Culinary Connections

It's that time of year again. The weather is changing and the busy season is approaching fast. Don't get left behind in the dust; shop now and save during the Bar and Grill Sale going on now at US Foods Culinary Equipment and Supplies. Choose from a variety of foodservice equipment and supplies and stock up for the busy Spring, Summer and Fall seasons.

We've got commercial cutlery, restaurant glasses, commercial kitchen equipment and much much more. Our selection of hundreds of products are featured in the Bar and Grill Sale, going on now through June 16, 2012. You'll find all of the essentials you need, including Next Day Gourmet® and Dexter-Russell cutlery, now marked down 15% from the original price.

How about some drinkware with flair? Cardinal Rutherford glassware and Alibi Plastic Drinkware by Carlisle are now being offered at 25% off. Three Cheers for beer- beer glasses and mugs by Libbey are now specially priced.

When it comes to value in refrigeration, look no further than Superior® Blue. Our value line of reach-in refrigerators and freezers, and our 67" wide pizza prep table are on sale now.

Most of the more than 12,000 restaurant equipment and supply products featured online are in stock and ready to ship out to you within one business day. We pride ourselves on over 75 years of superior service and selection, shipping our products from four distribution centers located nationwide.

Our popular Scoop series wraps up today (temporarily) as we talk about more great food products from US Foods, where we are Keeping Kitchens Cooking™. Our Spring 2012 series of Scoop blog posts is wrapping up today, but we will be returning next month with the start of our Summer Series. In addition, we've got a few more scoops to share later this month, and we think you'll find the blog posts absolutely delicious. So, stay tuned, but in the meantime....

Imagine this: rich, savory, buttery, flaky, croissants in the form of a sandwich bun. Imagine no more! Our Chef''s Line™ brand of melt-in-your-mouth classic French croissant buns are here. These unsliced all-butter buns are specifically designed for burgers and sandwiches and are made with 25% Grade AA butter, combining both decadence and function.

Feeling like a healthier option? We also carry irresistable whole grain buns that are both healthy and delicious! Our unique sliced 9-Grain Sprouted Bun is also a Chef's Line product and has a nutty flavor combined with a touch of sweetness. Each bun contains 10 grams of protein and goes great with any of the new burgers featured in our recent Scoop posts. Whether it be a beef, salmon, or veggie burger, this bun will deliciously complement your burger and tickle your tastebuds.

If sandwiches and burgers are aren't on your menu today, maybe it's time for some prepared deli salads bursting with the latest greatest trending flavor profiles. US Foods is pleased to bring you the Metro Deli™ line of re-imagined, fresh, and delicious prepared deli salads. Try the Santa Fe Brown Rice and Lentil Salad, complete with black beans, cilantro, crispy vegetables and a tangy tomato sauce made with chile and cumin. For a salad with Asian flair, we've got the Thai Peanut Yakisoba Noodle Salad.

This salad combines noodles with peanut butter, soy, and chile. We add black sesame and edamame (young soybeans) for a crunchy texture. This tasty salad, just like the others featured today, has less than 250 calories per serving, and is made with "better for you" ingredients. Our Curry Coleslaw is a mixture of crispy cabbage, coconut milk, and curry, and has hints of cranberry tartness and orange sweetness. This slaw is a delcious complement to a pulled pork sandwich!

These great food products will satisfy the appetites of your patrons, but make sure you have the right foodservice supplies to serve them. At US Foods Culinary Equipment & Supplies, we carry over 12,000 products online, including catering platters. Choose from decorative deli bowls and trays from our selection of catering products. Most of our products are in stock and ready to ship out within one business day, so you won't have to wait long before you can serve these delicious foods on quality commercial restaurant supplies!

The National Restaurant Association held its annual show last week in Chicago, and we want to share some of the top food trends that were on display during the show.  Writer Bret Thorn wrote the article, Top Food Trends from the 2012 NRA Show on Nation's Restaurant News (NRN) website, and here are some excerpts from it.

Unlike previous years, pricing was not the prevailing theme- food quality was. Premium products were on display as foodservice operators try to get the one-up on their competition. Free-range pork from Spain and coffee from single origins were trending at the show. Other highlights included:

• Desserts- Both rich desserts and low-sugar, multigrain desserts were appealing to operators, while smaller pre-portioned single serving desserts were also a hit.
• High- tech foods- Fruit juice with lecithin stored in nitrogen charged cannisters were served in foam form, like whipped cream. Frozen pearls of balsamic vinegar or hot sauce intended to burst with flavor in your mouth were also featured.
• Southeast Asian flavors were in demand at show. Foods and sauces from Thailand and other countries were featured.

image source: NRN.com

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All of these great food trends can not be a success at your foodservice establishment without the proper restaurant equipment and supplies. You can choose from over 12,000 on our US Foods Culinary Equipment & Supplies website. We carry everything from flatware and table setting products to commercial kitchen equipment. We've been doing this over 75 years, so we are a name you can trust!

Super Deals are now available at US Foods Culinary Equipment and Supplies. Everyday products are specially priced so now's the time to take advantage of these savings! We are featuring some great products from our Next Day Gourmet private label line, including cook's knives and oven mitts. Our teakwood steak knife with 4-1/4" blade (sold in cases of 12) is also available this month in our current Super Deals selection.

Bar supplies featured this month in Super Deals include beer cooler restaurant glasses, ice totes, and trimline containers for garbage. Outfit both your bar and kitchen areas with these great everyday products now available at reduced prices. Hurry- these savings won't last long! Super Deals pricing ends June 2, 2012.

Just say cheese! The scoop at US Foods today focuses on sliced Monterey Jack cheese and mozzarella cheese for your pizzas! An absolute must in restaurants, cheese has reportedly been around since 3000 BC or earlier! Having plenty of time to perfect it, we're offering delicious Glenview Farms™ Monterey Jack cheeses that are wonderfully sharp and distinctive with a smooth texture.

Monterey Jack cheese slices are excellent for melting and go great on top of a good burger (like the Pat LaFrieda Angus Beef Burgers). Select from a variety of choices, including Habanero Jack Cheese Slices (for a little added kick) or the popular Blue Marble Jack Cheese Slices. Blue cheese on sandwiches and hamburgers are becoming more and more popular to restaurant patrons these days, so join the crowd and get with the program!

You can't have pizza without the cheese! Well, you can, but it's just not the same. And since pizza is the most expensive ingredient on your pizza, shop and save with US Foods. Try the Harvest Value™ Part-Skim or Whole-Milk Mozzarella-Style Cheese. Avaialble in cases of 8 6-lb. blocks, this delicious cheese is inexpensive and easy to grate. Creating that tasty favorite of just about everyone just got easier!

At US Foods Culinary Equipment and Supplies, we have all of the restaurant supplies that you need to prepare and serve your pizza. Choose from pizza peels, pizza pans, pizza cutters, and many more foodservice supplies that help making pizza a little easier. So now that we've served up a slice of good suggestions, visit us online and view over 12,000 restaurant equipment and supplies, many of which are in stock.

Temperature is critical for storing, cooking, and holding foods. By not following established food safety guidelines, you risk the possiblity of inviting food-borne illnesses into your food supply. This can be a costly situation if it occurs as spoiled food needs to be discarded and if anyone gets ill from you serving contaminated food, expensive lawsuits can follow.

Using the proper foodservice equipment and supplies can help maintain proper cooking temperatures. Properly calibrated thermometers will help you to determine proper temperatures of food. Food warmers and cookers will help you to maintain proper temperatures when serving and holding food. Always remember that the Temperature Danger Zone for food is between 41 and 135 degrees Fahrenheit (5 to 50 degrees Celcius). Foods should be stored at or below the minimum temperature in this range (41F, 5C) and should be cooked to, served and held at proper temperatures at or above maximum in range (135F, 50C). Ready to eat foods must have an internal temperature of 135F or more, while seafood and whole meats (beef and pork) should be cooked to at least 145F. Ground meats should be cooked to an internal temperature of 155F or higher, and the minimum internal cooking temperature for poultry is 165F. Temperature abuse of foods leads to bacteria growth, survival and reproduction, causing very hazardous situations.

While you maintain the proper holding temperatures for cooked foods, keep in mind that food should be thrown out after a 4 hour holding period. Check your restaurant equipment and supplies regularly- listen for strange sounds or look for spikes in your energy bills. This could be the result of malfunctions that are affecting the temperature readings of your kitchen cooking equipment. Make sure that the temperature readings of your thermometers are accurate.

Be prepared and replace any equipment or supplies that are not up to speed. At US Foods Culinary Equipment and Supplies, we offer over 12,500 products online, including food warmers, commercial kitchen equipment, and thermometers. Don't take a chance with food safety- it could cost you and your customers dearly!

It's Friday and Here's the Scoop: US Foods is featuring some great food products in this quarter's Scoop magazine and we're going to start with Homestyle Chicken Tenderloin Fritters today. Also on our plate (and maybe yours soon) are the delicious grilling sauces available at US Foods (hint: these go great with the Fully Cooked Naturally Applewood and Hickory Pit-Smoked BBQ Pork Loin Back Ribs mentioned in the Friday Scoop a few weeks ago).

Patuxent Farms® makes great poultry products and their breaded homestyle chicken is delicious. It costs less than half the price of whole-muscle breaded chicken without sacrificing quality. So you can save and savor the flavor! Firm texture, crispiness and taste are qualities found in this great product. The Homestyle Chicken Tenderloin Fritters make a great appetizer or entree, and whole Homestyle Chicken Breast Filets are also available to make great sandwiches or to serve as a main course with your favorite sauce on top.

Speaking of sauces, US Foods is serving up international flair with their great preservative-free sauces made with high-quality, authentic ingredients. These sauces encorporate a variety of hard-to find specialty ingredients and have delicious, unique, authentic flavors. You can feel like you're South of the Border when you taste the Mexican Adobo and Beer Sauce. This rich, tomato-based sauce combines warm chile, beer, cumin and garlic to create an earthy, smoky sauce with hints of sage and honey. This flavorful barbeque sauce complements pulled pork deliciously!

Let's head east to Portugal now and enjoy the Portugese Churrasco Sauce. This rich sauce compares to authentic Portugese churrasco, and is made with red peppers and piri piri chiles. This sauce is ideal for dipping with snacks such as tortilla chips and has a warm pepper note and pleasant citrus tang. Heading further east, we come to the Korean barbecue sauce, which works great on all your grilling barbecued favorites! It's dark, sweet, and glossy, with the great combination of soy, ginger, garlic and sesame. These delicious sauces are a great addition to your meals, so don't you think it's time to get international and sauce things up on your table?

Be sure to choose just the right ramekins or sauce cups to serve these great sauces. We have a variety of these foodservice supplies at US Foods Culinary Equipment and Supplies. These decorative accents to your plate come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. Visit our website and view the more than 12,500 restaurant equipment and supplies available online. We have everything you need to equip your foodservice establishment from restaurant pots and pans to commercial kitchen equipment.

If you're thinking that it's time to replace that older, used piece of kitchen cooking equipment, don't be too hasty in making your decision. Several factors should affect your decision including analyzing the use of the equipment, focusing on your menu, and consideration of energy efficiency. Value of product and new technologies should also be considered prior to making your purchase.

In a detailed article by Amelia Levin, entitled "Best Practices for Specifying Replacement Equipment" on Foodservice Equipment and Supplies magazine website (fesmag.com), Levin reports on what to take into consideration when purchasing new equipment for your foodservice establishment. She cites Tom Galvin, FCSI, president of Galvin Design Group in Orlando, Florida, as stating "Everyone, within a year or two, should reevaluate every piece of equipment they have. Now, do they do that? No."

There are many other best practices and suggestions in the article. To view full article, click here.

U S Foods Culinary Equipment and Supplies offers foodservice equipment, as well as restaurant cooking supplies, and many other products. Visit our website featuring over 12,500 products. most of which are in stock and ready to ship out to your establishment within one business day. In-stocked large equipment shipments generally arrive in 4 to 6 business days.

With Earth Week upon us and yesterday's 42nd anniversary of the very first Earth Day in 1970, we thought we'd speak green today! Going green is a great way to save yourself money in the long run and help sustain the earth's natural resources. At US Foods Culinary Equipment & Supplies, we have a group of commercial kitchen equipment, catering supply, and other foodservice supplies that are in our "Go Green" eco-friendly group.

Sustainability is a popular trend right now. Industries from auto manufacturing to clothing to foodservice are looking for a sustainable angle for their products that sets them apart from the competition. Today, we have three tips for foodservice businesses looking to add an eco-friendly image to their establishment.

1. Local Ingredients

Starting on the menu, you can add local ingredients and flavor to your dishes. Source vegetables from a local farm, contact a ranch for local meat, or work with a local brewer. Local food saves on transportation costs of ingredients and helps the economy in your area. For the truly adventurous, you can start your own ingredient garden, as some restaurants around the country have done.

2. Sustainable Dinnerware

The BambooMel line of dinnerware available here at US Foods Culinary Equipment & Supplies are made from a high quality combination of sustainable bamboo materials and durable melamine. Adding this dinnerware to your supplies makes a statement about your commitment to environmentally-friendly products and processes. Your patrons likely won't even notice a change!

3. Energy Efficient Appliances

Switching your back-of-the-house appliances, like dishwashers and ovens, to more energy efficient options can help ease the environmental impact of your restaurant and save you money on the bottom line. A more efficient appliance helps your staff prepare better meals, and helps cut down on your energy bills. If you haven't updated this equipment in a long time, take a look at some new models and see what they might be able to save you in energy costs. Many of the more efficient models pay for themselves in a reasonable amount of time.

Showing your eco-conscious side can help win over diners and add to your revenue. Get started today with help from US Foods Culinary Equipment & Supplies - and don't forget to tell us about your experiences here in the comments.

The week has come to an end and that means it's time to share the Scoop with our readers. We continue our partnered food and equipment and supply program today with two great food items sold at US Foods. Our featured Scoop food products this week are sweet treats- Croissant (Bread) Pudding and Cookie Dough.

Traditional bread pudding tickles the fancy of many a tastebud, and can you imagine how delicious it would be made from rich buttery croissants? Wonder no more! These delicious desserts can be used in a variety of ways, with complementary fresh fruit and sinful sauces. Chef's Line™ All-Butter Croissant Puddings are a great way to end a meal- get them now from your local US Foods location.

Another great idea for dessert is to serve chocolate chip or sugar cookies with ice cream between, making great ice cream sandwiches. Harvest Value Cookie Dough has 288 cookies in each pack and they bake perfectly every time. Just put a scoop of your favorite ice cream between 2 cookies, and you have a great dessert menu option that your customers will find hard to resist!

We have many great foodservice equipment and supplies to choose from so that the presentation of your desserts will match their outstanding flavor. Martini glasses, small decorative plates, and appetizer holders are a few of the more than 12,000 products offered online at US Foods Culinary Equipment & Supplies.

Proper storage of food is essential in foodservice establishments. Failure to follow and practice proper food storage guidelines can lead to cross-contamination of food, which can lead to costly unneccesary expenses. Food will have to be discarded, or worse, if it is prepared and served to patrons, this could result in illness and possible lawsuits.

Placing food in the proper storage containers is critical, but you should also know where in your refrigerator to store product. Refrigerated raw meat, poultry, and seafood should be stored away from ready-to-eat food. If these products can not be stored separately, they should be stored in a specific order on refrigerator shelves. To prevent juices from raw foods from spilling onto ready-to-eat foods, these ready-to-eat foods should always be stored on the top shelf.

There is also a proper shelf to store different types of raw foods. Moving downward starting with ready-to-eat foods on the top shelf, seafood should be stored on the shelf directly beneath. Below that, whole cuts of beef and pork should be stored on middle shelf. On the shelf below that, ground meat and ground fish should be stored, and whole and ground poultry should be stored on the bottom shelf beneath the ground meat and fish food items.

The ordering of these products is based on the minimum internal cooking temperature of each food. Ready-to-eat foods should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 135 degrees F, while whole seafood requires a minimum cooking temperature of 145 degrees F. Whole cuts of raw beef and pork need to be cooked to a minimum 145 degrees F, raw ground meats must be cooked to 155 degrees F, and raw poultry must be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

                                                                                                                       photo courtesy of www.daydots.com

Now that you are aware of the proper storage guidelines for location of foods within your refrigerator, you, of course, want to make sure that you are maintaining the maximum internal temperature of 41 degrees F or lower  in your refrigerator (unless recommended otherwise by manufacturer). Having the proper foodservice equipment is a must when trying to maintain food safety requirements. US Foods Culinary Equipment & Supplies offers a wide selection of reach-in and walk-in commercial refrigeration units. Our products include our exclusive Superior Brand, as well as products from industry leaders True, Beverage Air, Arctic Air and Nor-Lake.

Choose from over 12,000 products sitewide, ranging from restaurant pots and pans to commercial kitchen equipment. More than half of our products are stocked in our four nationwide restaurant supply warehouses, ready to ship out within one business day. Delivery times are usually 3 to 5 business days within the continental United States.

Things are cooking at US Foods Culinary Equipment and Supplies and we want you to get cooking with a product new to our large selection of catering supply. The Madison 7 Quart Oval Chafer is now available, and we stock it in our restaurant supply warehouses. This means that you will receive it at your business in 3 to 5 business days after processing your order.

This catering must is made of 18/10 highly polished stainless steel and features a rolltop cover. This cover opens the full 180 degrees and also has an intermediate stop option, allowing the lid to be half open at 90 degress. Fuel is not included but check out our wide selection of heating fuel in our Catering & Buffet section online.

With Mother's Day coming up, this chafer is ideal for a buffet setup. Spice up your Sunday Brunch and other special occasion buffets with this attractive, affordable piece of catering equipment. Shop our website for over 12,000 foodservice equipment products and stock up on all that you need for your foodservice establishment.

Everybody loves a good burger, but you might have a beef about it if you're looking for a lower fat alternative. We've got the scoop today on two great products offered by US Foods - burger alternatives that you'll make no beef about! How about a 3-grain veggie burger with corn, black beans and roasted peppers? Doesn't that sound delicious and wholesome?

This delicious burger contains brown rice, quinoa and bulgar vegetables with the texture of a meat burger. Add a little avocado cream and put it on your favorite bread, and your tastebuds will be tickled pink! U.S Foods Culinary Equipment and Supplies offers a variety of platters to choose from to serve these tasty sandwiches. Our selection includes white and off white china, and colorful patterns such as Fiestaware and Cancun.

If a veggie burger doesn't tickle your fancy, why not try a delicious Salmon Burger? These burgers are made with salmon sourced from sustainable Alaskan fisheries, and can catch up to 56% more profit than non-seafood burgers. Salmon tacos are another great idea to make with this product from US Foods.

We've got all the restaurant equipment and supplies you need to prepare and serve these great products. At US Foods, we deliver both the food and supplies you need so we can stand by our word that we are Keeping Kitchens Cooking.™

Ever wonder how Mother's Day got started in the United States? Well, it's origins date back to the late 1800's just after the Civil War ended in the U.S. Mothers in small communities who had lost their sons in the war began to gather and form women's peace groups. Ann Jarvis wanted a "Mother's Friendship Day" established to reunite familes divided in the Civil War. In 1868 she formed a committee with the expectation that this would become an annual memorial for mothers. Her daughter Anna continued her efforts after her death in 1905.

In Boston, there were Mother's Day anti-war observances for about 10 years beginning in 1872. This was the result of an anti-war rally in June 1872 in New York City spearheaded by Julia Ward Howe, who made a Mother's Day Proclamation. Mother's Day was observed in 1877 in Albion, Michigan as mothers were celebrated for their part in the temperance movement.  In the early 1880's the Methodist Espiscopal Church in Albion set aside the second Sunday in May each year to recognize mothers and their contributions.

Anna Jarvis worked to establish Mother's Day as a national holiday after her mother's death in 1905 and West Virginia was the first state to officially recognize the holiday in 1910. The U.S. Congress passed a law in May 1914 designating the official Mother's Day- the second Sunday in May each year. The law was signed into action the next day by President Woodrow Wilson, and America officially celebrated it's first Mother's Day. With the encouragement of Wilson, Americans flew flags in honor of mothers who had lost sons in wars.

Today, Mother's Day is celebrated across our great country to recognize our mothers and all that they do for us. We celebrate them with flowers, jewelry, greeting cards, and by taking them out for brunch, lunch, or dinner. This is why Mother's Day is arguably the busiest day of the year in restaurants. With that in mind, US Foods Culinary Equipment and Supplies offers you all the tools to make for a successful day for you and all of your patrons who are mothers!

We're offering a great selection of restaurant equipment and supplies during our Mother's Day Sale. Many of these foodservice supplies are in stock and ready to be shipped out to your establishment. Restaurant glasses, catering supplies, and commercial kitchen equipment are featured in our sale that runs through May 5. Hurry and save now before all those deserving Moms stroll into your restaurant on their special day (May 13 this year)!

April Super Deals are now available at US Foods Culinary Equipment & Supplies. Each month we showcase a group of  products that you can use every day in your foodservice establshment. These popular products are marked down so you can stock up and save.

This month we are featuring our private label Next Day Gourmet Full Size 8 Quart Rectangular Chafer for $39.99. This chafer is constructed of 18/0 stainless steel and comes complete with frame, water pan, food pan, cover and fuel holders. Just set up your heating fuel and get the buffet started!

Another great foodservice equipment and supplies products included in this month's Super Deals is our very popular Margarita Madness blender from Waring. This bar equipment favorite is heavy duty and has 1-1/2 HP of motor power with two speeds. The blender comes with two unbreakable 48 oz polycarbonate containers and can blend 48 oz. of product in as little as 5 seconds!

You can also choose from other catering and buffet products such as steam table pans, and butane ranges. Serving spoons, molcajetes, and sheet pans round out our Super Deals selection this month. These great deals are only available until May 5, so now is the time to save!

Want to grill the best Angus Beef patties around? How about trying a delicious 100% USDA Choice Angus Certified burger from Pat LaFrieda? These gourmet burgers are delicious, and are known all over New York City as the best burger in town. Many of Manhattan's finest eating establishments serve only this legendary flavorful burger on their menus. Available through Chef's Line™, you can now purchase these through your US Foods sales representative.

You can serve up these delicious burgers with garnishes on a 6" cast iron food pan for a visually delightful presentation. US Foods Culinary Equipment & Supplies have these decorative serving pieces in stock and ready to ship out to from one of four national restaurant supply warehouses. With more than half of our foodservice equipment and supplies in stock, we offer fast delivery on the products that you need. Another decorative serving piece that we stock is a stainless steel mini fry basket, great for serving fries, appetizers and foods such as Chef's Line™ fully cooked, naturally applewood and hickory pit-smoked BBQ Pork Loin Back Ribs. That's certainly a mouthful!

These ribs will be a mouthful of tastebud tickling heaven. Simple instructions to prepare them ease the long preparation time usually associated with making good ribs. A great way to serve them is to fill the fry basket and serve with an underliner and a side of slaw. Another great way to serve the ribs is to tie the ribs with twine in traditional crown shape, basting the ribs with a great bbq sauce, and cooking for 20 to 25 minutes. When finished, place the crown on a serving platter and fill center with potato wedges.

So you got the scoop today on some great food ideas, and great restaurant food supplies to prepare and present these culinary delights. Now you can take this info and create some great meals for your customers at your foodservice establishment.

Korean food is one of the hottest trends in menus for 2012. If you want to add Korean-style favorites like bulgogi, kimchee, kalbi, bibimbap to your menu, you'll need to make the proper preparations. Here are some essentials for adding Korean food to your menu:

1. Proper Cookware

You don't have to use authentic Korean cookware to make your dishes, but certain restaurant cooking supplies will make your food tastier and more authentic. Investing in restaurant pots and restaurant pans geared towards this type of cuisine will pay off by making your staff more efficient and meals more delicious. If you don't already own them, cookware such as stir-fry pans can be very useful for Korean and many other styles of food.

2. Steamers

Like many Asian cuisines, Korean recipes often make use of kitchen cooking equipment such as rice cookers or steamers for vegetables. Our steam cooking solutions are versatile machines that can be used in a variety of menu styles, not just Korean.

3. Proper Utensils

Don't forget to stock up on utensils like chopsticks for your Korean food! Chopsticks vary in style across cultures, and Korean ones are slightly different. Chinese chopsticks are longer and have a blunt end, Japanese chopsticks are shorter and taper to a pointed end, Vietnamese chopsticks are long and taper to a blunt end, and Korean chopsticks are medium length, usually metal, and have a square blunted end that help hold food and shovel rice.

You can probably get away with using one type of chopsticks for all styles if you have multiple types of food on your menu, but your discerning customers will appreciate it if you go the extra mile with the right chopsticks!

Are you going to be adding Korean food to your menu in 2012? Let US Food Culinary Equipment & Supplies help you stock your kitchen!

Small plates are a big hit with customers across the country. Like many culinary trends, this one started on the coasts in the large cities and has begun to make its way across all parts of the nation. Now, diners are expecting innovative, delicious small plate appetizers and meals at upscale restaurants everywhere!

Restaurant owners might be left asking the question, “Do I have what I need to add small plates?” We're here to help you make sure that you have the restaurant equipment and supplies you need to take advantage of this trend for your business. Here are 3 things you'll definitely need before adding a new section of small restaurant plate dishes to your menu:

1. A Great Idea!

Mini burgers? Corn dogs? Something more upscale? Whatever it is, you need to find menu items that make diners salivate. Meatballs are a classic - so are seafood based dishes like shrimp or sushi/sashami. Take your inspiration and create your own menu.

2. Get the Right Equipment

If you have been focused on serving hearty meals or high-volume dishes, you might need to invest in some smaller commercial kitchen equipment. Using the industrial sized range or fryer for small orders might be inefficient - from an ingredient, cooking and energy standpoint. Depending on the menu, you might consider investing in countertop ovens or fryers that can more effectively cook a smaller order.

3. Presentation is (almost) Everything

As the finishing touch for your new items, invest in some plates that compliment and showcase your creations. New dinnerware can really make your new food pop for customers.

Small plates allow you and your chefs to experiment with bold combos and diners to experiment with new tastes they might not have tried before. Start cooking up your concoctions today with help from US Foods Culinary Equipment & Supplies!

Have you heard "The Scoop"? There's a new magazine in town and food lovers and chefs alike are really gonna want to sink their teeth into it! It's called "The Scoop" and US Foods will be publishing it quarterly. Our second issue just came out and we are featuring great food products, as well as foodservice equipment and supplies sold at US Foods Culinary Equipment & Supplies.

You can enjoy great cooking ideas, recipes, and equipment suggestions. Although it feels like you're gaining 50 lbs just looking at the magazine, don't worry- you're not! It's got a lot of great photos and great ideas, and we plan to share some of those with you in our blog posts.

Starting next week, we will share a "Scoop" with you on a weekly basis. On Friday, we will feature Angus Beef and BBQ Pork. You can also look forward next month to hearing more about such great products as veggie burgers, croissant pudding, and chicken fritters. We will provide you with a wealth of information to reproduce some delicious recipes, some of them from well-renowned chefs.

So, now that you have heard "the scoop", stay tuned and bring your appetite!

Cross-contamination occurs when hazards from one source (such as food) is transferred to another item. certain precautions can be taken to help prevent the spread of bacteria and other hazards. These practices should be part of every employee's routine, as illnesses caused by contaminated food can have a severe negative financial impact on an establishment.

Using color-coded cutting boards and utensils is a simple approach to help prevent cross-contamination. Each color code is used for specific products that will not cause contamination when they come in contact with each other. Many establishments use this type of cutting boards, and we have a variety to choose from at U S Foods Culinary Equipment & Supplies.

Sanitation is another way to prevent cross-contamination. Proper handwashing, bandaging and the use of disposable gloves are important food handling practices. Gloves should be changed often, when soiled or contaminated, or after 4 hours of performing the same task.

Chemicals should never be stored anywhere near food preparation areas. These areas should be kept clean and sanitized. Equipment used for similar operations should be in close proximity to one another, isolated from other work areas with equipment used for other products . As with cutting boards, scoops and buckets should be assigned to be used only for specific tasks.

Proper storage of raw foods and ready-to-eat foods is also an important consideration in the prevention of cross-contamination. Specific types of food must be stored on the proper shelf in your refrigerator. Next month, we will go into more detail about that.

Related products available at US Foods Culinary Equipment & Supplies:

• Cutting Boards
• Disposable Gloves