So this is what the search terms people type into our search engine look like when I run them through Wordle.

Useless, I know… but it looks kinda cool to look at.

Every sector of the catering market is using microwaves – they are simple, cheap but efficient. Microwave ovens offer a simple, space saving way to defrost, reheat and cook food – essential for a busy kitchen!

Amana Heavy Duty Commercial Microwave

The programmable pre-set timer technology makes it easier than ever before to reheat a meal to the exact temperature and for the exact amount of time – therefore, not compromising on quality and not producing cardboard-esque food that has previously been associated with microwave meals.

The commercial microwave has proven an invaluable piece of catering equipment throughout the recession and as budgets get tighter, in terms of staff and time, the microwave has managed to fulfil duties that can be very time consuming. The simplicity of heating something in the microwave and setting the dial for exactly the right amount of time allows chefs to invest more of their attention on other aspects of the kitchen and can reduce the number of chefs that are required for each shift.

There is also the direct money-saving benefit of using a microwave – they use about a third less energy as a conventional oven and because they are only turned on as and when they are required, there is no energy wasted in the kitchen heating the equipment up. Not only this but when a chef checks their food in a conventional oven, the heat blasts out – this not only wastes energy but also allows the heat to escape. In a microwave oven, the heat automatically stops the second the door is opened and therefore very little heat is wasted through the process.

Microwaves now come with all sorts of mod-cons and we are witnessing constant developments within the industry, allowing the microwave to earn it’s place in a modern kitchen. We now supply microwave grills that offer dual capability and produce brown and crisp food, similar to the oven roasted effect. The combination microwave includes a convection oven, which circulates hot air through the oven cavity with a fan – this device brakes and turns the food golden brown. Similarly, the turbo microwave combines microwave energy with fast-blown hot air and often includes an infrared element for grilling.

When it comes to making purchasing decisions on microwaves there are four simple facts that are influencing the process. It is important to have an accurate measure of the size of the cavity space, the wattage involved and whether a microwave is dial control or touch pad control. Durability is the fourth aspect – a microwave can easily be one of the most used pieces of catering equipment within a kitchen and therefore durability is a must. Not to mention, the constant use also results in constant slamming of the door, particularly during busy services. A good microwave in today’s catering sector must be able to withstand the heat!

Microwaves – Buy Online!

Universities have diverse needs when it comes to tableware. The catering managers are highly cost-conscious and looking to get maximum life-span from their products, yet flexible in their thinking.

We are seeing patterns emerge depending on which sites within the university is being refurbished or re-stocked. That can mean focusing on catering disposables for the ‘to-go’, light eats and snacking side of the business, right through to the procurement of good good quality, super-vitrified crockery for an on-site restaurant.

Many of our customers have opted for ‘badged whiteware’, which means their universities own branding is ‘fired’ onto a base white china. The resulting tableware remains highly durable, looks great and delivers a bespoke look and feel that adds value to the quality of the restaurant. It’s relatively inexpensive to badge white-ware and just needs a bit of forward planning. We work closely with suppliers such as Churchill China to offer some great options of super-vitrified, badge-ware and it’s also becoming increasingly popular to brand accessories, such as napkins or glasses, to match.

White-ware is by far the most popular choice of crockery for universities: “it’s the same as any eating establishment, white ware is practical, and new presentation concepts can be blended in with existing ranges for minimal cost. Food looks good on white and that’s why it remains the chef’s choice!

Catering disposables are big business for universities right through from hot and cold beverages to sandwich packaging, napkins and paper towels. There is an increasing demand for universities to buy ‘sustainably’ in line with both Government and student environmental policies.

We are seeing a significant increase in the number of customers happy to pay a small premium for products which tick the sustainability boxes. Some decisions are common sense – for example use paper cups that break down easily against their plastic counterparts and don’t over-package needlessly when it comes to sandwiches and food ‘to-go’.

Photo by Taekwonweirdo

We sent our weekly email out this morning – this time we’ve highlighted the great savings you can currently make on the Churchill Crockery from our website.

The email includes products from a few of the Churchill ranges we sell online; including plates, bowls and mugs from Art de Cuisine Menu, Alchemy White and Churchill Nova.

We stock many more of Churchill’s great crockery sets on the website though. Click the following link to view them all…

Churchill eStore – A separate online store featuring many of the Churchill ranges.

Ware-washing is an important commodity for every establishment. It’s not just about ensuring your guests are given a sparking glass or a squeaky clean plate at every serving – yes, high standards of cleanliness are vital to any establishment – but today’s requirements across ware-washing go far deeper than first impressions of cleanliness…

Winterhalter Dishwasher

Firstly it’s about choosing the right hardware. Our customers want systems that do the job effectively but the major influencing factor in the decision making process today is around ensuring that a system is right for the catering environment within which it is being placed – i.e. that it’s suitable to do the job it’s being asked to do.

A further point of consideration is around cost and whether that system is environmentally friendly and that means both the water consumption and in the application of chemicals to do the right job.

If we consider caterers operating across the industry, whether pubs, clubs, hotels, restaurants or the care sector, the majority of venues are using their ware-washing equipment pretty much constantly in one form or another throughout the day and often well into the night as well. This constant use is punishing on any system and therefore reliability, speed of call out for breakdown and service accessibility are all key factors that we’re asked about continually. It is sometimes down to the fact that ‘you get what you pay for’ – false economy on hardware or cleaning chemicals simply leads to spending more in the long run.

A few things to consider when you are going to change your machine…

• As mentioned already – the intelligent use of energy will also reflect on your energy bills. Things to look out for are the level of steam (not least when you open the door on a finished cycle!) and the climate of operation. What temperature of wash delivers top results? Look out for energy efficient kite marks such as WRCS.
• Make sure the system is easy to use and also check the headroom of products – whether that’s plates, glasses or saucepans.
• Ask for expert advice and check the cleaning chemicals. Are these competitive, are they kind to our environment but most importantly, do they do the job without eroding pattern or depositing film on glasses and plates. Many of the problems we experience in performance are around users not buying the correct chemicals and detergents or rinse aids that go with their systems in the hope of achieving budget cuts.

Speed of cycle. Your establishment will also influence your decision – as if you have a high through-flow with intense pressure peaks – you will need a system that can keep pace with your kitchen.

Winterhalter Under Counter Warewashing Machine

Our top selling range is the Winterhalter range which has recently launched a new range of highly sophisticated ware and dishwashers. The new generation Winterhalter UC Series allows all sizes of machines to be programmed to become a dish, glass or cutlery washer at the touch of a button. Each machine can be finely tuned to meet the needs and cycles of each customer and includes elements such as touch screen recognition, dirty water tank adjuster and full service history reports – all available 24/7.

Ware-washing Equipment – including Glass-washers & Dishwashers

Once again humanitarian organisation Action Against Hunger is calling on the country’s chefs and restaurateurs to unite in the fight against hunger and join culinary luminaries such as Rick Stein, Raymond Blanc, Giorgio Locatelli and Cyrus Todiwala in supporting the UK’s leading foodie campaign Fight Hunger Eat Out.

Taking place throughout September and October 2010, Fight Hunger Eat Out raises essential funds to help provide adequate food and safe drinking water to malnourished children and their families. Last year saw the foodie industry raise over £450,000 for the campaign, with all funds going directly to support Action Against Hunger’s work. This year, more than 600 restaurants are expected to sign up, making this year’s campaign bigger and better than ever before.

Cyrus Todiwala said: “The world has changed dramatically in the last few years and amidst the global financial and political turmoil some chinks of hope have appeared. More people now recognise that basic values as empathy and extending help to those in need are the ones that truly count.”

“Cafe Spice Namaste has supported Action Against Hunger for over a decade because we believe that it is a real force for good. Malnutrition not only stunts one’s growth and development, it also eats into your soul. Coming from India, my wife Pervin and I have seen first hand the impact of ignorance, misfortune and social and economic disparity. Organisations like Action Against Hunger are there to make a difference and we encourage all food lovers to get involved.”

Taking part could not be easier: whether your operation is a restaurant, café, deli or gastropub, you can do your bit in a way that suits your business. Ask your customers to donate a small amount after enjoying a fabulous meal or give a percentage of sales from a designated dish. The underlying principle is simple: if you love food, show it by sharing.
Join the hundreds of chefs and restaurateurs already committed and help end child hunger.

Visit www.restaurantsagainsthunger.org or call 020 8293 6190

While many caterers are always keen to update their tableware and crockery, the economic downturn is still determining purchasing habits. That means that any decisions made must be seen to be cost-effective and necessary.

Dudson Classic White Crockery

Updating a collection, rather than replacing the entire stock-holding of any establishment, is by far the most popular option.

A range such as a ‘white-ware’ crockery set is simple, clean and enables additional products to be added as needed – often from different suppliers – giving a new look and feel, complementing and adding value to the existing tableware. We list our products in tiered ranges, offering everyday porcelain, premium whiteware and fine dining options – enabling people to cater for all occasions.

The duel purpose items within these crockery collections are another strong feature. For example a bowl can be used for both cereals in the morning and as a salad or dessert bowl for lunch. This level of flexibility cuts costs considerably and is becoming a factor of ongoing interest for caterers who are looking for versatility and best value.

Churchill Classic Crockery

Depending on the style of establishment, some operators (particularly in markets such as health and education – and not forgetting banqueting) are interested in adding further value to a collection and opting for badged or branded crockery, meaning that the establishment’s own company logo can be placed onto the white china.

The resulting dinnerware remains highly durable, looks impressive and delivers a bespoke look and feel that adds to the value of their site. We offer some great options of super-vitrified, badged crockery of the best quality by working closely with our suppliers such as Churchill China while we are beginning to see exciting expansions in the branding of accessories such as napkins and glassware to match.

Catering Crockery – Buy Online!

The market for fryers is a highly competitive one – so make sure you buy the right model for YOUR needs!

Catering equipment and commercial fryers in particular is a market that has been hit by the trend towards healthier eating and whilst there is still a need for frying equipment, the way fryers are being used has changed and indeed the market is continuing to adapt to modern trends and needs.

Lincat Opus Electric Twin Fryer OE7113

One of the first decisions that an establishment will make is whether to buy gas or electric – gas being seen to be a ‘faster and more flexible’ option with less energy draw. However, these days electric fryers are superb and there is very little difference to choose between the two. Plus there have been good strides in the marketing of energy efficient models, which has closed the gap between the two options.

Fryers of today are a far cry from those of a decade ago. If an establishment is buying a new fryer, they would automatically expect the model to be programmable for an easy life and to accommodate a range of times for each type of food category as with a microwave. Additionally, Auto-lift is now a given and safety features are integral to the products with automatic thermal cut-out functions built in.

Healthier oils are being used in today’s environment and cooking odours have been minimized. A good fryer will last for five years and beyond, if it’s looked after and maintained well. Cleaning and automatic oil filtration is a wonderful convenience and saves on labour – plus, a lesser known fact is that it saves on oil (which can be an expensive commodity) and in doing so, it saves the establishment, money!

Where a fryer is sited is important, for example, it’s good for fryer to sit under a canopy and common sense to ensure that it is protected from open flames.

We sell an extensive range of kitchen fryers at unbeatable prices from leading manufacturers including Falcon, Chieftain, Fortus, Imperial, Lincat and Blue Seal. The range includes a variety of sizes, from small table-top models to freestanding units – a variety of single or double tanks and supporting equipment is also available, such as fryer stands and tables.

Commercial Fryers – Buy Online!

I think the banner above has all the information you need. Today and today only, you can get £20 off your order when you spend over £100!

Just enter the code AOLWD0710 on the ‘Order Summary’ page in the checkout and it will be deducted from the cost of your order.

Caterers are always looking for the most cost-effective solutions when it comes to buying disposables and packaging products. Nevertheless, goods with ‘green’ credentials remain at the heart of the majority of procurement policies.

Ecotainer Aware Cups

Clearly the industry has embraced the consumer’s desire for friendly packaging and we have a real responsibility to customers and consumers to deliver a range that meets their needs.

Disposables within our packaging range are big business for us and here at Alliance Online we supply products to a wide range of catering establishments up and down the country. Our website features several hundred products across food packaging and disposables, and with a growing portfolio, we are able to offer lines to suit all budgets, needs and occasions; including food containers, sandwich packaging, cups, plates, cutlery and disposable glassware.

We have various ‘eco’ ranges that are proving to be really big sellers this year. Our ecotainer packaging is a revolutionary product line, made from 100% renewable resources, sustainable wood fibre, plants and is fully compost-able. The brand new, award winning, ecotainer hot cup contains the new PLA coating – making this cup compost-able in municipal and commercial composting facilities.

Glassware has always been an issue for environmentally conscious retailers, but the new Polarity Tumbler & Lid range is an ideal compliment for serving gourmet cold beverages – it offers excellent ‘glass-like’ clarity; ensuring the contents are clearly visible and pleasing on the eye. The strong, shatter-proof material is highly durable and is suitable for anything from frapaccino’s and high quality, freshly squeezed juices to fresh salads and desserts.

In this day and age, disposable catering supplies are not only important in a sustainable and economical sense, but also in respect of a company’s positive corporate and brand image.

Catering Disposables – Buy Online