Food and Beverage Preparation Begins With the Cutlery

By Jimmy Love

   There’s nothing quite as appealing as a bar adorned with Vodka Tonics, mixed gin, Margaritas, and Cosmos. Why is that? They all have sliced fruit right on top of the drink. Sliced fruit brightens the atmosphere of any bar and makes expensive exotic drinks seem much more appealing. What about the appetizers on the bar?
   Do you want your potential customers see neatly sliced french fries next to sandwiches with perfectly cut tomatoes and onions? If this is all sounding pretty good to you, maybe it’s time to consider an upgrade in your cutlery. Doubtlessly, there are plenty of bar owners who already have made the switch from old fashioned knives to easier, more efficient cutters, slicers and wedgers, but to those of you who have not, here are some points to consider.


Why Should I Switch?
   Cutters, slicers and wedgers have several advantages over knives. The slices of fruit they produce are more consistent with less waste. In the kitchen, when doing prep work on anything from lettuce to french fries, they deliver a cleaner-cut, more aesthetically pleasing product that will reflect well upon you and your establishment. They make tasks like slicing onions much less trying and also reduce safety concerns typically associated with knives.
   They also are more durable than typical kitchen knives and will maintain their sharpness longer. The combination of precision, consistency and durability will make the long-term benefits far outweigh the short-term costs.


Choosing a Product
   There are several factors to consider when selecting a cutter, slicer or wedger. Some bar owners prefer to buy cost-effective products. This is a good choice for large-scale bars that go through a heavy volume of un-prepped fruits and vegetables several times each day. All owners should be concerned with safety, so each product and owner should invest in this category.
   Still others go with high-end products that will deliver perfection each time. This is critical for upper-end, high-cost bars and nightclubs catering to clientele who are picky about the presentation.


Congratulations
   Whatever direction you take your new equipment, you can be sure that the aesthetic effects and ease of operation will keep your employees and customers happy. Even if you only decide to upgrade one device, with all the options available to fill any need you might, there is no reason why your bar can’t offer more consistent, better looking prep items for relatively little money.                  

NCB