Category Archives: Restaurant Equipment
Teenage Hot Dog Vendor Shut Down Trying To Help Parents
Most teenagers would like to enjoy their free summers from school. Hang out at the pool, go on family vacations, play video games, read comic books, and all the other stereotypical things that adults believe thirteen-year-old boys do. Nathan Duszynski decided to be proactive and get a summer job; mowing lawns and shoveling snow are jobs he’s done in the past, and are simple fare for kids to do for a few bucks.
Nathan had higher sights.
Nathan opened Nathan’s Hot Dog Hut.
This is where we’d like to commend a kid for saving up money for a $1,500 hot dog cart and having a very successful business over the summer. That’s what we’d like to do, but the city of Holland, Michigan, shut him down almost immediately. While him and his parents believed to have all the proper paperwork and everything set up, Holland bans street vendors from the area he set up in; it conflicts with local business, and is only allowed during the Tulip Festival.
The story would be largely ignored if it weren’t for the fact that Nathan opened up the cart for both college and to help out his parents, both with disabilities (mom with epilepsy, dad with multiple sclerosis).
With such a noble cause for the kid, a local business, Shoreline Contianer, purchased the cart for $2,500. Beyond an instant $1,000 profit, they’re going to let him use the cart wherever he wants, and when they use it for events, they’ll hire him to work the stand.
It’s a story with a good end, despite how depressing it could be.… Read the rest
0% Financing on Select Restaurant Equipment
To kick off our 10th anniversary celebration, we are offering one of the best deals in the history of Instawares. Now through December 14,2012, customers can take advantage of 0% financing for 24 months* on restaurant equipment from some of our most popular brands, including Manitowoc, Cleveland, Dean, Frymaster, Garland, Delfield, and Jackson. As an added bonus, you will also receive free shipping plus the guaranteed best price with our Price Match Promise.
With over 1 million satisfied customers, Instawares has been meeting the needs of the foodservice industry for 10 years. Our dedicated team of experts has over 140 years of combined equipment and supplies experience. They are available to help you find the right equipment for your business Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Call them today at 1-877-514-6178 and get $50 off accessories when you finance or buy participating Manitowoc Foodservice products totaling $1,000 or more.
No interest financing, free shipping, guaranteed best price, and expert service – What else could you ask for?
There has never been a better time to buy restaurant equipment for Instawares. Shop online now and contact our customer service team at 1-877-514-6178 to apply for financing.
*$1,000 minimum purchase required… Read the rest
Restaurants Battle Rising Food Costs: How to Cut Back and Offer Guests More
A battle of epic proportions, rising food costs have put a dent in the wallets of nearly everyone in America. Record-breaking temperatures and trace amounts of rain have wreaked havoc on crops, resulting in substantial price increases on everything from corn to soy beans. In fact, prices are expected to rise an additional 3% by the end of the year, on top of an 8% increase last year. Although some restaurateurs will choose to deal with the increases by simply raising menu prices, there are several simple things that you can do to cut costs and keep prices low for your customers.
Plant a Restaurant Garden
Controlling food costs can be as easy as placing a planter box on your restaurant’s roof or reserving an area for growing food on the terrace. In addition to saving you money, restaurant gardens have several other benefits. Attractive groupings of vegetables, fruits, and herbs add an appealing ambiance to outdoor dining areas. Colorful vegetables and fruits add a splash of color to the space, while the fragrant scent of herbs such as basil, rosemary, and thyme can trigger hunger, making guests more receptive to the entrees on your menu. Restaurant gardens also appeal to the sensibilities of guests concerned about where their food is grown. Farm to table proponents will marvel when they learn that the food on their plates was harvested only a few feet away.
Rethink Your Equipment
In the wake of rising food costs, it may seem counterintuitive to spend even more money replacing equipment. However, investing in units equipped with energy-saving features could result in huge savings for your restaurant. For example, oil conserving commercial fryers use 40% less oil and 10% less energy than traditional fryers, decreasing both raw ingredient and operational costs. Additionally, manufacturers such as Manitowoc … Read the rest
Equipment Guide To Opening a Restaurant
Ever considered opening your own restaurant?
Whether it be an Italian, Mexican, Americana, or good ole fashioned sports bar you will need some bare essentials if you plan on doing it the right way. Having the right equipment means that you’ll be ready when your restaurant explodes in popularity, giving you the peace of mind when you need to ramp up your cooking and dining efforts.
A Comprehensive Restaurant Equipment Buying Guide can be found on our main site where it lists all of the things you need to open your own restaurant. Among these essentials items:
- Commercial ovens: Convection ovens, electric ovens, fryers, gas ovens, griddle top ranges, and microwaves.
- Restaurant seating: Bar stools, chairs, high chairs, booths, and tables.
- Commercial walk in refrigeration units: Walk-in coolers, walk in latch replacements, and strip curtains.
- Plastic cutlery: Plastic cutlery kits, plastic forks, plastic knives, and plastic spoons.
- Food preparation: Aprons, blenders/juicers, can openers, chef knives and utensils, kitchen utensils, food warmers, gloves, heat lamps, measuring cups, storage containers, toasters, trays, work tables, 20 quart mixers, condiment bottles, and condiment pumps.
- Office supplies: Clipboards, desks, tape & dispensers, files & filing supplies, message pads, cash bags, mounting tape, forms- record keeping, safes, time clocks & time cards, and time racks.
- Pots and pans: Baine Marie pots, stock pots, sauce pots, bake pans, cast iron, crepe pans, stir fry pans, and fry pans.
- Tableware: Bowls, China, flatware, glassware, linens, Melamine dinnerware, pitchers, plastic tumblers, and table top accessories.
- Glassware: Disposable cups and lids, coffee cups, styrofoam cups and lids, and plastic tumblers.
- Beverage Essentials: Coffee makers, coffee filters, specialty brewers, drink dispensers, and straws.
- Ice Machines: Cube, flaker, nugget, and dicer ice machines, ice scoops, ice machine storage bins, and under-counter
Grill Maintenance Tips (So You Don’t Have To Blow Money On Another)
As the weather warms up, you don’t want to be stuck inside cooking over a boiling stove. You would rather be outside, utilizing your outdoor grill (or if it’s hot enough, a sidewalk and the sun) that you probably spent a fair amount on. In order to enjoy this outdoor appliance for years to come (and not spend close to a grand every few years), you will need to know how to properly and safely care for it. This post will provide you with tips to help you ensure that your unit lasts for several years.
Checking the Chassis
The chassis is the key part of the appliance, since it’s the framework of the machine. Making sure that it is in working order and rust-free is important to ensure that it continues to provide a place to barbecue your food when needed.
Indeed, effective care for the chassis of your grill is making sure that rust does not accumulate. Remember that you must catch rust early as it can eat away at the metal parts, compromising its use. This Old House suggests using a steel-wire brush, or coarse steel wool, such as that you use on pots and pans. Also, painting the surfaces most susceptible to rust with a rust-resistant paint can protect these metal surfaces most vulnerable to corrosion.
Also, make sure the wheels and other parts of the base are tight. You should test these areas with a screwdriver or wrench occasionally. If the parts seem a bit loose, tighten them. This will ensure the stability of the base, and prevent a flaming inferno from tipping over your feet after a few beers while children are running around on a hot cookout day.
However, if the parts of the base, such as the grill’s wheels, or whatever, seem … Read the rest
Tips for a Successful Mother’s Day at Your Restaurant
Tips for a Successful Mother’s Day at Your Restaurant
With Mother’s Day less than week away, restaurants across the country are gearing up for the most popular day of the year to dine out. Make the most of Mother’s Day at your restaurant by following these simple tips:
Think Beyond Brunch – When it comes to Mother’s Day, brunch is the meal that comes to mind the most. However, only 24% of diners go out for brunch to celebrate Mom’s big day. Dinner is the most popular meal, with 58% of diners opting for a midday meal out, followed by lunch at 32%. Prepare for the lunch and dinner rush by having extra food, supplies, and staff members on hand during the afternoon and evening hours.
Keep It Kid Friendly – According to research from the National Restaurant Association, 66% of people that eat out on Mother’s Day bring their children along. Keeping kids comfortable and entertained is a must, so make sure you have enough highchairs, booster seats, and crayons available. Consider updating your kids’ menu activity packs to focus on Mom: instead of standard coloring and activity pages, give every child a blank card that they can color and write a special message for Mom while they wait for their meals.
Make It Special – Almost 20% of those who dine out on Mother’s Day think that Mother’s Day specials are important. Provide moms with something different on Mother’s Day by creating special menu items or offering discounts for mothers. Alternatively, show your appreciation by giving a small gift (flower, candy, etc.) to each mother that dines at your restaurant on Mother’s Day.
Don’t Forget About Gift Cards – Nearly 20% of mothers say gift cards are their preferred gift. Bring diners back after the Mother’s … Read the rest
Basics for Buying Blenders
Last month, our Bids Team member Dick Bowder showed us how his 4 Fs — Function, Fit, Fuel, Finance – can help you make smarter equipment purchases. This month, we see how the 4Fs can help you get the right blender for your operation.
Function. We sell blenders for less than $50. They work fine if you use them once or twice a day for a small job. We also sell a blender for over $4000 that automatically dispenses up to eight ingredients into the mix while adding the just right amount of ice. Function determines which one right.
Some of the Function questions to ask:
- What are the specific ingredients (including ice) that will go into the Blender? How well can the blender handle this mix?
- What is the specific end product you want your blender to produce? What is its ideal consistency and texture?
- What volume or capacity should your blender’s container hold and process? If you need to make a 40 oz batch and your blender holds 32 oz, you’ve got the wrong blender.
- Would you benefit if the blender had additional capacity and extra power for future use or for very busy times?
- How often will you use the blender? How much beverage do you need to produce in one time period/shift? Base this on your busiest times. If you run a popular bar specializing in frozen drinks, on Friday nights your blender must be able to reliably produce gallons and gallons of consistent product.
- How fast do you need to produce one batch?
- What other functions and features do you need? You’ll be amazed at what is available on a commercial blender these days. Some of the more popular features include: Accurate timing and shut off. Programmable mixes. Quiet operation. Built-in ice shaver. If