Dinner And Dessert With Monin

The day is almost over, and you’re having yourself a nice dinner. You could start mixing drinks, but you want to keep it light, as you want to enjoy dessert and friends later in the evening. How does Monin make dinner, dessert, and drinks?

With dinner, you may have enjoyed a variety of tea, possibly Lemon, Mango, Peach, Raspberry, or even Chai. Any of theses mixes can add a bit of flavor and make a fruity tea drink that will fit anywhere across America. Any of these drinks pair well with most dinner dishes, from traditional southern-fried chicken and hearty meatloaf to a classier raspberry-vinagerette salmon or even a quickie leftover pizza.

For simple ice cream and more, you’ve got to add a sauce. White Chocolate, Dark Chocolate (and Sugar Free), and Caramel sauce would all pour nicely over a bowl of ice cream, or directly into a pint of Ben and Jerry’s (or for the real classy, right into your mouth). These sauces can go on cold, but if you want a good pairing, heat them up slightly to have warm caramel or chocolate sauce drizzle over mountains of vanilla ice cream. It’s simple, but effective (and don’t forget the ice cream scoop).

And, if you have an abnormal eating schedule (or if you just like breakfast for dinner, or enjoy a good shake post-workout), don’t forget that Monin products work great for all alternative types of meals, traditionally suited for the morning crew.… Read the rest

Morning By Monin

There’s a whole world of syrups that you’ve never taken a look into, and Monin supplies many flavor additions that you can add and mix in to your meals and drinks. We’ve decided to take a look and see how you can sweeten up your breakfast in a multitude of ways.

Start With A Shake

One item I’ve personally fallen in love with in recent months is starting the day off with a protein shake. Protein makes it filling, and milk makes it thick (with blended ice making it a little frosty for the upcoming hot summer mornings). Traditionally, my shake has been two parts milk to one part protein, but I’ve learned a little flavor addition goes a long way. For a chocolate shake, a squirt of Sugar Free Vanilla Syrup would add a fair contrast without adding much sugar, while Swiss Chocolate and Dark Chocolate would add a decent amount of chocolate to double-down with.

Top Off The Pancakes, Waffles, French Toast

Got a fresh stack of pancakes or waffles, or even french toast or brioches to flavor up? Half the fun of the breakfast standbys are chasing them around the plate to pick up syrup, and you don’t always need generic breakfast maple syrup. Something like Superfruit Fruit Purée offers a fruity variation on the dish, and sweet ones such as Dark Chocolate (and its Sugar Free variation), White Chocolate, and Caramel can provide a little bit of a treat on top. Pair it with some strawberries and blueberries for a decadent breakfast.

To Drink?

If you’ve decided to not go the protein shake route, a good alternative would be a fruit smoothie, and there are a fair amount of flavors to chose from. Pina Colada, Mango, Peach, Wildberry, Banana, … Read the rest

A New Food Topping: Salt, Pepper, Potato Chip Crumbs?

A new style of food topping has been passing the rounds on the Internet, and it combines a few things everybody loves: ingenuity and Doritos.

Well, it does not have to actually be Doritos. It can be Fritos, Lays, Ruffles, and so forth.

The instructions are simple:

Take your everyday pepper grinder, and empty it of pepper.
Take any sort of nicely-seasoned chip, and crush them up into small-enough chunks it can fit in the grinder.
Fill the grinder with the chip.

You’re done.

Now, think about the possibilities. Fill it up with fried onions strips and now you have grindable fried onions to top pizza, hamburgers, and more. Go meta and crumble up Doritos on top of seven-layer nachos. Even fill it up with bacon bits (you might not want to use actual fresh bacon if you intend to keep this out on the counter) and you’ve made “putting bacon on things” even easier.… Read the rest

Two New Items For The Office Snacker

We know, we know, office jobs can be a little bad on the body. Sitting all day, relying on vending machines for some snacks, and the never-ending birthday parties with cake and such can take their toll on the body. Some offices include gym memberships, fitness centers, or healthy options in the breakroom.

Sometimes, though, you just need to snack at the desk. Foodiggity has found two simple changes to your desktop furniture that can completely change the way you sneak a snack.

The first is The Keyboard Plate, a standard keyboard (or in a way, the ergonomic keyboard that was all the rage in the end of the last century) that features a plate in the middle of the keys. Pizza, popcorn, and whatever you want to on the plate, and have some extra calories with your QWERTY. The item doesn’t actually seem to be available for sale, instead more of a piece of art.

Secondly is Bite Me , which is an edible desk lamp. Looking like Fruit By The Foot strengthened and straightened into a lamp. Vegetable glycerin, agar, and an embeddable LED light source. Take the LED electronics out and soften the rest of the material in water, and it’s edible. Might not be tasty, especially if you’ve left it out on the tabletop for months, acquiring dust and such, but it would technically be edible.

The days of office fridges might be over, if these desktop replacements get major acceptance. As pieces of art, though, it seems a little unlikely they’ll reach mass market consumption.… Read the rest

Stylish Settings: Top Tabletop Trends for Weddings & Special Events

Top Tabletop Trends for Weddings & Special Events Table settings are powerful tools, adding ambiance to any space and creating the perfect backdrop for all types of food. Wedding and special events planners capitalize on the visual appeal of tabletop decor, using it to anchor the theme for special occasions. As fall approaches, guests will begin to see a variety of different tabletop designs intended to capture the magic of the upcoming autumn and holiday seasons. Here are four of the top tabletop trends highlighted at the NACE Experience, the annual national conference for the National Association for Catering and Events.

Classy Country

Popular for some time, country and ranch themed events will get an upscale facelift this fall with gilded edges and heirloom details. In addition to Mason jars used for drinking glasses and vases, you’re likely to see the glow of soft candlelight from votives and pillars. These rustic yet elegant table settings will showcase entrees consisting of local meats and produce and nature-inspired cakes covered with fresh or sugar flowers sitting atop moss-covered cake stands and pedestals.

Whimsical Wonderland

Taking a cue from classic fairytales and the recent Snow White and the Huntsman movie, this fall’s whimsical wonderland tabletop trend will feature woodland inspired décor. Creative event planners will use cake stand cover tops and glassware of all sizes to create mini terrariums filled with fresh greenery and deeply hued flowers. The playfulness of the décor will also be highlighted in the food, including cupcakes and cakes topped with spun sugar and inventive frozen treats.

Hollywood Glitz

Reflective of Hollywood’s golden age, California glitz and glamour will take the scene in many events this fall. Dramatic and elegant, the Hollywood glitz trend is reflective of the styles of timeless actresses like Marilyn Monroe. Look for long tables topped with candelabras, chandeliers, and … Read the rest

Getting the Most Out Of Your Glassware

Getting the Most Out Of Your Glassware One of the most important investments for foodservice operators, glassware is a focal point for any table setting, showcasing signature cocktails and transforming everyday beverages such as soda, tea, and water into liquid masterpieces. Understanding how to care for your restaurant’s glassware and training your staff about proper glassware handling can save you thousands, reducing replacement costs and expenses associated with glassware accident injuries.

Causes of Glassware Damage

There are two basic causes of glassware damage, mechanical shock and thermal shock. Glassware that has come into contact with objects such as a beer tap, spoon, plate, or even another glass can suffer from mechanical shock. The damage from mechanical shock is often imperceptible to the naked eye, causing minute cracks that permanently weaken the glass, making it prone to thermal shock.

Glass retains temperature, creating susceptibility to thermal shock, a condition that occurs due to a sudden change in temperature. Thermal shock causes the glassware to crack, especially in areas already weakened by mechanical damage.

Protecting Glassware in the Kitchen

Training you kitchen staff to follow 8 basic dishwashing rules will extend the life of your restaurant’s glassware, protecting it from damage and keeping pieces in service for years. First, it is important to always remove glasses from buspans one at a time. Doing so reduces the chances of dropping a glass and causing mechanical shock damage from contact with the buspan. Second, never pick glasses up in “bouquet” fashion by grabbing several glasses by their rims and holding them together. In addition to increasing the chances of glassware breakage, this technique is also unsanitary, spreading germs from contact between hands and the glasses’ drinking surfaces. Third, never stack glasses together when unloading from buspans or the dishwasher. Repeatedly stacking glasses together can create slight chips and cracks in the … Read the rest