Blog Home

A seamless event relies on dependable equipment, and no one wants to face the frustration of malfunctioning chafers, inadequate serveware, or the dangers of open flames. These were once unavoidable challenges in catering... until the arrival of a game-changing solution.

In the fast-paced world of food delivery, maintaining the quality and safety of meals during transportation is highly important. Enter the unsung hero: the insulated food delivery bag. These specialized carriers are engineered to keep food at a consistent temperature, ensuring that it arrives fresh and safe at its destination.

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.

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.

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.

The type of cookware that you choose for your home or commercial kitchen will have a large influence over your general cooking process. There are a wide variety of different types of pots and pans available to the modern chef, but none are as well-known (and argued about) as stainless steel pans and non-stick pans. The stainless steel vs. non-stick question is asked frequently by shoppers hoping to upgrade or restock their kitchen, and although people often swear by one or the other for a variety of different reasons, it is important to know about the differences between the two before making your decision. Keep the following things in mind when shopping for your next selection of pots and pans.

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.

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.

Are all dishwashers the same?

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:

While plastic is cheaper and more convenient for many applications in today’s modern kitchen sometimes there’s just no substitute for quality old fashioned wood. In addition to durability it adds both style and elegance to your kitchen with it’s antique finishes and beautiful colors. This is one of the reasons you see many world famous chefs on television using wooden cutting products in their shows. When taken care of properly a wooden cutting board, chopping block or butcher block will serve you well for years to come and they become even more attractive as they age.

Wine glasses are a topic of moderate controversy among various beverage connoisseurs. One wine drinker may insist that the shape of your wine glass matters a great deal, while another might feel that it doesn’t make a significant difference. Some avid wine enthusiasts would argue – perhaps pedantically – that each type of wine tastes better when served in a very specific type of glass matched to the qualities of the wine in question, but most home budgets can’t afford to keep over two dozen different types of wine glasses at the ready, and that’s not to mention the cabinet space that that would require. However, there are some generally accepted rules about what sorts of glasses to use in most everyday wine situations, and having a few different styles on hand should keep you well covered to properly serve just about any type of wine.

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.

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.

If motor oil is the lifeblood of your car, fryer oil is the lifeblood of your fryer. Fryers must have oil to operate and that’s why oil must be managed to increase the longevity of your fryer. Oil degradation often occurs from essentially three things: hydrolysis, oxidation, and polymerization. Hydrolysis is caused by moisture getting into your oil and the effect is the breakdown of your oil and poor coloring. Oxidation is the cause of air or oxygen accelerated by light, trace metals. This causes harmful compounds such as peroxides, volatile compounds/ toxins like aldhydes, ketones, alcholos, hydrocarbons, etc. Polymerization results in solid build-up, greasy food, bad tasting food, and foaming and smoking of the oil. Polymerization of your oil happens when other triglycerides and improper oil keeps from flowing evenly.

The holiday season is swiftly approaching and chances are most of us will be frying turkey, chicken, ham, etc. Most use deep-fryers in order to fry a certain quantity of food in one instance. Deep-frying is very time-saving for a large group of people, and its cooking methods often retain a certain amount of flavor and juices in foods products.

Pouring wine at the table has long been considered the purview of high class and expensive restaurants. While you do need a bit of knowledge and a fairly well-stocked wine selection to justify performing the wine serving ritual, bringing the wine pouring routine out to the table will help to add a bit of interactivity and a touch of class to any restaurant. Here is a quick run-down of the process for anyone interested in serving wine at their customers’ tables.

Today a Bar-B-Que restaurant owner stopped by our showroom to have several of his knives sharpened on one of our M2100 Chef’s Commercial Diamond Hone Knife Sharpeners. A question arose from his visit. Which are better? Electric or manual knife sharpeners?

If you are browsing on our website, you will notice the majority of equipment we have is made of stainless steel. When it comes to commercial restaurant equipment this durable metal is the defining difference between economy and quality brand items. If you have noticed, some of our descriptions go into great detail about the types of stainless steel grades we offer.

A good set of kitchen knives is arguably the most important tool in any chef’s arsenal. No matter what is being cooked or prepared, it is inevitable that there will be some sort of cutting or chopping involved at some point, and those who have spent any time in a kitchen know how important it is to maintain the blades on your knives. Dull knives will not cut effectively and can be tiresome or even hazardous to use in situations that require precise and careful cuts. Keeping your knives sharp is a necessary routine for any amateur, professional, or home chef, but it is critical to your knives’ longevity that they be sharpened properly. Although they are used for all sorts of heavy-duty tasks in the kitchen, knives are actually fairly delicate implements, and improper or overzealous sharpening of a blade can be more detrimental than the wear from any period of use. Many restaurants and commercial kitchens regularly outsource their knife sharpening to a professional third party, but taking measures to keep your blades sharp on your own is an easily achievable way to avoid having to constantly send your knives away to be restored.

Stocking glassware for your bar or restaurant can often be a daunting proposition. With so many different types and styles of glassware , it is only natural to wonder if you are buying the “right” glassware to properly compliment your drink menu. Although the “rules” concerning what drinks go into what sort of glass are mostly arbitrary (reasonable customers will forgive you for not always having exactly the correct glass for every occasion), having a variety of different glasses in which to serve your various drinks will help add interest and flair to your beverage offerings. The types of glasses that you need, however, will ultimately depend on what sort of drinks that you are going to be putting into them. Here is a quick overview of the “necessary” glasses for different kinds of beverages.

Slip-resistant floor mats are a must in any commercial kitchen. Often called anti-fatigue mats, these mats offer a cushioned surface for your employees to stand on that is specifically designed to minimize the hazard of slipping, even when completely wet. Non-slip mats are often made of heavy rubber, so the idea of washing them every day can be a daunting and cumbersome proposition, but it is important to keep your mats clean and in shape to avoid any potential health and safety hazards. With proper care and a routine cleaning schedule, your floor mats should last you a long time.

Salad spinners are a great way to clean and dry your lettuce in one container. Because these appliances use centrifugal force, they are a much more efficient and effective way to prepare leafy greens.  Rather than using a bowl of water and paper towels, which can leave your leaves still wet, a salad spinner gets rid of dirt and excess water. A salad spinner consists of three main parts. The outer bowl, the inner bowl, and the lid with the handle. The outer bowl is what collects the water and dirt from the lettuce. The inner bowl is where the greens go, and the lid keeps water from splashing out and the built in handle moves the inner bowl to clean the lettuce.

Regardless of what type of restaurant you decide to open, one thing is for certain: Everyone loves ice cream! Ice cream shops are a great idea for marketing to all age groups from toddlers to senior citizens. The average American eats approximately 6 gallons of ice cream a year, therefore an ice cream shop can be a great investment for you as an entrepreneur.

One of the more costly items to buy when opening a new restaurant is the equipment. Despite drawing a loan, money goes by quickly in the restaurant industry. You are probably going to have to start your own restaurant with a low-budget but thousands of dollars can be spent in a short period of time. Many restaurateurs choose to buy used equipment as an alternative investment when their funds are tight. There are several things you as a restaurateur should be aware of before purchasing used equipment .

Hosting a wine tasting in your bar is likely going to be a much more intimate and personal experience than the more open “convention center” feel of larger, exhibitor-style tastings. Bar tastings allow a unique opportunity for conversation and community building, but it can sometimes be challenging to balance a bit of “wine professionalism” into the pre-existing atmosphere of your bar. In part one of this post , we discussed how to select your wine order. While your wine is ultimately the main attraction at your event, the presentation and surroundings can make or break a good wine selection. Here are a few things to consider when organizing the layout of your tasting.

Let’s get right to it. Here are some tips for a better, safer, and easier food slicer experience. The type of food slicer you have should be based on the frequency at which you use it. Light duty slicers are made for use only a few hours or less a day. If you don’t use it very much at all, a manual slicer would be better economically than an electric slicer. If you use it several hours a day, and you might use it for cheeses, a medium duty slicer would be your best option because it will withstand the use. Whether you choose manual or electric for medium duty is  up to you and your preference. Now, if you are going to be using your slicer constantly throughout the day, you will definitely want a heavy duty slicer that can easily withstand constant use and slicing cheese. Be sure that your blade is stainless steel and don’t forget to get a blade sharpener, otherwise, you won’t be able to cut anything after a while.

Time to save money again!!  Do you own a restaurant?  One thing that you have in your store is an exhaust hood or two. In the summer time down south it gets hot and humid and sometimes cooling your building can seem impossible. Maybe all that cool air is being sucked out with the hot air from your cooking equipment through the exhaust hood.  Here is a test to see if this is happening in your restaurant.  With all of your exhaust hoods running, make up air included, go to the front of the building open the entrance doors and take note of what you feel.  Did you feel a rush of air come past you, or did you feel resistance when opening the door?  If you did then you have negative pressure in the building and all of your high cost AIR CONDITIONING is being sucked up through the exhaust hood.  Do you want to fix this situation?  If so there are companies that will balance test the building and bring this situation under control.

Commercial ice makers have snot too…

Water snot? Say what! Ok that sounds great but the cold; not so, hard facts are that if you own a commercial ice machine you will develop cold-water algae. The algae will build up on corners and on top of water distribution tubes, drains, drip lines and even in the water sumps. The algae are clear, slick and disgusting organisms that most people don’t want to think about, but they are there.

Refrigerator door gaskets probably don’t come to mind every day unless they are falling off.  The seal between the door and the cabinet are very important, they provide a barrier that keeps the warmer outside air from entering the cooler air inside; same concept as the weather stripping on your doors at home.  If the gasket has gone bad (cracked, dry rotted, etc…) and is not creating a tight seal around the door and cabinet body then the compressor is running more and costing you a lot more in energy dollars.

There are very few foodservice companies that have built as many top brands as Manitowoc Foodservice. With brands like Frymaster, Lincoln, Merrychef, and Manitowoc Ice, Manitowoc is known for great brands and quality products. In 2011 Manitowoc added Cleveland Range to their list of brands. Since they acquired Cleveland Range little has changed until recently. In 2014 Manitowoc dropped the "Range" from Cleveland Ranges name and now they are simply Cleveland and branded the Cleveland Range Combi ovens and steamers as Convotherm. In 2015 they removed the Cleveland Combi ovens from their product list and birthed the brand Convotherm.

Before the very first toaster became a household phenomenon in home kitchens, the idea of “toasting” bread over an open flame was discovered and thus toast was born. It has never been determined who invented the first toaster but it was General Electric in 1909 that introduced the very first toaster to the market. Since then, the conventional toaster has taken on many shapes and sizes and now there are a myriad of toasters available to the everyday consumer.

We are currently overstocked on these Update Intl. TD-1114L Paper Towel Dispensers and have them priced to move.  This manual paper towel dispenser is a great fit for any bathroom, break-room or food prep area where easy access to paper towels is needed.  Get one (or two) today, they are sure to go fast at this incredible price.  Visit our website today and let J.E.S. be the one stop shop for all your commercial restaurant equipment and restaurant supplies.

Quality of water has always been an important factor in the success of any foodservice operation. Between cooking, serving beverages to customers, washing dishes, making ice, and a variety of other tasks, restaurants need to use the cleanest, purest water available to ensure the health and safety of their customers. In 1974, the Environmental Protection Agency passed the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to reinforce this idea. The SDWA moves to keep the concentration of chemical and mineral contaminants below the accepted “safe for consumption” values in all sources of public drinking water.

It has always been a mystery to me why people will spend thousands of dollars on  commercial refrigeration like a reach-in refrigerator, reach-in freezer, walk-in cooler or walk-in freezer and never perform preventive maintenance. You would never buy a car and not change the oil would you?  Preventive maintenance is not the cure all but just like changing your oil in the car it is important; preventive maintenance helps the equipment you worked so hard for last longer.  At J.E.S we not only sell commercial restaurant equipment we also have a service department that is cable of providing PM & repair on all major brands of restaurant equipment as well as commercial HVAC.  My guys cover the up state of South Carolina & when it’s the middle of July and 95°+ the service department phone is ringing off the hook with calls from restaurants and other commercial facilities with refrigeration problems a lot of which could have been prevented.  The key to helping your profit dollars go further is to limit repairs, not just ignore the cause of damage… NEGLECT!   Here are a few simple items that I would suggest

When talking about kitchen knives , “hardness” is a term that often gets thrown around without stopping to explain what it actually means. Although the term sounds straightforward, it’s not quite as simple as it seems, which often leads to confusion on the consumer’s end when hardness values are listed in a knife’s specifications. Although many cooking enthusiasts (especially home chefs) can select a suitable, quality knife without extensive personal knowledge of the engineering behind the blade, understanding what hardness really means and how it applies to your kitchenware will help make future shopping more accessible.

Summer is in full swing and that means that most of you are wanting to enjoy the cold, refreshing taste of crystal clear ice immersed in your favorite beverage in a cool, perspiring glass. Ice-O-Matic a leading manufacturer in ice machines, has a full range of cube ice machines known as the ICE Series. These machines are built with two options: modular or self-contained.