Bar Equipment

Summer's over and it's time to celebrate Fall! Superior Products Restaurant Equipment and Supplies is now featuring our annual Fall Equipment Sale. This is an opportunity for restaurants and bars to upgrade their current equipment and have top of the line high performance equipment built to last for years to come.



Choose from refrigeration and cooking equipment, as well as concession and food processing equipment. Save big on the essential products you need to run your kitchen or foodservice business. Prices are good through the end of the month, so now is the time to buy!

You can save on gas deep fryers, microwaves, and sandwich prep units during the Fall Equipment Sale. For added savings, President Obama signed an equipment act last year that runs through the end of this year. Big tax benefits are available on equipment prurchases made by the end of 2011. To read more, click here.

It’s not always smooth sailing in the food and beverage business. Over the years, I’ve had some strange experiences while serving and tending bar, as well as when I have been a patron at an establishment. What are the worst and/or strangest things that have happened to me? Well, I have some stories to share with you; some of them bizarre, some of them funny, and some of them just downright ugly! Superior Connections encourages you to share your comments and feedback about my stories and any of your own dining experiences that you'd like to blog about!

What’s worse than running out of ice during a busy rush (which has happened to me more than once while working at various establishments)?

How about having your ice mysteriously laced with poison without knowing that was happening until after the fact? Bizarre but true! While bartending on a very busy Valentine’s Day evening many years ago, both my customers at the bar and the service staff began returning drinks, complaining that there was a strange taste in them. I remade the drinks, thinking it was just a taste preference thing. Knowing that I had added new, clean ice to the clean, empty bin before my shift, I had no reason to suspect foul play. What I eventually figured out was that on my overhead swinging glass rack, the night cleaner had placed a wick-style air freshener. It had tipped over as a result of my frantically pulling glassware to make drinks and was leaking into the ice bin below!

I had to dispose of all the ice, clean out the bin, and replace it with new ice. Of course, I had to continue to make drinks for customers throughout the busy night, using a makeshift ice bucket while trying to empty and clean out the contaminated bin. The manager comped all of the “tainted drinks” and we replaced them for those customers who wanted new ones. When the complaints started coming in, I made myself a soft drink and tested the ice, and lived to tell about it. Judging from the amount of air freshener left in the can, very little dripped down into the ice. So, hopefully everyone survived this ordeal, but for me, it was definitely a “Calgon, take me away” moment. Stress!

After that incident, I checked all bar supplies and equipment carefully before opening the bar. Making sure all of my restaurant glasses, blenders, and tools were properly cleaned, sanitized and out of the danger zone, I confidently sold drinks from that point on. The only extras that were added to the drinks I served were definitely of the non-poisonous, edible kind: olives, limes, cherries, oranges, celery, onions and filberts, to name a few.

We’d like to share a little information about our Superior Products Restaurant Equipment and Supplies Top 10 best sellers so far this summer. Although summer didn’t officially start until the third week of June, we’re basing our “unofficial” summer period for the months of June, July, and August. June is now over and we reviewed our sales data, coming up with our top selling products for the month.

10) VersaPour Clear 60 oz. Pitchers 832820- Case of 6 now priced at $17.99

       A summer must for serving iced tea, lemonade, soft drinks, water, and any other cold beverages

9) Swivel Club Style Barstool 447998- Now priced at $58.99 each

      Comfortable sturdy and affordable bar furniture

8) 16” Aluminum Pizza Pan 801840- Now priced at $6.19 each

      Lightweight durable pizza pans

7) Windsor Medium Weight Dinner Knife 781345- Box of 12 now priced at $4.39

     Economical lightweight flatware

 


6) 8” Plastic Salad Bowl 832317- Now priced at $5.39 each

     Decorative black plastic bowls for everyday use

5) Half Size Sheet Pan 806188- Now priced at $18.49 each

     Always in the top 10, one of our customer’s all time favorites

4) Self Adjusting Table Glides 861364- Set of 4 now priced at $9.99

     Keep those tables level with these inexpensive accessories

3) Value Half Size Sheet Pan 808792- Now priced at $9.39 each

    Natural finish light duty pans

2) Tredlite Vinyl Sponge Matting 683299- Now priced at $9.19 per linear foot

    Prevents fatigue caused by standing for long periods of time

And the best selling product in June at Superior Products Restaurant Equipment and Sales was:

1) Economy Full Size Sheet Pan 881437- Now priced at $7.99 each

    Medium duty aluminum pan for your baking needs

These are our best selling supplies for June, but we also carry a full range of commercial kitchen equipment. Our product selection includes refrigeration, ranges, and food prep equipment, as well as bar equipment and supplies. With nearly 12,000 products sitewide, you need look no further!

Comfortable sturdy barstools are a must for any drinking establishment. Superior Products Restaurant Equipment and Supplies offers a great deal on Club style barstools with oversized seats. The chrome frame barstools are stocked with black vinyl upholstery, and other colors are available as well.

These barstools have been a bestselling product at Superior for years. Many customers buy them for the bars in their homes, and they are a very popular style found in many bars, restaurants, and drinking establishments. Replacement parts for these stools area also available on our website.

Club style stools have seats that are 2” wider and 1” deeper than standard barstool seats. This allows for more room and comfort for your patrons. They are easy to clean and durable. The warranty is one year against manufacturer defects. Available at a great current price of $55.99 each, these are a fantastic value for those in need of new barstools. Complement your purchase with a selection from our large collection of restaurant chairs and tables.

The Club style barstools with black seats are in-stock and ready to ship out within one business day of your order, generally arriving within 5 business days. Our 4 nationwide restaurant supply warehouses ship hundreds of orders daily, and we pride ourselves on fast delivery. Hurry and order now- the sale price on this quality product is for a limited time only!   

Superior Products Restaurant Equipment and Supplies offers two exclusive brands of products. Our Superior private label can be found on large kitchen equipment such as refrigeration, and cooking and bar equipment. Our Next Day Gourmet private line of smallwares includes kitchen utensils, scales, china, flatware, and many other foodservice supplies.

Our Superior line includes reach-in refrigerators, slicers, commercial ranges, and industrial dishwashers. Back bar coolers and direct draw dispensers also can be found in the Superior family of equipment. Our Superior private label items are manufactured by such industry giants as True, APW Wyott, Star, Bakers Pride, and Jackson.

There are over 1500 Next Day Gourmet exclusive brand products on www.SuperProd.com. China patterns include Amsterdam, Cancun, Duchess, Jive, Newport, White White, and many more. Our selection of flatware patterns includes Baguette, Dominion, Palm, Pebbles, Marissa, Radianz, and Union Square, as well as many others. Choose from cutlery, coffee cups, ramekins, soup service products, salad bowls, aprons, thermometers and tongs. These are just a small selection of smallwares products we offer under the Next Day Gourmet brand name.

In addition to our private labeled exclusive brand products, we have close to 12,000 total products available on our website. Many of these are in stock and ready to ship within one business day from our 4 national distribution centers. We pride ourselves on having a great product selection, great prices, and great customer service. In business for over 75 years, we are recognized as an industry leader in the foodservice equipment and supplies business.

Welcome back to Superior Products Restaurant Equipment and Supplies three part series on the history of restaurants. Previously we explored the early history of foodservice establishments and the evolution of eateries into the American dining landscape today. While our country is still relatively young, new technologies, expanded culinary exposure, and creativity have all been key components in the shaping of our modern day cornucopia of foodservice dining options.

This article will focus on the types of eating establishments available to consumers today in the United States. We will attempt to cover the more prominent and popular types of eateries, although some are sure to be left out as there are so many to choose from. We’ll also throw in some menu fare and recommended foodservice equipment and supply items that might work well with this type of venue. So here we go…

Restaurant is a generic term referring to any establishment that serves food to customers. High end restaurants offer cuts of quality meats and seafood dishes, often adorned with sauces and seasonings that delight the palate. Many of the world’s top chefs are in charge of these kitchens where dishes are created with some of the finest and freshest ingredients to be found- all for a price! Fast food restaurants and coffee shops have menu items that will cost you less than one dollar.

Pizzerias specialize in pizza, pasta, and Italian dishes. Delicatessens tend to cater more to the soup, sandwich, and side order crowd, often serving quality specialized sliced meats, while cafeterias offer these items as well as a variety of hot entrees and sides. Superior offers restaurant kitchen equipment such as sandwich and pizza prep units to help the kitchen staff prepare their meals. Restaurant meat slicers  and pizza supplies are also available on our website.

Diners, grills, and drive-ins offer casual dining fare, usually available for dining in, or for taking out. In recent years, casual dining chains have sprung up offering a variety of ethnic favorites and American favorites such as hamburgers and sub sandwiches. These restaurants are generally higher priced than fast food restaurants but not as expensive as “dining in sit-down” restaurants. With our recent economic woes, many Americans are frequenting these establishments more often than higher priced restaurants when they are dining out.
 

Bistros, cantinas, and cafés have varietal menus, sometimes specializing in a specific type of food or food theme. They are less formal than more expensive restaurants, offering a more relaxed casual atmosphere where people gather to eat and drink, sometimes choosing lighter fare to eat. Many of these eateries offer specialty cocktails and with a large selection of restaurant glasses, we have you covered whether you need specialized or classic styles of glassware.

Concession stands, donut shops, chophouses, oyster bars…the list goes on and on. We have so many options to choose from today when it comes to eating that it is mind boggling. Whether you want to indulge in animal brains, insects, flowers, or refreshing treats such as garlic ice cream, just do a little research. You probably don’t have to go too far to find the meal of your choice. Of course, a burger, fries and milkshake are still on the menu somewhere too!

And if you own and operate one of the aforementioned restaurants, you will need quality restaurant equipment and foodservice supply to be successful. With over 11,500 products sitewide and many ready to ship out within one business day, Superior Products is the company you need for fast quality service and a wide selection of products.

Ever wonder how restaurants got started? Humans have to eat to sustain their lives, so the idea of serving up food in a centralized location came about many moons ago. Superior Products Restaurant Equipment and Supplies begins a three part series today on restaurants, their history and evolution. You can follow eating establishments from their very earliest days to today’s cornucopia of places to eat.

Today’s post will focus on the early history of restaurants worldwide, while our second installation will review early American dining places. The third and final post of our series will take a look at modern day restaurants, diners, cafeterias, bistros, and other eateries we have available as dining options today. Most of the information contained in this article came from Wikipedia.com and their attributed sources.

So, way back when…

Restaurants are believed to have originated in ancient day Pompeii, Rome. Many small restaurant/bars sprung up and served as a social outlet for the citizens. Many homes were without kitchens, and these thermopolia usually had L-shaped buffet type setups, offering hot and cold prepared food to those who might have trouble finding it otherwise. 158 such thermopolia have been found throughout ancient Pompeii, many of them located in busy public areas.

During China’s Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the hospitality and catering industry took off in Kaifeng, the northern capital of China in the 11^th century. The industry expanded from the taverns and teahouses that had been set up for individuals travelling through an area to new restaurants catering to the local community. Kaifeng had paper currency and had a population in excess of 1 million people. In addition to locals, visitors from other parts of China also visited these new “restaurants”.

Individual restaurants offered specialized menus to its patrons based on different types of cuisine, and socio-economic and religious considerations. Many of the families who ran restaurants in Kaifeng moved to Hangzhou, the capital city during the 12^th and 13^th centuries, after the Jurchen invasion.

Cafes began in Constantinople during the 16^th century when the first coffee house was born. They were popular gathering spots where the educated class would gather for hours sharing ideas, and indulging in drinks and snacks. The concept spread to Europe in the 17^th century, when the first modern-day café was opened in 1696, the Café Procope. This café in France offered wine, brandy, and liqueurs, as well as coffee.

During the 18^th century, the French government oversaw highly regulated establishments that served food for the purpose of restoring one’s strength or to help the sick and ailing recover. The French word restaurer means “to restore” and this is the origin of the word restaurant. The French Revolution was when restaurants as we think of them today were born. Laws were lifted on restricted foods that now allowed anyone who could afford the food to buy it. Many chefs capitalized and created menus with cooked-to-order food for the public to enjoy.

Can you imagine cornering the foodservice equipment and supplies market early on? Being a supplier of wholesale coffee cups and restaurant glasses could have quite the lucrative business back then. Today, you need look no further than Superior Products to find all of the equipment and supply needs for your foodservice establishment.

Stay with us this week as we continue our “History of Restaurants” series. Remember as you retrace the origins of restaurants, cafes, and catering establishments, that if you are in the foodservice business now, you need look no further than our website for quality kitchen cooking equipment, catering supplies, bar equipment and much, much more!

On Monday, May 23, Superior Products Restaurant Equipment and Supplies will unveil our Memorial Day Sale. The special savings will be available for two weeks and will run from May 23, 2011 to June 5, 2011. We want to commence the “unofficial” start of the Summer season with bargains on quality foodservice equipment and supplies.

Choose from products with reduced pricing such as catering supplies, bar supplies, and food prep products. The savings will be great and will only last for 2 weeks, so don't let this opportunity pass you by! Kick off Summer by investing in a variety of products for your establishment.

Superior Products features more than 11,500 products sitewide, and the majority of these are in-stock. These in-stock products ship out quickly, usually arriving at your business or home within 3 to 4 business days. Choose from leading industry manufacturers such as Manitowoc, Libbey, Cambro, and Vollrath. Furniture choices include a variety of barstools and chairs from such suppliers as Holsag, Waymar, and MTS Seating.

Shop now and save at Superior’s Memorial Day Sale. Spring into Summer and save now!
Sneak a peak at our product selection (sale prices won't display until Monday). For special savings enter source code OLC422 in shopping basket to receive an extra 5% off your order.