Catering Supply

Superior Products Restaurant Equipment and Supplies regrets to have to announce the closing of two of our Superior Outlet Centers. Our Anaheim and Orlando outlet centers will be closing their doors on Friday, August 26, 2011. We would like to thank the hard work and dedication of the staff at these locations, many who have been serving our Superior customers for several years.

As the date approaches, all products will be marked down in an effort to sell all of our merchandise at these locations. There are unbelievable savings on everything in stock, so if you live in one of these areas, be sure to stop in and save before August 26.

Kitchen cooking equipment, catering supplies, and many other foodservice equipment and supply products will be available with marked down prices. All sales are limited to stock on hand, so hurry and check in soon.

To encourage our customers in Anaheim and Orlando to continue to be part of our Superior Products customer base, we have set up special promotional offers for you to use online or to call into our call center. Details are available in the store, and we will be sending details with postcards and emails to customers within a 50 mile radius of these locations.

Thank you to all who have helped make these outlet centers successful over the years, and thank you to loyal customers who have patronized our business. We hope that you will continue on as customers of Superior Products and enjoy the benefits of our in-stock shipment fast deliveries. Shipments that are in stock generally ship out within one business day. Customers in both Anaheim and Orlando should receive their orders within 2 to 3 business days after shipping.

Food trucks have been gaining popularity in recent years as consumers search for bargains while our current strained economy has a firm grip on our wallets. Six food trucks were featured at the National Restaurant Association show in Chicago this year, and they were the topic of several discussions at the show. There are currently over 4000 food trucks licensed in Los Angeles County, and they are popular in other metropolitan areas as well.

In the Twin Cities, Food Truck Court has been created. Each Wednesday throughout the Summer in downtown St. Paul, MN, a variety of food trucks assemble on Food Truck Court. They’re offering up culinary creations to consumers for a digestible price. Instead of greasy spoon type meals, there will be healthier alternatives offered. This is quite a far cry from the concessions you’re used to being served at food trucks, and you don’t have to be attending an event to indulge.

New York City has established the New York City Food Truck Association (NYCFTA), which is a collection of small businesses that own and operate food trucks. They oversee quality issues, ethical issues, and legal issues surrounding food trucks and their selling techniques. The association currently has over 20 members.

Earlier this month, Pera Turkish Taco Truck, which is parked in Central Park near the old Tavern on the Green, acquired a license to sell beer, wine and liquor. Other vendors that occupy permanent spaces in Central Park are also seeking liquor licenses. Any truck granted a license must ensure that their customers drink within the seating confines of the Tavern on the Green Food Truck Terrace.

So, as consumers battle against an unstable economy, food trucks have found a way to serve quality food at a palatable price. Superior Products Restaurant Equipment and Supplies offers a variety of catering and small equipment products to help these culinary creators continue their creative process. With over 11,000 products on our website, we’ve got the foodservice supplies they need!

Superior Products Restaurant Equipment and Supplies offers a variety of dinnerware choices. You can choose from multiple shapes, styles, brands, colors, and patterns. The first two things that you need to decide when purchasing dinnerware are which shape and which style is right for your establishment.


Shapes

• Wide rim plates- highlight smaller portions but take up more space on tabletop
• Medium rim plates- versatile and offer smaller center for presentation
• Narrow rim plates- allow for maximum serving sizes and elicit image of value
• Coupe shaped plates- contemporary look and feel with no rims 

• Plain rim plates- allow more focus on the food
• Sculptured rim plates- provide design and visual interest and can be coordinated with flatware patterns and tabletop accessories

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.

Social media is helping build new business and potentially increase check averages. This is according to an article appearing on Nation’s Restaurant News website (www.nrn.com) by Alan Snel. The article references a webinar about online ordering. The webinar was sponsored by social media provider Exit41 and presented by Nation’s Restaurant News.

As noted in the article, this type of program must include a dedicated and well planned marketing campaign and must be constantly monitored. However, the benefits that can be reaped include additional P.R. and increase revenues. For more details, read article.

Superior Products Restaurant Equipment and Supplies would like to help you build and increase your foodservice business as well. With over 11,500 products sitewide, we have all that you need to get started and to keep running a successful foodservice operation. Many of our products including restaurant glasses and catering supplies are stocked in our 4 national distribution centers and ready to ship to you within one business day.

Too Much Chocolate Cake

Submitted by Kimberly M.

1 18.25 oz pkg devil’s food cake mix
1 5.9 oz pkg instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350º F (175º C).

In a large bowl, mix cake mix, pudding mix, sour cream, vegetable oil, beaten eggs and water.

Stir in the chocolate chips and pour batter into a well greased 12 cup bundt pan.

Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until the top is springy to the touch and a wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Cool cake thoroughly in pan at least an hour and a half before inverting onto a plate if desired; dust the cake with powdered sugar.

Recommended Restaurant Equipment and supplies:

• Measuring Cup Set
• Revolving Cake Stand
• Wood Rim Sieve