Victory UltraSpec Series 1 Reach-In Freezer Review

If you're looking for a sleek, durable, powerful, high-quality reach-in freezer for your restaurant or institution, the Victory UltraSpec FS-2D-S1 Series 1 is worth your consideration. This well-designed commercial-grade freezer excels in all the most important ways and delivers exceptional functionality, innovative design and superior usability.

This two-section reach-in freezer features a stainless steel interior and exterior, so it's easy to clean and able to withstand a great deal of wear and tear. Vertical, low-profile handles make for secure, easy opening in fast-paced environments, and full-height doors ensure that everything is always within easy reach.

The stainless steel design of this Victory UltraSpec Series 1 freezer doesn't just lend it superior durability; it makes it incredibly attractive, too. Indeed, this reach-in freezer has a front-of-the-house design that's perfect for display kitchens and for any situation in which it will be within easy view of the public. You're sure to feel proud about putting this freezer on display.

With a capacity of 46.5 cubic feet, the FS-2D-S1 freezer is large enough to accommodate the needs of even the largest, busiest, most modern kitchens. The standard-depth cabinets are fitted with six strong, durable, easy-to-clean shelves, and the doors are supported by heavy-duty hinges.

The latest-generation design of this exceptional freezer includes many innovative, high-tech features. You'll appreciate the V-Temp electronic temp control/indicator. The bright, easy-to-read display can show the temperature in either Fahrenheit or Celsius. Other convenient features include quick-change temperature set points, one-touch manual defrost and an easy-to-access on/off power button.

Thanks to the manager's lockout feature, this freezer can be used in a variety of pre-planned settings. It also boasts an energy-saving mode that can be switched on when the restaurant is not operating. Energy-saving mode automatically kicks in when the unit's doors haven't been opened for more than four hours. What a great way to keep your operating costs in check!

Considering all of these terrific features, you'd probably assume that the FS-2D-S1 freezer is exorbitantly expensive. However, it is surprisingly affordable and should fit well within the budget of many commercial and industrial kitchens. Because it is so well-designed and built to last, you can invest in this freezer with confidence. The Victory UltraSpec Series 1 freezer keeps foods and drinks frozen until they are needed, and it couldn't be easier to operate. In just about every way, this model is a major standout.

Tips for Integrating New Drinks into a Bar Menu

When running a bar, it's important to ensure that perennial favorites are always available. From Long Island iced teas to rum-and-cokes, it pays to give customers what they want. At the same time, you don't want your drink menu to become stagnant. From time to time, it's smart to introduce new drinks into a bar menu.

The question, though, is how to do so effectively, efficiently and profitably? A few tips to keep in mind include:

Stay on Top of Current Trends - This doesn't always have to be true, but you'll mostly want whichever new drinks you offer to be informed by current fads and trends. When people hear that you're serving drinks that are inspired by local, on-site, organic ingredients, for instance, your new offerings are far more likely to be met with enthusiasm. They might even help generate buzz for your establishment, and what could be better than that? Don't just look for drink-related fads, either. If there's a summer blockbuster that's on everyone's lips, for instance, try coming up with new drinks that relate to it in some way.

Consider Customer Feedback - From time to time, check in with your bartenders to see what people are saying about the drink selection. There are sure to be at least a few comments or criticisms that pop up again and again. Perhaps a regular is disappointed that you don't offer his favorite martini, for instance, or maybe another customer has expressed interest in a particular craft beer that you've never carried. By introducing items that people have been clamoring for, you're more likely to hit the ground running with your new drinks.

Generate Excitement with Pairings - A great way to raise awareness about new drinks is by creating food-drink pairings and having the wait staff promote them. Of course, this only works if you run a restaurant and bar that can accommodate food and drink pairings.

Keep the Season in Mind - A new season is a great time to introduce new drinks. For example, when summer rolls around, look for fresh, light, fruity drinks to add to the menu. There are summer beers and winter beers too, and it's easier to promote them when the timing is right.

Have Your Staff Promote New Drinks - Finally, train your bartenders and wait staff to promote new drinks. Ideally, they should be able to sample the drinks themselves so they can offer first-hand, authentic descriptions to customers.

In addition to these tips, make sure you have the supplies you need to make and serve your new drinks correctly. Need a new utensil to get the job done? Check out our store for great deals on bar supplies! Once you’ve decided on new drinks for your menu, be sure to train your bartenders to ensure that they make spectacular drink creations every time. With these points in mind, integrating new drinks into your bar menu should be a snap!

Do you have any sure-fire tips for adding new drinks to your menu? Let us know in the comments below!

Equipment for Summer Desserts

Is there any better way to celebrate summer than with delicious desserts? Of course there isn’t. If you’re looking for ways to add a little bit of summer flair to your menu without completely revamping your offerings, dessert is the best place to start.

Consider tempting your patrons with delicious ice cream treats, whether those treats are homemade or the novelties they’ve loved since they were kids. Making artisinal ice cream has never been easier, and it’s a great way to make a great impression with your customers. For serving ice cream, you’ll need a strong ice cream spade, like this one from Winco, that can stand up to repeated use, because you’ll definitely get a lot of orders for ice cream during the summer heat. Ice cream novelties also make an exciting treat and require hardly any of your staff’s valuable time. Store the novelties in an ice cream merchandiser so your patrons can easily find their favorite treat.

Pie is another classic summer treat that could be a fun addition to your menu. Offering a rotating selection of pies might bring your customers in more often so they can try them all. With this Winco Pie Marker, you can take the guesswork out of cutting pie, too. Just use it to mark the pie, and you’ll have seven equally sized pieces ready to plate.

For patrons looking to indulge in a healthier way, there’s no better dessert than seasonal fruits. Serving a bowl of pre-cut, in-season fruits can be an excellent way to top off a delicious meal. Make cutting your fruit offerings quick with a fruit wedger from Vollrath so you can get dessert out to your customers as quickly as possible.

What are your favorite desserts to serve during the summer? Let us know in the comments below!

What You Need to Think About When Planning a Menu Change

Your menu will always be one of the defining features of your restaurant or bar, but a menu change can bring new life to an establishment. Unfortunately, some menu changes can drive customers away. Before making a permanent change, you need to consider any new dishes from every angle.

Consumer Demand

You should always consider consumer demand before making any major changes. A dish might be a hit with you and your staff, but that does not mean that the customers will love it. Before a dish gets approved for the new menu, you should use actual customers to test the dish. This testing process will let you know if people are willing to pay for the new menu item.

Baby Steps

If you change too many items, you will risk alienating some of your loyal customers. Diners might enjoy the ambiance or the fantastic service, but most of your customers are visiting your establishment for the items on the menu.

Equipment

Some valuable kitchen tools are incredibly versatile, but some pieces of equipment will not fit certain jobs. Before implementing a new menu, you need to know that your kitchen equipment is capable of storing, preparing, and serving the new menu items. Sometimes a new menu requires you to buy a few new tools and appliances, so make sure you shop with us for the best deal on new equipment.

Ingredient Availability

Before offering a new menu item, you must have a reliable way of obtaining the ingredients. Running out of a popular ingredient will happen from time to time, but you do not want to annoy customers by promoting a new dish that is never available.

General Resources

Time and money are valuable in a restaurant, and you do not want a dish that consumes too much of either resource. If an item is not popular, you might not make enough money to offset the price of adding the item to your menu. Additionally, if a new dish requires too much preparation time, your staff and your customers might start to get a little agitated. Some items are worth the wait, but customers want to receive their food in a reasonable amount of time.

A new dish can spice up the menu, but you should weigh the benefits and risks of every change. Before altering the menu, test the new items to ensure that the changes are worth your time, money and creativity.

Summer Food Equipment

After an abnormally long winter for most of the country, summer is here! For those of us in the bar, restaurant and catering industry, the arrival of summer means it’s time to shake up our menus a little and add in some food that were made for summer time.

These are some of our favorite summer foods and the equipment you’ll need to make them for your customers:

• Hot Dogs — What food says “Summer!” more than a hot dog? Serving up hot dogs to your hungry patrons will fill them with memories of eating hot dogs outside during the summer. With a hot dog grill, you can make the tastiest hot dogs without too much work. Just drop the hot dogs on the grill and let it do its job.
• Hamburgers and Barbecue — Summer is all about the cookouts with family and friends. Help your customers recreate that feeling in your restaurants with delicious cookout food made right in your kitchen. Our gas charbroilers make it extra simple to cook these foods without having to watch the grill the whole time.
• Ice Cream — No summer meal is complete without ice cream. Consider offering fun novelties or making special flavors of ice cream for your patrons this summer for a special treat. To make novelties extra fun, display them in a case so customers can choose their favorites, and don’t underestimate the importance of a good quality ice cream spade if you’re serving scoops.

What are your favorite foods to cook or eat during the summer? Let us know in the comments below!

How to Prepare for Catering During Wedding Season

Wedding season has come again. By now, if you are a catering company you are probably done talking to brides and booking their weddings. Now it is time to fill their events with wonderful food that tastes and looks great. Getting though wedding season can be hard on any wedding-related business, but especially hard on catering companies. Employee turnover can get high, margins can be low, clients may be hard to deal with, and pulling off so many events can be quite an undertaking. Here are a few tips to help you prepare and get through the upcoming wedding season.

1. Revamp the menu

Trends come and go and if you do not keep up with them, brides will look for other service providers. Make a few changes to your menu to offer new options that your brides will find unique and memorable. You can also try new presentations to proven favorites.

2. Stock up on the equipment

During wedding season, you are likely to be catering more events on one day than any other time of the year. Make sure you purchase the required equipment weeks before things get busy. Check old equipment to see what needs to be replaced. Look for new supplies to keep up with the trends. Look at your new menu items and anticipate what you will need to serve them.

3. Hire your help early

Your staff is your most important asset in the food service industry. Hire your staff early so that you are able to train them sufficiently before times get crazy. Waiting too long can result in poor performance that will directly influence customer satisfaction. Having a well-oiled machine once wedding season comes along will make the spring and summer much smoother and more enjoyable.

4. Be a forward thinker

Anticipation is the name of the game. Look forward and plan for not only the wedding season, but also to afterward. You may want to plan a vacation for when the busy season is over. Brainstorm ways to maintain sales through the slow months before holiday parties start booking.

We hope our tips are helpful when preparing for any busy season for your business. If you need some catering equipment, visit us at our online Discount Restaurant Supply Store.

How to Clean a Commercial Food Slicer

It is very important for you to make sure that your food slicer is cleaned properly. This will help prevent food poisoning and the growth of bacteria. You should also be very cautious when you are cleaning the food slicer. A commercial food slicer can cause a major injury if it is not cleaned properly. Below is the step by step process of cleaning your food slicer:

Turn Off The Power
You will need to unplug the machine. Stretch the cord and lay it in an area that is dry and away from the rest of the machine. You may also want to consider using a piece of tape to secure the cord.

Lower Blade 
Bring the blade adjustment to “0” so that it is flush with the rest of the machine to prevent cutting yourself.

Wipe Away Residue
Get rid of most of the visible reside, gently wiping the blade, loading tray, base and all the corners and cracks.

Cleaning The Slicer
Fill your container with warm water and add some detergent. Consult the owner’s manual and follow the instructions for cleaning the food slicer. Wash every part of the slicer that came in contact with food. Clean from top to bottom and replace water if necessary.

Sanitize The Slicer
Make sure that you rinse all of the detergent from the slicer. After that, you will need to sanitize it. An easy way to do this is by spraying the meat slicer with a water and bleach solution, usually 2 caps full of bleach for a bottle of water.  If you do not have a sprayer, create a solution of water and bleach in a container and wipe the flood slicer with that.

Storage
Once the commercial slicer is sanitized, wipe excess water off with a paper towel. Use the slicers cover or a trash bag to make sure it does not accumulate dust while it is not being used.

Find commercial food slicers and other cleaning supplies for restaurants at Discount Restaurant Supply.