How To Clean Marble Flooring In A Large Hotel Lobby

Hotels & Inns

For ages, marble flooring has always been a sign of luxury. Whether the floor is in a hotel lobby or a house it always adds instant character and class to any place that uses it. When it comes to cleaning marble there are quite a few guidelines that you need to follow otherwise you will end up permanently damaging the floor. You have to always keep in mind that marble flooring is very different than other floor types like hardwood tile laminate or linoleum. Normal everyday cleaning products are way too acidic for marble floors. If you use these types of cleaners on marble floors you will permanently damage the surface of the floor.

The normal acidity of these everyday cleaners enters the pores of the floor and damages its shine. In order to be able to clean marble floors safely, you need to use cleaners that have absolutely no acidity to them. The first process to keeping marble floors clean and also in good condition is to make sure that you do not allow dust, sand, or grit to settle on them. Marble usually has a very smooth and polished surface therefore anything rough on the surface is going to scratch it very easily. This is pretty much comparable to walking around the floor with bits of sandpaper on your shoes. Doing this is going to ruin your floors forever.

To keep dust and dirt and grit off your hotel lobby marble floors the best approach is to use a tool like a microfiber flat mop. These tools are invaluable for caring for marble floors. The reason why they are so good for marble floors is that they do not scratch the floor and they are large which saves time. If you compare a microfiber mop to a vacuum cleaner, a vacuum cleaner can very easily scratch the floor. On the other hand, the microfiber mop is always going to have something soft and fluffy touching the floor rather than something hard and rough.

When it comes time to wet mop marble flooring, remember to stay away from normal commercial cleaners. Rather just use warm water and a microfiber wet mop. If you do have some tough dirt to deal with then mix a very mild solution of soap and water. However never use anything stronger than normal basic household soap. By following these simple instructions your marble floor will last you a lifetime. See here for a better understanding of using microfiber mops.

The 5 Key Questions To Inquire About Your Seattle Catering Service Provider

Catering Industry & Services

All of us understand that selecting a Seattle catering business is hard. Not just there are a lot of companies focusing on this matter – there are
likewise a great deal of concerns and doubts individuals have when choosing a wedding event, business, birthday or memorial/funeral catering

Today, we are noting the 5 typical concerns that you must ask your catering business in Seattle prior to scheduling it.

1. Which food or food do you focus on?

The primarily concern you must ask your Seattle catering service is the range of foods and foods they cover and which of them is their expertise.
That method, both you and the catering service will understand

2. Exactly what is the typical cost band?

Rate is clearly a crucial thing when picking a Seattle catering service – and one that need to be gone over with your possible catering service.
Whether it is figured out by food choice, period of occasion or a flat rate – you ought to make the rates a clear thing from the very start.

3. Will you offer wait personnel, flatware, tables, chairs and linen?

‘The more, the merrier’ is the guideline that lots of clients choose when picking Seattle catering services. This is primarily since company is of
prime value in order to reduce the possibilities of overlooking essential information for your occasion. Essentially, reliable catering business in
Seattle all provide tables, chairs, linen, flatware and expert personnel available for the celebration – so, it depends on you to choose whether you
require it or not.

4. Do you own a trade license?

This is among the concerns that is extremely important – and one that most reputed occasion catering services are happy to address. Having a
company license for expert catering is a clear sign of professionalism and a tidy chit from the regional Health Department. If a business has this,
you can feel confident of fresh, hand-prepared and amazing catering service in Seattle.

5. Can you offer me with recommendations of pleased customers or pictures of occasions in the past?

A terrific method to see the ability and quality of a Seattle catering business is to request for recommendations of previous customers, images from
previous occasions and other kinds of suggestions. The reality is, all the prominent catering businesses have these things and like to boast about
their previous experiences, elegant occasions and premium service.

At this moment, you understand exactly what the most crucial concerns are concerning your catering business in Seattle. So, have you began
searching for the leading prospects yet?

Food Branding And Marketing

Catering Industry & Services

How to select the Right Packaging

Understanding the importance of Food Branding and Marketing is a sure way to ensure that your product is not just sitting on the shelf. At Pencilworks we know that consumers will pass your packaged products in favor of others that are having better designed packaging, so it is important to put into consideration your audience and design your food packaging to entice them.

No matter what kind of food you are selling, it is important that your product is spot on the shelf. There are many different methods to do this, and this will largely depend on the type of food you are marketing, and the public being marketed towards. Below we have some common strategies to highlight the right type of packaging for the design that attracts the attention of the people.

Colorful packaging is always a brilliant idea, especially with regard to the marketing of food that is aimed at children. Children love bright colors and happy, so it makes sense to pack food this way for them. Neon colors and bright primary colors are suitable for children, but for a more mature audience do not work as well.
Elegant design package is a good idea for food products that are marketed in an upscale audience. For example, it is recommended to pack a high quality cheese in a stylish and elegant packaging.

Before packing pet food, it should be package with both the owner and the pet in mind. Almost every time you want to include a photo of animal that the food is intended for; also, the packaging should reflect all the good reasons why a pet owner must buy the food for the animal.

Pictures of healthy fresh fruits, vegetables and cereals work very well when it comes to the packaging of health food. It is also advisable to include a lot of verbiage on the packaging which will inform about the health benefits of the foods been sold. In essence, you want a situation whereby the food will look nutritious and healthy so that consumers will buy it.

In general sweet and chocolate bars make people happy and carefree, and as such it must be packaged in brilliantly designed and fun packaging. Awakening such feelings encourages consumers to buy snack foods first, so keep in mind that if you are looking for a great design suitable for candy or snack food products.

You cannot afford to order the use of the wrong type of packaging material for you products. The packaging designs for senior citizens cannot be used to appeal to younger audience. Remember that the use of wrong wording on health food can cause your food packaged products to be over looked on the shelf.

How to be Smart in Offering Catering Services

Catering Industry & Services

Offering a perfect catering service is quite rough sometime. You will need to bring a catering company on board if you need catering services. This not only saves you time, it also saves you going through the stressful endeavor. Hiring a catering company may cost you financially, but the advantages by far surpass the few bucks you have to sacrifice.

Save Time

When hiring a catering company, you don’t have to plan, cook, and serve food, imagine how much time that will save. Figuring out what to cook, going to the grocery store, cooking for hours, setting up and serving the food; this takes a lot of time. And when planning an event, time is precious.

Make a Statement

When an event is catered, it leaves a lasting impression with guests. It makes an event feel more important and structured. Whether it’s a private event like a birthday, anniversary, reunion; a special day like a wedding; or a significant event like a business gathering, having a catering company on-site shows that you took time to really make the event special. The attention to detail you pays from hiring a caterer will shine through to guests.

Less Stress

As we’ve said, planning an event requires a lot of time and effort. From decorations and invitations to food and beverages – there are a lot of things that go into making an event complete and memorable. A catering company can assist you in planning for one of the major to-dos: food. A lot of thought goes into what to serve at an event which can be stressful. Catering companies can ease this worry and take care of the hard work.

Sourced From: http://www.clearwatertravelplaza.com/news-events/5-important-reasons-to-hire-a-catering-company

Providing good catering service can be costly and hard. If you need to avoid the unnecessary cost of buying catering equipment you will not need all the time, you can actually rent the equipment only when necessary, which also provides a better opportunity to get better bids and save on some money. Hiring saves cost. Since you need the equipment for only a short period, you will pay a rental fee for that short period. This fee is much less when compared to the costs of buying new catering equipment.

Buying comes with the need for maintenance and storage space, which means additional costs in the long term. Since the equipment will be returned back to the rental company after use, there are no maintenance costs or need for storage.

Some catering equipment, such as tablecloths may lose their trendiness over time; which means you will be stuck with the same clothes even when they are no longer fashionable. However, that becomes less of a concern if you are hiring your catering equipment.

Since no two events are ever truly the same, the best catering equipment for each event varies. Buying your own catering equipment compels you to use the same equipment, whereas hiring gives you access to equipment that is tailored to each event.

Sourced from: http://www.mytopbusinessideas.com/tips-catering-equipment-rental/

Cost saving comes first when you need to provide a catering service for any said event. With a good planning and prudent execution of the duty, you can actually cut on costs in a number of ways, without compromising satisfaction of your guests.

Keep it short and sweet. Stephanie Edens, vice president of national sales at Wolfgang Puck Catering, says that hosts should pay attention to timeline. “By controlling the duration of your event, you can reduce costs significantly,” she says. Edens suggests planning a cocktail reception with action stations over three hours, rather than a cocktail hour followed by a seated dinner and dessert, which typically lasts around five hours. Instead of perceiving the format as skimping, she says, guests will likely “enjoy the ability to mingle and the high-energy ambiance.”

Eliminate labor costs. Smaller events such as boardroom meetings or small executive dinners may not need servers at all. “For our cost-conscious customers, we recommend an un-staffed event,” says Maura Devaney, catering director at Boston’s Au Soleil Catering. “We prepare all of the food, set up the room, and make recommendations on how to monitor and refresh, but it allows people to cut down on labor, which can be one of our biggest expenses.”

Leverage promotional opportunities. To cut down on staffing fees, Tracey Cammack, executive director of catering at Savor…Chicago, suggests considering a “Taste of…” theme, incorporating local restaurants or food products into the event, with signage. “Provide a station for each, and have all participants serve a specialty item,” she says. “The companies participate for free, charging just the cost of their products and time since it’s a free promotion for them.”

Sourced From: http://www.bizbash.com/10_cost-saving_tips_for_event_catering/new-york/story/24947/#.V_dNUeV97IU

Things you should know about Fast Foods

Food

Do you like hot dogs, pizza, kebab, hamburger, French fries and all those bites you munch when you check into a drive in? Then you are well deep into fast foods. Many people do love them as well, but understanding what you are taking is necessary. There are, however, some fast foods people pick form a fast food restaurant around the corner, and some do not even know much about these snacks.

Hot dog: a cooked sausage served in a sliced bun and garnished with condiments like mustard, ketchup, onions, mayonnaise, relish, cheese, and chili.

Kebab: pieces of meat, fish, or vegetables roasted or grilled on a skewer or spit. It originated in the Middle East.

French fries: invented by Belgians (surprise!), French fries are potatoes cut to short sticks and deep fried. Popular since 17th or 18th century.

Hamburger: a type of sandwich that has one or more meat patties placed in between two or more sliced buns and garnished with condiments.

Chips: Thinly cut potatoes (very thinly), heavily salted and deep fried until crispy. Legend says that they were made for the first time by a cook annoyed by his costumer who complained that his potatoes were too thick, soft and bland.

Pizza: a flat-bread baked in oven and topped with tomato sauce, cheese and various toppings. Modern pizza is invented in Italy and loved around the world.

Sourced From: http://www.historyoffastfood.com/fast-food-types/different-types-of-fast-food/

Fast foods are said to be harmful to health and all, but above the rest, obesity is seemingly linked almost primarily to fast foods. But what is it that makes people become obese from fast foods, what contributes to their lack of control in indulging into these foods?

Unhealthy Ingredients Make Fast Food Cause Obesity

There are many types of fast food restaurants – from burgers to pizza to chicken to tacos, but despite their unique menus, the underlying content of their food is the same. Most fast food ingredients contain more energy, total fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates and added sugars than healthier food of the same weight. As a result of these less healthy ingredients, eating fast food has been found to be directly associated with both being overweight and exceeding the recommended levels of fat and sugar.

Larger Portion Sizes Make Fast Food Cause Obesity

As popularized by the 2004 documentary Super-Size Me (if you haven’t seen it, you can watch it for free here), the problem with the ingredients of fast food is further compounded by fast foods’ growing portion sizes. It’s no coincidence that portion sizes have grown in parallel with the average person’s body weight from the 1970’s through today.5

Low Cost Makes Fast Food Cause Obesity

Researchers at the University of Washington found that a 2,000-calorie diet of junk food costs 10 times less than a 2,000 calorie healthy diet. 6 This low cost of fast food encourages people to choose it over more expensive healthier food, which is a big reason that lower-income individuals are more likely to be obese.7

Sourced From: http://www.bariatric-surgery-source.com/fast-food-cause-obesity.html

It may not be true that fast foods are all that bad, almost everything has its upsides and downsides, fast foods are not an exception. Blame them for all the negativity they may come with, but if well handled, such problems can be reduced if not completely uprooted, especially if you choose to make your fast foods yourself at home.

Aim to keep your entire meal to 500 calories or less. The average adult eats 836 calories per fast food meal—and underestimates what they ate by 175 calories. So don’t guess! Most chains post nutritional info both on their websites and at the franchise location. Take advantage of this information.

Opt for foods that are lower in fat and higher in protein and fiber. Look for items with more good stuff, like fiber, whole grains, and high-quality protein. Also aim for options that are relatively low in saturated fats—while not all saturated fats are bad for you, most of those found in fast food restaurants are.

Steer clear of trans fats. Small amounts of naturally-occurring trans fats can be found in meat and dairy products but it’s the artificial trans fats used to keep food fresh that are dangerous to your health. Avoid anything containing “partially hydrogenated” oil—even if it claims to be trans fat-free—or any foods that have been deep fried. While no amount of artificial trans fat is considered safe, the USDA recommends at least limiting trans fat to no more than 2 grams per day.

Sourced From: http://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/healthy-fast-food.htm

5 Vegan Recipes That Will Make Every Meat Eater Envious

Food

Are you searching for the best vegan options or vegan meat recipes which are easy to make and guarantee nothing
but great tastes? We all know that vegetarians and vegans avoid meats. However, the vegan meat recipes translate to an experience that is as close as vegans
get to meat but so much better. The benefits: healthy for you, better for the environment around you and every animal out there. These vegan meat recipes are
made to last.

So, what should you be putting on your vegan meat recipes list? We are listing our top five picks below.

1. Vegam Dim Sum Buns

The sweet and salty mushrooms placed in between two vegan buns are one of the best vegan meat recipes that possesses the smoky and meaty taste we all love,
while eating healthy. You can spice things up with a leaf or two or add sliced potatoes on the side.

2. Vegan Shepherd’s Pie

Known to be the most wholesome and comforting one of the vegan meat recipes, the Shepherd’s pie includes the sweetness of tomatoes, the perfect carbs from
the potato mixes and the best spices with the lentils, chickpeas and fresh herbs all combined in a meat-like experience that is a true flavor bomb.

3. Veggie Chili With Crunchy Tortilla And Avocado Salad

This is one of the favorite vegan meat recipes out there. Speedy yet spicy, it blends in the delicious vegetable chili with a side of tortilla salad and a lot of mushrooms,
lentils, chickpeas and vegetables in the chili itself.

4. Calzone

Originating from Italia, the calzone is filled with mushrooms, spinach and melted mozzarella. Use vegan Daiya cheese for a vegan-friendly and very delicious alternative.
What was invented by mistake as a way for Italian workers to carry their lunch has become a worldwide attraction and one of the best vegan recipes out there.

5. The Vegan Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Macaroni and cheese have never tasted so good. Use some Vegan Daiya cheese for a cheesy experience with out the dairy! Tt will be well worth it. You can spice
things up with sweet tomato and crunchy breadcrumbs on top, or get the traditional herb penne by dropping a handful of herbs on top of it. Delicious, aren’t they?
These vegan meat recipes will make your love for vegan food grow and treat you to the healthiest animal-friendly experience out there. It only takes one recipe to
start practicing the vegan lifestyle, so what are you waiting for?

Top 2 Coffee Shops In Maui, Hawaii

Drink

Whether hot or cold, coffee is the worlds number one drink. As such, you may ask why should you be interested in Maui coffee roasters, or the top 2 coffee shops in Maui? As in many cases, many people visiting the Hawaiian islands would want to drink or take what they have been used to. This does not give many a chance to have a feel of what others are drinking.

However, it is different with Akamai’s Coffee shops in Kihei & Wailuku or the Hawaiian Village Coffee shops. You will find it very easy to enjoy the fresh and tasty feeling of drinking fully roasted coffee from Maui coffee experts some of whom have roasted coffee for almost 10 years now.

Without a doubt, if you are traveling to Hawaii and especially Maui, then you need to know where you can find the best coffee roaster in the area.

Alternatively, you may decide to lodge in one of the 5-star hotels in the island as you enjoy your Akamai coffee Kihei.

Although there are several joints, you can enjoy your Maui coffee from; the top 2 coffee shops in Maui will definitely keep you coming for more. Look at what they have to offer you.

1. Akamai Coffee Co

Established in 2007, This company has helped tourist and residents enjoy the best quality coffee the worlds has ever produced. The beauty of the coffee in Hawaii is that at Akamai Coffee, you are likely to get it in whatever batch on a daily basis.

Perhaps, you might find this to be interesting that these Maui coffee roasters is very close to Kahului Airport, About 5 mins away. Make sure to grab one of these delicious coffee’s when visiting Maui or on your way to work!

2. Hawaiian Village Coffee

It is normal to suffer jetlag if you are a frequent traveler. However, you will soon realize that the fatigue you may be feeling is nothing when you pop into Hawaiian Coffee prepared in Hawaiian Village Coffee.

The Hawaiian Village Coffee is usually open at 5:30 in the morning. No any other coffee roaster that opens that early the whole Kaanapali area. Therefore, you can kill your hangover before it is the 8:00am time that is considered conventional to begin the day.

As you enjoy your Village coffee, you may also wish to taste Maui cuisine. The place is very friendly to all visitors thanks to its vicinity, the French roast and or espresso all of which feature grown beans from Maui.

Make The Most Of Your Mandolin Kitchen Slicer

Cooking Recipies & Tips

When it comes to cooking and preparing meals, we always want to give our best. Thats just the way the mind works. Food brings people together and the better the dishes you serve up, the happier and healthier your relationships will be. But cooking great meals doesnt simply rely on your ability to combine flavours the preparation of your ingredients plays a vital role in the quality of your outcomes.

One of the kitchen essentials you should never overlook is the mandolin kitchen slicer. This one of a kind kitchen innovation is good for a whole host of different functions and become a part of your daily kitchen routine.

How to Use Your Mandolin Kitchen Slicer

1. Salads and Appetizers If you want to give your family or guests a whole hearted effort, you shouldnt overlook the appetizer part of the meal. This will get their appetites going and will have them wanting for more. Using your mandolin kitchen slicer, cut up some cucumbers, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, and anything else youd want to add into the mix. Sautee these in olive oil until theyre brown and crunchy. Serve your assorted vegetable chips with a delicious cream cheese dip and youll be sure to catch your diners attention. You can also lay the sautéed veggies in a bed of leafy greens and drizzle with lemon juice and your choice of vinaigrette for a hearty serving of salad.

2. Soups The thing about soup is that it barely has the texture that many other food options offer. Other entrees allow eaters to enjoy the process of chewing, but because soups arent quite as chewable, the enjoyment eaters get from consuming them rely greatly on the taste. By using a kitchen mandolin slicer, you can ensure that your vegetables stay tastier and more flavourful than they would had you chosen to use a standard knife. This will make it possible to bring out the best taste and flavour from your soup concoctions. Make sure you use only the best vegetables available to you to further enhance the soups you create.

3. Main Course Serve your chicken, beef, or fish with thinly sliced portions of vegetables of your choice. You can even opt to bake your meat with a bed of different veggies that are sliced to thin perfection. Using a mandolin kitchen slicer will make it possible for your ingredients to retain their natural textures and flavours something that is usually sacrificed when veggies are cut by hand.

4. Desserts Slice up some fruit with your mandolin kitchen cutter and serve on a plane of snowy white cream. If you really want to take it to the next level, try baking a lemon tart with thinly sliced lemons as the topping. You can also try to cut up fruits like apples, pears, and peaches and fry these to make fritters. Dust off with cinnamon powder and confectioners sugar, and youve got yourself a tasty dessert treat for the entire family to enjoy.

The Great Halloween Dinner Show

Dining & Entertaining

Halloween is often viewed as a time for funand sharing. Its a time when kidsand kids at heartdress up as their favorite characters. Its a time to give candies and treats to those kids who knock at your door.

But have you ever actually thought about how Halloween came about?

A Brief History

For starters, Halloween is derived from the term All Hallows Eve, which denotes that it is the night for celebrating ghouls and souls of every kind. This gave early people the notion that it is a taboo Halloweenand that it should not be celebrated.

But over the years, people figured out that Halloween actually has ancient Christian Roots, more specifically, Samhain Christian Roots. During the Celtic Harvest Festivals, people dressed up and carved pumpkins to celebrate and remember the dearly departedand ask them for guidance to help them cultivate the best crops.

Today, Halloween is basically a time for fun. Kids come in costumes, and those who love the said holiday go and carve pumpkins, turn them into jack-o-lanterns, and decorate their homes with them. Some also play apple bobbing, or visit haunted houses just for the thrill. Others use this time to watch their favorite horror movies, too.

But, aside from fun, could Halloween also be a sophisticated holiday? Well, of course it could beand this is all because of Aalsmeers Halloween Dinner Show!

The Halloween dinnershow

Every October 31, Aalsmeer Showbiz Village turns its famous dinner show into a Halloween-themed one. Onstage, you could watch shows featuring The Grave Digger, and The Baby from Hell dancing along to Michael Jacksons famous Thriller.

Aside from that, there are also shows featuring ventriloquists, and the staff are also dressed up as famous horror movie characters, such as Freddy Kreuger, Dracula, and those crazy, scary zombies that a lot of people love! Surely, it would be a spectacular eveningone that you wouldnt forget for ages!

And of course, apart from the show and the horror, youd be treated to a three-course dinner, glasses of cava, an overflowing Dutch bar with most of the drinks that you needall for your convenience!

Fly to Aaslmeer and Enjoy Halloween!

Forget about trick or treating!

Halloween can be quite unforgettable when done the right way. So, book a flight to Aalsmeer, visit the Showbiz Village, and watch the best Halloween Dinner Show on earth. You certainly wont regret it!

How to reduce pathogen growth in marinades

General

Used to flavor foods, marinades can add dimension to restaurant recipes. They can also present food safety issues if food handlers do not follow protocol. Here, ServSafe offers insight regarding these topics:

Cross-contamination. Never reuse marinade that’s already been used once. For example, when a food handler removes raw chicken from marinade, he or she should not add more chicken to the leftover solution due to possible pathogen introduction. Wash, rinse and sanitize the container and utensils between each treatment.

Time and temperature controls. Most commercially prepared marinades do not require refrigeration prior to opening. Once the seal has been broken or a housemade batch has been prepared, care for it as you would a TCS food. If a restaurant intends to not refrigerate a marinade with a pH lower than 4.6, the operator must obtain a variance from the local health department and implement a HAACP plan.

When refrigerating raw proteins steeped in marinade, the container should remain covered and positioned below covered, ready-to-eat food. Do not use copper containers, as acids in the marinade may extract the mineral, creating an environment conducive for chemical poisoning. When cooking the marinated protein, hit minimum internal temperatures and time requirements outlined by the Food and Drug Administration to lessen the chance of foodborne illness.

Labeling. If a health inspector arrives at your restaurant, he or she will inquire about the contents of containers chilling in the refrigerator. Clearly label the container with marinade and protein names as well as the time and date prepared.

Also indicate any allergens included in your marinade on back-of-house prep labels and on your menu.

Source Article : http://www.restaurant.org/Manage-My-Restaurant/Food-Nutrition/Food-Safety/How-to-reduce-pathogen-growth-in-marinades