Considering The Right Catering Equipment For Your Kitchen

You have decided to go for it. That dream you have always had of one day owning your own restaurant or cafe bar has finally become a reality. Too many nights sat in front of the TV watching The F Word or Jamie Oliver has overwhelmed you with a wave of inspiration to feel the buzz of your own kitchen. In your mind you have picked the commercial venue, hired the staff, planned the opening party and developed the specials menu. However before any of this becomes a practical reality, you have the small task of refurbishing the entire venue into a fully functioning commercial establishment.

The catering equipment required for your eatery is imperative to the successful running of your business. Having the right equipment to serve the correct dishes to the correct number of diners will be one of the most important decisions you make while preparing for your grand opening so it is worth investing in the professionals to help you make the right choices.

The first thing to consider when choosing your catering equipment is the type of food you will be serving. If you are opening a sandwich bar, you won't be needing pizza ovens and hog dog machines. Similarly, if you are opening a fast food restaurant, you probably won't need pasta boilers or latte machines. Think carefully about the equipment you will need and the how this will be accommodated by the layout and size of your premises.
It is easy to get carried away when considering your options. Before you start purchasing your catering equipment for its colour or its style, always be sure to consider its practicality first.

Similarly the number of guests you anticipate on serving must be taken into consideration when buying your catering equipment. If you are planning on seating one hundred guests a night, you may need to think about purchasing more than one compact oven. If you are opening a small coffee shop, you probably won't need to buy five six grid ovens.

To help you make these decisions, it is advisable to consider hiring a Project Manager. Check out their references and make yourself familiar with their previous work. Once you are satisfied with their credentials, the role of your project manager will be to conduct a survey of the premises, advising on any work needs to be carried out and by whom. They will advise what catering equipment will be required for your market and go through your options with you.

It is also important that the installation of any commercial catering equipment is undertaken by a registered Corgi (the Council of Registered Gas Installers) engineer as certificates of installation are required by law. They will oversee the safety of all gas installation work. You also need to consider the installation of electrical appliances, wiring and electrical power supply. General health and safety issues must be addressed such as considering disabled access, fire exit accessibility and the presence of first aid kits.

Once the essential work has been carried out by the professionals, you can start to have fun yourself adding the interior touches to your kitchens, from toasters, to kettles, to coffee machines or juicers.

The installation of catering equipment is an essential but also fun part to preparing your eatery. With so many options and so many possibilities, all it takes to achieve the perfect fit is a little research. Make sure the kitchen doesn't just look good, make sure its practical, safe and suits all your commercial needs.