Create your cleaning list and schedule

Before you can get started on cleaning though, you have to ask yourself, what supplies do you need to clean? The major appliances in your kitchen, such as refrigerators, should have come with a manual, which would include a section on maintenance and cleaning. If you lack a manual, contact the manufacturer for information on how to clean it; do this before you buy anything!

Starting with the major appliances then working down to the more common activities like cleaning the bathroom or washing the dishes, create a list of tools and items you will need to buy. Look over your list for any duplicate items. With this list, you will create a schedule for cleaning. To make a schedule, you can use Microsoft Excel or any spreadsheet program. The cleaning activity can go along the top of the chart with the times on the bottom. Use the spaces so that employees can sign off on each activity they have accomplished.

Ideally you should have one schedule for end-shift cleaning, one schedule for weekly cleaning, and one schedule for monthly cleaning. All the schedules will save you and your employee’s time. During a busy day, things can be forgotten and it is imperative that the important activities, such as the bathroom and dishes, are properly taken care of. With the schedule, you can quickly see what hasn’t been done so you can get it done immediately.

Buy your cleaning products

Now that you have your schedule made, it is time to buy the products. Don’t necessarily buy the cheapest product around. Quality products can go a long way to saving you money. Consider something like glass cleaners. Cheap glass cleaners often leave streaks and a layer of grime, which in the future can be a fire hazard for your stove and take even more time to clean than if you just bought a quality glass cleaner to begin with. You can buy your cleaning equipment at Able Kitchen; which has a variety of janitorial cleaning for you to choose from, and at great prices.

With your schedule and products ready to go, you can implement your cleaning. Explain to your employees what will be required of them. Do your part by checking on the quality of their work by using surprise visits during cleaning.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Consistent cleaning will help you get a longer life out of your appliances, saving you from buying a new machine sooner than you would have. Adjust your schedule as necessary to take advantage of greater savings, it may cost a bit up front but isn’t it worth it in the long run?

John Smith is the owner of Bar Business Blog, a blog dedicated to helping bar owners manage their business and increase their work efficiency. You can also follow him on Twitter!

Rice Cooker

There are so many options on how to make rice. Brown or white rice can be cooked on the stovetop, baked in casserole dish, prepared in the microwave or in a rice cooker. Test which options fits your palate.

Brown rice has natural oils that give it a shelf life of about six months. For longer storage, place it in the refrigerator or freezer. You can put the cooked rice in a shallow container, covered tightly, in the refrigerator for up to a week or frozen in the freezer for up to six months.

It is advisable to add 2 tbsp of water for every cup of rice that you reheat. Cover and heat on the stovetop or in the oven for about 5 minutes or until heated through. If you’re using a Microwave, we suggest to cover the rice and set on high for about 1 minute per each cup of rice or until heated through. If the rice is frozen, then set the Microwave on high for 2 minutes per 1 cup. Fluff with a fork.

My favorite rice cooker is  the Crestware Commercial Rice Pot Cooker, 30/60 Cup Capacity, Extra Heavy Duty Inner Pot and Lid and comes with a Measuring Cup & Spoon. It is an exceptional value.

Beer Butt Chicken Holder

beer cooler and put it into the beer dispenser. You need a beer pitcher to catch the beer from the beer faucet. You then pour the beer into your beer mug (if you want to make a statement, a beer boot mug) and the mug is held up be a beer (not bare) butt chicken stand.

While you’re drinking beer, sing this traditional Oktoberfest German beer song:

“In Heaven there is no beer
That’s why we drink it here
And when we’re gone from here
All our friends will be drinking all our beer”

If we didn’t beer you out by now, think of some other great beer products like beer stoppers, beer tasters, and beer signs.

We even made a special beer coupon for you. Beer5 for 5% off. Happy Oktoberfest!

The catalog is in PDF format and Requires adobe reader to view.

1965 Ice Cream Truck

Today’s upgraded ice cream trucks use commercial cold plate freezers that plug in overnight and when unplugged maintain the cold for at least 12 hours. Music systems are mechanical or more commonly digital devices that have no tape or other moving parts. Each “Music Box” has as few as 1 or as many tunes as one can have programmed onto the chip. The opening on the side that drivers serve from is commonly referred to as a serving window and will usually have a serving counter. Awnings can be attached to trucks over the serving window. Safety equipment usually comes in the form of an electric or vacuum swing out sign which may resemble a stop sign or a triangular shape, as well as vinyl lettering or decals that advise others to use caution.

Ice Cream Scooper

Pizza Delivery Bag

The flashiest restaurateurs want in on pizza and so do some of the most classically trained, critically acclaimed chefs. Why pizza? It’s the economy stupid, pizza is the  perfect product as it costs less money and results in less pressure. You’re concentrating your entire restaurant on one thing rather than soup and pastry chefs.  Patrons like the new trend as they search for the right ambiance and the perfect pizza crust.

Soup Warmers

What’s So Special About Your Place?

You need a ‘hook’ in order to get people in your door – and to keep people coming into your restaurant. So, be honest with yourself, what makes you so special? While it’s true that every restaurant concept has been covered (usually all on one street), you need to find something in your place that makes you better, or at least different, from the rest. And if you can’t find anything, it’s time to make some changes at your restaurant. Maybe you sell all breakfast foods? Have your staff dress up in pajamas and then advertise from that angle. Find something that makes customer feel shocked or something that makes them laugh and you’re going to bring ‘em in by the busload.

Make it a Mystery

On the other hand, the less you tell your customer, the more they’ll want to know. What you might want to do is create a mystery special or a mystery theme that will happen one night a week. Create flyers and signs that promote this mystery event and then do something wild that people will enjoy. Have an 80′s night or redecorate the seating area in crazy colors. Just do something that makes people want to come in to see what else you can offer them.

Become More Regular

Some restaurants that have an older clientele or guests that seem to favor sameness will want to create a schedule of menu items and specials that repeats each week. For example, margarita Mondays are popular. You can create an entire schedule of weekly food specials or entertainment that will help keep people coming in, even though they know what to expect.

Other ways to bring people in:

• Have a certain hour of the day when everything’s half off. But don’t publish when that hour is.
• Have drink specials with certain menu choices.
• Include desserts with dinners on the weekends.
• Include your customers in a vote of what new items you bring onto the menu.
• Have private events for special customers.

Emptying your soup warmers when it’s seventy outside takes talent. But creating a buzz? That just takes a little creativity.

Apple Divider

Honey baked apples can be a real treat, especially on Rosh Hashanah.  Either way, try not to remove the skin, because that’s the best source of the apple’s pectin and other nutrients. In this recipe, apples are combined with nutritious nuts and the flavors of orange and cinnamon to create warm and comforting baked apples filled with dates and pecans. To toast the chopped pecans, which enhances their nuttiness, place them in a small, dry skillet and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until they are lightly browned and fragrant, three to five minutes. This dessert would make a lovely addition to a Rosh Hashanah celebration, especially if drizzled with a touch of honey, which is traditionally served with apples to symbolize the hope for a sweet year to come. The honey could be added to the syrup (in place of or alongside the brown sugar) with which the apples are drizzled.

In a small bowl, stir together pecans, dates, orange zest and juice, 1 ml ( 1/4 tsp) of the cinnamon and salt. Core apples, leaving 1 cm ( 1/2 inch) at the bottom, and peel top edges. Stuff apples with pecan filling, then brush tops with melted butter, if using. Arrange apples in an 2-l (8-inch) square baking dish. Add apple juice to bottom of dish, then cover it tightly with foil. Bake until apples are tender (but not mushy) when pierced with a fork, 35 to 45 minutes. Transfer apples to serving plates. If desired, place plated apples in oven (with heat turned off) to keep warm. Transfer juices in baking dish to a small saucepan over medium. Simmer for 5 minutes or until reduced by half. Add brown sugar and remaining 2 ml ( 1/2 tsp) of cinnamon. Simmer, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. In a small glass, mix cornstarch and water. Add mixture to saucepan, then heat until thickened. Serve apples drizzled with thickened sauce.

AbleKitchen has all your apple accessories from apple corers, apple peelers to apple dividers.

Now, sing with me “Dip the Apple in the Honey, Make a Blessing Loud and Clear, Have a Happy Sweet New Year”.

Cash Trays

These cash trays are crafted in a contemporary style that adapts well to many decors and is distinguished by its smooth, sleek, uncomplicated lines. Cash in today.

Some of the common folk refer to the cash trays as tip trays. Whatever works for them. Just remember that using a tip tray would probably be a good means of letting people know you’re interested in getting a cash tip.

Tip Trays