child Free or Kid Friendly Restaurant?
Both child-free and child-friendly restaurant policies have been garnering a great deal of attention lately. Kid friendly restaurants attract certain clients, while a child-free zone is the ideal for others. Each approach has its benefits, and implementing a policy suitable for your business can enhance the individual 
atmosphere of your restaurant. From advertising tactics to restaurant equipment and décor, there is a myriad of ways to pull in customers who will appreciate the special demeanor of your eatery.
The Child-Free Restaurant Policy
A child-free restaurant appeals to a wide range of customers. This policy can be useful not only for those who do not have or like children, but even for parents who simply want a quiet dinner without the kids. Many people who are around children – their own or others’ – for the majority of the time go to restaurants to obtain some peace and quiet. These clients will appreciate the adult-only establishment. Still, a “no kids allowed” arrangement can feel highly personal, especially to those parents who keep their children quiet and well-behaved. ...continue reading
Best Culinary Schools to Launch or Boost Your Career
Whether you are an established professional chef or just starting out in the food service industry, acquiring the very best education at one of the world’s top culinary arts schools can only help your career. Culinary schools should teach you everything you need to know to succeed in this industry, including proper use of restaurant equipment, innovative cooking techniques, and f
inancial planning. Discover which culinary school fits your professional goals and interests by exploring this list.
Culinary Schools for the Established Professional
1. Le Cordon Bleu International
Established in 1895, this famous institution consists of nine campuses in locations all over the world, plus an online program. If you already have a career in the industry, consider travelling to Paris for the Continuing Education program. This course of studies, entitled “Hautes Etudes du Goût” (loosely translated as “High Studies of Taste”) offers a truly diverse range of courses. Students study such eclectic topics the way in which food preferences form in childhood, molecular gastronomy, and economics of gastronomy. Besides this program, the many campuses present many different courses and programs of study suitable for novices and veterans alike. ...continue reading
Restaurant Menu Trends to Enhance Your Business
Adopting popular restaurant menu trends helps your restaurant keep up with what customers have come to expect from their favorite eateries. When these trends 
include personalization – offering original dishes, for example, or using stylish menu holders customized to the atmosphere of your particular restaurant – you can relax in the knowledge that you are setting your business apart rather than simply following the crowd. Furthermore, when ecological awareness and nutritionally sound fare are in vogue, everyone benefits. Customize these four hot trends to your establishment and watch your business expand.
1. Local Sources
One promising trend appearing in restaurants of every persuasion is that of using local ingredients. Local produce is especially popular, but everything, from meat to alcohol to seafood, is coming more and more from local sources. As restaurant owners and consumers alike become more environmentally conscious, clients will prefer your restaurant to others based on your smaller ecological footprint. ...continue reading
Product Education: Chef Pans Primer
As a professional chef, your chef’s pans and skillets have an enormous effect on the quality of your finished dishes. Discovering the best chef’s skillets, cooking pans, and frying pans for the different types of fare you serve can greatly improve the taste and presentation of your food. This increase in caliber translates to an increase in business for your restaurant. Make sure that you are using the optimal equipment for the best results possible, always taking into consideration the particular dish you are preparing.
Non-Stick Pans and Other Non-Stick Cookware
The top choice for popular breakfast items is the Winco 12" Master Cook Fry Pan. Non-stick pans ensure effortless crepe and pancake – flipping and tidy removal of egg dishes. This pan is also the ideal size for most restaurant breakfast offerings. Other items, however, call for equipment without non-stick surfaces. Any pan that you plan to use for sauces that need to be aerated should lack a non-stick surface to prevent interference with whisking. Likewise, professional-grade woks frequently feature metal surfaces since the intense heat generated by the shape of a professional wok gently browns stir-fry vegetables to perfection but can destroy non-stick materials. In general, metals such as copper and thick stainless steel cookware provide the highest degree of long-lasting sturdiness. ...continue reading
Chef's Tips for Going Green
Going green is the current rage because of the impact it can have on the environment and your finances. As a chef or food service business owner there are many ways to go green in your kitchen. You will find that you save a significant amount of money through this process 
and you will feel good because you are doing something beneficial in the process.
Buy Energy Star Equipment When Possible
If you already have your equipment, then replacing it might not be in the budget. However, there will come a time when you do have to purchase new equipment items. At these times you will find that purchasing equipment that is rated energy star efficient will be beneficial to you. Each of these pieces of equipment are not only helpful to the environment, they consume much less energy and allow you to save money on your utility bills. Anytime it is possible you should purchase items that have an energy star rating.
Recycle
While recycling seems quite simple, the fact is that it can be monumental in any business’ efforts to go green. ...continue reading
Chef Uniforms Affect Safety and Performance
What your chefs wear – from the toque to the shoe soles - impacts safety, the sanitation standards of your restaurant, the speed with which employees prepare dishes, and of course, comfort. You need to purchase professional chef attire that will help instead of hinder them and make them feel and work their best. The .jpg)
right chef apparel keeps you and your employees safe from fire and slip-and-fall accidents. It also conforms to sanitation codes and stays out of the way of your customers’ food.
Professional Chef Hats
The most important piece of chef’s clothing that you can purchase is the chef’s hat. The perfect hat requires minimal adjustment and does not fall or get in the way. It should need to be touched as little as possible to avoid the transfer of germs or even hair to the food. Since chefs are required to wear hats by health codes for sanitary reasons, you should also make sure that any hats you buy are in compliance with your local regulations. One of the simplest ways to fulfill all of these conditions is to supply your employees with Chef Revival baseball hats. If you want to give your establishment a more formal atmosphere, or to make obvious the identity of your head chef, consider a more classic choice, such as this 12” disposable chef’s hat from Winco.
Jackets and Pants for Restaurant Chefs
One of the biggest pet peeves of a great deal of professional chefs is sleeves that are too long or bulky. ...continue reading
The Work Table: The Cornerstone of Your Commercial Kitchen
Choosing a commercial work table for your kitchen is one of the most important tasks you will face in setting up your restaurant workspace. Considering the type of food you serve, the manner in which you prepare your dishes, and how your customers will perceive your establishment if the table will be in plain view is paramount when making your selection. The style of kitchen work table that you use should also suit the area that you have available in your professional kitchen. Careful shopping can make the difference between convenience and wasted space.
Personalize Your Work Table to Your Professional Kitchen
Think about the elements of a work table that will provide the ideal situation for your catering business or restaurant. The materials on which you decide should depend largely on what kind of cuisine you plan on preparing on your work table. For example, stainless steel work tables, such as those manufactured by Turbo Air, prove an excellent choice for any food service establishment. These tables make a fantastic pick due to the ease of sterilization and ability to withstand aggressive chopping and strong blows that stainless steel provides. A glass or ceramic work table surface may be a more suitable choice if you serve a great deal of fish, since these materials resist odor absorption.
Convenience is one of the main factors in deciding which work table is best for you as well. ...continue reading
Bartender's Guide: The Hottest Drinks of 2012
Keep your customers coming in all year long with a selection of the best bar drinks, handpicked especially for the year 2012. This year promises to be full of memorable events, and your customers will be sure to remember their visits to your bar once you serve these entertaining theme drinks. The drinks honor noteworthy occasions from the beginning of the year to the end. Serve them with the latest bar tools and restaurant equipment, including shakers, glassware, and wine accessories that you and your clients will love. The top five drinks to serve in 2012 include:
Outstanding Party Drink Recipes
1. Black Dragon
Why stop celebrating New Year’s at the beginning of January when the Chinese New Year festivities don’t even begin until a few weeks later – and last over two weeks? Give your clients a reason to proclaim this Year of the Dragon with a Black Dragon. To make this impressive drink, create layers in a Libbey shot glass. Fill the bottom third of the glass with peppermint schnapps and the middle third with Kahlua. Top it all off with one-third of a shot of scotch. The layers should stay separate, and by the end of the drink the schnapps have a cooling effect on the burning sensation of the scotch layer.
2. Leap Frog
A day that comes only once every four years is reason enough for a party. ...continue reading