NEW YORK—Up on the roof of the Conrad New York, a luxury waterfront, all-suite hotel located in the heart of lower Manhattan’s Battery Park City, Executive Chef Gerron Douglas can be found year-round, overseeing a garden that even in the winter produces root vegetables, squash and some herbs. The rooftop garden and green roof have been in place since the LEED Gold certified hotel was renovated six years ago. “There is always something there,” Douglas says. “We adjust based on the season.” In the warmer months the garden produces lettuce, mustard greens and tomatoes. Douglas adds, “We really try...

CHICAGO—The National Restaurant Association announced the recipients of the 2017 Kitchen Innovations (KI) Awards, honoring forward-thinking equipment and technologies that increase efficiencies and productivity for back-of-the-house operations and benefit restaurant operators. Each recipient and their product will be showcased in the interactive Kitchen Innovations Pavilion at the 2017 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, held from May 20 to 23 in Chicago at McCormick Place. “The engineers and inventors who develop these KI Award innovations work tirelessly to solve the challenges of back-of-the-house operations, to the great benefit of restaurant operators,” says Atour Eyvazian, Convention Chair for NRA Show 2017 and multiunit owner of...

TROY, OHIO—Featuring cost- and energy-saving innovations combined with advanced cleaning, the new Hobart CLeN converyor line has earned a prestigious Kitchen Innovation (KI) Award from the National Restaurant Association (NRA). The Hobart CLeN Warewasher Energy Recovery is among 18 products selected by the NRA as recipients of the 2017 KI Awards, each designated for the honor because of technologies that increase efficiencies and productivity for back-of-the-house operations. Using industry-leading technology to clean dishes and kitchen ware in less time and at a lower cost of operation, the Hobart CLeN Energy Recovery features Drain Water Energy Recovery (DWER) that provides up...

NATIONAL REPORT—In any discussion about sustainability, it is likely that carbon will enter the discussion at one point or another. In any conversation about sustainability in the kitchen, carbon also has a place, but in more ways than one. It is not only the carbon emissions from running the lighting, appliances and HVAC system, it is the actual carbon buildup on pots, pans and other items. This buildup is a barrier to heat, which means it can take longer for items to cook or bake. The longer ovens or stoves run, the higher the energy bill and related environmental...

OSHKOSH, WIS.—The new Girbau Industrial (GI) GT-200 Drying Tumbler is engineered with quality components, easy-to-use programmable controls and a multitude of features that dramatically increase laundry production and energy-efficiency. Properly balanced airflow, heat input and basket volume allows maximum production when matched with GI soft-mount HS-6 Series Washers. Providing 200 pounds of drying capacity, and available in steam and natural gas models, the GT-200 quickly and efficiently dries large loads. The GT-200 offers the optional Integrated Sprinkler System (ISS) fire sensing and extinguishing system, standard reversing, Linen Life Extension (LLE) moisture sensing, and an extended tumble option. These features not...

In my years covering green lodging I have written quite a few articles about equipment and technology found in the kitchen to help one save energy, water and reduce waste—bio-digesters, pre-rinse spray valves, warewashers, variable-speed hood controllers, and more. You can read about such topics on the Green Lodging News website in the “Kitchen & Laundry” category. Every time I chat with a supplier I learn something new and that was certainly the case today when I interviewed Craig Gavson, CEO of Hyginix LLC. In case you are not familiar with Hyginix, they manufacture the FOG Tank, a heated...

This year is ushering in a host of new regulations for commercial kitchen refrigeration that will drive significant efficiency benefits for kitchen operations. The phasing in of new air quality standards, combined with limits on energy consumption, are all poised to create the most efficient refrigeration cabinets that commercial kitchens have yet seen. Starting in March 2017, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) regulations will go into effect that will set a mandatory limit on the maximum daily energy consumption (MDEC) allowed for a given commercial refrigerator or freezer. In tandem, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program is significantly increasing...

MINNEAPOLIS—Restaurant Technologies showcased its award-winning Total Oil Management solution, an automated oil management system, and recently launched AutoMist, an automated hood, flue and fan cleaner, at NAFEM in Orlando earlier this month. AutoMist was featured in the WHAT’S HOT! WHAT’S COOL! product gallery for the first time. “Technology is changing the way kitchens operate, and that is why we’ve forecasted 2017 the year of the smarter kitchen,” said Jeff Kiesel, CEO of Restaurant Technologies. “We believe food service operators will realize that being smart in the kitchen is no longer an option, but an obligation to address the evolving...

TROY, OHIO—Hobart launched the new CLeN-series dishwashers at the NAFEM Show in Orlando earlier this month. The CLeN was featured in NAFEM’s WHAT’S HOT! WHAT’S COOL! product gallery. “Our mission is to help customers experience greater efficiency, reliability and cost savings with their dishwashing equipment,” said Tim Peters, Product Line Manager for Hobart. “As demand grows for ‘green’ benefits, increased cost savings, and simplified labor practices, the CLeN helps customers achieve those requirements through superior product innovation and performance.” Hobart’s CLeN Warewasher turns dishwashing into a science, using industry-leading technology to clean dishes and kitchen ware in less time and at...

CUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO—Frontline International is a leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of cooking oil management services, and the M3 System—winner of the National Restaurant Association’s 2013 prestigious Kitchen Innovations Award—is their state-of-the-art solution that offers 24/7 online tracking of waste oil. And now, M3 has been adapted to help manage fresh oil dispensing with an exclusive Smart Fresh Oil Top Off function. When the M3 data management system is combined with Frontline International’s EZ Oil fresh oil dispensing system, Smart Fresh Oil Top Off is ready to be engaged. Say the cashier takes an order for a 6-piece chicken dinner....