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Restaurant Daily News Monday, May 20, 2019 5 4 Award-Winning Flameless Catering Product Makes Serving Hot Food Safer, Simpler & Faster An interview with David Amirault, Vice President of Marketing, Sterno Products. RDN: Tell our readers about SpeedHeat ® . DA: SpeedHeat is a flameless, water- activated system that produces high-heat steam, with zero ramp-up time. It is con- sidered by many in the catering industry to be the most innovative portable heat system since the introduction of Sterno chafing fuel more than a century ago. We spent time in the field with high volume caterers of all types, including social, corporate, chain restaurants and food management companies, testing prototypes and refining the design to get to the best possible flameless, food warming and serving product. Our num- ber one takeaway was that our customers wanted a buffet-style flameless food serving option that was quick and easy to set up and made the whole process safer, simpler and faster. RDN: What was catalyst for the develop- ment of this product? DA: A product like this has been top-of- mind in the catering industry for years. Up till now, the challenge for caterers has always been how to keep hot food at an ideal serving temperature in an environ- ment or location that isn't necessarily designed for serving food, or in places that have open-flame restrictions. RDN: Is Sterno getting out of the 'canned heat' business? DA: Our legacy line of portable warming products is Sterno's foundation. We will continue to develop and innovate in this arena. With SpeedHeat, however, we are able to offer our customers a prod- uct that allows them to serve high-mar- gin, hot menu items in venues and/or at occasions where up-to-this-point it was just not possible or practical. For exam- ple, at a historic landmark with an open- flame restriction, or for a quick-serve corporate catering lunch with a 20- minute service window. RDN: How does the the SpeedHeat sys- tem work? DA: With a simple process that involves two water-activated heat packets and an included base and tray that replaces the traditional water chafing pan, SpeedHeat has zero ramp-up time and starts produc- ing high-heat steam right away to keep food at the ideal temperature for the ideal length of time. RDN: Is SpeedHeat a 'single-use' product? DA: There are two versions of SpeedHeat. Our Recyclable line is designed for use with disposable alu- minum half pans, and can be used up to three times. There are eight complete units to a case. Refill SpeedHeat packets are sold separately. The SpeedHeat base and tray are fully recyclable; the spent heat packets go into everyday trash. The Reusable line, SpeedHeat HD features a durable, universal base and accepts 1/3, 1/2 and full food pan sizes (disposable or durable), and will provide the same dura- bility you'd expect from a traditional chafer. Refill SpeedHeat packets are sold separately. Visit Sterno Products at booth #6912. For more information, go to www.sterno pro.com or call 951.682.9600. Take Order Pick-Up from Awkward to Awesome With digital dining predicted to be a $300 billion opportunity by 2025, foodservice operators are scrambling to meet the demand and make the experience fast, fun and efficient for their operations. So far, results have been mixed. While digital ordering is usually fast and sim- ple, all bets are off when the customer comes in to pick up that order. Often, it's an awkward dance in the entrance as they make their way past dine-in customers, bump into employees rushing to take to- go orders to a pick-up shelf or counter, and maneuver past customer lines at the registers. Meanwhile, restaurant staff are jug- gling orders for eat-in customers while keeping an eye on all those takeout orders, making sure the right order goes to the right customer. All this inefficiency means orders take too long to pick up, and a convenient option becomes an inconvenient hassle. That's the kind of aggravation and anxiety that can drive away customers who don't have the time or patience to deal with it. It's this less-than-perfect scenario that inspired the development of 2019's Kitchen Innovations Award recipient, the AXCESS 2000.H Pick-Up Station from Apex Supply Chain Technologies ® . The industry's first heated, self-serve order pick-up station was specifically designed to make the "last inch" handoff of digital orders more convenient for customers – and more efficient for employees. The lockers feature a smart, two-sided design, meant to be strategically located so that employees can load orders from the back, while customers pick up in front. More impor- tantly, it's a fast, self-serve experience for busy people who don't have time to wait in line. The real genius of the order pick- up station is that it continues the fast, efficient experience that begins with the digital order process. Once an employee places the order in the com- partment for pick-up, the customer receives a text or email with a unique code. Then they can skip the line and go straight to the pick-up station, where they scan or enter their code. The secure compartment holding their order opens, they grab their order and are on their way in seconds. Just as importantly, the AXCESS 2000.H also makes order pickup less disruptive and more efficient for restaurant operations. The flow-through design makes it easy for associates to load orders from the back, and they don't get in the way of customers picking up at the front. The AXCESS 2000.H is ideal for a variety of hot foods, including chicken and ribs, as well as prepared meals. For more information, go to www .apexsupplychain.com/foodservice, email info@apexsupplychain.com or visit booth #5670. Behind Every Great Chef, There are Great Knives ZWILLING J.A. Henckels is the cutlery of choice for chefs across the globe. It equips professionals with 278 years of knife expertise – so that you can cook remarkably. ZWILLING J.A. Henckels started as a small, family-owned German knife company, and has grown to include inter- national heritage brands to bring its cus- tomers the best from across the globe. Respected as an innovator in the industry, ZWILLING remains rooted in the foun- dation upon which it was built: a tradition of quality, craftsmanship and excellence forged nearly three centuries ago. Proudly crafted in the City of Blades, Solingen, Germany, its knives continue to be the benchmark for premium cutlery. Inspired by a passion for cooking, ZWILLING has perfected steel selection, blade sharpening, hardening processes and handle manufacturing. The result: remarkably durable, sharp and balanced knives to help you cut with confidence. The company's two centerpiece lines, ZWILLING ® Pro and ****FOUR STAR, are used in top professional kitchens worldwide. These high-perfor- mance knives are known as the "chef's best friends." You can't top the dura- bility of ZWILLING's spe- cial formula German stain- less steel, a recipe that ZWILLING has been hon- ing since 1731. Precision- forged from a single piece of steel, these SIG- MAFORGE ® knives have an exceptionally sturdy, balanced and flexible blade. Thanks to ZWILLING's signature ice-hardening technique, the FRIODUR ® blades start sharper, stay sharper longer and have superior resilience. Along with their compound bevel that enhances strength, these incredibly precise knives stand up to the demands of busy restau- rants. Each knife is honed and hand-fin- ished by the most skilled artisans. Their ergonomic handles pro- mote fatigue free cut- ting even after long days on the line. Why not come feel how good they grip firsthand? You can find ZWILLING at booth #5638, where its team of experts will be available to show you the many knife features up close. Both lines are available in 40 different blade shapes and an array of different kits, so you can pick and choose the knives that best suit you and your kitchen. Be the best chef you can be with ZWILLING J.A. Henckels. For more information, go to www. zwilling.com or visit booth #5638. Organic, Full Fat Yogurt from Bellwether Farms Bellwether Farms offers organic, full fat yogurt, made with milk from pastured Jersey cows. Jersey cows have more digestible A2 protein than the Holstein breed. This higher quality milk produces a richer, creamier yogurt, without strain- ing, added thickeners or added cream. Naturally creamier. Naturally more pro- tein. Naturally more digestible. This yogurt is the perfect snack. Bellwether Farms is introducing this delicious snack as a four-pack of 3.75- ounce cups. The yogurt is available in plain, vanilla, strawberry, blueberry, blackberry and spiced apple. It looks beautiful on the shelf and customers will love it. Bellwether Farms is a family owned farm and creamery located in western Sonoma County. Since 1990, it has been producing award-winning whole milk dairy products. For more information, call 707.763.0993, email info@bellwetherfarms.com or go to www.bellwetherfarms.com.