Farmers Market Tips

One of the greatest things about summer is the ability to go to farmers markets every weekend. You get to skip the grocery store and go straight to the farmer who can give you the freshest produce possible. They can help you find the ripest fruit, teach you tips on how to pick one item over another, and tell you how long it should keep. It's personalized service! At Public Kitchen Supply, we know that to use our kitchen smallwares, you have to start with great ingredients.

Personalized service isn't the only benefit of a farmers market though, it's also healthier for you, not to mention it's helping your local farmers. Fresh produce can have such a richer flavor than store bought produce, it's incredibly hard to pass up.

Don't expect to just find fruit and veggies at a farmers market either, some vendors bring baked goods like homemade breads, biscuits, or cookies.  Now, the basics of farmers market shopping. Get there early! The earlier you are, the better selection you have to pick from. Here's the way it works: most farmers will bring a batch of goods and once they're gone, they'll pack up and leave. If you come later in the day, half the sellers may have already come and gone. Find out what time your local farmers market opens and get there close to opening. Not so early that people are still setting up, but not so late that you miss the goods. Also remember to bring cash and your own bags. In this day and age, we're used to people providing us bags and taking debit cards. Do not expect that of a farmers market. You might end up having to take multiple trips back to the car if you forget bags or might not getting anything at all if you forget cash. To reiterate above, ask questions. Most of the sellers don't mind answering questions about what they're selling. So if you're wondering something, just ask! Also, don't go overboard. Think about what you are actually willing to make throughout the week. You don't want to overbuy and end up wasting the food simply because it looked good. Only buy what you will use for the week. You can always come back next weekend and buy more! And there you have it. The basics of a farmers market from Public Kitchen Supply. It's a great way to enjoy the weather, get the freshest produce available, and have great meals all week long.

Touch Free Restrooms: the New Restaurant Trend

Did you know that a dirty restroom affects the way people perceive a restaurant's cleanliness? In fact, approximately one-third of people will never go back to a restaurant that has a dirty restroom, as discussed in this article from UPI.com. A survey claims this impressive fact; however, at Public Kitchen Supply, we do have a solution for this problem.
The solution is simple. Eliminate the transfer of germs or waste. With ever-changing technology, more and more of our appliances are becoming automated. Only just a few years ago we were amazed/shocked by automatic toilets. We love them, when they work; have hated them when they flush unprovoked, but all-in-all have learned to accept them as the new norm. Now, if you go into a public restroom you assume it'll flush for you, eliminating having to touch the germ-ridden handle.	Rubbermaid - Auto Flush
San Jamar - Chef Revival  Paper Towel Dispenser	It's no wonder that since then, more restaurants are turning their entire restroom into a touch-free haven. It's becoming easier to do this with the amount of touch-free restroom supplies being offered. You can choose to have your toilet flush automatically, your sink water turn on and off for you, the soap dispense automatically into your hand. Then, you can dry your hands with a paper towel dispenser that senses when you need a piece. All that remains left to be turned automatic is the toilet paper dispensers and doors.
Switching from the traditional manual appliances to touchless restroom supplies is a great way to keep your restaurant feeling clean. The less your customer has to touch, the more clean they feel, and the more clean they'll perceive your restaurant to be. It all goes hand-in-hand. If you're willing to spend a bit more to turn your restaurant restroom into an up-to-date automatic restroom, then they'll know you're serious about hygiene. The hygiene of your restroom translates back to the hygiene of your kitchen. Logically, there's a good chance you'll put into effect the same ways to eliminate cross-contamination of food and germs where the food is being made as you did in your restroom.	Chemco - Touchless Dispenser  for Hand Sanitizer
Whether you've already got touch-free appliances in your restaurant bathrooms and need to replace them, or you're ready to update, Public Kitchen Supply wants to help you. We know it can be tough and that's why we've got a selection of automatic restroom supplies on sale right now like our Auto Faucets and Hand Dryers.

Rubbermaid - Milano Auto Faucet	World Dryer - Auto Hand Dryer	Rubbermaid - Foot Step Trash Container

How to: Pick and Cut a Pineapple

With each new summer, people wonder how to cut a pineapple correctly, and the truth is - there's no wrong or right way. There is an easy way, however, and we’ll walk you through it step-by-step.
Step One: Pick Your Pineapple –
Smell. Your nose is the most important tool here. When you pick a ripe pineapple it should, in fact, smell like a pineapple. It should have that sweet smell if it’s ready. The best place to smell for this is at the bottom of the fruit.
There are a few other tricks for picking the ripest pineapple, but smelling it is the tried and true method that most people swear by.
Step Two: Prepare Your Pineapple –
It’s highly suggested that, just like any other fruit, you wash your pineapple first with either warm water or with a fruit cleansing spray that you can find in your local grocery store. Though you don’t eat the outside of a pineapple, when you cut through the outside rind, any contaminates can be transferred into the pineapple itself, contaminating the fruit.
Once you’re done washing, pick your knife. We suggest a sharp and durable blade such as a Chef's Knife or a Cook’s Knife. The thicker blade of either of these two knives allow you to cut through more of the large fruit than a tiny steak knife or paring knife. You can find a great selection of knifes to select from in our cutlery category.
Step Three: Start Cutting –
The best way to begin cutting your pineapple is to slice off the top part of the pineapple, with the leaves, and then the bottom part. Slice as close to the rind as you possibly can to preserve more of the fruit.
Next, you’ll want to cut off the sides of the pineapple. This is best done by standing the fruit up and simply slicing down longways along the sides. It will probably take you about five passes to get all the sides off.
You’re almost done! Next you’ll want to slice your pineapple into rings. This helps you get the core out faster. Now that you've got your slices, grab a paring knife to cut out the core. Stack a few rings at a time to do this. Once the core is out, either keep it in rings or turn your rings into pineapple pieces by dicing it. For this, continue to use your Cook’s Knife or Chef’s Knife.
Voila! You’re done. It’s much simpler than people think especially with Public Kitchen Supply’s wide selection of high-quality cutlery to make the slicing go faster. If you’re looking for more than just the tools we've used here, simply visit Public Kitchen Supply on the web www.PublicKitchenSupply.com.

Tips & Tools for Summer Grilling

It’s the first day of summer which can only mean one thing… it’s time to start up your grill. Whether it’s inside your restaurant or a large backyard grill at your home residence, summertime is the time to have grill marks on your food.
While we, at Public Kitchen Supply, are sure you know all about grill safety and how to ensure your meat is ready for the grill. We’d still like to offer you a few tips on how to get ready for some proper grilling this summer season.
	First and foremost, clean your grill. Each and every time! You wouldn't continue to use a fry pan or a dinner plate without cleaning it between uses, so why would you do the same with a grill. One of the greatest kitchen tools for cleaning a grill would be a grill scraper, like our Update International - 4” Wood Handle Scraper.
Once you've cleaned your grill, make sure you have everything ready before you turn it on. Do you have your apron, turners, and tongs? Are they all ready and within reach for when you need them? Once you start cooking you don’t want to have to worry about searching through your kitchen drawers trying to find everything you need.
It’s a rule with grilling, just as it is with any cooking: a grill, like a pan, and the food needs time to warm up before you begin to cook. Both gas and charcoal grills need to be preheated before cooking. It makes your food cook more evenly, making everyone happy.
Those are just a few tips to get you started this grilling season, and as always, if you need any cooking utensils to start your grilling season, consider shopping with Public Kitchen Supply. We have everything from your aprons to your large cooking equipment like charbroilers!

Blendtec Commercial Blenders

Shop Public Kitchen's Supply's stock of Commercial Quality Blenders from Blendtec. A restaurant is not complete without a commercial blender as it can prepare more than just a smoothie. You'll also get the benefit of being able to make sauces, blended drinks, dips and much more! Our bestselling item from Blendtec is the Stealth Blender with both Twister and Wildside Jars. Choosing this package gives you two jars, three lids, and a spatula with the blender itself at a fantastic sale price. The tagline of "World's Quietest Commercial Blender" should demonstrate Blendtec's confidence in how great of blender this truly is. 

Blendtec® - Stealth Blender (Twister/ Wildside)

Regular Price: $1,370.00 On Sale For: $1,181.66  SKU: P6430 "World's Quietest Commercial Blender" This Stealth™ blender package includes a 3Qt WildSide™ jar (soft lid, 4” wingtip blade, BPA-free Tritan™ container) and a 1Qt Twister™ jar (custom spatula, scraper lid, gripper lid, 3” wingtip blade, BPA-free Tritan™ container). Both jars are great for a variety of uses. This package allows you more versatility with the two jars and 42 pre-programmed blend cycles, capacitive-touch controls with 6 programmable buttons, pulse and manual speed slider. 3.8 peak HP, 15 amp/1800 watt direct drive motor, 120V/50/60/1-ph, ETL. Includes: 3 year warranty parts and labor, Service Plus™ NSF Listed Features Model: STEALTHWST-CQB1 (900000) Dimensions: 8.6"W x 17.3"H x 9.0"D Spec Sheet: STEALTHWS-CQB1

Blendtec Home and Commercial Blenders

Blendtec's powerful blenders have revolutionized the home- and commercial-blender market. As seen in the popular Will It Blend? videos, Blendtec blenders are capable of blending everything from golf balls to iPhones, making them more than capable of handling ice and other tough foodstuff. Blendtec's innovations include programmable blend cycles and powerful in-counter motors. Blendtec blenders, dispensers, and mixers can be found in restaurants, juice bars, parlors, and gyms all over the world.

Blendtec Stealth Blender

What can't this blender do? This is the Ultimate package of Powerful and Quiet. Before you had to choose, do I want a more powerful blender that sounds like a chainsaw, or do I want a quieter blender that blends like a pencil sharpener. Well Blendtec has been using their R&D department very well and have come out with the new Blendtec Stealth Blender!

The basics of this blender are the sound enclosure and the design of the new touch pad controls. That's right, no more buttons or knobs, everything is touch pad sensitive. The sound enclosure is locked down tight with rubber housings all around the sound shield and even around the base by the motor. This blender is truly the quietest blender on the market.

The Blendtec Stealth has a 15 amp motor and is a whopping 1800 Watts. The touch pad controls are illuminated for dark areas, and the touch slider is changeable for a more manual control. There is a USB interface for uploading and downloading cycles available online. Thats right you can go online and find awesome pre programmed cycles for even more amazing results. So far the Blendtec Stealth has been deemed the quietest commercial blender in the world and is compatible with all of Blendtec jars. The Blender is programmable for up to 36 custom made blend cycles.

Blendtec Stealth Blender Commercial Quiet Blender Features:

• Blendtec Stealth Powerful 15-amp direct-drive blender motor
• 1800 Watts
• Illuminated capacitive-touch control surface
• Touch slider for fine-tuned manual control
• Blendtec Stealth programmable for 6 distinct blend cycles
• Hundreds of downloadable blend cycles available online
• Includes 1-Wildside Blender Jar and 1-Twister Jar
• USB interface for uploading and updating cycle programming
• Quietest commercial blender in the world
• Blendtec Stealth Fully enclosed, easy-to-clean blending station
• Compatible with Blendtec’s patented FourSide™, WildSide™ and Twister™ Jars
• Programmable for up to 36 custom-made blend cycles
• Blendtec Stealth One of the smallest footprints in its class
• Blendtec Stealth has an In-counter installation option available
• Warranty: 3 years parts and labor, no cycle limit
• Blades: Life of jar
• Drive Socket: Life of machine

WEIGHT13.7 lbs

PublicKitchenSupply.com

San Jamar® - Saf-T-Knife™ Station

Have You Tried the....

San Jamar - Saf-T-Knife Station?

The Saf-T-Knife™ Station is a high-quality plastic knife rack from San Jamar designed to hold eight knives and a knife steel / sharpener for easy and quick access in your restaurant kitchen. While there are eight slots for knives, it can fit a variety of knife blade lengths and widths. You'll be able to work with 1/10” blade thickness and 5” wide blades such as a cleaver. The construction is break-resistant plastic in the front and back. The closed container protects knives from contaminants and damage while keeping them sanitary between uses. Clear see-through door makes choosing a knife easy.

Use this closed knife rack verses a magnetic strip to keep your knives and staff safe in the kitchen. Entire station is made up of three pieces that are all easy to disassemble and reassemble to ensure the knives are kept in the cleanest environment as possible. If you have a Saf-T-Knife Station, you are able to purchase replacement parts such as the slotted top and clear view door if they become scratched.

Presenting another innovation from San Jamar

Knives may be the most important prep tool in the kitchen, but if they're not handled and stored properly, knives can pose serious safety and sanitation risks. Saf-T-knife Station from San Jamar, the leader in food safety solutions, provides safe, sanitary, and secure storage for knives.

Magnetic knife racks not only present a hazard to kitchen staff but also leave knives exposed to contamination and damage. Expensive stainless steel knife holders protect knife blades, but are hard to clean and make choosing the right knife a guessing game.

Saf-T-Knife Station offers a clear solution for safe, sanitary, and secure knife storage. Saf-T-Knife’s clear-view door makes it easy for staff to see and select appropriate knives, and confirm that knives are clean, sanitary and ready for use. Saf-T-Knife Station is easy to wall mount, giving staff convenient access to knives while freeing up valuable counter space. Constructed of break-resistant plastic, Saf-T-Knife station is durable, easy to clean, and NSF certified. Clean and sanitized while mounted in place or easily disassemble for dishwasher cleaning.

Saf-T-Knife Station: the clear and affordable solution for safe, sanitary and secure knife storage. 

Features

• Model: STK1008
• Color: Clear/Grey
• Material: Break-resistant plastic
• Dimensions: 15" x 15" x 4 1/4"

Food Safety Needs Labeling System

Did you know? 76% of food allergy deaths occur outside of the home.

With a statistic this high, you ought to wonder what happens outside the home that doesn’t happen in the home. One of the biggest pieces of the puzzle is simply not paying attention. In one’s home, one pays attention to whatever food allergies they or their family member have. They are extra careful when preparing any food that may potentially be harmful.

On the other hand, when you’re out, let’s say at a restaurant, there are a lot of things that can go wrong and cause an allergic person to end up eating an item they are allergic to. They can eat food that has come into contact with their allergy, their allergy was never kept from their food, or they were not told that the specific ingredient was in the food to begin with.

Now here’s a spot that gets even trickier when eating out. If a cook or chef is not trained properly, they may think that it’s okay to simply “remove” an allergy item and then send the dish out. If a person is severely or mildly allergic, this can still highly affect them. Some people are so allergic to some ingredients coming into contact with the item, can potentially be fatal.

What can restaurants do to help fix this issue? Educate and Label. 

Educating your staff regularly about food allergies is important in any type of establishment that serves food to consumers. Everyone on the staff needs to know how to answer food questions, how to suggest food options, and how to prepare food without cross-contamination.

Next, the restaurant needs to learn how to label. By investing in and installing a labeling system in your kitchen you can know immediately what food contains with absolutely no guessing.

While educating your staff is something that we can’t necessarily help with, we can help you with the labeling side of things. At Public Kitchen Supply we offer a wide assortment of labels for food safety. Just browse our label category and you’ll be sure to find something that will meet your needs and keep your restaurant allergy-safe. For more information, browse our selection: http://bit.ly/10wy3Pm