• Wash, store and safely transport stemware & tumblers.
• Open inside compartments ensure thorough cleaning.
• Closed external walls keep fingers and contaminants out.
• Smooth sides and rounded corners reduce risk of injury.
• Easy-to-grip, rounded handles on all four sides provide comfortable handling.
• Smooth top rim ensures quick, stable stacking.
• Add a Camdolly® and Cover for completely-enclosed, sanitary storage between use.
• Durable, long-lasting polypropylene will withstand chemicals and high temperatures up to 200°F (93,3°C).
• Full size racks are standard size 19 3/4" x 19 3/4" (50 x 50 cm).
• Half size racks are standard size 19 3/4" x 10" (50 x 25,4 cm).
• Inter-stacks with all other competitive racks.
• Fits through any commercial dishwasher.
• 10 base colors and 2 extender colors equals 20 color-coding options for full size racks.

• For plates, bowls, trays and plate covers.
• Choose the 9X9 row peg rack for standard plates.
• The 5X9 row peg rack holds standard plates in one directon and deep plates, bowls and plate covers in the other direction.
• The open end tray rack holds cafeteria trays or full-size sheet pans.
• Durable polypropylene will withstand chemicals and high temperatures up to 200°F (93,3°C).
• Smooth top rim ensures quick, stable stacking.
• Inter-stacks with all other racks.
• Fits through any commercial dishwasher

Recipe Week continues at Superior Products Restaurant Equipment and Supplies this week with a sweet offering. Cream Cheese Mints are on the menu and the recipe below turns out quite a tasty product! We have suggestions after the recipe for supplies that might help you create these treats. These products are available on our website and we offer fast delivery!

Cream Cheese Mints

Submitted by Lorri L.

2 oz cream cheese           
¼ tsp flavoring
¼ tsp food coloring            
1 2/3 cup sifted powdered sugar
Approx. 1 cup granulated sugar

Blend all ingredients together except granulated sugar, until pie-dough consistency. Roll into marble-sized balls. Dip in granulated sugar.

Press into a mint mold and release or flatten with the bottom of a glass. Let harden for a half hour, then flip over to harden another half hour before serving. They freeze well too.

Note on Flavoring: Use your choice in the combination of flavoring & food coloring; green goes with mint, yellow with banana, red with cherry, etc.

 Recommended Foodservice Equipment and Supplies:

• Measuring Spoon Set
• Sifter
• Heavy Duty Plastic Handle Spoon
  

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.

Superior Products Restaurant Equipment and Supplies has just distributed its July and August Concession Equipment Sale flyer. There will be savings on hundreds of products, and not just concession items. Several new items have been added to our website and appear in the flyer for the first time. To view these products, check out Superior Additions.



Hot dog machines, popcorn poppers, and cup dispensers are among the concession products featured in our new flyer. Also displayed in the flyer are beverage equipment, smallwares supplies, and restaurant glasses. Our new line of Manitowoc Indigo ice machines are also featured in a two page spread.

For all of your commercial foodservice equipment and supplies needs, Superior Products is a name you can trust for over 75 years. Our in-stock items ship out from 4 distribution centers located nationwide, and generally arrive within 3 to 5 business days. In-stock orders of $250.00 or more (excluding furniture) qualify for standard shipping at no cost to you. Liftgate service and inside delivery are available for larger equipment at an additional cost.

Summer's moving along, so take advantage now of great pricing and availabilty on the supplies you need to help make your business prosper this year. We carry such great brand names as Libbey, Cambro, True, and Hobart. Our online product selection includes nearly 12,000 products. Shop and save today with us!

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!

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.

Today is St. Patrick’s Day and Superior Products Restaurant Equipment and Supplies is offering values on select products until the end of the month. Get yer Irish up and order now to receive super savings. View the selection of products here.

Green is the color of the day and you can save some green on these great deals. Over the land, beer will be flowing liberally on this day throughout bars and restaurants, so make sure you’re prepared! Make sure you’re stocked up on beer glasses, pitchers, and bar equipment.

In business for over 75 years, Superior is a name you can trust in the foodservice equipment and supplies industry. We strive on speedy delivery and great customer service. Our user friendly website offers a worry free online experience for our customers with a great selection of over 11,500 products.



We also offer a variety of energy efficient Energy Star rated equipment products. Many of our refrigerators, ranges and food prep equipment have this rating. Eco friendly products are also available, such as our carryout containers and hot beverage holders. So with green in mind today, you can buy green, save green, and celebrate green! Happy St Patricks Day!

Dining traffic showed positive growth signs in the fourth quarter of 2010 and has restaurant owners hopeful for the rest of this year. There were declines in 2009 over 2008 in restaurant guest traffic, but traffic was flat in 2010 when compared to 2009. This is optimistic news for the industry, as the steady decline that was happening seems to have turned around in 2010. 



Spending at restaurants also increased, according to the NPD group market research company. An article in the Nation's Restaurant News details the results of their study.

This is also good news for the restaurant equipment and supplies industry. Superior Products prides itself on being an industry leader for over 75 years, offering over 11,500 products on our website. Choose from restaurant glasses, bar equipment, commercial kitchen equipment, and much, much more!

Our 4 nationwide distribution centers stock many of these products, so they are ready to ship out right away. Once your order is placed, in-stock products will ship out by the next business day, and you should receive product in 4 to 6 business days. Now is the time to order and take advantage of our free shipping offer on in-stock merchandise totalling $250 or more for orders shipping within the continental 48 states (offer excludes furniture and premium shipping services such as liftgate and inside delivery).

Choosing which glass to serve your cocktails in will only enhance the presentation of the product. At Superior Products, we have a large selection of glassware, designed especially for serving and merchandising specific drinks. Our selection of beer glassware includes mugs, pilsner glasses, beer coolers (pint glasses) and glass pitchers. Plastic pitchers are also available. Wine glasses are available in a variety of patterns for white wine, red wine, and champagne.

If you serve specialty frozen drinks, we have margarita glasses, hurricane glasses, and super sized glassware. Cocktail glasses are available in different sizes, shapes, and colors for your specialty martinis, cosmos, and gimlets. Choose from a variety of rocks glasses, shot glasses, and cordial glasses for serving your cordials, after dinner drinks, and shots. If you serve Irish Coffee or other hot libations, you can select the perfect glass from our selection.

Our restaurant glass selection includes hi-ball glasses, old-fashioned glasses, and tumblers. Water glasses and goblets are also available in a variety of patterns and sizes. For your entire bar equipment and supply collection, choose Superior Products Restaurant Equipment and Supplies as your source; we have been a leader in the industry for over 75 years. Most of our glassware is stocked in our restaurant supply warehouses, and are shipped out within one business day after placing your order. Your shipment generally arrives within 4 to 6 business days.

It’s Super Bowl Week and Superior Products Restaurant Equipment and Supplies has the products you need to satisfy your hungry and thirsty guests. If chili, nachos, hot dogs, and beer are on the menu, we’ve got the supplies for you!

Our Superior 7 Quart Round Cooker/Warmer is ideal for bringing your room temperature chili to a rolling boil within 30 minutes. Thermostatic control allows you to have it simmer at warm temperatures for hours. We offer an optional pan kit that includes inset, cover, and ladle. This product is also available in an 11 quart capacity and is great for keeping cheese warm for your nachos.

 


The Star Lighted Nacho Warmer has a heated spout that measures ¾ oz. pours of heated cheese to top off your nachos or other snacks. This works well for toppings for ice cream (such as hot fudge or caramel), chili dogs, and sandwiches (barbeque and other heated sauces). #10 cans fit perfectly in the well, or a 3-1/2 oz. optional inset pan is available.

If nachos are a big seller for you, you may want to invest in a commercial nacho warmer.  Carter-Hoffman front loading models keep chips warmed at 175 degrees F. and have 20, 22, and 44 gallon capacities. Vulcan top loading models maintain temperatures of 180 degrees F, and hold 22 gallons or 44 gallons of chips. Countertop Nacho Chip Merchandisers by Star are available for those who have a lower volume of nachos sales.

Hot Dog Rollers and Steamers can also be found at Superior Products. Prepare up to 50 franks at a time. Superior Bun Warmers can keep up to 100 buns at a time heated and ready to go for that next hot dog sale. Countertop merchandisers and sneeze guards for some models are also available.

Getting thirsty? Your customers are likely to need a cold beer to wash down their Super Bowl gastronomic favorites, so make sure you have the proper restaurant glasses to accommodate them. Choose from a variety of beer mugs, pilsner glasses, and pitchers in our huge inventory of in-stock glassware. These glasses are ready to ship out the next business days and should arrive in 3 to 4 business days.