Matcha may seem like the newest coffeehouse fad, but the truth is that this green tea beverage has been around for quite some time. This tea’s history dates as far back as China’s Tang Dynasty in the 7th Century, though it was really popularized during the Song Dynasty around the 11th Century. It was during that time when a Japanese Buddhist monk returned to his home country from a stay in China, carrying tea seeds and the knowledge of their proper preparation. These seeds eventually began a Japanese tradition that today yields some of the best matcha in the world.

Matcha has become one of the fastest growing segments of the global tea market, so it should come as no surprise that Houston’s has partnered with vendors who provide it at an exceptional level. One vendor who has made it a priority to offer high quality, traditional tea is Two Leaves and a Bud.

Two Leaves and a Bud is a pioneer in bringing teas and traditions from Asia, to the West. As one of the first to provide North Americans with teas in the pyramid-shaped sachet, this is a company that has become known for setting trends and sharing true magic from the lesser-known parts of the world. That spark is no more apparent than in Two Leaves’ matcha products. Their Nice Matcha and Ceremonial Matcha offer two flavor and application options for both newcomers and veterans to the tea.

Two Leaves’ Ceremonial Matcha has been crafted to delight with the full flavor of 100% organic Japanese green tea, while Nice Matcha is a blend with a little more sweetness (but not too much!) that perfectly complements lattes and smoothies. Often described as having a creamy and vegetal taste, matcha is unique from any other tea in its overall flavor profile. But a huge reason why this green tea has grown so popular is because of everything that it offers in addition to its one-of-a-kind flavor.

The word “matcha” literally translates to “powdered tea,” because at its core, it is a powdered version of green tea. When green tea is nearly ready to be harvested, it is covered in shade to give the leaves opportunity to grow more full with flavor, away from the harsh sunlight. Once plucked, these leaves are placed into cold storage to dry out, then pulverized with stone until all that’s left is a verdant green powder.

Once matcha has reached its silky smooth state, it can be mixed into hot or cold beverages, much like its tea counterparts. However, quite unlike other teas, matcha leaves are completely consumed. Whereas you would eventually discard a tea bag once it has finished steeping, the leaves remain in your mug until you’ve sipped them all up. The result is a far more nutritious and energizing experience.

Because of the harvesting process that it undergoes and because of the way that it’s prepared, matcha provides the body with higher levels of antioxidants and a unique amino acid called L-theanine. It’s health benefits have been linked to reducing the risk of heart disease, reducing total cholesterol levels, and can even help you feel more relaxed and concentrated. Its caffeine levels are also about on-par with an ordinary cup of coffee (almost three cups of ordinary green tea), so if you’re looking for a boost in energy, in addition to a nutritious and delicious drink, you’ve made the right choice.

In recent years, matcha has proven to have far wider applications than 7th Century China ever could have imagined. Besides its booming popularity in lattes and frappes, it has found its way into baking, ice cream, and is even sprinkled on popcorn! There seems to be no limit to the number of ways that matcha can be enjoyed, whether it be in the cafe, restaurant, or just by the chef at home. Matcha has been around for 1,400 years, and Houston’s can’t wait to see what the world does with it next.

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As part of the Royal Rideau™ collection, Slenda offers unlimited tablescaping options. In other words, Slenda offers infinite landscaping selections for your table! You can mix and match hundreds of different shapes, patterns, and textures in the same body color for seamless coordination. Setting your table with Slenda plates and Chateau Luxor saucers can be a perfect combination. Syracuse states that the “Uncommon shapes and graceful lines of Slenda spark imaginative possibilities to beautify banquet presentations.” This line reflects inspiration and brings endless potential to any table arrangement. Syracuse China’s investment-quality dinnerware blends impeccable style with proven performance.

Contact Inside Sales for more information on how to get Slenda by Syracuse on your dinner table!

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But what are melamine dishes, exactly?  Melamine resin, according to Wikipedia, is “a hard, thermosetting plastic material made from melamine and formaldehyde by polymerization.”  The resulting product is durable, lightweight, and break-resistant, and it can be molded into plates, cups, bowls, ramekins, or even fry cups and chopsticks.  The end product is also lighter weight and much easier to handle than traditional china, and stands up to the rigors of everyday use much better than conventional dishes.

Melamine looks great, is safe to use, and is cost-effective too. Photo courtesy of Carlisle Foodservice Products

Before learning about the benefits of melamine tableware, the safety of the plates should first be addressed.  There has been a lot in the news about melamine leaching from the dishes and in to the food we consume.  And in fact, the product has been found to contain some leftover melamine after the production process is complete.  The leftover melamine can migrate very slowly out of the plastic and into the food that comes into contact with the tableware.  But before you panic, understand that the migration for acidic food (the worst offender of causing leakage at normal usage conditions) is 250 times lower than the level of melamine that the FDA has concluded is acceptable.  The levels are determined by rigorous assessment of melamine toxicity in the product under a variety of conditions.  The assessment includes a review of the literature available on melamine toxicity and is also peer-reviewed by experts chosen by an independent contractor.  Melamine dinnerware should never be heated in a microwave or conventional oven because melamine migration is higher when the product is hot, above 160° F.  Although contamination above levels deemed acceptable by the FDA is extremely rare, melamine poisoning symptoms that should cause concern are irritability, blood in the urine, little or no urine, signs of kidney infection, or high blood pressure.  Contact your doctor immediately if you suspect melamine poisoning and any of these symptoms occur.

There are many benefits to using melamine dinnerware in your operation, the first and foremost being that it is shatterproof and break-resistant.  The dishes can be dropped, stacked, dumped in bus tubs, knocked over, flung into the sink, used, and abused with very little, if any, breakage.  This makes them cost-effective as a long term investment, and the upfront cost is typically much less than you would find for traditional china.  Calculating the cost of your investment over time, the savings you procure by choosing melamine over china are significant, and who doesn’t like to save money?

Melamine comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, like this Molcajete dish for serving salsa. Photo courtesy of Gessner Products.

Melamine is also available in many colors and designs, in white and in off-white, to suit any restaurant décor or theme.  Mexican themed restaurants, for example, can take advantage of bright and colorful salsa dishes, ramekins, and even classic mortar-and-pestle type Molcajete dishes.  Whatever your traditional china preferences, you can be sure to find a melamine counterpart to fit your operation’s needs.

The “stay cool” properties of heat-resistant and cold-insulated melamine make the product a great tool for both front-of-the-house and back-of-the-house use.  The heat-resistant dishware is an asset to cooks and servers alike, saving them from burns from heat transfer—the melamine ware stays cool to the touch, even when in contact with hot foods.  Conversely, buffet and cold foods stay cool because of its insulating properties.  Cold pans in attractive colors are a great addition to salad bars and buffet lines, and the melamine helps to keep the product cool throughout the day.

While melamine isn’t considered to be conventionally recyclable (meaning it can’t be melted down to be repurposed like other plastics), it can be ground down to be used as excellent filler for other plastics or woods.  Some brands are using recycled melamine to make dinnerware that is 50% bamboo and 50% melamine—the product boasts the same properties as traditional melamine dishware but is biodegradable!

Equally great is that melamine tableware is dishwasher safe to temperatures at (or sometimes even above, depending on the brand), 200° F.  This exceeds the recommended dishwasher temperature settings for melamine dinnerware, thus allowing the dishes to be fully cleaned and sanitized.  Additionally, they also dry faster than traditional china, so that on busy days they are more readily available for reuse after washing.

Caring for melamine dinnerware is simple, too.  Simply follow the guidelines listed below:

• If necessary, presoak melamine products in a high-quality presoak dishwashing detergent.
• Do not use serrated knives on melamine product.
• Do not use melamine products in conventional or microwave ovens.
• Do not use abrasive cleaners or metal scouring pads on melamine products.
• Do not use chlorine bleach on melamine products.

Although melamine dinnerware is a great choice, it does have drawbacks.  The product can’t be used with heat lamps or plate warmers to keep food heated while it is waiting to be served.  Also, it is prone to staining over time, and once a stain appears it can be difficult, if not impossible, to get rid of.  And although melamine dishes are scratch-resistant, it doesn’t mean that they can’t be scratched.  Once this occurs, it is safest to discard the piece because bacteria can harbor in the area and cause a health risk to diners.

All in all, though, melamine tableware is a great option for many operations.  It is less expensive and lighter weight than traditional china.  The product is incredibly durable, and available in a large variety of shapes, sizes, and colors to meet your operation’s needs.  What do you think?  Will you be giving melamine a try?

The post Melamine, an Obvious Choice appeared first on Houston's Blog.

One thing to remember when planning the place settings for your restaurant is that there is a proper way to set tables, and although there are variants, straying too far may produce the jarring effect that you are best to steer clear of.  Will the restaurant offer formal or casual (informal) dining?  More formal dining requires more utensils—from plates to glassware to flatware—to complete a meal.

Below are diagrams for both formal and informal dining.  Use these guides as a starting point to equip your table as shown, and then take away the items that won’t be needed throughout the course of the meal.  Keep in mind, too, that if food will be delivered to the table from the kitchen, dinner plates may not be needed, and the same is true for salad and/or soup bowls.  Clutter could detract from the overall dining experience, so less is very likely to be more; if you don’t need it, remove it.

And finally, here are some tips I garnered from FE&S Magazine on how to manage place setting wares in your restaurant:

1. Don’t under-buy for the needs of your establishment.  It is simply too difficult to navigate the busy times or special events in the restaurant. Utilize consistent and efficient inventory management.  A good rule of thumb is to have wares for about 1 ½ times the seating capacity on hand.
2. Portion and table size are important.  Consider these while choosing tabletop items.
3. If you choose to go eclectic, remember that it is a style, not just a throwing together of different pieces.  Choose items with color, texture, and flow in mind.
4. Trendy is great for accent pieces, but functionality trumps all.  Thinking long-term may keep you from being overly trendy but it will help you to cut down on costs in the long run.
5. Always, always, always make sure your tabletop pieces are handled correctly—from the dishwasher to storage, from the kitchen to the dining room—for the best staying power of your place settings.

The post Setting the Table for Success appeared first on Houston's Blog.

• 16 diagonal baguette slices (about 1/4” to 1/3”)
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1/2 cup porter
• 1/4 cup milk (use whole milk for a creamier texture)
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar (sharper is better)
• 1 large egg yolk

You will need 8 Rarebit dishes for this recipe.

Welsh Rarebit 12 oz. Photo courtesy of Tuxton

Preparation

1. Preheat broiler.
2. Spread one side of bread slices with 2 tablespoons butter (total). Broil, butter side up, until golden.
3. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Add flour and cook, whisking constantly, until combined. Add beer and milk and whisk until smooth. Then add mustard, pepper, and cheese. Simmer over low heat until cheese melts into a creamy sauce.
4. Remove from heat and immediately whisk in yolk.
5. Place toast in 8 rarebit dishes and pour cheese sauce over. Place back in broiler until cheese is brown and bubbly.
6. Serve immediately.

The post Rarebit: It’s what’s for dinner! appeared first on Houston's Blog.

Stoneware: This dinnerware is generally only once-fired in temperatures from 1100 °C to 1300 °C. This process results in a partially vitrified material, and is typically glazed to add to the impermeability and strength of the finished product.

Porcelain: Porcelain is constructed by heating materials to extremely high temperatures, resulting in a strong, translucent body. It is exceptionally durable—non-porous so it will not stain, and chip resistant. The material is generally shock-resistant and is therefore able to move from the heat of the oven to the chill of the refrigerator and back again without incurring damage, a very convenient quality in the restaurant environment.

Bone China: Bone china, known for its translucence and milky whiteness, is similar to porcelain, with the added strength of bone ash. Lighter in weight and less brittle than porcelain, the look is elegant and delicate but the strength and durability are unmatched.

Melamine: Dinnerware in melamine gives restaurant owners the look and feel of china without high replacement cost. Superior stain and scratch resistance. The look of elegance without being bulky. Meets the tough requirements of heavy-duty foodservice applications. The material is dishwasher safe and safe in temperatures up to 212°F. NOT microwaveable.

DINNERWARE PIECES

Dinner Plate: Generously sized, dinner plates are a perfect choice for the main course of any meal. The most popular dinner plates range between 10 and 12 inches, but can be found in a variety of sizes. Trend toward the smaller size for a more casual feel and for smaller portions such as lunches or appetizers. Larger plates lend more appeal to the master chef who is crafting food works of art.

Lunch Plate: Smaller than a dinner plate, the size is ideal to serve smaller portions. The plate can also double as a salad or dessert plate, or can be used to serve appetizers before the meal.

Salad/Dessert Plate: Typically sized between 4 and 8 inches, this versatile plate also doubles as an appetizer or side dish.

Bread and Butter Plate: Slightly smaller than a salad plate, use this dish for individual bread servings at the table.

Cereal Bowls: Sized to properly serve dry or hot cereal.

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