Northern Restaurant and Bar 2011 – show preview
The Northern Restaurant and Bar 2011, which opens in Manchester next month, has some extra goodies lined up for its 10th anniversary.
The Northern Restaurant and Bar show brings together more than 200 exhibitors and 5,000 trade-only visitors - and this year it has expanded its appeal with two extra shows.
The BarLife Show is a new area focused on bars, spirits and cocktails with its own demo theatre and a programme of seminars and cocktail competitions. It will also host the Northern Bartender of the Year finals.
The inclusion of the Food To Go fast-food show underlines the fact that almost 80% of the UK's 59,000 pubs now offer sandwiches and snacks. Food To Go will also provide the battleground for the northern regional heats of the British Sandwich Designer of the Year Award.
Northern Restaurant and Bar 2011
1-2 March 2011Manchester Central (G-Mex)
Here's a taster of what's on show:
1. BEERTECH
The Anti-Beer Theft system - one of three new lines from Beertech - is an electronic meter fitted to the cellar beerline to measure throughput that can be checked against the volumes recorded in the electronic point of sale system. New cellar cooling technology draws in ambient air from outside to maintain correct cellar temperature and keep mould at bay, while the computer-controlled switching-off of internal coolers extends system life by up to one year and reduces annual carbon emissions by three tons. Flowmaster 2 is a simpler version - for short draws - of the first model, which extends the line cleaning cycle to at least three weeks, saving beer that is usually wasted and cutting down on labour time.
Stand 621
2. CABROSE SARL
Buddyfruits are a new and fun way to eat pure puréed fruit pulp directly from resealable, squeezy pouches without spoons or mess. The 90g pouches - which contain just 60 calories and no additives or extra sugar - are equivalent to one fresh fruit and make a healthy snack for travellers, lunchboxes and outdoor events. The two flavours are Apple/Strawberry and Apple/Mango/Passionfruit. Fruit Bites, 100% fruits sweets, will also debut on the stand.
Stand 320E
3. CHRISTIAN AUDIGIER WINES & CHAMPAGNE UK
Rock fashion icon Christian Audigier is using the show as a platform for the world-exclusive launch of his new Sauvignon blanc wine in a rock ‘n' roll-style bottle design. Produced in the vineyards of the Montpeyroux Estate in the Rhone wine area, the new wine is described as fresh and elegant "with aromas of May blossom and citrus and exotic fruits: an ideal accompaniment to fish, oysters or soft cheese dishes".
Stand 528
4. DOUWE EGBERTS
The eco-modes on two new Cafitesse coffee machines slash energy use by 30% on standby and underline the company's plan to improve energy-efficiency on all new machines by 20%. Cafitesse Excellence is a self-service machine for quality roast and ground coffees that dispenses Douwe Egbert's new Superior Dark Excellence, a 100% Arabica roasted blend. The recently-launched, high-performance Cafitesse NG-C110 roast and ground machine is just 26cm wide but can deliver up to 800 cups per hour.
Stand 506
5. EASI FINANCE
The stand will showcase the EM-200 mobile, multi-purpose tablet PC that hospitality specialist Partner Tech UK has designed specifically for the restaurant, bar and hotel sector. The slimline, lightweight PC can be wall-mounted, stationed behind the bar or used as a mobile PC for taking orders or stock taking. Its recessed base station bypasses the need for a full electronic point of sale system as it connects directly to a printer or cash register. The 10in touchscreen panel is resistant to dust and spills while the reinforced casing protects the PC from knocks and bumps.
Stand 522
Making its debut is a new disposable electronic cigarette for pubs and clubs that will enable their customers to enjoy their nicotine hit inside without falling foul of the anti-smoking regulations. The E42 contains no tobacco or tar or any of the 4,000 chemicals found in regular fags - just liquid nicotine that is transformed into vapour in an internal atomising chamber. Dispensed from a back bar tray of 56 units, the E42 delivers the equivalent of 42 cigarettes and is said to be 70% cheaper than the real thing.
Stand 609
7. EURO-BAKERY
Naan wraps - the newest offer in the Euro Bakery basket of authentic speciality breads - fill a perceived gap in the market for a wrappable bread that is thicker than a tortilla but less bulky than conventional naans. "We see a typical trend as in the USA where other bread wraps have followed on from tortillas," said managing director Zubair Waheed, who describes the new wraps as "the softest, tastiest wrappable breads around". All Euro Bakery lines come in plain, garlic and masala varieties and in mini to mega sizes.
Stand 320b
8. FENTIMANS
Ginger beer specialist Fentimans showcases its first foray into alcoholic drinks with Hollows Superior Alcoholic Ginger Beer, which is based on a secret family recipe that Thomas Fentiman gave away with his daughter's hand in marriage to John Hollows in 1906. It is made from hand-picked herbs, 100% natural flavourings, sugar and brewer's yeast. Chinese root ginger is slowly fermented with botanical ingredients for 12 to 14 days and then supplemented with natural pear juice to add body and fullness. The process creates a deep ginger flavour, a naturally cloudy appearance and a 4% abv.
Stand 631
9. LIVESEY MUSHROOMS/FERRYFAST PRODUCE
Maitake is the latest addition to the range of UK-grown exotic mushrooms that Livesey Brothers has been growing in temperature-controlled buildings at its Leicestershire farm since 1985. UK-grown mushrooms offer improved freshness and flavour, extended shelf lives and year-round availability at fixed prices compared with imports. They are cut and packed daily and marketed by Ferryfast Produce.
Stand 417
10. GO IN UK
Funky foam seats for use in terraces, outside bars and beaches will be making a splash on the Go In stand. Part of the Xenon range of outdoor furniture, the seats are weatherproof and resistant to salt water and UV rays but remain soft and comfortable to use. The seats are lightweight - making them easy to rearrange - easily cleaned with regular commercial cleaning products and available in vibrant orange, green, violet, taupe, brown or white. The Xenon line also includes matching light-up stools with colour-changing LEDs.
Stand 400
11. METTE
A pop-up kitchen that converts into a mobile bar and prep area is the newest addition to the Chop & Change line of customisable work stations that are based on a mobile or fixed shell unit that can be infinitely altered with interchangeable accessories. As a kitchen, the new product offers a two-ring induction hob, heated mobile water system, half-width sinks, prep surface/perforated drainage area, flip-up serving shelf, storage space and condiments rack. It converts to a bar with the addition of an insulated ice well, a garnish prep area with separate and a spirits holder. A Field to Fork model adds a bespoke butcher's workstation. The two-in-one concept costs about £6,950.
Stand 214
12. NEW FOREST ICE CREAM
Centre stage goes to the three new flavours - Chocolate Heaven, Oriental Ginger and Apple Strudel - in the group's Real Dairy Ice Cream range, which is made from Channel Island milk and thick double cream in a nut-free environment. Bubble Gum, the latest addition to the group's Continental range, will also be available for sampling, along with the company's wide selection of sorbets, soft-serve and impulse lines.
Stand 319
13. RUBIS CHOCOLATE WINE
Although it has been exported for several years, this unusual wine - which is blended and bottled in London - has only just become available to UK customers unless they have travelled to Africa or Dubai or on a Cunard Cruise liner. Tempranillo red wine from Spain is blended with premium chocolate flavour to create a bold cherry fruit flavour with rich chocolate overtones that chefs say works well with venison and game dishes. The wine is not available in supermarkets.
Stand 51
