BBQ Food & Equipment - May 2016

BARBECUE FOOD AND EQUIPMENT: TUCO MAY 2016

When is the best time to start planning a barbecue menu?

Whilst it may not be until the weather starts warming up that caterers start to think about firing up the barbecue and taking their menu outside, to ensure the Great British Summer is maximised planning should take place early. Allow time to provide a reasonable budget to purchase any new equipment required and look at the best potential dates to offer an outdoor menu. The early months can often be a quieter period, following a busy festive season, providing the perfect opportunity to consider future endeavours and investments!

Should this be a one-off event or a regular menu during the warmer months?

Cooking outdoors can become a regular feature during the Spring and Summer months, and perhaps even further with the right equipment! Barbecue menus can provide a great focus for special events such as bank holidays, but can also provide a great source of extra income every weekend. Few can resist the smell of a barbecue on a summer afternoon and university caterers can offer a simple barbecue menu without a great deal of expense or planning, providing they have the right equipment in place.

Aside from the usual barbecue foods like burgers, what can caterers cook on the barbecue?

Traditional barbecue foods such as burgers, sausages and steaks will always be a hit with students and very few will be able to resist the smell of a barbecue on a summer afternoon. The Crown Verity MCB range includes models capable of cooking anything from 210 – 560 burgers per hour, with a grill to suit to output of any user!

However, events such as the British BBQ Battle – now in its 5^th year – demonstrate that Barbecue cooking need not be restricted to food served in a bun! Chefs from across the industry have been able to turn out very impressive 3 course menu’s year after year and with a little bit of creative thinking venues can offer exciting menu options to appeal to a wide range of customers. Past BBQ Champion, Ben Bartlett, regularly demonstrates innovative ways to spice up your BBQ menu – Follow him on Twitter - @bbqben1 – for the latest news.The Crown Verity range of Professional Barbecue systems includes a wide range of accessories such as griddles, steam pans and additional side burners to allow a vast and varied menu.

What essential barbecue equipment do universities need in order to cater for such large numbers?

For any outdoor cooking set up, the most important piece of equipment to get right is the Barbecue itself! First and foremost, university caterers should ensure that they are purchasing truly commercial equipment. Many domestic barbecues look the part, but will not last or be able to recover quickly during a busy service. Look for a Barbecue that uses commercial grade stainless steel (be wary that many domestic models use stainless steel but are of light duty construction) and also check out the grid racks - stainless steel work much better than coated ones that invariably chip and flake off in time. Look for good portability as many barbecues have poorly constructed wheels. Importantly, ensure the product comes with a full commercial warranty. Some have a lifetime guarantee! Remember that you would not buy a domestic cooker for your commercial kitchen so apply the same thought process for your outdoor Barbecue.

Provided some sort of outdoor area is available, any establishment can quickly and easily set up a barbecue for use almost immediately. Charcoal and Gas options are available, with gas options using portable gas cylinders. Operators should also consider some kind of portable hand wash station and also prep/serving areas to avoid constant back & forth to the main kitchen. The Crown Verity range includes both simple charcoal barbecues and versatile, portable gas options. Also available in the CVEHS hand wash station and the range can easily be paired with Simply Stainless Modular Fabrication to create a complete outdoor kitchen!

With the Crown Verity Professional Barbecue range, operators can either create their own BBQ Station by combining a barbecue with prep areas, refrigeration and even branding – or look at ready made options, such as the MBI80 which includes a 36” barbecue with side burner and storage

www.rhhall.com, www.crownverity.com or our You Tube channel for videos showing the versatility of the Crown Verity range.

R H Hall are the Exclusive UK Distributor for the Crown Verity range of Professional Barbecue Systems.

R H Hall, Hallco House, Beacon Court, Pitstone Green Business Park, Pitstone, Beds, LU7 9GY 

T: 01296 663400 F: 01296 663401 E: sales@rhhall.com W: www.rhhall.com