Best Kitchen Appliances

In planning the layout of your restaurant, one good place to start is with any franchise restaurant. These establishments spend a lot of time, and a money, and resources determining the most profitable ways to set up and run their restaurants. Using their layout suggestions in your sample restaurant floor plans is an excellent place to start. There are certain ways that the restaurant floor plan can be most optimized for drive through and for dine in traffic, and ways that the kitchen area floor plan can be used to maximum benefit. Some restaurants benefit from having their dine in areas strictly controlled, by using crowd control lines and the like, to restrict access by customers to the order and pick up areas. These are the kinds of restaurants that usually have at least one set of doors on each side, and a solid store front. These places are able to have many different kinds of seating configurations, benches, tables, and booths. Other restaurants are able to encoura...

Are your parents safe living at home? Are they mentally pretty clear, but beginning to have physical or judgment deficits which might impact their safety? Does your elderly parent have the judgment to safely handle a knife in the kitchen? Do you worry that Mom may fall down and not be able to get to the phone? According to The National Safety Council, falls are now the leading cause of injury deaths in people 65 years of age and older. Fall risk is just one of several safety issues specific to the kitchen. In this article, I will show you how to identify and reduce these hazards, keeping your elderly loved ones safer. Floors and floor coverings : Some floor cleaning solutions and floor wax leave the surface very slippery and should not be used. Throw rugs should be attached to the floor with double sided tape. If a cane or walker is used, throw rugs should be eliminated altogether. Lighting : Light switches need to be within easy reach. There should not be...

By Alice Lane While most of us love eating, few of us would ever think of making a career of it. Running a restaurant-or even just working in food service usually means long hours of slaving over a hot stove, chopping ingredients at a furious pace, and having the pressure of satisfying finicky customers on a nightly basis. With all that, you certainly deserve the status that a chef shirt brings with it, but is it worth it? Some would say no. They love going out to a restaurant because they get to eat wonderful, nutritious food without the hassle of preparation or cleanup. It's convenient and can be a great value. Others are passionate about the creation of the perfect meal. For those folks, if they can make a living out of doing something they love, why not? The why not comes with the trail of carnage that failed restaurants have left over the years. The restaurant business is a hard business with lots of competition. Knowing how to make great food is not enough. You...

By Brenda Hill and Maralyn When we're back in historic Jacksonville, Oregon, we will head straight to the Nunan Estate, a short walk from the town center. Then we will spend a t least a week enjoying the charming village, the many fine restaurants and a winery that captured our old fashioned hearts. Chef Tim Keller impressed the Hill Team, as well as the many travel writers who devoured Tim's amazingly delectable duck. Chef Keller, is one of the finest chefs from Northern California, now a rising star in Southern Oregon. I arrived early to the Nunan Estate, built in 1892, which has a story and history of its own.I began my journey along Oregon's wine trail with a local sip featured at the Nunan House newly opened Carriage House. As one of their first carriage House customers, I sat at the eye-popping, back lit golden onyx bar, and had a classic martini, straight up, icy cold, just perfect for an 80 degree day in October. Next time I will indulge in their sign...

By Nejla Turner Last week I was invited to review Topaz, a favorite restaurant haunt of Turkish businessmen, looking to entertain foreign associates; the elegant paired down interior design and the cleverly constructed menu that caters both to the more conservative Turkish customer with up to date versions of Ottoman classics and his/her more bold international counterpart with adventurous, playful and very modern creations built around the very best Mediterranean ingredients; everything at Topaz is beautifully geared towards providing flexible fine dining for the perfect business lunch. When I first visited Istanbul seven years ago; long before I made the move from London four years ago, a Turkish friend showed me several bars and restaurants that gave me an instant impression of Istanbul as an interesting stylish metropolis; the one thing that all of these places had in common was the Bosphorous view. When I went back to London recently the Thames looked so small and ...

Television these days is full of cooking shows. On channels like the Food Network, it is all cooking, all the time. This trend has bred a new kind of celebrity - the celebrity chef - and the popularity of cooking shows is at a fever pitch because of it. These celebrity chefs have helped create a renewed interest and focus on cooking and the kitchen, and people everywhere are scrambling to buy their branded cookware and remodel their kitchens to more closely resemble the professional kitchens of those celebrity chefs on TV. And why not? Those kitchens on TV are GREAT! But in actual practice, it is not always practical to have a huge professional range or a walk-in freezer in your 2 bedroom ranch house or 3rd floor walk-up. The good news is that you can find a happy medium that lets you get in on the action without creating a full scale restaurant grade kitchen in your own home. Enter the "prosumer" kitchen. The name "prosumer" is a combination of ...

A customer would like some extra salsa for his burrito. The server diligently goes to the kitchen and returns with a "monkey dish" (51/4 oz.) side of salsa. If you have stationed yourself as a trash picker for the day, you will see half of the salsa come back ready to be thrown away. This process is repeated consistently throughout the day with mayonnaise, sauces, butter, pickles and a dozen other customer requests. The waste is common and easily cured. If the server were trained to use a 2 ounce ramekin instead of the bowl twice that size, think how much you would have added to your bottom line in one day. Don't forget about the labor it takes to prepare the various condiments. The refrigeration space for the discarded extra products and energy for storage and equipment used. According to a highly regarded hospitality website, restaurants have a waste factor of 2 to 4 percent of unneeded or unwanted food and condiments regularly returned on plates. That is...

By Joshua Poyoh We all want to stay healthy and healthy eating is what the doctors encourage us to do. Not everyone will like to switch to a diet that is mainly based on fruits and vegetables when they have been consuming lots of fats and calories. One of the main concerns is that the food will be tasteless and plain. In comes the George Foreman grill to the rescue. This cooking appliance can assist you to cook tasty meals that you can think of. Many years ago when it was first in the market, there seems to be a craze over it. Just because a former heavyweight boxing champ had his name on it, does it means it is good? However many people believe it and soon every house has a set of George Foreman grill. When people started using them for cooking non oil laden food with great results, the George Foreman grill gradually became in style. Perhaps one of the most attractive features of this tool is the ease of using it. Many people savor the taste of grilled food but they d...

As obesity continues to rise alarmingly, it places extreme pressure on our health systems and medical facilities. In the United States alone nearly two-thirds of adults are now classed as being overweight and half of these (more than 72 million people) are considered obese. Obesity, once a disease of old age and high living is now affecting younger and younger slices of the population. For the first time in history we could see a whole generation of children develop diseases at an earlier rate when they become adults. The reasons for this rise in obesity are many and varied but center largely on the fact that many people are now less active than they used to be, preferring to sit in front of the television and watch sport rather than participate in it. Of course, one of the other major reasons is the availability of a huge variety of fast and convenient foods containing high levels of saturated fats, salt, sugar and cholesterol. This means that the we are not burning off...

By David T Smith You might be wondering why anyone would need an extension cord for an appliance meant to be used solely in the kitchen. Most people who own George Foreman grills probably would not even think of needing an extension cord for their grill. However, there are situations where an extension cord for George Foreman grill users are a necessity. Keep in mind, though, that the manufacturer does not suggest or condone using an extension cord for George Foreman grill products and even has a warning in the owner's manual advising against the use of an extension cord. That being said, an argument for the use of an extension cord for George Foreman grill models that seem to be tailor made for outdoor use, such as the indoor/outdoor grill that comes with a stand, can easily be made. This grill can be used on its stand or can be placed on a cart or table. While this grill is meant to be very convenient, some people who own this grill have complained about the length...

Cooking pasta at home usually means opening a box or bag of dried pasta, dumping it into some boiling water and waiting for up to 10 minutes. Why would anyone want to change this simple meal process and do it all by hand? For several reasons actually. First in my mind is the taste. Nothing comes close to the almost melt in your mouth experience you get from homemade fresh pasta. The texture, taste and sauce combine to really elevate your dining experience, all because you took a few minutes to make it yourself. Pasta doesn't have to be tasteless anymore. The second reason is you can control what goes into your pasta. Do you love the taste of sun dried tomatoes or pesto or basil, well, you can add that into your own pasta as you make it. Want to use all organic ingredients? You can use organic semolina flour. You can even make your own blends of flours to use and experiment. For example, you could add some whole grain flour to increase the fiber content of the dough t...

By James McDonald Do you know anyone who views barbeque grilling as one of their passions in life? You know the types I'm talking about, someone who buys a new grill each year with all the bells and whistles. I am actually almost one of those guys. While I don't buy a brand new state of the art grill each year, I do own a George Foreman indoor outdoor grill. There are a couple things I like about this Foreman grill. For starters, it is very simple to use and easy to move around. It's very light and can be quickly converted for both indoor and outdoor use depending on the circumstances. When the weather is bad, just move it inside for your cooking. When outdoors it sits on a pedestal, but the grill can be taken off that and placed on a tabletop for convenience. And like other George Foreman grills it is electric so there is no mess to clean up when you are done. Another plus in my book is the fact that it has a grate that slopes away from the food, to allow t...

When the first George Foreman grill came out, people were skeptical. A fighter who could cook? What did he know about grilling? But there he was, cooking up a storm on television. Since those first days, the basic George Foreman grill has come a long way and has expanded into an entire line of not just grills, but a complete set of accessories to go with it! The results are amazing, and now the words George Foreman grill, are on everyone's lips. The George Foreman grill line has become known for its healthy aspect, with grills specially designed to reduce the amount of fat used in cooking. They come in outdoor as well as indoor models, and have basically changed the face of grilling! Featuring non-stick surfaces, the grills require no extra grease for cooking and the best feature is that every George Foreman grill is designed for "run-off" so that the fat cooking out of the burger or steak you are grilling, just runs right out of the grill instead of soaki...

By Judy Simpson According to a George Foreman electric grill review by one site reviewer, grilling can't be any easier than with this barbecue grill. All you have to do to use the George Foreman electric grill, according to this review, is just plug it in and wait ten minutes for its surface to heat up. This electric grill's range has a heat adjustor that lets you set it low to keep food warm all the way up to high to sear steaks. The surface of this grill is non-stick, so not only do you not have to add any nonstick spray or grease but cleaning is quick and easy. This George Foreman electric grill review also points out the advantages of its subtle sloping, which draw the fat or other disposable liquids into the tray below. The dome is high and the lid vented, both helping to create a circular hot air flow. This gives the grill the added benefit of providing even cooking. This, according to the George Foreman electric grill reviewer, is especially important when...

By Ben Nunzio George Foreman's grills have actually been around for many years, and the product line just keeps expanding. The most recent addition to the George Foreman grill family is the NEW George Foreman Electric Grill, model G5, GRP90WGR. It is an excellent grill to own, simply because it is one of the most versatile BBQ grills to ever hit the market. Its large 84 square inch cooking surface, makes cooking for a large family an absolute breeze. The On/Off button is in just the right place, for easy access. The Power and ready light, is easy to see, so you know when your grill is on and ready for some cooking action! The special Tilt feature, enable the nasty grease to run away from your food, and off of the BBQ grilling surface, right into the handy grease drip tray, for easy disposal. The 1 inch floating hinge, allows for cooking extra thick steaks and chops. The 5 interchangeable grill plates with exclusive triple non-stick coating make cleanup simple and e...

By Helen Zee If you happen to love being in the kitchen, finding the right appliances is a definite must. Finding the best mixer is more than likely your first priority when searching. You must first decide what type of mixer you want to have. The choice between a handheld or a stand mixer is yours. Make your choice wisely and search around before buying. I do want to point out that mixers and blenders are two different types of appliances and should not be confused. Blenders are used to cut up, blend, and liquefy food and drink items with the help of a sturdy, sharp blade. Mixers on the other hand do not use a blade at all instead use a variety of mixing tools depending on which you decide to purchase. Handhelds are used more in kitchens that are small and have little counter space. They are also much cheaper than the stand mixers, which makes that a definite plus for those who are on a budget. Uses usually have to do with beating cake mixes, eggs or even mixing mash p...

By James McDonald Many people have everything they need to grill a terrific meal right in their own kitchen. Most of the time the food can be prepared using your standard oven and maybe a microwave for convenience. This is standard equipment for most homes and has traditionally been quite effective for many meals. When the weather gets warm it is easy to just fire up the outdoor gas grill and cookout on that. There is, however, a newer breed of grill that can be used all year round. One example of these grills is the George Foreman indoor/outdoor model. If you have ever used any Foreman grills you will note how great the meat tastes, especially since they are known for removing excess fat from it. The George Foreman indoor outdoor grill has some pretty distinct advantages over your normal kitchen oven. When used indoors you get the great flavor that an outdoor grill provides. Plus you can wheel it outdoors when the weather is nice. Think of it as two grills in one. Like ...

By David T Smith There are some places where you just can't grill with a conventional gas or charcoal grill and there are some people who just can't go without grilling. For those people in those places and for special circumstances, you can use an electric grill. While the result may not be the barbeque you are used to, an electric grill is a perfect solution when conventional grills won't work. If you are using a George Foreman grill, extension cord usage is okay, although not suggested by the manufacturer. Living in an apartment or in a condo where firing up a grill is prohibited can be unavoidable for some but it does not have to be the end of grilling altogether. Yes, there is a bit of a sacrifice in flavor and appearance, but for some, even sub-par grilling is better than not grilling at all. For those with a George Foreman Grill, extension cord and a steak or two, barbeque for dinner is possible. There is a full size model grill in the George Foreman ...

By Bob Schmitt George Foreman grills offer quality and convenience in indoor and outdoor cooking. It all started with a small, simple indoor grill. Now, there are several choices in this category. All you need to do is think about how you will use your grill. If you will only grill for yourself, or maybe yourself and one other person, you will not need a large grill. You can cook those intimate dinners on an indoor grill with 36 square inches of cooking surface. The George Foreman Champ Indoor Grill offers this perfect size for your personal meals. Whether you are grilling hamburgers or a plate of vegetables, you will appreciate the nonstick surface and the included grease tray. While the Champ George Foreman Grill is a contact grill, the company also makes a grill that is specifically labeled the George Foreman Contemporary Contact Grill. Besides having floating hinges and 120 square inches of cooking space, this grill comes in a sleek black design to complement any ki...

A few weeks ago I was researching the KitchenAid stand mixer and I came across a blog post by someone that I thought was not the best advice. The blog post was all about making pancakes with your mixer (or any stand mixer really). Now the recipe was probably pretty good but the process is what was flawed in my opinion. For me pancakes are all about being soft and light and fluffy. They should not be dense or chewy or gummy in any way. If I wanted that, I could make a trip to one of those all night breakfast joints and get a stack of hockey puck flap jacks. No, for me pancakes need to be handled with care and attention. The reason is gluten. Now for a bit of food science. Gluten is a protein, actually it is a composition of 2 proteins named gliadin and glutenin. When water is added to wheat flour and then mechanically mixed, gluten forms. And it is this wonderful gluten that gives bread dough and pasta their chewy and elastic characteristics. But since the gluten content...

What a fantastic machine. These were the first words that came out of my mouth when I got the chance to test drive the Keurig B70 Single Cup Brewer. Let me take you through the process of my realization. The good folks of Green Mountain Coffee contacted me in helping them review this machine. First I was a little reluctant, but what the heck I decided to give it a try. After all, this brewer is not like your normal drip coffee maker that you can purchase at any Wal-Mart or Best Buy. After getting past that after thought, four days later I had the machine in my procession and the wonderful single serving coffee, coco and tea packets. The brewer came in a well-packaged box and I had no problems setting up the brewer for my first cup of coffee. I was a little skeptical of having a machine that only brews one cup of coffee, tea or coco at a time. I guess because I have only owned drip coffee makers in my lifetime - never a machine that was so specialized. But I found it to ...