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Top top restaurant tips news stories... |
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Green Chemical Solutions
February 08, 2011 @ 12:09:34 AM EST
Unfortunately, among some there is still a commonly held misconception with in the restaurant industry that the use of green chemicals means a sacrifice of cleaning quality and performance. Some believe that because a cleaner is termed as environmentally-friendly, it is labeled as something that it is not as potent as readily available commercial cleaners. Green chemical solutions are now proving not only to be as effective as traditional cleaners, but also that they tend to be safer cleaning choice.
We all know that serving food entails a lot of thought, care, and meticulous processes in order to keep a restaurant clean and to ensure that the food is always safe to eat. There is wide choice of green chemical supplies available for restaurants. These include steam cleaners, stain cleaners, carpet cleaners, tile and flooring cleaners, disinfectants, deodorizers and more.
Here are some most practical green chemical solutions for your cleaning needs within the restaurant:
• Tile and grout cleaners – Most bacteria thrive on surfaces that are exposed to humidity. The humid environment allows them to breed fast and spread to other things like food and cooking materials. Getting green tile and grout cleaners make sure that they break down the impurities and make it easy to wash and clean them away.
• Carpet cleaners – For the restaurants that have carpeted floors and surfaces, it’s a nightmare to constantly vacuum each day. One should remember that vacuuming the dirt away is not an assurance that nothing is left down there. Vacuuming should be accompanied by green carpet cleaners that have ingredients which lock in dirt, crystallize them and make them ready to be vacuumed away completely. All this is done without leaving any toxic cleaning residue behind.
• Degreasers – Grease can create a nasty cleaning problem. Often times, the chemicals used to breakdown grease chemical bonds contain very strong toxic materials. While these chemicals do a wonderful job of removing grease, they often leave behind toxic residue that can end up contaminating food. Thanks to green degreasers now oil, wax, silicones, etc. are easily removed all the while not leaving behind any toxic byproducts.
• Hard surface cleaners and disinfectants – The fast-acting ingredients in green cleaners and disinfectants break through tough dirt, grime, and stains; all are easily broken down and at that point can be simply wiped away. The roughest cleaning jobs are now answered by green chemical solutions as their ingredients repel one another, thus assuring that nothing is left on the surface, and one round of cleaning is enough to get the job done.
Green chemicals are the very best choice in ensuring a clean toxic free environment. Trusted Green chemical suppliers assure that your money is not going to waste; green chemicals are as effective as commercial cleaners, often times performing even better!
Restaurants value their customers’ health and satisfaction. Cleaning and sanitizing is of constant concern. Safe, effective, and powerful – choosing to go green is the right choice to make not just for your business, your customers’ and staff’s health, but also a better choice in protecting the environment.
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Zone Cleaning In Restaurants
February 07, 2011 @ 12:14:37 AM EST
The food industry imposes strict guidelines when it comes to cleanliness through out all areas of a food establishment. Restaurants must give special attention to ensure that everything is not only clean but properly sanitized as well. Whether it is your restrooms, sink areas, or counter tops, cleaning and ensuring all areas are bacteria-free diminishes the risk of illnesses or other health concerns in your establishment. Zone cleaning is a cleaning practice that seeks to ensure all areas of your restaurant are not only being cleaned properly, but being done in such a way that it works to reduce the risk of cross-contamination through out the restaurant.
The core principal of zone cleaning is as it sounds the division of your restaurant in to small manageable zones. Each zone is then assigned to a particular group of employees. Each zone as assigned has its own set of cleaning materials and supplies. Each zone is expected to adhere to a specific cleaning schedule. The majority of restaurants employ some form of zone cleaning as it is the most effective way to organize a group of people to a single task. The most common break down of zones and assignments are as follows:
• The Kitchen: This zone includes the cleaning of all cooking appliances and kitchen surfaces. Removal of all kitchen waste as well as cleaning the grease trap also falls under this zone. Most commonly this responsibility falls on the kitchen staff.
• Dining Room: This zone includes all the cleaning responsibilities of the dinning room area. From floors, to tables, to windows, this responsibility is traditionally that of the wait staff. Also, included in this zone when applicable is the server beverage station.
• Restrooms: This zone while being one of the most important is often one of the most overlooked. As most restaurants do not employ restroom attendants, there are not any employees who work directly with the restroom on a day to day basis. The old adage out of sight out of mind can not apply here. The responsibility to maintain the cleanliness of all restrooms throughout the facility generally falls on the support staff, such as bus boys, runners, and hostesses. While it is not a job that anyone particularly wants, it is a job that must be attended to.
Another important element when creating a zone cleaning structure is the implementation of assigned cleaning stations. For each zone there must be independent cleaning supplies. This simple aspect of zone cleaning will serve to greatly reduce the possibility of cross contamination through out the restaurant.
Zone cleaning is a simple practice that helps to ensure the cleaning standards of your restaurant are being met. It gives organization to basic cleaning necessities and creates accountability for specific areas within your restaurant. Zone cleaning is just one of the many cleaning practices that will help to ensure the health and safety of not only your guests, but your employees as well.
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All About Employee Shoes
January 30, 2011 @ 10:12:36 PM EST
Hello Folks,
It's been a few weeks since my last post and certainly apologize for the distraction. However, I am back at it, I think, and have a few short articles I would like to share with you this week. I started to discuss Greasy Floors and continued the theme with an article on Proper Mat Choices in December. I would like to touch on a topic of shoes in the food service workplace to put an additional touch on this very important part of the industry.

Choosing the right footwear for any occasion is as essential as deciding on whether you want to go to work or what breakfast you want to have. Every product is made for a special purpose and is designed to help you as a customer improve and maintain your performance well. When we talk about restaurant employees and proper footwear, what is the best option to pursue? Is anything flat and made out of rubber good enough for the staff to perform safely at their best?
People have taken correct footwear for granted for far too long. Ensuring the use of proper footwear will help prevent the risk of slips and falls, especially in the food service industry. The article on reducing slips and falls points out a huge number of people every year are brought to hospitals in need of treatment due to preventable slip and fall injuries.
The best shoes for employees are ones with soles made of non-slip materials. These include chef shoes, chef clogs, slip resistant footwear, best shoes for standing, and even restaurant safety shoes. These shoes are manufactured specifically with the functions of the wearer in mind.
What would are the best non-slip shoes for your employees? If they include these, then you’re making the right choice:
• Heel and Sole Material – The material used in the heel and sole of the shoe is important; this is main factor in determining how slip-resistant the shoe will be. Pliable and softer material has the tendency to grip tighter on to a surface rather than harder and heavier rubber materials.
• Tread Patterns – Shoes that have tread patterns going towards the direction of movement are not advised. Tread patterns need to be against the direction of movement this will help stop slips from occurring by providing more stability for the wearer.
• Closed and Enclosed Areas – All though slips and falls are the main concern in regards to foot wear, other factors do come in to play. Depending on the role of a particular employee, some shoes may need to be closed or enclosed. Usually, it is best to choose footwear that doesn’t hold liquid in. When water or other liquids are trapped in a shoe this can lead to cross contamination through out the restaurant.
• Dry and Wet Tests – Test if the shoes are able to perform well on both dry and wet situations. There is no better way to be certain about a specific type of shoe than by trying it out in various conditions.
Finding the right shoes for your employees will greatly reduces the risk of slip and fall incidents. Match it with correct (flooring materials) and (proper cleaning practices), and your risk of accidents will be greatly reduced. What is even more appealing is a lot of suppliers now provide stylish designs to meet the needs of restaurants owners and operators who want the look of sophistication all the while maintaining a safe and effective environment.
If you are a restaurant operator or distributor sales rep. click here to subscribe to this blog and you will be eligible for our free gift giveaway.

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Restaurant Decorating Tips
December 29, 2010 @ 11:11:43 PM EST
In choosing to dine at a restaurant establishment a pleasant and unique dining experience is something everyone looks forward to. Customers will often give a pre-dining judgment the moment they see the façade of your place. As they enter, they notice your establishments flooring and the decor that accents your walls. As they are led to their table and proceed to sit down, they will be taking note of the feel and comfort of their chairs. Centerpieces or candles are gazed upon; tablecloths and runners are examined. Your china or dinnerware catches their eye; they notice how fine the stem of the wineglass is. Your guests look around and become aware of the wallpaper or the chosen painted color scheme of your walls. They will soon be ordering their food and enjoying the music that fills the air. Providing a unique and enjoyable ambience serves to better ones dining experience and must be carefully planned out.
It is important to decorate your restaurant in a way that it is attractive and very appealing to your guests. It should evoke positive energy; exciting them with the feel and theme of your restaurant.
Restaurant Decorating is a big factor in setting the mood of a restaurant. Dining is something that must be relaxing and fulfilling. Tie together your interior decorations with planned themes. Choose a theme that connects all the pieces together – lighting, dinnerware, flooring and carpets, flower arrangements, etc.

Here are some Easy Restaurant Design Tips that will help raise your restaurant’s spirits and provide a great look and feel to your establishment:
• Exterior Look
Before even walking through the door, a customer’s attention will surely be caught when he or she sees how elegant, captivating, or striking your façade is. Take care to provide exceptional landscaping outside when possible. Give your guest a great first impression that will make them want to enter your restaurant at once.
• Paint
It can be hard to choose the most flattering paint for your walls. With so many colors and shades to choose from, it can be difficult to make the perfect choice. To help you with this dilemma, go back and reflect on your chosen theme. Does your theme require a warm or a cool shade? Will your theme demand prints for a bolder look or floral wallpaper for a more feminine feel?
• Lighting
Proper lighting illuminates the whole restaurant setting. It can brighten up dark areas and can provide ample light to each and every dining table. Lighting sets the mood, it provides depth to your guest dining experience. There are countless lighting options available, with this in mind, choose lighting that will compliment your intended theme.
• Artwork
Artwork provides a sophisticated and aesthetic touch to your restaurant. With a solid theme in mind chose art pieces that will support your overall decorating plan.
Great food and service is simply not enough. When planning out your restaurant theme it is important to create a wonderful and unique environment that will become planted in your guest memory and contribute to a superb dining event. Not only should restaurant owners feed the taste of their guest mouths, but also their taste in dining style.
If you are a restaurant operator or distributor sales rep. click here to subscribe to this blog and you will be eligible for our free gift giveaway just for subscribing!
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Recycling In Restaurants
December 29, 2010 @ 11:04:40 PM EST
No matter what industry you’re in, you can make a difference by recycling. Recycling serves to help protect the environment not only for our future, but for future generation’s to come. The restaurant industry has warmly embraced this belief and is now generally very keen on taking steps toward responsible waste management. Creating a restaurant recycling program from your establishment is not only the responsible thing to do; it is a great way to cut waste disposal costs.
Statistically, restaurant waste is 76% organic and can be recycled. In fact, the Department of Public Works / Bureau of Sanitation shows us through Restaurant Food Waste Recycling that material can be turned into compost and nearly five trucks of waste can be eliminated each year. That translates to significant reduction in waste disposal costs for your restaurant.
When it comes to Waste Reduction and Recycling the easiest and least expensive product to recycle is paper. With this I mind, there are many paper products that can easily replace some of the most common disposable product purchases.
• Restaurants tend to spend a lot on paper towels and other paper products. Though we can’t escape the need, we can purchase products that are made of recycled paper materials. These products often cost less and have far less of an impact on the environment.
• Paper vs. Styrofoam: Paper containers serve the same purpose as Styrofoam. Styrofoam however, is notorious for its harmful effects to people’s health and the environment. Paper packaging can easily be recycled and will cost far less to dispose of.
• If your restaurant serves cocktail drinks that make use of solid stirrer, try using straw-style stir sticks which contain less plastic and cost less.
• When it comes to paper towel dispensers for your guest there are many cost effective choices. Automatic paper towel dispensers will dispense a limited amount of paper towels to your guests. This will save on paper towel costs all the while reducing your restaurants waste.
• Unfortunately, accidents happen quite often in the restaurant industry. Discarding of broken glass and dinnerware can be quite costly. Rather than throwing glass or ceramics away, why not recycle it or sell it. Glass is easily recycled and when it comes to ceramics, people often recycle china to produce mosaic art, jewelry, and decorative pieces. With a little research you are almost certain to find a company willing to purchase your broken dinnerware from you.
Recycling in restaurants is easy and beneficial to the environment. Engage your crew in recycling drives and learn how to dispose your waste correctly. You are not only helping the environment but you are helping yourself as well. Cost efficient and environmentally conscious; what a wonderful combination.
If you are a restaurant operator or distributor sales rep. click here to subscribe to this blog and you will be eligible for our free gift giveaway just for subscribing!
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Researchers seek better E. coli testing methods |
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Even as legislative efforts to improve the safety of the nation’s food supply remain stalled in Congress, scientists are seeking better detection methods for deadly pathogens that could help restaurant operators better ensure the safety of their menu items. |
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Hatching a safety plan |
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When the news first hit in mid-August that eggs were being recalled because of possible salmonella contamination, Peggy Bevan of The Egg Shell restaurant near Denver decided not to take any chances. Not sure whether the eggs she had in stock were affected, she threw them all out—90 dozen, along with the pancake batter and other mixes that had already been prepared using eggs. |
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NRA focuses efforts on high-risk customers |
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As concern over children’s health grows, restaurateurs are fielding more special requests from parents and children about customized menu options, greater variety in kids’ meals and food safety. |
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Several Subways linked in salmonella outbreak |
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Subway is working with public health agencies investigating a salmonella outbreak involving units of the chain in 22 counties in Illinois, the state's Department of Public Health said Thursday. |
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Alfalfa sprouts recalled over salmonella concerns |
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Raw alfalfa sprouts sold to foodservice and retail are being voluntarily recalled by Caldwell Fresh Foods because of “links” to a 10-state outbreak of Salmonella Newport illness, the Food and Drug Administration said. |
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