Ice Cubes

The most basic component of cocktails is the “Ice” and that needs careful consideration. Things to consider when making ice is the water type and shape of ice. Icetenders use denser, larger cubes for spirits like Scotch and crushed ice for refreshing drinks that need dilution.

 Designer ice cubes add fruits and flowers in the cube. Good ice requires good ice making equipment. The bar culture is getting more advanced and people are starting to pay attention to every last detail that goes into a cocktail. You can really make a momentous difference with ice.

Getting the word out is one of the hardest things to do for any business owner.  But when you’re running a busy and successful restaurant, it gets all the more difficult.  In order to make sure your employees and your guests know what’s changing in your store, you might want to invest in a simple piece of communication technology – a bulletin board.  Sounds too easy, right?  You might be surprised at how useful this piece of cork really is.

Employees Know What’s Going On

When your menu changes, would you rather talk to each individual employee on their own or would you rather post up the changes in the employee timecard area and know that you’ve saved yourself time while also educating your crew?  The answer seems pretty simple.  You can hang calendars, schedules, and even menu changes on the bulletin board, helping everyone stay up to date on their jobs as well as on what’s expected of them.  You can also allow employees to post notes to other employees on the board to help facilitate discussions about shift changes.

Customers Know What’s Going On

But a bulletin board in your entryway is a great way to help customers see if your restaurant is for them.  By posting your menu, the prices, and your daily specials, people can easily look at this area, make a decision and either leave or get a table.  Many restaurants now put a glass enclosed bulletin board on the exterior of their building to accomplish these tasks.  Some people who are in the area might not be ready to eat just yet, but having the knowledge of the restaurant will help them make plans for later.

Fun Ways to Use a Bulletin Board

You can also use a bulletin board to highlight special employees or events at your restaurant.  Perhaps you have a charity event that you want guests to come to or you might want to showcase a special guest or entertainment group that’s going to be coming to town.  Try to make this board exciting and new each week to keep people coming back to see what else you can offer them.  Make sure the items posted are colorful and also clearly legible.  You can also use laminated pieces of paper to use again and again, instead of printing new signage.

Your bulletin board can do all the talking for you – and that’s a relief.  It’s much easier that talking to everyone individually or trying to coerce employees into a long drawn out meeting.

Enclosed Bulletin Board

No matter how smart your guests are, if you have more than one table available, you need table card holders.  From separating feuding in-laws to just making sure that Uncle Joe isn’t too close to the bar, table card holders are going to ensure that your event goes smoothly.  Or at least, as smoothly as can be expected when you invite your friends.

Making Everyone Happy Enough

There’s a pecking order when it comes to the way tables are arranged.  Those who are closer to the guests of honor are the ‘chosen’ ones in the guest list.  These are the people who are obviously more important to these special people.  But since you can’t fit everyone at that head table or even close to it, you need to have a battle plan for making sure everyone doesn’t curse your name as soon as they find their seat.

Card Number Holder (allforyourwedding.com)

• Use personalized table card holders – When you not only number the table but also include their name at their place, you’ve shown that this is a person you meant to invite to your party and not just someone you’re hoping will bring gifts.

• Keep friends and family together – Even if a group of friends or family is way at the back of the dining, at least they can vent to each other about their poor seats.  After all, complaining is going to keep them occupied.

• Give away favors – Everyone wants something for free, so alongside the table card holders, make sure you place a small token of your appreciation: a chocolate, a five dollar bill, etc.

While it’s unlikely that everyone is going to get the seat they really want, at least they won’t be too loud in their discontent.

Other Tips for Setting Up Your Tables

But it’s more than just the table card holders that you need to be worried about when you’re making that dreaded seating chart.  You also need to be aware of your space constraints and the people who you’ve invited.  Here are some extra tips to help you get through the planning process:

Table Card Holder

• Don’t have too many people at a table – Sure, on the piece of paper it looks like ten people will fit comfortably around that table, but not everyone is as thin as you think they are.  No more than eight people should go at a table.

• Put the table card holders in a place where they can be easily seen – If your great aunt Trudy can’t find her spot, she’s going to give up and set anywhere – even next to cousin Ralph who’s the family jokester.  Instead, make sure the card holders are high up on the table and not obscured by a plant or a centerpiece.

There are many styles of table card holders and numbers. Here are two sites that offer the basic varieties.

Ablekitchen.com – Restaurant, Event, Church and Catering Style Table Card Holders

TableNumberCards.com – All types of numbers.

JoyfulBrideOnline.com – Stylish and Upscale Table Card Holders for upscale parties

Everything Has Germs

Right now, your hands have germs on them.  That knob you just turned to wash your hands at the sink?  Germs there too.  For a moment, let’s be realistic.  Everything has germs on it.  But while this is the case, that doesn’t mean we should give up.  Here are some easy ways to keep germs at a minimum:

Wash your hands with warm soapy water for the same length of time as Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.  Dry them completely with a paper towel and don’t touch anything.

• Don’t touch your face with your hands or cross contaminate your hands in any way.
• Wash down your utensils and cutting board with warm soapy water too.  Wash the board between food groups.
• Choose non-porous kitchen equipment, thermometers, etc.  When things are made of glass, pyrex, or silicone, they are easier to clean and do not harbor germs.
• Rinse all vegetable and fruits before preparing.

Meats are the Worst Offenders

You probably already know this, but meat is your enemy when it comes to germ fighting.  It contains hundreds of possible bacteria right from the start and it’s an uphill battle from then.  Here are the ways you can reduce your risk of food poisoning and infection:

• Never store raw meat above fresh produce.  The juices can drip onto the clean product.
• If meat looks or smells spoiled, throw it out.  Better to waste some money than to make your guests sick.
• Always check expiration dates.
• Wear gloves when handling meat and then throw the gloves away when done.

 Temperature Rules to Follow

 To make sure your meats are safe to eat, they should be cooking to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, at least.  This ensures that any bacteria are dead and gone from your meals.  You can use long digital thermometers to check this, wiping the thermometer down with a sanitizer or washing it thoroughly between temp checks.  Cold foods should be kept between 35 and 45 degrees, helping to keep germs from growing.

 Meats can not sit out for longer than two hours, so if you have a buffet arrangement, you need to make sure to check the meat temperature to make sure it’s consistent or bring the food off the table after two hours.  Cold foods should also checked regularly and placed into bowls of ice to help keep the temperature low.

Germ Warfare on Your Foods

Sturdy Glasses are a Must

If you’ve ever been to a wild and rowdy party, you know that things can get out of hand pretty quickly.  Instead of worrying about every glass that’s on the tables, you might want to invest in a half-yard ale glass set that comes with its own holder for extra assurance.  Plus, it looks really cool on the tables.  You might also want to choose weightier glasses for ‘on the rocks’ drinks so that it’s harder for them to break, should they fall out of anyone’s hands.  Some people like to use plastic cups to help ensure that their glasses stay in tact, but these look cheap and really aren’t creating a cool mood.  You’re not opening up a frat party, after all.

Nibblers are Always Appreciated

The good news about drunk people is that they’re pretty happy with anything you put in front of them.  Pretzels, party mixes, and peanuts are great things to have on the bar as well as on the regular tables as freebies – and they don’t cost you a lot of money either.  If they’re really salty, they’re also going to make people feel thirstier, and that’s going to lead to a higher tab.  You might also want to pop small bowls of popcorn or serve salsa and chips to help keep the party going.

Make the Music Loud

At your bar, you will want to turn up the volume on your sound system or your televisions to make sure that people don’t feel like they’re talking too loudly as they drink.  Self consciousness and drunk don’t normally go well together, but just to be safe, turn up some faster paced music and make sure the game is loud enough for everyone to hear.  A quiet bar is an empty bar.

Whether you choose to serve everything in half-yard ale glass sets or not, know that turning your bar into a success is actually an easy thing to do – once you understand what your customers want: booze, food, and fun.

Half Yard Ale