Restaurant smallwares are essential tools and accessories for the front-house and back-house. They increase your staff's ability and make your kitchen more efficient.
Kitchen Hand Tools
Commercial Cookware
Beverage Service Supplies
Salad Bar Items
Baking Smallwares
Pizza Tools & Accessories
Bartending Supplies
Hotel Room Supplies
Chafers & Chafing Dishes
Restaurant Signs
Hotel & Restaurant Linens
Running a foodservice facility requires attention to many details because "the Devil in the details" is often the borderline between a successful enterprise and a flop. Restaurant smallwares are petty but essential utensils that can make or break a venture. They include everything from kitchen hand tools and cookware to cutlery and serving supplies contributing to food prep, storage, cooking, and serving tasks. A comprehensive stock of kitchen smallwares can improve food quality, overall workflow, cleanliness, and organization. They can also complete your décor and enhance your restaurant's image.
A shopping list is always helpful to remember to buy any essentials. However, making a food service smallwares list can take time and effort, considering the items needed and options available. It will rarely be comprehensive enough. Plus, the restaurant smallware equipment will vary depending on the business type. A bakery will initially need dough cutters and pastry brushes, a pizzeria pizza peels and stones, or a bar liquor displays and bottle holders. Many restaurant smallware items can even go unnoticed until the need arises. Therefore, it can be more practical to come up with some key points rather than a list.
Restaurant smallwares are classified in several ways in the industry. Some vendors prefer business-based categorization. If you own a hotel, you can browse hotel supplies like service tables and mirrors. Bakeries can look for baking pans, pie markers, and other baking smallwares. Or you can also see use-based categories. In that case, you will decide whether you need smallwares for your food receiving, prepping, or warewashing area. Chef's Deal suggests considering these utensils and tools in two broad sections depending on where you will use them.
Restaurant kitchen smallwares perform crucial tasks on the stage and behind the scenes. Accessories like measuring cups, scoops, knives, or cutting boards are used repeatedly. They must be strong enough. Plus, they must endure repeated cleaning. The most common materials used in smallware construction are stainless steel, glass, plastic, aluminum, enamel, and cast iron.
Cast iron stands out with its excellent thermal qualities. You can prefer it for food holding and cooking supplies. Similarly, aluminum is brilliant at conducting heat. Its lightweight and ease of cleaning also make it a popular choice. You can prefer stainless steel smallwares for longevity and resistance to corrosion. Although stainless steel is usually pricier than other materials, it is less prone to damage, making it more economical in the long run. When purchasing cooking and serving supplies, prefer non-stick materials.
Size is always a critical consideration in outfitting a restaurant kitchen. A mismatch between smallware sizes and the size of your business can stress out the staff and cause service delays. The situation is downright: you need larger cookware if you operate a bigger restaurant. Buying the right amount of smallwares also matters not to run out of essential tools when required. Keeping a sufficient stock saves you money, too. There is no proven rule but always consider possible business growth.
Each venue communicates a certain restaurant theme with everything in it. Smallwares are everywhere in a commercial kitchen. All the tabletop supplies, dinnerware, or other items must contribute to the ambiance you want to create. Elegant plates paired with cheap silverware can ruin your image. Use caution to choose accessories that will complement your food and service quality.
Restaurant smallwares cover all the small but functional tools and accessories needed in the back-house and front-house. It is hard to make an all-inclusive smallware list. Chef's Deal will support you with expert consulting and an expansive portfolio of smallwares & janitorial supplies, including tabletop items and disposables.