Hospitality Show 2009

Last week's Hospitality show at the NEC, Birmingham, featured products for all areas of a hospitality business, from the kitchen to guest and public areas. Here's what caught Caterer's eye.

You can also view the Caterer preview of Hospitality here

1. PASTA MASTER

Chefs who make their own pasta might like to know there's a machine that will make great-quality pasta effortlessly and quickly.

The Lillo Due is ACS Food Equipment's best seller, although the company also supplies larger pasta machines. Its mixing hopper has a maximum flour capacity of 1kg, which will make about 10 servings.

All you do is add the flour and pour in the egg. Within 10 minutes the dough is mixed and kneaded. The pasta is then extruded through special solid bronze dies to form the pasta shape.

Bronze is the traditional material from which pasta extruding dies are made. The friction created by the bronze creates the rough surface texture that is authentic and will hold a sauce better than pasta made by any other method.

The Lillo Due is supplied with four standard dies: spaghetti (1.75mm), fettuccine (7mm), tagliolini (3.5mm) and rigatoni (7.5mm), although there are a wide range of optional die shapes and sizes available.

To buy it, call
ACS Food Equipment
01234 843301

2. ICE-CREAM ON DEMAND

Aiming to make it easier for restaurants or caf‚s to make and serve their own ice-cream and sorbet, Carpigiani has launched the Quartetto machine.

Besides making fresh ice-cream and sorbet, the compact vertical batch freezer is able to store up to four batches and keep them at the correct temperature for serving.

Once the production cycle is complete - about four litres of ice-cream is produced each cycle - the ice-cream or sorbet is dispensed into the steel tub on the shelf below.

Supplied with four stainless-steel tubs, the Quartetto stores the prepared desserts in its chilled compartment, which operates at temperatures of between -8°C and -15°C. The machine has a net weight of 115kg and measures 54cm wide, 57cm deep and 115cm high. Mounted on castors, it can easily be moved around the kitchen.

To buy it, call
Carpigiani
01432 346018

3. DOWN ON THE FARM

Pertwood Organic Farm began producing breakfast cereals 10 years ago following the organic conversion of Lower Pertwood Farm in Wiltshire 10 years earlier. The company's four most popular cereals are now available in individual portion packs specifically aimed at the food service sector.

The healthy organic cereals are made from high-grade British-grown grains and are manufactured and packaged in the UK.

Sold in single-variety trays of 12, the range includes: Organic Farm Muesli Fruit & Seeds (65g), consisting of oats, rye and barley flakes blended with sultanas, apricots and sesame, pumpkin and sunflower seeds; Organic Farm Muesli Delicious Fruits (65g), oats, rye and barley flakes blended with sultanas, apricots, dates, pineapple and apple; Organic Farm Granola Sultanas & Nuts (45g), oats hazelnuts, sesame and sunflower seeds toasted with coconut and honey, blended with sultanas; and Organic Farm Maple Flakes (40g), a waxy barley toasted and dipped in maple syrup.

The Organic Granola Sultanas & Nuts received a Gold 1 Star at the Great Taste Awards 2008 and Gold Taste of the West Award 2008.

To buy it, call
Pertwood Organic Farm 01985 217770

4. COFFEE AUTOMATIC

Launched last year, the Reneka Mosaic range of automatic traditional coffee machines are manufactured at Reneka's factory in Rosheim, France, and aim to offer attractive and innovative design.

There are four models: Mosaic is a compact one-group machine with hot water tap and single steam arm; Mosaic Bistro is a compact two-group machine with hot water tap and single steam arm; Mosaic Barista is a two-group machine with hot water tap and twin steam arms; and Mosaic Barista HP (high performance) is a two-group machine with hot water tap and twin steam arms.

Features include 85mm (standard) cup clearance or 145mm (no-cost option) higher cup clearance to allow the tallest latte glass or even 16oz disposable cups to fit directly under the brewhead; toggle levers for instant "on and off" control when operating either the steam arm or hot water tap; the ability to programme five automatic drink selections on each brewhead; and a choice of five colours.

Additionally, the Barista and Barista HP offer extra space under the right-hand steam arm to enable large milk-foaming jugs to fit easily.

The machines are supplied with an auto-stop Reneka grinder, knockout drawer, professional Brita water filter unit, full installation, commissioning, training and 12 months' parts and on-site labour warranty.

To buy it, call
Tudor Tea & Coffee
01708 866966

5. PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL

Hatsuyuki Ice Shaving machines are little-known in the UK but well established in the Far East and the USA, where they are used in two ways: for preparing Hawaiian Ice-branded ice crystal drinks - which US President Barack Obama was photographed enjoying during a break in Honolulu last year; and in restaurants for creating granita-style palate cleansers or desserts.

The compact Hatsuyuki HC-S32A ice shaving machine, measuring 30.6cm (wide) by 40.2cm (deep) by 42.9cm (high), is now available in the UK.

To buy it, call
Shave Ice (UK)
01482 870000http://www.shaveice.co.uk

6. SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS

ScentAir is launching sensory branding into the UK, which works on the premise that our sense of smell and memory are processed by the same part of the brain, so scent often triggers an emotional response which can positively impact on both sales and a person's contentment.

ScentAir delivery systems use a dry-air technology that releases a fragrance without spays, aerosols or heated oils, so there is no residue to stain or damage floors or furnishings.

Equipment includes ScentWave for spaces up to 2,000sq ft, an HVAC system for air volumes up to 500,000cu ft, and ScentPOP, which is suitable for point of sale or vending situations. Installation options can be counter-top, on a track lighting system, flush ceiling mounting or through existing air-conditioning systems. The equipment is provided free on loan and can be programmed to release fragrance on a timed schedule or triggered by motion sensors.

There are more than 1,500 scents available, including Ocean Mist, Island Breeze, Orange Blossom, Jasmine and a selection of food and drink scents, such as Gingerbread, Cinnamon, French Bread, Hot Chocolate and Freshly Brewed Coffee.

To buy it, call
ScentAir
01753 725777