Banquets, Catering, and Special Events NAFEM 2009 Noteworthy Products and Vendors
BOOS TABLES Versatile tables for lobbies and breaks.
John Boos Company’s wooden nesting tables attracted our attention. We thought they looked great for meeting breaks, parties, and lobby use. Jim Borrelli, contract sales manager, described them as made of solid maple with each table being the same width, so you can use them to arrange a uniform and practical three-tiered display. These tables have a residential look with a simple but classic design.
Cres Cor featured an extremely durable yet flexible dolly to accommodate many different sizes of china for today’s everchanging dishware. Adjustable hex rods can be positioned to safely transport and store almost any size and shape dish, platter, or bowl. At 32 inches tall, the dolly conveniently fits under standard 36-inch counters. Protective plastic coating at points of contact with dishware prevents chipping, and no-rust Delrin bearings prevent wheel lock in wet environments.
EAGLE FOODSERVICE GROUP Heavy duty transport and holding.
Eagle Foodservice Equipment announces a full line of Panco transport holding cabinets for heating, proofing, and heating/proofing processes. These NSF, UL, and CUL approved cabinets feature all-aluminum construction and accommodate full- or half-size sheet pans. An optional universal slide is available and accommodates 12-by-20-inch food pans. The cabinets are equipped with exterior-accessible controls for easy adjustment without interrupting food processes. Eagle offers aluminum frame extrusion, heavy duty bumpers, heavy duty casters, and digital temperature controls as standard features on every model.
FOOD WARMING EQUIPMENT Precise heat and humidity control.
The FWE Clymate IQ cabinet's revolutionary heating system precisely and intuitively controls both heat and humidity. The cabinet gets up to temperature and humidity in just 30 minutes. The unique Push/Pull Air Distribution System provides uniform temperature and humidity on every level, front to back. The Clymate IQ cabinet has easy-to-use controls and a tool-free removable water reservoir.
Maywood’s Original Series tables, in rounds, squares, and every other shape you can imagine, have single leg action with legs positioned at the table’s edge, which means that guests have plenty of room to sit comfortably. These are super heavy-duty tables with metal surfaces that are black powder coated for long wear.
The Maywood Core Foam Top (above) was also on display. According to the company, banquet and catering operations like the core foam feature because it helps deafen the glassware and tableware noise during a large event. It’s a thin, foamy coating surrounded by a sturdy aluminum edge.
MIDWEST FOLDING PRODUCTS Transforming portable staging with TransFold.
Traditional staging at an event property is often heavy and needs a dedicated crew to set it up. However, that’s not the case with Midwest Folding Products' new TransFold portable stages. Midwest Folding's Ken Hufstater showed us firsthand how easy TransFold is to lay out. “The key part of the system is that it has built-in wheels so anyone, regardless of their upper body strength, can easily open these units and move them around and put one together,” said Hufstater, adding that TransFold is priced right for properties who usually rent their staging due to cost.
When we stopped by the MTS Seating booth, we noticed a wide spectrum of chairs fit for any hotel’s banquet or restaurant outlets. MTS’s Scott Schutt showed us their new Sigma Series banquet chairs featuring contemporary squared edges. The chairs stack 10 high to save space. He also showed us their bright new Chairaz line, with a clean aluminum frame design and a polyethylene seat and back, available in six different colors.
Bistro RATIONAL offered an a la carte menu to engage show attendees. We ordered Eggs Benedict, and learned it was prepped the day before and brought up to proper temperature with the company’s patented finishing process just before serving. Stopwatches at each table proved how fast the system works. Attendees can really see, taste, and judge the results for themselves. The finishing system is designed to work within the largest banquet facilities to save labor and enhance service. Where 12 people might previously have been on the line, now only three are required because food can be reheated in eight minutes, sauced, and served. If there is a need to wait before serving, special thermal covers keep meals at perfect temperature for 25 minutes. Also on display was the new self-cleaning function, now a standard feature called Care Control. It requires no water softening or filtration and prevents scale and lime buildup inside the unit. Additionally, the standard one-year warranty has increased to two years. RATIONAL claims 54 percent of the world’s market share in combi ovens.
