Resources — Buying Guides - Foodservice

Choosing the right glove for the right job and using them properly helps keep your staff and your food safe.

Gloves come in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials, each with a different purpose. To decide what type you need, first determine what tasks they’re needed for, how long staff will be wearing them, the risk of contamination from food being prepared and the importance of dexterity to the wearer.

There’s much to consider to find the right chafing dish or row of dishes for your operation, whether you run a buffet-style restaurant, hotel, banquet hall, catering business or simply enjoy entertaining at home.

Find out about types of chafing dishes, chafer sizes and chafing dish lid styles.  Chafing dish power sources explained. 

Catering Equipment and Supplies Buying Guide Whether you run an established catering company or you’re just starting a catering business, we’ve got the foodservice equipment you need and the expertise to help you make the best choices. Let’s start with a list of catering essentials.  Tabletop  While white is always in style for dinner and tabletop items, you’ll be amazed at the many attractive choices available, from faux wood chargers to dishes in matte earth tones and flatware in shades of black or rose gold. When making a decision, think about your clientele, and about the ease of carrying, washing and...

Being a successful bartender requires both skill and showmanship — both of which improve greatly by having the necessary bar tools to get the job done. 

From jiggers and shakers to spouts, spoons and bottle openers, getting the restaurant bar tools and supplies best designed for your bar, and your staff, will increase efficiency, quality and customer happiness — all adds to your bottom line! 

Here’s a primer for what bartending tools you should have stocked for your bar.

When considering the needs for professional waitstaff, start by looking at what you want your customer experience to be. 

Waitstaff are the face of your business, and the most frequent point of contact with guests. Organized, properly equipped staff will allow service to shine and customers to enjoy their dining experience. Set them up for success with the right tools for the job. 

From cleaning up a quick spill, which could cause a trip and fall, to end-of-day cleaning, the right mop, wringer, and bucket are essential for all commercial operations. 

But not all floor mops are created equal so it’s essential to know what’s best for your needs. Our guide will help you make those decisions.

One way to warm a customer’s heart is to ask if they’d like their bread, bun or sandwich toasted. That’s why choosing the right toaster for your restaurant is so important.

Along with delivering a crisp, golden product, this essential piece of kitchen equipment needs to be rugged, fast and reliable for use all day every day, particularly at breakfast when toast rules. Here's what you need to know for getting toasty. 

When the heat ramps up as a restaurant hits its peak busy period, both front of house and back of house staff need to stay cool.

A critical part of delivering great service, a restaurant not only needs a working ice machine, but must have an ice maker that meets demand.

Not all commercial ice machines are the same, however, so we’re here to break down the different types of units — and the different types of ice — so you can be as informed as possible when buying an ice maker for your business.

Young families are a demographic few restaurant owners can afford to ignore. Canada has about six million kids 14 and younger, more than 15 percent of the population. Their families dine out and order takeout more than any generation before them—and nearly half the time, the kids decide where to go. In fact, it’s estimated that making your restaurant family-friendly can increase traffic by up to 25 percent. 

It’s also important to have the right furnishings, tableware and other essentials that will make families feel at home—and keep them coming back. 

Who doesn’t love waffles? Soaked in syrup or topped with fruit, chocolate, and whipped cream, these fluffy creations are truly heaven-sent. Their combined gustatory merit and culinary versatility mean they’re a staple on most menus. Sweet or savoury, waffles are a delectable, crave-worthy delight from coast to coast. 

Enjoying the waffles is easy. Making the waffles, on the other hand, is arguably an art form, but the right waffle maker can make all the difference. Keep reading so your operation can pick the best commercial waffle maker for your foodservice kitchen.