Easter and Passover Recipes

Tonight is the first night of Passover, and Easter is officially less then a week away! Both holidays tend to have a large focus on food, so we want to make sure you are prepared for the restaurant rush this week.  Whether it be dinner or brunch, both will be big all week due to extended families in town.  Are you prepared for not only the big day events, but also the week leading up to Easter?  What about the special foods (ie: Matzah) you may have to incorporate in honor of Passover?

 

To make it a little easier for you, we have compiled a list of great recipes for both Passover and Easter so feel free to check them out and let us know which ones you like best!

 

Passover http://allrecipes.com/recipes/holidays-and-events/passover/Top.aspx

Word of advice, if you’ve never had Haroset, it is delicious and a must-try!

Easter http://allrecipes.com/recipes/holidays-and-events/easter/

Of course, once you make all of this delicious food, you will have to make sure that you have a way to keep it warm while you serve it, especially if you are hosting a buffet.  Chafing dishes are an excellent way to go, and Roll-Top Chafing Dishes are easy to use and provide an elegant look.

 

Anyone Up for a Tailgate?

Now that it’s Spring time, it means grilling season is here!  Obviously I love the normal grilled foods such as hamburgers and hotdogs, but I think my all time favorite is grilled pineapple. There is just something so I have included a recipe for you to use below.  

I’m a huge fan of tailgating, and I love grilling for a crowd.  In order to grill for a crowd though, you have to have a very large grill.  A regular size grill just won’t cut it in this case because people will fight over who gets to eat first.  A larger grill allows all of your guests to eat at the same time rather then some people becoming full before others even begin. That’s a lot of pineapple in some cases!

The Portable Charcoal Grill from Rocky Mountain Cookware is ideal for catering and tailgating because although it is large, it folds in to a two wheel dolly that is just 3ft x 2ft x 6”, whereas when unfolded and ready for action, the grill is 5ft x 2ft.  The grill also has an adjustable height that can cater (no pun intended) towards any chef. Plus, clean up is very quick and easy, and only one person is needed to operate the grill.

Portable Charcoal Grill from Rocky Mountain Cookware

 

Ingredients

• 1 fresh pineapple – peeled, cored and cut into 1 inch rings
• 1/4 teaspoon honey
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 dash hot pepper sauce
• salt to taste

Directions

1. Place pineapple in a large resealable plastic bag. Add honey, butter, hot pepper sauce, and salt.  Seal bag, and shake to coat evenly. Marinate for at least 30 minutes, or preferably overnight.
2. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil grate.
3. Grill pineapple for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until heated through and grill marks appear.

How Often Should You Clean Your Restaurant or Hotel?

Spring is here which means it’s time for some Spring cleaning in your hotel or restaurant!  Although to be honest, if you own/work in a hotel, you are most likely (and hopefully) cleaning more often then once a year… If not, then you’re violating a bunch of health code laws so you should probably look into increasing your cleaning routine if you want to remain in business.  So if you’re wondering the answer to the above question, the answer is daily.

Nonetheless, we will disregard the past and make sure that you are thinking about cleaning now and in the future.  For those of you who work in a hotel, you generally have a housekeeping staff that travels from room to room cleaning each room.  Your cleaning routine may vary if it’s a new guest versus a guest who stayed in the room the night before.  Either way, your housekeeping staff needs a convenient way to carry their cleaning supplies, fresh towels and sheets, new toiletries and of course those chocolate mints to put on the guests’ pillows at night that everyone loves (can’t forget those).  Lodging Carts are a great way to transport the above supplies from room to room.

In addition to lodging carts, you may also need to transport, recycle, or throw away a large amount of trash or other items.  You can choose from a variety of other Continental Manufacturing Carts for transportation and organization purposes including platform trucks, recycling trucks, mobile ice bins, and tilt trucks.

Continental Manufacturing Carts

Why Spend Extra Money on the Energy Bill in Your Establishment?

Wishing the weather wasn’t so humid and your restaurant wasn’t attracting so many bugs? Earth is coming up, and I love the environment just as much as the next person, but there is a bit of discrepancy that the health department has with bugs inside of restaurants (I know, it’s quite a far fetched concept) so you must keep them out in order to fully pass health inspections. 

Every time a door is opened, the temperature and air contents in one room enter the other.  This is not an ideal situation for keeping bugs out.  It also changes the internal temperatures that you are paying to maintain (i.e.: inside your walk-in refrigerators and freezers).  Why pay a higher energy bill when you don’t have to?  Mars Air Doors offers an alternative to allow you to keep bugs out and maintain ideal temperatures inside your restaurant and prep areas. How does Mars Air Doors do this you ask? Well it’s simple my friend, Mars Air Curtains!  Air curtains create a controlled stream of air in your doorway.  Choose from heated or non-heated air curtains depending on your needs.

Galasource.com is offering a great Mars Air Promotion for a limited time where you can purchase any Mars Air Curtain and receive a free switch, or purchase two Mars Air Curtains and get the second Air Curtain at 50% off! YAY!!

Mars Air Curtains

It’s Never Too Early to Start Thinking About a Special Day

Easter is next weekend and Mother’s Day is just around the corner.  What better way to honor your mother then a catered party?  Obviously you don’t want your parties to be below average so it’s important that they look up to the part.  A great way to instantly dress up your events without spending a lot of money on décor you won’t reuse?  Table skirting and tablecloths!  After all, what Mother wouldn’t appreciate the extra steps you take to make the event special?

Galasource offers a variety of Skirting and Linens from Snap Drape and Marco By Carlisle.  You can choose from basic white or black linen napkins, tablecloths, and skirting.  These are the most versatile colors so you can reuse them multiple times throughout the year.  Everything is machine washable and 100% polyester so you don’t have to send it out for special dry cleaning.  Skirting is even flame retardant so you don’t have to worry about mom getting a little too tipsy this year and knocking over any candles or heating sources (yes, I’ve seen it happen…).

Skirting and Linens from Snap Drape and Marco By Carlisle

What’s St. Patrick’s Day without Irish Coffee?

Happy St. Patty’s Day Weekend!  Just curious, but where did they come up with eliminating Patrick to Patty?  Isn’t Patrick a guy’s name, but Patty a girl’s? Well, regardless of whether you are a Patrick or a Patty (or a Tom or a Sheila), hopefully you will be celebrating in style! Want to know how I’m celebrating?  Corned beef and cabbage, green beer and Irish coffee!  I’m assuming most of you will be somewhere along those lines as well…

Obviously you can’t serve Irish Coffee in beer mugs and vice versa (It’s a bit unsophisticated for most restaurants, but some thrive off the eclectic theme so in the end it is after all your call).  There is just something so comforting about drinking out of an Irish coffee mug that you don’t get from a regular glass.  I like the Irish Coffee Mugs from Libbey.  Maybe it’s the variation of width along the exterior of the glass that makes it so fun?  Or maybe it’s the fact that one of the options is a glass (not actually a porcelain mug as the name “Irish Coffee Mug” may lead you to believe…) with an actual handle.  Either way, make sure you wear some green and try some Irish coffee this year (check out the Irish coffee recipe below if you don’t already have one)!

Irish Coffee Mugs from Libbey

Irish Coffee Recipe

(Serves 1)

• 1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 jigger Irish whiskey (1 1/2 ounces or 3 tablespoons)
• Heavy cream, slightly whipped

Fill footed mug or a mug with hot water to preheat it, then empty. Pour piping hot coffee into warmed glass until it is about 3/4 full. Add the brown sugar and stir until completely dissolved. Blend in Irish whiskey. Top with a collar of the whipped heavy cream by pouring gently over back of spoon. Serve hot.

You Can Never Have Too Much Chocolate!

 What is it about Chocolate Fountains that just makes everything around you better?  Is it the possibility of all of the different items you can dip and coat in delicious chocolate?  Or is it that “kid in a candy store” fact that you really can have all that chocolate in one place at your fingertips?  There is just something so eloquent about a chocolate fountain that instantly dresses up any event or buffet.

You can set up one chocolate fountain or multiple fountains with different types of chocolate. There is after all a great debate on milk chocolate vs. dark chocolate vs. white chocolate (which actually isn’t even considered real chocolate).

You can choose from a variety of chocolate fountain sizes and number of tiers.  The 23” Cortez Chocolate Fountain from Sephra is a great starter fountain model.  It consists of three tiers, a removable basin for easy cleaning, and a custom travel case.  You can also use it next to a larger chocolate fountain for an even more impressive look.

What’s your favorite thing to dip in a chocolate fountain?  Strawberries?  Marshmallows?  My personal favorite Angel Food Cake? Maybe something more creative?

23” Cortez Chocolate Fountain from Sephra

Eating from Communal Plates Isn’t Exactly The Most Romantic Thing…

 Tomorrow is Valentines Day!  Anyone have any big plans?  Well, surprises are great on Valentines Day, but if you are the one planning the event, you want to make sure you are prepared.  You don’t want to be organizing a large event and then find out you don’t have enough plates to serve everything on!

That being said, Galasource is hosting a huge sale on White Porcelana Platters from World Tableware.  These basic white plates go with all kinds of décor and can be used for a fancy Valentines Day event or just for every day eating.  Show your loved ones that you really do care about them enough to give them their own plate rather then making them use their hands and serving from a trough (as romantic as that sounds…)

White Porcelana Platters from World Tableware

Keep it Hot This Valentines Day!

 Now that the Super Bowl is behind us, it’s time to start preparing for the next holiday, Valentines Day!  Have anything big planned for the big day?  Maybe dinner at a nice restaurant or attending a catered party?  Whatever you plan on doing with that special someone (or for other people and their special someone’s), it’s important to make sure that you are prepared.  As the saying goes, “Fail to prepare, then prepare to fail”.

So in order to prepare for your big event (whether it be Valentines Day or any other event), you want to make sure that you have a way to keep your hot food hot.  My suggestion? Chafing dishes.  They are classy and easy to use.  Chafers do not need electricity to stay warm so you don’t have to worry about outlets or people tripping over wires which is always a good thing…

If you are looking to purchase some new chafers, check out the 8 Qt. Roll Top Chafing Dishes from Thunder Group.  These stainless steel chafers have brass accents and are made out of a mirror finish stainless steel.  There is just something that makes shiny and classy go hand in hand!

8 Qt. Roll Top Chafing Dishes from Thunder Group

Eliminate the Need to Blend in Multiple Batches

 Every kitchen needs a blender for one thing or another.  It could be for your bar or it may just be for your back of the house prep needs.  Regardless of your purposes, commercial restaurants tend to need more heavy duty blenders then a blender you would use at home because they are used more often (I think that’s pretty obvious…).

Most blenders hold up to 48 oz, but the Waring 1 Gallon Blender holds up to one full gallon (just in case you couldn’t guess that by the product title), which is 128 ounces!  That’s almost three times the size of a normal blender!  You no longer have to prepare multiple batches of blended sauces because this container is big enough to do it all at once, therefore making it a huge time saver (which is always a good thing in a prep kitchen).  This Waring blender container is made of stainless steel and is extremely heavy duty.  It has three speed options and two handles.  Even though the container is made of stainless steel, you can still see through the clear polycarbonate lid from the top.  It’s perfect for making all of those home made margaritas that your restaurant is so famous for!

Waring 1 Gallon Blender

Perks of An Immersion Blender

 Now that it’s winter, I find myself craving more hearty soups (and I think the general public would agree).  Sometimes you need to blend certain ingredients to receive the desired thickness. One thing about making soup is that it always makes a lot, therefore making it hard to blend your ingredients without having to work in multiple batches.  If you want to save time and hassle (who doesn’t?), then I highly recommend an immersion blender.

Immersion blenders are very heavy duty and are ideal for liquefying soups, sauces, pureeing fruits/ vegetables and preparing incredibly smooth pates!  The difference between an immersion blender and a food processor is that an immersion blender does not require a specific container to be used for blending.  It’s also different from a hand mixer (one with beaters) because hand mixers do not actually chop food, whereas an immersion blender can chop and blend at once, therefore limiting your prep work. Immersion blenders are ideal for mixing/pureeing/chopping larger amounts of food at once, or just to target specific areas (i.e.: lumpy parts) over others.  Since you can target certain areas, you are able to maintain a thicker consistency or delicate “batter” because you are not over mixing and risking an overly runny and undesirable consistency.  It is also easier to take an immersion blender with you rather then a food processor when catering an event. 

The Big Stix Immersion Blender from Waring has a 1 HP heavy duty motor, a 750 Watt variable speed motor, and a 14” shaft. This immersion blender comes with a comfort grip handle which not only eliminates hand cramps, but also allows for safer operation.

Big Stix Immersion Blender from Waring

Freshness by Shrink Wrapping

 So you have this great idea to sell frozen pizza, but people only have so much space in their freezers so you have to make sure your pizza really does provide enough food per freezer space square inch.  Even if you don’t sell frozen pizzas, it is still important to ensure your food maintains freshness, and saran wrap by itself doesn’t always cut it.

Minimize extra space and maintain freshness longer by shrink wrapping your pizzas, deli platters, cake, etc with the Wisco Pizza/Deli Wrapper.  This wrapper automatically shrink wraps around the edges of any circular plate/platter to form an air-tight seal.  The Pizza Wrapper uses thermostatically controlled heating elements to provide controlled heat for continuous or intermittent operation.  Once your product is air tight, it can maintain freshness for a much longer time, eliminate freezer burn, and keep your food from coming into contact with other food or harmful bacteria.

Wisco Pizza/Deli Wrapper

Best Way to Celebrate the New Year is By Dining Out!

 What’s your favorite way to spend New Years Eve? Any specific foods you like to eat or restaurants you like to go to?

The National Restaurant Association forecasts that 100 million Americans will spend New Years Eve this year in a restaurant, bar, or do some kind of restaurant takeout/delivery.  New Years Eve is one of the busiest dining out days of the year.  Many restaurants take part in the festivities by doing a pre-fixed menu or multi course meal option with wine pairings.  This year is expected to have an increased amount of reservations due to New Years Eve being on a Saturday night.

According to a survey from The National Restaurant Association, one in every five people plan on going out to eat/drink for New Years Eve this coming weekend.  In addition, another 1.1 people out of the 5 plan on ordering delivery or doing takeout so they can watch the ball drop from the comfort of their own home. On New Years Day, 12% of people plan to eat out, and an additional 16 percent say they plan to order takeout or delivery from a restaurant. 

That being said, restaurants need to ensure that they are prepared for the increase in traffic on this widespread holiday.  Since most people are off work on 1/2/12, this allows for an increased amount of people to eat out on the night of 1/1/12.

With this being the time of year where many people have family and friends visiting them, you want to make sure that the out-of-towners are impressed with the food at your restaurant and want to come back the next time they are in town.  Plus, they will spread the word about that delicious meal they had on New Years to other people who may be coming to visit.  Don’t overestimate the power of out of town word of mouth promotion!

Ring In The New Year with HUGE Savings on Traulsen!

 What better time to go after your dream and open that restaurant you have always wanted to open, then New Years?  Make it your New Years resolution this year to follow your passion and start that restaurant!  Obviously there is a lot involved, and yes the stakes are high, but if you have a passion for the business, why would you even want to do anything else?  That being said, you may already have opened that dream restaurant establishment, but you have come to realize that the equipment will not last forever and you are in need of say, a new refrigerator.

Galasource is having a HUGE sale on the Traulsen 2 Door Reach-In Refrigerator in honor of the new year for those of you who are either in need of a new refrigerator or are ready to purchase your first one for that new restaurant you are planning on opening in 2012. The G20010 Reach-In is made of stainless steel, and comes with 3 adjustable shelves in each section.  This model is ENERGY STAR approved which will allow you to save more money in the long run on your energy bill!  What better New Year’s resolution is there then to save more money? Enter the coupon code TRAULSEN2 at checkout to receive your savings.

Traulsen 2 Door Reach-In Refrigerator

Party Packs Are Not Just For The Holiday Parties

 Merry Christmas weekend!  What are your plans for the holiday?  My favorite part about the holidays is just being with family and friends and the comforts that go along with spending time with your loved ones.  Wouldn’t it be great if restaurants could truly provide this feeling to all of its patrons?  Give them a sense of comfort every time they walk in, and make them feel at home. 

I don’t know about you, but to me, there is just something so welcoming about walking into a restaurant with colorful décor.  It makes you feel right at home. Colorful plates add a nice change from the all white plates that most restaurants use.  Some restaurants choose to use a few matching colors, whereas others go with a variety of colored plates.

Diversified Ceramics has introduced a variety of Party Packs that come in an assortment of different colors and sizes.  The Diversified Ceramic Party Packs are perfect for side dishes, desserts, sauces, individual casseroles, etc.  My favorite of the line is the Fry Pan Servers.  They are a great way to prepare individual casseroles to serve to your customers.  They make plating easy and the colored plates help make it more appealing.  The Welsh Rarebits are great for pasta side dishes such as Macaroni and Cheese or pasta salad.  Check out the full line!

Diversified Ceramic Party Packs

How Can You Not Love Wine During the Holiday Season?

 The holiday party season is underway!  You don’t want to be the one who hosts the party that everyone thought was boring.  You want to be the one with the good food and the best drinks.  The one that everyone will want to come back to again next year (ugly sweater may or may not be included).

Of course, if it is a holiday party you will have to have eggnog.  In reality though, only about 12% of people actually like eggnog so make sure you have a back up option when it comes to the drinks!  Well, I can’t think of a better option then wine.  It’s classy and sophisticated, yet delicious and fun to drink.  It’s also perfect for all of those ugly sweater parties that we all have come to love so much.

Well, if you are serving wine, you want to make sure that it’s served at the correct temperature.  No one wants to drink warm or overly cold white wine.  The best way to keep your wine bottles at their ideal serving temperature after they are opened is with a wine cooler.  Wine coolers can be fancy or simple depending on the look that you are going for.  Choose from a variety of discounted Wine Coolers from American Metalcraft and Tablecraft including marble, stainless steel, and clear acrylic to determine which works best for your restaurant or event.  These wine coolers will not only hold your wine at its ideal serving temperature for up to 2 hours, but also make your wine bottles look good while they sit on the tables just waiting to be poured.

Wine Coolers from American Metalcraft and Tablecraft

Prepare All Kinds of Homemade Sauces in a Matter of Minutes

 Just think about how many things you wouldn’t be able to make without a food processor.  Imagine how time consuming it would be if you couldn’t automatically blend those items to make that delicious sauce or fresh puree (no a blender is just not the same).

The Robot Coupe R2N Food Processor allows you to make up to 850 servings in less then 3 hours!  Not only can you process a large amount of food at once, but you can choose from 21 different processing plates.  You can shred, grate, and julienne, chop, puree, blend, mix, and even knead all in just one machine!

Why would you buy store bought sauces of any kind when you can make your own at a fraction of the cost, not to mention they will be fresher and taste better!

Robot Coupe R2N Food Processor

What Would You Do Without Sheet Pans To Cook Your Food on in the Oven?

 Can you imagine having to cook your food in an oven without an actual sheet pan to put it on?  Do you know how messy that would be?! Not to mention, a bit unsanitary…  Not only are sheet pans great for baking with, but they also make great shelves when used in conjunction with a mobile speed rack/bun pan rack.

Just think about how many times you use a sheet pan in your restaurant during the day.  Obviously you are washing them constantly, but like I said, they make great shelves, and if they are being used to store food on a bun pan rack, they can’t also be used to cook additional food in the oven at the same time.  Therefore, you can never have too many sheet pans.  The Advance Tabco 18” x  26” Full Size Sheet Pans are a solid option (no pun intended).  These sheet pans aka bun pans are made of heavy duty aluminum, and come with a wire reinforced top perimeter edge to keep your food from sliding off.  The best part though?  They only cost $7.99 each!!

Advance Tabco 18” x  26” Full Size Sheet Pans

Keep Your Party Food Warm This Holiday Season

 What better way to ring in the season then to throw a party?  That being said, no party is complete without food. 

While chafing dishes are used all year round, the holiday season is generally one of the most popular times to break them out.  While there are alternatives to keeping prepared food hot, chafing dishes provide a more sophisticated look to your party.  Since the holiday season can be expensive with all that gift giving, you don’t want to have to spend an exorbitant amount on food storage that you can’t use all year round. 

Thunder Group has a large variety of chafing dishes in a multitude of sizes.  The 8 Qt. Thunder Group Roll Top Rectangular Chafer is a great every day chafer and is economical in price.  This chafing dish has brass accents and is made of stainless steel, making it perfect for catering or hosting all events ranging from seasonal parties to Sunday brunches.

8 Qt. Thunder Group Roll Top Rectangular Chafer

Top Restaurant Equipment Trends of 2011!

The Independent Restaurateur has posted a great article about the top Restaurant Equipment Trends in 2011 by Tamara Scully.  Galasource.com is mentioned in the article so make sure to check it out!  Greg Pierce, one of Galasource’s own is quoted too!

“Despite the downturn in the economy, restaurateurs need equipment.  Whether opening a new eatery and outfitting the front and back of the house, replacing outdated equipment, or keeping up with industry trends, independent owners are in constant need of equipment.  Find out what equipment supply companies across the nation have to say about 2011 purchases by independent restaurants, and keep up with the latest in equipping your establishment.” (more)