American Craft Beer Fest Means Summer

American Craft Beer Fest, which is this weekend at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston, Massachusetts, marks the official arrival of summer. The largest and most diverse celebration of American Craft Beer on the East Coast; the festival brings over 75 breweries and over 300 craft beers to the city of Boston for all to taste and enjoy.

American Craft Beer This Weekend

The American Craft Beer festivities begin on Friday, June 20th at 6:00 pm and draft beers by brewers from all over the country will be flowing. Attendees will be able to enjoy beers from brewers such as Boston Beer Company, Clipper City Brewing, Flying Dog Brewery, Magic Hat Brewing Company, Michelob Brewing Company, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, and Terrapin Beer Company.

American Craft Beers Are Wonderful Additions

Restaurants that attend the American Craft Beer Fest will be able to learn all about proper beer and food pairings from Chef Dave Lieberman. Lieberman hosts the Food Network series “Good Deal with Dave Lieberman, Eat This and Dave Does.” Lieberman also will focus his talk on the important political and social issues related to food.

Many other knowledgeable people in the world of American craft beer will also be on hand and speaking about how America is becoming the best place in the world to drink beer, as well as how to team up beer with the proper cheeses to make an unforgettable drinking and dining experience.

Share the Taste of American Craft Beer

Once you attend the American Craft Beer Fest, you are probably going to want to share the wonderful tastes of these brewed creations with your customers. We recommend serving them cold from you Beverage-Air Draft Beer Cooler and in a nice frosty mug. Oh and in case you don’t have one, Beverage-Air makes a great glass froster, too.

Just one little reminder from ShortOrder.com before you head out to enjoy all 300 of those American craft beers … please drink responsibly.

Hot Dogs are America’s Favorite

Hot dogs are considered one of America’s favorite summer time foods.  In fact, most hot dogs are consumed between Memorial Day and Labor Day each year.  On average, Americans eat about sixty hot dogs in each year – that is a lot of hot dogs.  If you think about it - would a baseball game, Fourth of July cookout, or just hanging out with friends in your backyard be the same without a hot dog?

Hot Dog History

In 1987, a city in Germany celebrated the 500th anniversary of the hot dog.  The city was Frankfurt, which is where the term frankfurter comes from.  This first hot dog was actually created in 1484; which is before Columbus even set sail for the new world.  In 1867, Charles Feltman opened up the first Coney Island hot dog stand in Brooklyn, New York.  It is claimed by some that in 1880, a St. Louis street vendor invented today’s hot dogs when he asked his brother-in-law, a baker, to invent a roll or bun that would hold the dogs.

Hot Dogs are Best when Steamed

There is one thing, however, that stands out about hot dogs.  The hot dogs that you cook at home never seem to taste as good as the ones that are cooked and prepared by a vendor or by a restaurant.  Why is that?  Could it be that hot dogs cooked in a hot dog steamer are always juicier than hot dogs cooked on a grill?  Could it be that hot dogs that are served in a steamy warm hot dog bun taste better than hot dogs served on a toasted bun?  The answer is most definitely “yes” to both questions.

Hot Dog Steamers

ShortOrder.com carries some of the industry’s best hot dog steamers by Star Manufacturing International.  Star’s hot dog steamers feature side-by-side design to better control the temperatures of both the hot dogs and the hot dog buns.  The Star classic design also features top-loading for quicker and easier access to the hot dogs and buns.

If you are ready to start serving one of the favorite foods of summer, give one of our customer representatives a call and we will get you started.

Food Safety Matters

Food Safety … It isn’t something most people think about on a daily basis, except for the restaurant industry that is.  We think about it everyday because the last thing any of us want is for someone to get sick from the food that we work hard to prepare.  We also don’t want to think about our restaurant being shut down because we didn’t meet food safety standards.

Food Safety Guidelines

With the right equipment and the right knowledge, food safety is a pretty easy thing to handle.

Some great guidelines to remember are:

-  All restaurant employee employees should follow hygiene guidelines; such as washing hands after using the restroom and before preparing food.

-  Cross-contamination of foods should be avoided at all times.  Wash, rinse and sanitize all food contact surfaces, such as work tables, slicers, and other preparation equipment.

-  Foods must be cooked to recommended internal temperatures.

-  Hot foods should be held hot at temperatures of 140 degrees Fahrenheit or greater.  Holding cabinets provide a constant source of proper heat.

-  Cold foods should be kept cold at temperatures of 41 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.  Keep a thermometer in your refrigerator to make sure the temperature is at the proper setting.

-  Abusing standard time and temperature standards for food should be avoided at all costs when handling prepared foods.

-  Leftovers should only be reheated in the oven once; after that they should be tossed out.

Food Safety Means Better Health

As stated earlier in the post, food safety matters to everyone … restaurateur, chef, employees, and patrons can all be harmed by foodborne pathogens.  There are more than 250 known foodborne diseases that cause anywhere from minor illness to death.  By following the simple guidelines listed above and by making sure all of your equipment is functioning properly, you can help prevent disease and illness caused by unhealthy foods.

Taste of Chicago in 28th Year

The Taste of Chicago is an indicator of summer for many Illinois residents. Considered the world’s largest food festival, the Taste of Chicago promises not to disappoint.

The Taste of Chicago, considered the second largest tourist attraction in Illinois, runs for ten days starting this year on Friday, June 27th and running until Sunday, July 6th. The Taste of Chicago, now in its 28th year, sees over 3 million festival attendees in its Grant Park location in downtown Chicago. There are over 70 restaurants and food vendors that participate each year in this free-admission food festival.

Taste of Chicago Brings World Class Fare

All types of cuisine can be found at this much anticipated food festival. Kitchens all over Chicago prepare ethnic and exotic foods, family favorites and Chicago specialties to feed all the hungry festival goers. Then the restaurants line up along the park with their portable ovens and refrigerators in hopes that their food creations are chosen as the Taste of Chicago favorite.

Taste of Chicago More Than Food

Food isn’t the only thing that you will find at this Mid-West food festival. You will also find a 5K Race for the Taste with proceeds going to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, as well as top-notch entertainment.
The free entertainment at the 2008 Taste of Chicago food festival includes the likes of Chaka Kahn, Stevie Wonder, Plain White T’s, Gomez, Old 97’s, Bonnie Raitt and many others.

Taste of Chicago Participants

Now if you are a Chicago restaurant that wants to participate in the Taste of Chicago, you are a little late for this year. The applications were due back in February. However, contact the Illinois Restaurant Association to make sure that you are on the list to receive an application for the 2009 Taste of Chicago.

And if you do get in, make sure to give us a call and we will get you all the restaurant equipment you need to prepare your festival cuisine.

Ice Machine Slime Is An Important Maintenance Issue

Ice machine owners may be getting slimed without knowing it.

Ice machine slime is more than a funny-sounding phrase that evokes fond memories of watching Bill Murray in Ghostbusters at the matinee. For restaurant equipment owners, ice machine slime is a real health hazard that can run a kitchen afoul of the health inspector and possibly shut down a thriving foodservice business.

The Gory Details on Ice Machine Slime

Ice machine slime is such a prevalent hazard that muckraking Houston newsman Marvin Zindler made the sentence “Slime in the ice machine!” a household phrase along the Texas coastline. Ice machine slime isn’t deadly to healthy adults, but still, it can be harmful. It also has a distinctive taste and smell, and can be visually disgusting to your customers. Here’s what the City of Houston says:

It is a type of mold or fungus that accumulates from bacterial growth on surfaces that are constantly exposed to clinging water droplets and warm temperatures. Water residuals may be present on these surfaces due to machine construction or the presence of scouring utensils such as steel wool or scouring pads. If the residuals are left exposed and not wiped clean or the machine is not sanitized regularly, you will then see bacteria and mold growths in the moist, cool environment of your ice machine. Most times, slime will take on a pinkish tone; if left untreated, the pink will turn to red, green, brown and even black ropes of slime hanging from the freezer panels inside the machine after a while. Pretty picture, isn’t it?

Green and pink ropes of slime hanging in your ice machine and dropping in customers’ drinks… it may not be fatal, but it could soon be sending your once-healthy clients to the lab for some health tests.

The Ice Machine Slime Answer

If for example you’ve got ice machine slime in your favorite Manitowoc ice machine model SD-0852A, how do you handle the problem?

The Houston health inspectors recommend using quarternary ammonium (QAC), which kills the mold/fungus and also inhibits additional growth for a period of time after the slime has been removed. This chemical won’t react with the stainless steel of your SD-0852A, and it’s also handy for keeping slime out of other restaurant equipment like your soda machine or the nozzles and hoses of your direct draw systems.

For other ice machine buying tips and maintenance advice, check out our ice machine buyers guide!

New Pizza World Record

Big Apple Pizza & Pasta in Fort Pierce, Florida is looking to break the longest pizza line world record. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the current record is held by the Tiziano Shopping Centre Tenant’s Union in Treviso, Italy. They had a line that was 611 feet 2 inches long back in October 28, 2006. Big Apple Pizza & Pasta owner Scott VanDuzer says that he will be able to make a line more than 700 feet long.

I wonder what kind of pizza oven he is using for baking all those pizzas.

Other Pizza World Records

Aside from the World’s Longest Pizza line record, there are a few other world records involving pizza that we feel are worth mentioning. There is the Fastest Time to Eat a 12” Pizza, which is held by Tom Waes from Ghent, Belgium. Tom ate a pizza in 2 minutes and 19.91 seconds on December 2nd, 2006. Then there is the World’s Record for largest pizza order set by Papa John’s on June 8, 2007.

Fifteen San Diego area Papa John’s Pizza stores delivered 13,500 pizzas at exactly 11:00 am to the same destination, General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard. The pizzas were a reward to the crew there for the completion of the Navy’s newest dry cargo/ammunition ship, the USNS Lewis and Clark.

Pizza World Records Require Pizza Ovens

We were thinking that the only way that a restaurant could break a world record is if they had the proper equipment. So, if you are planning on attempting your own pizza record, give one of our representatives a call and we can help you pick out the proper pizza oven. We have a large selection of sizes and brands, including Baker’s Pride, Garland and Montague, so there is sure to be one just right for your shop.

Do you think there is a world record for number of pizza ovens carried by one restaurant equipment company?

The history of Ice Cream

There are many different stories that tell the tale of the origins of ice cream. Some say it began in 400 B.C. with the Persians. Others say that ice cream got its start in 62 A.D. with the Roman Emperor Nero who brought snow down from the mountains and mixed it with nuts and honey. The first documented American appearance of ice cream was in 1700 when Governor Bladen of Maryland served it to his guests. The first ice cream parlor opened its doors in New York City in 1776. Dolly Madison is even rumored to have served ice cream as dessert in the White House for her husband’s second inauguration in 1812.

Ice Cream: How It’s Made

Today, ice cream is made several ways, but most Americans still enjoy the flavor of homemade ice cream made in a hand-cranked freezer. These freezers use ice mixed with salt to keep the temperature of the ice cream ingredients cold and under control. Fortunately, you can also buy ice cream makers that have electronic cranks so you don’t wear yourself out making it. Then again, that is a great way to burn off calories before enjoying the ice cream.

Ice Cream for When It’s Hot Outside

If you happen to be lucky enough to run a restaurant that serves ice cream, than you are sure to see some smiling faces when it is hot outside and it is dessert time. The best way to store all those wonderful flavors is a spot freezer. They allow restaurant staff and chefs to see and locate ingredients, as well as making it easy to serve. Spot freezers easily go under countertops and behind bars, making them very easy to fit into your kitchen space.

Short Order carries True spot freezers and Beverage-Air spot freezers, as well as the rest of your kitchen equipment needs.

The 2008 NRA Show is Coming!! The 2008 NRA Show is Coming!!

That’s right! It’s true! It isn’t a typo! The 2008 NRA Restaurant, Hotel-Motel show is being held in Chicago on May 17th through May 20th; and the 89th year is sure not to disappoint. There are going to be so many exciting things to see and do there. There will be several special events and booths, such as “Ask the Design Experts,” Celebrity Book Signings, Chef Day, the “International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event,” and our personal favorite, the “2008 Kitchen Innovation Awards” Booth.

2008 NRA Show Brings Top Vendors

Strolling down the aisles of the 2008 NRA show, you will be sure to see all the newest equipment from all the top restaurant equipment manufacturers. The manufacturers will be pulling out all the stops to make their equipment stand out in hopes of winning a 2008 Kitchen Innovation Award; or at the very least, in hopes that you will stop by and see what they have that you just got to have in your kitchen.

Some of our favorite vendors will be there, so make sure you stop by their booths and check out their new gadgets and gizmos. Frymaster and Hobart have “Hot New Products” that are debuting at the show. Beverage-Air, Manitowoc, The Montague Company and Vulcan will all be there showing off their wares as well.

Come Join the Fun at the 2008 NRA Show

Now its time to start packing your bags, booking your flights and joining all of us at ShortOrder.com in Chicago for the most fun-filled four days this spring. However, if business is booming and you can’t seem to find the time to leave the restaurant to come join us … Never fear! We promise to keep you updated on all the cool things as they happen.

*photo by the National Restaurant Association

Green Restaurants Are Here to Stay

Green restaurants are sprouting up all over the place, as they should be. Restaurant patrons have a growing daily concern for the health of their environment and the health of their families. They are making their homes, apartments, offices, cars and lives more green; why wouldn’t they want their favorite dining spot to do the same thing. Fortunately for commercial kitchens everywhere, restaurant equipment manufacturers are helping out.

Green Restaurant Equipment

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy have united to form the Energy Star movement. Currently, five categories of commercial restaurant equipment have established Energy Star guidelines. They are fryers, hot food holding cabinets, refrigerators/freezers, dishwashers, and steam cookers. These certified units can save over 40% in energy costs compared to non-Energy Star models.

Some examples of Energy Star rated equipment are the Vulcan VPX3 Counter Boilerless/Connectionless Electric Steamer, the Hobart LXi Undercounter High Temp Dishwasher, and the Frymaster H55 High-Efficieny Gas Fryer.

We care about the environment at ShortOrder.com; so if you have questions about Energy Star rated equipment that we carry, just give us a shout and we will be happy to help.

Green Restaurant Tips

You don’t need to buy all new equipment at one time to become a greener restaurant. There are several other things that you can do to start you down the green path.

• You can use low-flow pre-rinse spray nozzles at the dish machines.
• Use compact fluorescent lamps instead of light bulbs in break rooms, storage rooms, offices, walk-in refrigerators, etc.
• Use take-out containers that can be recycled (#1 and #2 plastics and aluminum) instead of Styrofoam.
• Use organic foods in the kitchen.
• Make sure to use recycled paper products whenever possible (i.e. napkins, office paper, menus)
• Install occupancy sensors in the restrooms, storage rooms and any other low-traffic rooms. Lights will turn off automatically when the rooms are unoccupied.

Here’s to greener restaurants and a greener future!

Char Broil Burgers for a Taste of Summer

The temperatures are starting to rise, the sun seems to be shining more, and everyone’s thoughts of food are turning to the wonderful taste of a char broil burger. You know, char broil, that smoky, and grilled to perfection with the intricate pattern of grill marks way of cooking that only comes from a steel cooking surface over an open-flame. If you are like me, once that warm weather hits and summer is well on its way, this is the only way you want to enjoy your burger.

Char Broil Burgers for Better Tate

Charbroiling is actually one of the best ways to cook meats, be it chicken, steak or pork, to well-done or somewhere near there. Charbroiling enables the grill master to maintain the speed at which the meat is cooked, as well as the tenderness. Meats cooked on a char broiler also come off the grill perfectly moist and never dried out.

Char Broil Burgers Indoors for Outdoor Flavor

Restaurants are able to bring the outdoors inside by having a Char broil grill in their kitchen. There are several considerations a restaurant should take into consideration before purchasing this restaurant equipment appliance. Shortorder.com offers a char broiler buyers guide that includes an explanation and comparison of the three main types of char broilers: char rocks, lava rocks and radiant heat.

Tips for the Perfect Char Broil Burgers

The following tips will assist your restaurant staff in making the best Charbroiled burgers they can on your char broil grill.

1) Use the appropriate grate for the menu item.

2) Season the grates before the first use by preheating them to open the pores and brushing them with oil.

3) Pre-heat the grates before cooking to help reduce sticking.

4) Dip food in seasoned oil before grilling to reduce sticking and to enhance flavor.

5) Consider positioning grates on an angle for charbroiling. It will drain the grease better and gives you better control of heat distribution. Well done items go toward the top to cook slowly and thoroughly. Rare items go toward the lower position to cook rapidly on the outside and leave the inside rare.

6) Wire brush the grates after each use or batch of food product.