1. Pacific Espresso Brownies

Brownies have to be one of the best ways to enjoy cocoa, and Pacific Foods’ Organic Oat Beverage adds that extra bit of flair that totally sets this recipe apart. Making them for someone who’s vegan? All you need is dairy-free chocolate chips and this recipe is complete!

2. Mocha Almond Fudge Ice Cream Cake

If you’re a fan of ice cream cake, then this is the one to try! With a cookie crust and some deliciously decadent ice cream, you might think you’ve got all you need. However, this recipe really comes to life with the addition of Monin’s Dark Chocolate and Caramel sauces.

3. Chocolate Chai Fondue

Chocolate fondue is a classic. Most of us have probably skewered a piece of fruit or pound cake and delighted in the chocolatey treat. But we kick it up a notch with this recipe. David Rio’s Tiger Spice Chai livens up the traditional flavor for an experience you won’t soon forget.

4. Chocolate Amaretto Torte

This is not your typical cake. It’s a nutty, moist, death-by-chocolate dessert that will soon have you writing poetry in its name. We suggest “Ode to Torani” as a title for your next one.

5. Charcoal Banana Frappe

This recipe is brilliant in its simplicity. Even if you’e running a little low on supplies, it shouldn’t be hard to scrounge up the few ingredients that this frappe calls for. And if you’re in need of some MOCAFE Charcoal Mocha, be sure to give Houston’s a call.

6. Pirouline Napoleon

There are a number of layers to this light and fluffy tower, but we promise that the end result is SO worth it. A little fruit, a bit of whipped cream, and the crisp goodness of Pirouline Chocolate Hazelnut Wafers unite for a morsel that shows you really worked to impress!

7. Hollander Super Moist Chocolate Cake

What at first seems to be mere chocolate cake is hiding a secret ingredient in plain sight. This recipe doesn’t call for any simple sauce; Hollander’s Dutched sauce is drizzled over this masterpiece. We’re certain that once you’ve tasted it, you’ll know why it makes all the difference to use Hollander.

8. Chocolate Covered Cherries

Valentine’s Day is no fun unless you’ve got enough treats to last long after it’s over. That’s precisely what this recipe offers. With 60 Oregon Cherry Growers Maraschino Cherries drenched in dough and chocolate, that sweet tooth should be covered for a few days at least.

The post 8 Recipes that Make the Most of Your Valentine’s Day Chocolate appeared first on Houston's Blog.

The world of dairy-free beverages is full of nut-based milk alternatives. Almond, cashew, macadamia, and hazelnut are just a few excellent examples that can be found in the burgeoning industry of non-dairy beverages. However, for some people these beverages aren’t a sufficient replacement for the richness and texture found in cow’s milk. In addition, many alternatives don’t offer the same nutritional value than that of cow’s milk or other non-dairy options. So, where is the dairy-free community to turn? Recent trends seem to point to the oat.

What is it about oat milk that has recently made it the most popular kid on the block? Well, there are a number of factors that make it different from the crowd, but one of the most cited aspects is its comparable texture to traditional milk. The process of manufacturing dairy-free beverages requires that the primary ingredient (soy, almond, flax, etc.) be ground down and mixed with water. The consistency of that base ingredient dictates the amount of water that is required to make the final product. In instances where the base ingredient has a difficult time holding water, such as in nut-based beverages, more water is required, resulting in a thinner beverage.

However, oats hold water much better than alternative dairy-free ingredients, meaning that less is required to create oat milk. This ability to retain water is core to many of the benefits that oat milk offers. Since it requires six times less water than other options, oat milk has a creamier consistency (akin to cow’s milk), it costs less, and it is even more environmentally-conscious. For many people, these are characteristics that make the decision to drink oat milk a simple one, but all of this means nothing unless it actually tastes good.

Oat milk is made by soaking oat groats (hulled whole grain oat kernels) in water, then blending the mixture and straining it. Because of the aforementioned ability to easily retain water, some of the oat makes its way through the straining process and its flavor also comes through. This results in a slightly sweet, but relatively mild taste when compared to other dairy-free beverages. Many people liken the flavor to that of low-fat or skim milk, but can it provide a nutritional value to replace cow’s milk completely?

Whether oat milk offers the same nutritional value as cow’s milk is currently being debated by nutritionists, but it’s fair to say that the value is comparable and is certainly greater than alternative dairy-free beverages. Oat milk contains about 15 vitamins and 10 minerals, and just one cup of it can provide 36 percent of your recommended daily allowance of calcium. Additionally, you can get10 percent of your daily allowance of iron from oat milk, as well as 10 percent of your Vitamin A intake, which is actually twice as much as what cow’s milk offers. To top it off, oat milk also provides 8 percent of your daily fiber intake. Not even cow’s milk provides that, and other dairy-free options don’t even come close to the rest!

That’s not to say that choosing a dairy-free alternative is a simple decision. There are a variety of options available because there are a variety of people with differing dietary wants and needs. However, oat milk is clearly a rising tide amongst the sea of dairy-free alternatives, and Houston’s is now part of the wave as one of only a few offering early access to Pacific Foods’ Barista Series Oat, a product that is easily going to be popular amongst coffee drinkers with its ability to steam better and pair with coffee’s flavor in more complementary ways. There’s no doubt that the demand for oat milk is going to continue gaining momentum. It may be only a matter of time before it’s dominating the dairy-free beverage market.

The post Oat Milk – What’s Making Waves for Dairy-Free appeared first on Houston's Blog.

Each spring, SCA hosts a large expo in Seattle, Washington to aid in industry education and prosperity. This Specialty Coffee Expo (commonly referred to as the SCA Expo) allows industry manufacturers and producers to showcase their products and give coffee operators, distributors, and enthusiasts alike the chance to peruse the newest and greatest offerings. Over the years, the show as grown “expo-nentially,” selling out exhibition space that now fills three halls of the Seattle Convention Center.

The overall focus of this year’s show was diversity, featuring coffees grown/produced in countries around the world, with Asia and South America as some of the most prevalent. Countries such as China and Brazil were particularly popular with booths that were made to impress.

While Houston’s does not exhibit at the expo, we do attend each year. The show provides us with the opportunity to meet with vendors and customers, and to get an idea of what to expect from the future of the coffee industry. Many of our manufacturer/vendor partners exhibit at the show including Torani, Monin, Dr. Smoothie, David Rio, Urnex, Kerry Foodservice, and Two Leaves and a Bud, as well as newer Houston’s vendors like Pacific Foods, Califia Farms, and ITO EN.

Monitoring current and upcoming trends in the coffee industry is crucial, and SCA Expo is always a perfect opportunity to assess the crowd. With the busy summer season in mind, many exhibitors at SCA Expo 2018 opted to offer taste tests of cold beverages from iced coffee and frappes, to non-coffee beverages like lemonade and flavored sparkling water. The absence of previously popular oatmeal products was painfully obvious this year, but made way for other healthier trends that ranged from convenient grab-and-go products, to handcrafted, premium products. Turmeric offerings seem to be surging with David Rio’s latte powder leading the pack. All natural, sugar-free, and/or low-calorie beverage options also seem to be on the rise, as are dairy/milk alternatives. While nut milks have been popular in years’ past, it appears oat milk will be giving the ever-popular almond milk a run for its money in 2018.

Contributing to the theme of diversity, Torani showcased its new Asian fruit-inspired Longan Syrup, among other products, by serving up Butterfly Lemonade that combined the syrup with Lemonade Real Fruit Smoothie mix. The vibrant purple color and sweet Longan flavor paired with the tart lemonade for a perfect summer offering.

Monin served its new Brown Butter Toffee Syrup in frappe, but most notable was the flavored sparkling water. Monin’s new, all-natural Concentrated Flavors line provides sugar-free, low calorie flavor to any drink, but the Strawberry Basil and Watermelon Jalapeno Sparkling Water offered expo attendees a light, yet flavorful beverage.

Celebrity Latte Artist, Melannie Aquino showed off her skills in booth #2100, drawing pictures with foam and chocolate on the tops of various lattes prepared with David Rio chai products. After attendees were wowed by the latte art, many were also impressed with the authentic turmeric flavor in David Rio’s Turmeric Lattes, Turmeric macaroons, and turmeric cupcakes provided by a local bakery and made using David Rio’s powdered product. The philanthropic organization also used the show as an opportunity to introduce Nalin, the white tiger and newest adoptee under the company’s endangered species initiative.

While many exhibitors utilize SCA Expo to introduce new product, Dr. Smoothie (a Bevolution Group brand) took this year’s show as an opportunity to reintroduce itself entirely, launching a rebrand of the 1997 logo. The new logo has opted away from retro and moved towards simplistic, yet refined. All of the brand’s packaging will have a consistent, clean look, featuring photos of fresh fruit and color-coded frappe categories. Watch for a soft rollout of the new branding sometime this summer.

Each year, SCA Expo exhibitors are given the opportunity to enter their products in a new product showcase, with the chance to win “Best New Product” bragging rights for the year. Our friends at Pacific Foods took home top honors in the Specialty Beverage Flavor Additive Category by winning Best New Product for their new Barista Series Oat, a plant-based dairy alternative that will be released this summer. Crowds gathered around the Pacific booth while attendees (including our own Rebecca Phillips and Amanda Hackathorn) tried their hands at latte art in the exhibitor’s Latte Art Throwdown. The winner of the competition got a chance to pour the latte art featured on the Pacific Foods’ new product packaging, also due out later this year. Sadly, neither Rebecca nor Amanda won the honor, but they certainly gave it their all!

As Houston’s shifts its focus towards the rapidly growing coffee segment, these vendor relationships and industry/product insights are key to our continued growth and success. With many coffee-based vendor partnerships, Houston’s controls a unique niche as a redistributor to the specialty coffee industry, providing access to hundreds of ancillary products sold and used by roasters and baristas across the country. It’s no secret that coffee’s popularity and progress will continue to grow, making events such as this more and more valuable. That’s why we can’t wait until next April when SCA Expo 2019 tackles Boston, Massachusetts! Will we see you there?

The post SCA Expo: Specialty Coffee Insights & Inspiration appeared first on Houston's Blog.

On behalf of our vendors, we invite you to stop by, say hi, and see what’s new!

Torani® – Booth #506, 508

Flavor seekers around the globe enjoy Torani® in their favorite beverages every day. And Torani® has continued to stay on the creative edge with new product lines and ideas for the last 80 years.

Monin® – Booth #613, 615

Monin®’s sole purpose is to create flavors that people around the world can easily use in their everyday life.  Founder Georges Monin’s motto La Passion de la Qualit® (“Passion for Quality”) became the Monin® slogan.

Monbana Chocolaterie, USA – Booth #402

Monbana has combined a respect for tradition and a continuous passion for chocolate innovation through selecting the finest ingredients and the very best varieties of cocoa from Ivory Coast. Creator of chocolate squares to accompany coffee, Monbana is also famous in the HoReCa sector for its excellence of its indulgent chocolate drinks.

Java Jacket – Booth #701

The original green coffee sleeve is the best insulating cup sleeve on the market.

Dr. Smoothie® – Booth #618

Dr. Smoothie® formulates its beverages with your health in mind to maximize the benefits to your body. Functional beverages are what Dr. Smoothie® is all about since 1997.

Cappuccine® – Booth #413, 415

Many people don’t know that Cappuccine® created the first blended iced coffee mix over 15 years ago. Today, its product line consists of more than 20 gourmet flavors that are proudly served all over the world.

David Rio™ – Booth #406

David Rio™ makes chai because it is inspired by traditional Indian milk tea, and it set out to blend Eastern traditions with Western style to create America’s Premier Chai.

Pacific® Natural Foods – Booth #409

Pacific® Foods has one simple goal – to make tasty, healthy foods with integrity. Making foods it can be proud of is as much about the ingredients it uses and the way those ingredients are grown, as it is the actual recipe. And GMO’s? Not on Pacific® Foods’ watch.

Espresso Supply – Booth #709

Espresso Supply, Inc. has used its expertise to develop a full line of espresso accessories and small wares designed to facilitate the operation of an espresso bar or coffee business.

Kerry Big Train / Oregon Chai – Booth #600, 602

Kerry is a known innovator in the food and beverage industry. Kerry shakes up the industry with its unique approach and inventive solutions in beverage, coatings, and seasonings providing consumer driven, operationally friendly menu solutions.

Maya Tea Company – Booth #713

Maya Tea Company custom blends the finest teas from far reaching regions of the globe, creating tantalizing and tasteful teas for use from home and in restaurants, hotels, and coffee shops across the nation.

The post Check Out Houstons’ Vendors at Coffee Fest Chicago! appeared first on Houston's Blog.

The Monbana Team

Here are a few fun things that happened in Nashville:

Monbana: “It was a blast working with Geoffroy Maubon, Monbana’s International Barista. He has such a passion for chocolate – and loves talking with people. We sampled out hundreds of delicious mini frappes. The most popular by far were lemon and caramel, made with real dried fruit/zest and caramel bits.” – Brandy Schrantz, Inside Sales Manager

Torani: Blended one of their new creations in the Innovative Beverage Lab and handed out samples of Real Fruit Lemonade smoothies blended with a wedge of lime.

Pacific Foods: Held a non-dairy barista competition at their booth, where they ended up with 75+ baristas competing!

There were many other vendors there that we partner with like Monin, Cappuccine, Kerry Foodservice/Big Train, and more! This allowed us time to visit with our vendor reps and grow our relationships with them.

It was also a wonderful opportunity to meet new customers in the region as we recently opened a new truck route in the area! Of course a few of our long time customers were there as well- Creation Gardens, Kaldi’s, Park Avenue, Town & Country, and LTD Services.

Each time Houston’s attends Coffee Fest there is a wealth of new information to be brought back and passed along. Enjoy your next “cuppa” and keep an eye out for the Coffee Fest- Chicago article coming up this summer!

Here are a couple more photos from the show!

The post Coffee Fest Nashville 2017 appeared first on Houston's Blog.

DR. SMOOTHIE – Frappes & ADDins

Leafy Greens ADDins

As summer quickly approaches and temperatures begin to rise, frappes and smoothies are becoming more popular with customers. Dr. Smoothie has introduced four new frappe flavors to the Cafe Essentials line: Chocolate Mint Chip, Horchata, Java Chip, and Kona Mocha. Touting less sugar and truer flavors, these four new “gourmet specialty frappe” flavors offer added dimension to any menu, and are sure to please your customers with their authentic taste.

With healthy veggie trends continuing to grow, Dr. Smoothie has also introduced an easy way to get your “5 [servings] a day” with their new beverage blend-ins; Dr. Smoothie ADDins are available in Leafy Green and Veggie blends, as well as the per-existing customer-favorite, Yogurt Lover’s Plus concentrate blend. Add a single scoop of these nutrient-packed supplements to any smoothie concentrate for that daily dose of fruits and veggies that your customers are looking for.

TORANI® – Chai Concentrates

Torani Tradition Chai (left) vs. current category leader (right). Credit: C. Graiff

Keeping up with current trends, Torani® has introduced Chai concentrates to their product line-up, available now in both Traditional and Spicy flavor profiles. Made with all-natural spices including cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, black pepper, cloves and allspice, these concentrates provide an ideal upgrade from traditional mainstream chai concentrates and offer a “well-rounded and balanced combination of sweetness, tea, and spice.” Chai has year-round appeal as it can be served hot, over ice, blended, and even “dirty” with an espresso shot. Compare Torani® Chai to your current brand and you’ll be sure to taste and see the difference!

MONIN®- Hawaiian Island & Cookie Butter Syrups

Monin® released two new innovative flavors this spring made with pure cane sugar and natural flavors: Hawaiian Island and Cookie Butter. Blending the fresh tropical fruit flavors of passion fruit, guava, and orange, Monin® Hawaiian Island syrup is an on-trend flavor that provides an “authentic, multidimensional flavor for crafting memorable specialty beverages.” Perfect for specialty coffees, milkshakes, and cocktails Monin® Cookie Butter syrup provides an indulgent coupling of spices and speculoos cookie flavoring. This versatile syrup is ideal for hot or frozen coffee beverages or specialty cocoas, milkshakes and cocktails. Both syrups are Kosher, Halal, Vegan, GMO free, dairy free, and gluten free and are now available through Houston’s!

DAVID RIO – Cub Chai Super Concentrate

Jodet, of David Rio, discussing product with a show attendee at SCAA 2016. Credit: C. Graiff

Described as the “audacious extensions of the original Cub Chai line”, David Rio recently released their Cub Chai Super Concentrate. The new 5:1 concentrate utilizes the same high-quality organic spices (cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, and ginger) combined with organic Indian black tea for a super tasty, all natural, and vegan chai beverage. Already being served at the organization’s Chai Bar in San Francisco, Cub Chai Super Concentrate can be served hot or cold and “offers your customers a creamy, less sweet, and distinctively spicy chai latte that will have them raving.” Continuing their commitment to supporting animal welfare, David Rio has designed the packaging so that both the bottle and full shrink label are 100% recyclable. Contact us today to request a sample of this “chai perfection.”

SCAA 2016: You may have seen it…

As a redistributor in the foodservice industry, we at Houston’s like to utilize our time at industry shows not only catching up with vendors and customers alike, but also perusing the show as attendees – to see what’s new, what’s trending, and what the “next best thing” might be. At SCAA in Atlanta this past month we had the opportunity to taste new products launched by various vendors.

Add A Scoop (C. Graiff)

Crafted for those with an active lifestyle, Add a Scoop by Smoothie Essentials provides an alternative source of dailynutrients. Eighteen tasteless blends including Antioxidant, Probiotics, Energy, Protein and even a Matcha premix provide a wide variety of options that won’t affect the flavor of your smoothies, frappes, and oatmeals. All Add a Scoop supplements are tasteless as well non-GMO, gluten-free, and certified Kosher, Halal and Vegan.

Powdered frappe, gelato and specialty beverage manufacturer Frozen Bean debuted their latest project, Cocktail Lab, at SCAA. “At Cocktail Lab, we source the finest, all-natural ingredients from around the world to create rimmers that pair beautifully with your favorite beverages.” From coffees to teas, beers to cocktails, and even frappes – Cocktail Lab now allows your customers to experience their favorite beverages in new and exciting ways.

Not to miss out on the dairy-free trend, Frozen Bean also debuted a dairy-free version of their Belgian Hot Chocolate mix that substitutes coconut milk as the dairy alternative. The light coconut notes accent the sweet chocolate flavor without detracting from the creamy quality.

Industry leader in the non-dairy beverages segment, Pacific Foods, continues to promote their new Barista Series line of dairy-alternatives. Created to withstand the high heat involved with foaming, the Barista Series delivers a consistent and smooth micro-foam while complimenting the flavor of your coffee or espresso making the line “perfect for latte art.”

Making their U.S. debut, France-based Chocolaterie Monbana® (Monbana®) created a stir with their indulgent beverages in the gourmet powdered frappe and powdered chocolate segments. Started in 1934, Mobana® is now on its third generation of family owners, all of whom have had a deep passion for premium-quality chocolate. Their continued success has been attributed to respect for European traditions, the use of high-quality ingredients, and continuous innovation.

International Barista, Geoffroy Maubon, discussing Monbana with an SCAA Show attendee (C. Graiff)

Mobana® offers a wide range of extremely versatile products and flavors, providing for the needs of all establishment types in every season. From lucious frappe, to indulgent drinking chocolates and delightful dark chocolate accompaniments, Monbana® has a product to please any demographic. “This isn’t you mother’s Swiss Miss,” one attendee stated after tasting the decadent Trésor Hot Chocolate served up by famed International Barista Geoffroy Maubon. Maubon has been crucial in the development of Monbana®’s product line, developing unique recipes (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) that highlight the versatility of these premium products, showing that frappe mixes and hot chocolates are not just for coffee shops anymore.

If you didn’t attend SCAA, or didn’t get a chance to stop by the Monbana® booth, we heavily suggest you stop by their booth (#819) at Coffee Fest in Dallas, Texas. With the help of Brandenburger-FBG, Monbana® products will be available for U.S. distributors to purchase in late-May or early-June. For more information, contact Brandenburger-FBG.

SCAA 2016 provided attendees the opportunity to experience a wide variety of new products and flavors like those discussed above. Did you attend SCAA 2016 in Atlanta? Which vendors or products were of interest to you?

The post Kicking off the Foodservice Show Season appeared first on Houston's Blog.

Torani® – Booth #829

Flavor seekers around the globe enjoy Torani® in their favorite beverages every day. And Torani has continued to stay on the creative edge with new product lines and ideas for the last 80 years.

Dr. Smoothie® – Booth #1408

Dr. Smoothie® formulates its beverages with your health in mind to maximize the benefits to your body. Functional beverages are what Dr. Smoothie® is all about since 1997.

Monin®– Booth #1203

Monin®’s sole purpose is to create flavors that people around the world can easily use in their everyday life.  Founder Georges Monin’s motto La Passion de la Qualit® (“Passion for Quality”) became the Monin® slogan.

Pacific® Foods – Booth #1736

Pacific® Foods has one simple goal- to make tasty, healthy foods with integrity. Making foods it can be proud of is as much about the ingredients it uses and the way those ingredients are grown, as it is the actual recipe. And GMO’s? Not on Pacific® Foods’ watch.

David Rio™ – Booth #1536

David Rio™, makes chai because it is inspired by traditional Indian milk tea, and it set out to blend Eastern traditions with Western style to create America’s Premier Chai.

Urnex® – Booth #1409

Urnex® doesn’t make coffee or coffee equipment; it helps make them better. With over four generations of experience, Urnex® is the world leader in specialty cleaning products for coffee and espresso equipment.

Mocafé™ – Booth #429

Innovative Beverage Concepts Inc., creators of Mocafé™, has been a leader in developing award winning cafe beverages since 1996. Come taste and compare the difference real ingredients make.

Vitamix® – Booth #707

Since 1921, The Vitamix® Corporation has been an award-winning innovator in blending technology. It is a quality-based organization creating, producing, and marketing high performance, durable, reliable, and innovative equipment.

Espresso Supply Inc. – Booth #1137

Espresso Supply, Inc. has used its expertise to develop a full line of espresso accessories and small wares designed to facilitate the operation of an espresso bar or coffee business.

Cappuccine® – Booth #813

Many people don’ know that Cappuccine® created the first blended iced coffee mix over 15 years ago. Today, its product line consists of more than 20 gourmet flavors that are proudly served all over the world.

Add a Scoop™ – Booth #1621

The Add a Scoop™ by Smoothie Essentials line of products fits an active life style. Being a powder they travel well – from hikes to back packing to vacations. Add a Scoop™ Blends are a wide range of functional supplements; see which one works for you.

The Frozen Bean – Booth #1808

The Frozen Bean, their passion is to create the finest beverages, using only the highest quality ingredients sourced from around the world.

Zojirushi – Booth #817

Zojirushi Corporation began operation more than 90 years ago with the launch of its first glass-lined vacuum bottle. Improving customers’ quality of life through creation of innovative products remains the heart of Zojirushi’s corporate philosophy.

Straw Propeller Gourmet Foods – Booth #1813

Straw Propeller Gourmet Foods offers 15 flavors of oatmeal and 5 flavors of muesli. All of its artisan products are made with certified gluten-free oats, non-GMO, all-natural and kosher certified ingredients.

Remember, if any of these vendors have hot new products you need in your restaurant or warehouse, call Houston’s to see how we can help.

Credit: All of the above company descriptions were paraphrased from the vendor’s website linked to the vendor name. The logos are also courtesy of the vendors.

The post See you at SCAA Atlanta! appeared first on Houston's Blog.

Present options for allergies and other diet restrictions
We all know foodservice best practices require us to have protein and vegetarian options available. Many customers have food allergies and it is more than just a lactose intolerance or peanuts. This could present your kitchen with confusing questions about ingredients for each menu item. Having an ingredients lists on hand, just in case, can easily answer many of these questions. Another way to stay prepared is to have alternatives on hand. For instance, have a little bit of Pacific® Foods rice or coconut milk to avoid lactose issues. For people who cannot have eggs look into using bananas for sweeter items and an egg replacement product for something more savory. For gluten-free options it is best to consult your recipe to see how much xanthum gum or other ingredients you may need.

Pacific Foods Milk Alternatives, image courtesy of Pacific Foods

Make your specialties
Customers come to your restaurant because they like what you serve, so why change what you already know is working? Now don’t let that stop you from bringing out an old favorite or something from home to business. If you know the recipes then just plan ahead, do a test run as a special some time before the actual menu launch. This will give you an idea of volume differences between a home recipe and a commercial kitchen.  For instance, you could look at making a Black Cherry Sangria with Monin’s Black Cherry Fruit Purée and find the recipe you have only lasts one meal when you wanted to be an all-day special.  Frequently adjust your ingredient needs according to forecasted volume.

Make sure you have everything
It may be one of the few times per year that you use a roasting pan. Did it survive Christmas? Do you have enough salad dishes for the customers who have RSVP’d for brunch? If not, you don’t want to find that out the day of the party. Also, make a checklist of the ingredients and tools needed to make each dish. Go through the list as soon as possible to make sure everything is in stock and ready to go.

Bay Pointe by Crestware, image courtesy of Crestware

Spruce up the décor
If you are updating why not do a little brighten up of your décor with decorated china or flatware. Give your brand has some livelier notes. You could add color to your bar with colored beverage napkins, or to your table with Bay Pointe china. Another option is to add a pop of color to the back kitchen with Chef Revival  Fresh Crew Jackets in Mint Green or Tomato Red.

Spring menus
Updating for spring shouldn’t take away from your specialties, but should also allow you to consider other options available specifically for spring. Look into what is fresh in your area and maybe add a side-dish here, or an entrée there. Another great option is to add a specialty drink or salad dressing using seasonal fruits or herbs. Check out the recipe below for fresh Granny Smith Apple Vinaigrette from Monin.

Granny Smith Apple Vinaigrette

• 1/3 cup Monin Granny Smith Apple Fruit Purée
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard0
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pinch of cayenne pepper

Mix ingredients until thoroughly combined. Use to dress salad greens.

If you need help updating your dinnerware or menu flavors, give us a call today!

Monin Granny Smith Apple Vinaigette, image courtesy of Monin

The post 5 Ways to Spruce Up for Spring Dining appeared first on Houston's Blog.

Milk consumption has been on a steady decline in the market for the past 20 years dropping 25% from 1975-2012, while the plant-based dairy alternatives have averaged annual sales growth of 10.9% since 1999, according to Time. Even popular coffee shops have added other alternatives to dairy besides soy in recent years— Starbuck has added coconut milk and Dunkin’ Doughnuts has added almond milk.

Houston’s recently added a new dairy alternative vendor to our suppliers, Pacific Foods. At Pacific Foods they holds their ingredients to high standards, tracing the origin of every natural and organic ingredient used in their foods. Pacific Foods is also a big supporter of the Non-GMO project, steering clear of additives, preservatives and common allergens. We are pleased to offer a wide variety of their dairy alternatives, which include—Almond Original, Almond Vanilla, Hemp Chocolate, Hemp Original, Hemp Vanilla, Rice Original, and Rice Vanilla Beverages.

We are also stocking their Barista Series™, available exclusively to specialty coffee and foodservice distributors. The Barista Series™ is specially formulated to withstand high temperatures and deliver consistently smooth, velvety microfoam, perfect for latte art, according to Pacific Foods. The Barista Series™ is available in Almond Original, Coconut Original, Soy Original, Soy Vanilla, and Chai Latte Beverages.

So many options to choose from, what product will you add Pacific Foods dairy alternative beverages to?

The post Dairy Alternative Beverages appeared first on Houston's Blog.