All meals generally require the same basic utensils—plate, fork, knife, spoon, napkin, glass, etc. But the presentation of these items can not only provide a nice visual aesthetic but can also convey the formality of an event.

There’s nothing quite like unwinding after a long day at work or a long week with a nice glass of wine. But, are you properly storing your wine to get optimal taste? Wine fridges may have seemed like something that only belonged in mansions, but with the variety of styles and sizes available today, they are more accessible than ever. 

The kitchen is the center of your business. You need high-quality, high-powered commercial kitchen equipment to withstand daily use and keep your staff organized and happy. Before you start purchasing equipment for your kitchen, it’s crucial to note which appliances are right for your restaurant.

Starting a restaurant easily cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Equipment, space, menu design, and marketing are all big-ticket items that add up quick. Throw in staff and inventory and your funding may start to look flimsy. While these factors may seem nonnegotiable, businesses before you have made it by on much less money than normal and still seen success. Read on to find out how you too could start a restaurant with a barely-there budget.

Smoothie bars are all the rage and have been for a few decades. They are a convenient way to get a cool drink and a serving of fruit and veggies. Popular places to have one is near a health club or in malls or on the beach. There are several different types of equipment you’ll need to start up your smoothie bar. This is a guide along with some recommendations to help you get started.

During the hot summer months, everything tends to run a little slower. To help your ice machine run more efficiently, so you can keep cool,Ice-O-Matic has some helpful tips for maximum ice machine productivity.

Health inspections for commercial dining venues are a fact of owning such a business, and thank goodness for them, because we’d never want to eat out if there weren’t any guidelines. The experience can, however, be unnerving to the point of downright terror if you allow it to be. There are some common sense ideas in preparing for a health inspection that can make it less painful and more successful.

With the constantly increasing awareness of world energy use becoming a more and more pressing concern with every passing year, many food service establishments are beginning to look for ways to reduce their waste production and excess energy use. The mental image of trash being emptied into slowly crowding landfills is powerful motivation for many restaurateurs to begin minimizing their waste – not to mention the increasing costs of waste disposal services. While taking steps to reduce waste is often slightly less convenient, and will take more time and effort from both you and your restaurant staff, the financial, environmental, and social impact of minimizing waste will almost certainly be worth it in the long run. Here are a few tips to start reducing your restaurant’s waste production.

When it comes to motivating your servers, business writers suggest you hold daily contests with the winners receiving small monetary prizes. They suggest, basically, that once a day you should gather your waitstaff in the kitchen, flash a fifty dollar bill, and then tell everyone that whoever sells the most surf-and-turf plates that evening goes home with the fifty tucked inside their billfold. The logic here is everybody wants money, and so when you dangle $50 over your employees’ heads, they’ll jump however high it takes to snatch it. Well, if that sounds reasonable to you, then listen up because this is important. Contests are for chumps.

It’s easy to see why restaurant furniture designers have moved away from upholstering their booths in cloth to upholstering them in vinyl. Modern vinyl fabric, which honestly is barely recognizable as a plastic anymore, duplicates the skin-like plushness of leather while costing restaurateurs much less to own. And since vinyl repels water, most of the spills absorbed by cloth upholstery simply rolls off these seats. However as you’ve probably found out for yourself, vinyl is less than 100% impenetrable to stains. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best cleaning techniques to undo vinyl’s most common blemishes, including solutions for ink, blood, scuffs, gum, rips, rain, the sun, & crumbs.

So you want to open your own restaurant.  It’s a more popular field than ever before because less people are taking time to cook.   Maybe you’ve seen that perfect old building being remodeled in town, and envisioned it fully of happy diners expounding on your brilliance.  Seems like a good place to start?  Wrong answer!  There’s a logical process to opening your own restaurant, and it doesn’t start with the cutest old building you’ve ever seen.

Maybe it’s because you’re swamped. Or maybe you’re just lazy. Regardless the reason, that thing you’re doing… it’s disgusting. Anyone who works in the service industry has skipped some important sanitation procedure before—it’s only when you start making a habit of uncleanliness that your restaurant begins to suffer. So be honest with yourself, are you guilty of these ten sanitation no-no’s?

Food-based allergies have symptoms ranging from barely noticeable to imminent threat of death.   Research suggests that approximately 15 million Americans have food allergies.  A 2015 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that food allergies in children increased by about 50% between 1997 and 2011.  The most common allergen for children is cow’s milk, while the most common allergen for adults is shell fish.   Peanuts aren’t the most common allergen for any segment of the population, but they are frequently the most violent.  Some are so allergic to peanuts they can’t be in the same room with a peanut butter cookie.   Food allergies are increasing in all segments of the population.   It’s not clear whether allergies or reliable diagnosis is on the rise, but one thing is certain.  The health threat can’t be ignored.  Food service is feeling the impact strongly.

Customers will pass judgment about your restaurant the second they sit down. That is why picking the right dinner plate is so important to the restaurateur. Dinner plates are an important part of your restaurant experience and thus should be well thought out before purchasing. It should complement the color and design of your establishment. When choosing dinner plates, you should consider several things including materials, colors, shapes and sizes.

Lodge Manufacturing has made cast iron cooking equipment for more than 110 years. It was not until 2002 Lodge developed a vegetable oil spray system with high temperature gas ovens to season their cookware before it left their warehouse.

It’s no secret that there’s money in concessions. Jaw dropping food and beverage prices have reigned supreme at theaters, athletic events and carnivals for years yet people keep coming back for more.

The marketing potential of the internet has become a very powerful tool in the modern restaurateur’s brand-building repertoire. Social media and networking sites have become one of the best methods of brand promotion and word-of-mouth advertising for many companies, particularly restaurants and other foodservice establishments. But using these tools properly can sometimes be a bit tricky, and “doing it right” is often a time-intensive commitment.

If you don’t have a lot of room in your commercial kitchen but you are finding yourself in need of a good fryer, then you might look at a commercial counter top electric fryer as an option.

If you are in the market for a new refrigerator or freezer, with all the features, options, brands, and manufacturers these days, your search can turn into an overwhelming mess pretty quickly. Luckily, we are here to help. In this blog we will compare three different refrigeration manufacturers and their equipment to ensure when you are choosing your next piece of refrigeration equipment, you are well-informed to make a good decision and choose the correct fridge or freezer to fit your needs.

It’s important to know what those certifications tell you about your purchases, so we’ve listed our most common ones. The next time you’re shopping on our site, you’ll have a better understanding of the quality of products you’re considering.

It’s no secret that ice machines are not built to handle every type of situation. Generally their performance is subject to the environment and resources available. But thankfully there are some ice makers better equipped to meet the unique demands of the residential customer.

Kitchen Knives come in many different varieties and it can be overwhelming trying to find what kind of knife you need.

It has been said that smells trigger memories more than any of our senses. Maybe a cologne reminds you of your grandfather, or a hair spray reminds you of your aunt, or a specific fabric softener reminds you of a previous relationship. The power of smell cannot be under estimated.

Although food trucks have been a long-standing part of American culture, the popularity of these mobile eateries has come to an all time high within the last few years, and for good reason. Motivated entrepreneurs can start a mobile food business for a fraction of the cost to open a brick and mortar restaurant and yields several advantages over the traditional foodservice method by allowing owners to bring the food to their customers and requiring less employees to operate.

Shop JES Restaurant Equipment's Food Truck Category Here.

Often times our customers are confused about the difference between a manual and thermostatic griddles.  The difference is quite simple actually so we'll explain it in a manner that most anyone can relate to…

A phenomenon has emerged in the brewery world that has caused a chaotic stir among those wanting to make their own beer. Home brewing has not only grown into a popular activity in residential kitchens but it has also gained a reputation in commercial kitchens as well. Making your own brew is a very inexpensive product that will easily rival anything else you could buy in the store.

Do you feel like it’s time to buy a new commercial sink but you aren’t sure what type to purchase? First, you should understand why you are buying it. The cost of the sink is usually in direct comparison to the job for which it is used. If you are purchasing one for the mud room of your home, then a sink that is not NSF approved will work fine; however, if you are in an industrial environment or a restaurant, then a NSF approved sink is imperative.

American Range is a recognized leader in the commercial food service industry. With over 30 years of experience, innovative technology, and robust engineering have advanced their professional cooking equipment to withstand the challenges of the most demanding chefs and kitchens. American Range heavy-duty commercial series ovens are utilized by some of the world's most renowned restaurants, such as, WYNN Las Vegas, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, and Cafe' Gray NYC. These highly flexible and valuable oven bases and rangetops are modular and can be reconfigured to accommodate any kitchen or cooking style. American Range's residential professional line of gas ranges, French-door wall ovens, slide-in rangetops and cooktops are commercial grade; with the soul and capability of a commercial range blended with luxurious style.

Many large restaurants and cafeterias offer food bars to give customers a myriad of options. Most of these food bars are rather large and tend to take up more space than necessary. Not only does this reduce the amount of possible table space, but it also minimizes serving options for your patrons.

End of the Year Section 179 Tax Saving Season is HERE! You could save $1000's with Section 179 tax benefits!

Walk-in refrigeration units are convenient and often necessary for commercial kitchens. And though the process of getting one can be overwhelming it is important to have all of your I’s dotted and your T’s crossed when ordering a walk-in unit because even the tiniest detail can affect the outcome. The key is to work with your seller and be sure that they have all of the information they need to give you what you need.

Atmosphere is very important in a restaurant. It sets the mood for how people receive your food. Having a trendy themed restaurant can be a bit temperamental, with the fleeting nature of trends. However, here is a list of trends that we think aren’t going to go out of style any time soon.

Are all dishwashers the same?

Here in the South, Pumpkin has long reined as king of the fall; but this year, chefs, limited-service brands, quick-service, and fast casual concepts have introduced non-pumpkin products and innovative spins on the pumpkin flavor with creative marketing campaigns.

Starting a new business can be a daunting process. Worrying about having cash on hand to pay bills or better yet, pay employees is always a top priority for startup owners. QuickSpark has created an infographic to help owners better manage cash flow for their business!

Today we are starting a new series where we will feature advice from our owner Eric on various problems you may run into when setting up a commercial kitchen. Here’s our first post in the series.

Compartment sinks are not only convenient in the foodservice industry but are also mandatory in many cases. Most health and sanitation standards require restaurants to have a sink with three or more compartments to manually clean utensils and smaller equipment pieces. But washing smallwares by hand is not as simple as running some soap and water over them. Washing restaurant utensils and equipment is subject to standards just like washing your hands. This three-step process is kinda like the “stop, drop and roll” of warewashing:

Community fish fries have long been a staple in the southeastern region of the United States. Fish fries are great for community building, fundraising, or even just family events, and their versatility and appeal has begun to spread across the nation. However, some who are unfamiliar with this largely southern tradition may have a few questions about how to “properly” host a fish fry of their own. Luckily, fish fries are traditionally very casual events, and preparing for them is usually not a terribly intensive process. Here are a few things to keep in mind when organizing your own fish fry.

Shopping for commercial foodservice equipment can be overwhelming. There are a variety of factors to consider such as brand, performance and warranty terms. However one factor that should be a no-brainer is whether or not the equipment is ENERGY STAR® certified.

Online ordering for restaurants has been growing in popularity for some time now and for good reason! Providing the option to place online orders has many benefits for both the restaurant and the customer. If you haven’t yet added this service for your business, here are just some of the benefits of online ordering for restaurants…

Knives come in all shapes and sizes in the kitchen. A chef is only as good as his or her knife allows. One of the biggest issues a beginning chef may have is learning which knife is right for them to buy.

G.E.T. Enterprises is a leading manufacturer in tabletop restaurant smallwares . They have a wide selection of soup and rice bowls. These bowls are 8 oz. in depth and have several decorative patterns including several Oriental designs. They are made of melamine and are NSF listed. They also offer platters to complement the bowls and are sold in sets. These items are great for either commercial or residential tabletops.

It’s Christmas, but bear in mind it’s also almost the end of 2013, and there are some very good things that might not be around after 2013. One of those is the Section 179 Business Tax Break, which is substantially greater than it was in 2012, and not something you want to let pass by. If you’re thinking about purchasing, now truly is the best time.

Ice-O-Matic recognizes that the face of the food service industry is changing, and they’re on the cutting edge of keeping up with these changes. It’s for this reason that they’ve introduced the HIS line, a new line of compact, under-counter ice machines.

There are many ways to tenderize meats. One way to enhance the food’s color and flavoring is to slowly cook meat in liquid to produce tender, moist meat. Stewing is one method of choice but to really use less liquid in order to retain those juices and flavors the best method would be to braise your meats. This particular method surrounds the meat around the juices and moisture created by the cooking process.

Range ovens are a necessity in any restaurant. These ovens allow you the option to cook more than one thing at a time whether it's baking rolls in the oven or cooking stir fry on the stove top griddle.

Receive Your Complete 35% Rebate All At Once

Let’s say you just bought a $1400 refrigerator for your restaurant. The government considers your purchase to be a capital investment, and as time passes and as the refrigerator loses value, you can deduct its depreciated value from your income taxes. Basically, your refrigerator grows old and the government periodically sends you some money back.

Hoshizaki is a leading manufacturer in commercial ice makers and refrigeration units across the globe. Now Hoshizaki has introduced a new line of Hoshizaki Commercial Series Refrigeration units. These new line of refrigeration and freezer units are top of the line in commercial refrigeration.

Social media marketing has rapidly become an increasingly influential presence in the sales world over the past several years. With more and more companies and individuals joining social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest each year, these online networking tools have grown into an undeniably powerful name-making and brand-establishing tool when looking to build one’s business.

We at JES are happy to introduce Annette our newest addition to our web department. As content writer; Annette will be writing many of the new blogs coming up as well as the many product descriptions for the products being added everyday to JESRestaurantEquipment.com. Welcome Annette! – Jarrett

With the holidays just around the corner, many people have already begun to make arrangements for this year’s holiday dinner. We’ve recently discussed how to choose wines for a wine tasting , but it’s time to revisit the subject from a different angle as families and catering companies gear up to make their holiday dinner beverage selections.

Since 1918, Pitco Frialator have been manufacturing fryers in the USA and have been offering quality, reliable equipment for professional frying. They have since then been in the forefront of the frying industry. So, what makes Pitco Frialators one of the top brands in commercial frying?

If you are a restaurant, a school cafeteria, or any other commercial kitchen then chances are you will be using a convection oven to cook most of your meals. Convection ovens are useful because they take far less time to cook food than a conventional oven. They are also great commodities in the fact that they save energy by cooking food evenly without having to turn your food products around inside the oven.

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We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving week filled with family, friends, and food… lots of food! But Thanksgiving isn’t the only big day this week; Black Friday 2013 is almost here. And that means big deals at JES Restaurant Equipment. If you’ve subscribed to our newsletter then you already know we’ve been rolling our coupons and saving all month long, and if you’re not – now is a perfect time to sign up!

Regardless of where you are in America, one thing is for certain: Americans love coffee! Coffee is always a necessity no matter where you go. The average coffee shop sells $550,000 worth of coffee in a year. 52% of Americans drink coffee daily. 15% of Americans buy at least one cup of coffee at a coffee shop every day. This number is increasing 3-4% per year.

Whether it’s your first Thanksgiving or you’re a Turkey Day pro, these cooking and baking tools are essential to get you through the holidays. We always remember to get the food, but making sure you have the correct equipment and kitchen utensils can make or break your holiday. You’ll need all of the basics plus a few special tools to cook turkey, gravy, and your favorite side dishes.

For the past 10 years, e-commerce has been looked at as the “Wild West” of the marketplace. This has never been more the case than with sales tax. So far retailers aren’t required to collect taxes on out-of-state transactions. It has more or less been up to the consumer to calculate their taxes and send them in on their own. This ambiguity is about to reach its turning point.

If you are a restaurant owner, then you will probably go through quite a few cups in your place of business. Foam cups are used by most owners to avoid the burden of having to wash ceramic cups. If you server a lot of hot tea or coffee, then you are likely to use foam cups. A great way to stack these cups and keep them altogether is by putting them in a foam cup dispenser.

With the end of the fiscal year approaching and the elections behind us, many businesses are looking for ways to get the most out of their savings and drive 2012 sales. In the face of upcoming tax law changes, we want to remind our loyal customers as well as other businesses out there of a very important and powerful sales tool.

Cutting boards come in many varieties but the two basic ones are wood and plastic. Care and maintenance for each one depends on the material used. Wood cutting board requires coating the board in mineral oil which acts as a sealant to prevent bacteria from forming. Avoid submerging in water, store in a dry place, brush it clean, and avoid bleach. A plastic cutting board has to have warm soapy water to clean it and should avoid the dishwasher. There are four steps to caring for a wooden cutting board.

If you own a pizza restaurant , you’ve probably found yourself ordering more pizza boxes than you can handle. You walk in the back of your kitchen and a mountain of new pizza boxes is stacked haphazardly into a leaning tower ready to topple over your cooks in the back.

Many restaurants use deep fat fryers, griddles and other large restaurant appliances for commercial use in their kitchen. If any of these appliances are used, then they will need a ventilation system with an exhaust hood to filter out the smoke and particle emissions. A standard ventilation unit is one method of ventilation control; however, if you are a restaurant owner, you may want to consider a ventless ventilation system.

Whether you’re a restaurant, hotel, or any other business owner, you need to welcome your customers with warm and open arms. A great way to draw your customers in is using a custom logo floor mat. These inexpensive commodities can really add elegance to your company and gives it a more official look.

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J.E.S Restaurant Equipment and Time Payment provides a better way to meet needs while expanding your sales . Time Payments financial products were designed to work with new and existing restaurants. It will provide restaurants a way to preserve their cash and give competitive advantage to close new sales with three features that enable them to do this faster.

Nowadays owning a restaurant is more or less a constant bout with your competitors for attention. There is an incessant flow of information piling up on consumers in almost every media outlet imaginable. Smaller restaurant owners have to fight the Goliaths of the restaurant world today to catch their consumers’ eye. So, as a restaurant owner how are you going to get your company name as a frontrunner in the restaurant industry?

Prescriptive rules of etiquette — even those starchy, hoity-toity, three-sorts-of-dinner-fork type rules — didn’t just crop up randomly. Smart people like Judith Martin, Amy Vanderbilt, and Emily Post paid close attention to both successful dinner guests and unpopular ones and thought about how the differences in their social tics affected the flow of a conversation or the atmosphere in a room. They listed these behaviors in notebooks, found the patterns, and then got their findings published. Good and bad manners existed well before Emily Post — all she did was jot them down.

Over the years, wine tasting has become a fairly standard practice among those looking to expand their cultural and technical understanding of alcoholic beverages. But with the relatively recent rise to prevalence of smaller batch craft beers, combined with our modern ease of importing foreign goods, beer tasting is beginning to become a popular pass time for both seasoned aficionados and new beer drinkers alike.

With a dire concern for our environment becoming an ever-increasing issue, Scotsman, a leading manufacturer in commercial ice makers, is joining forces with Energy Star® and offering rebates up to $500 on energy-efficient Scotsman ice machines.

In 2009, Cambro announced their new line of healthcare products. Cambro Healthcare has a drive to become the best provider of healthcare meal delivery systems in the world. Many of their products appeal to the most elite of money-saving shoppers.

Scotsman Offering 0% Financing on Commercial Ice Makers and Machines

Scotsman has been a frontrunner for manufacturing the world’s leading ice machines. Their company has specialized in reducing water usage and cost for utilities by making Prodigy® and Nugget Ice cubes. They have been voted best-in-class from Foodservice Equipment & Supplies magazine. Now the same company that for years has offered quality ice machine products is now offering the same quality with their offer on all Scotsman Commercial customers.