Inspiration and Information for your Tabletop

The exact origin of ramen is disputed, but most historians believe the dish we know and love today is a Japanese adaptation of a Chinese dish. Ramen noodle shops became popular in both Japan and China in the early 20^th century and were popularized in America in the 1970s with Momofuku Ando’s invention of the instant noodle. Since then, this comfort food has become a staple in American cities.

Yury Krasilovsky, Executive Chef with Barilla Foodservice is no stranger to the heat of the kitchen, or of competition. Currently he’s competing in Riverence’s Gold Rush Cooking Competition and we’ve been blown away by his entries so far. This dish, which he’s named “24 Carat Gold” caught our eye, with Riverence’s Gold trout on a bed of creamy polenta and saffron beurre blanc, garnished by golden tomatoes, grapes, trout roe, and chervil. We asked him a few questions about his long history with cooking and how he decides to compose his dishes.

The tabletop has become a place of exploration. Between the chefs who are more creative than ever and the dinnerware that is bolder than ever, an explosion of patterns, shapes, textures, colors, and materials are becoming commonplace.

When we think about dinner service in Western culture, it typically involves sitting down to rolled cutlery, maybe a bread plate, a water glass, possibly a candle, or even a salt and pepper shaker. What you typically don’t see is an empty plate, as plates are most often brought from the back-of-the-house with food on them.

Color plays a huge role in our dining experiences.

All across the foodservice industry, operators are looking for new ways to express their sustainability. In many cases, consumers are demanding this shift in ethos and are willing to pay more to the operations that can provide it.

Every year, a panel of judges reviews tabletops from across the country to determine the Performance in Tabletop Awards from Foodservice Equipment & Supplies. These recognitions are the result of excellence in a variety of criteria including four main factors.

By definition, "vintage" holds enduring interest. Whether it's a level of importance or quality, we hold on to things from the past because they tease our sentiments and remind us of whimsical memories.

It's no wonder we're seeing vintage trends in everything from fashion to furniture, and the tabletop is no different.