How do you wash 1,000 plates

…all at the same time? Quite a difficult chore. But that is a usual occurrence in restaurants and hotels. A few days ago we were toured around the display room of the Dishwashing Center on President Quirino Avenue in Pasay City where we had a look at how, indeed, thousands of plates can get cleaned with the flick of a switch.

The center is a joint venture of the Filipino-owned A Taste of Italy Enterprises which is basically involved in tourism (hotels and resorts), and the Hotel Ship Supplying Consortium (HSSC), prominent suppliers of Italian-made kitchen, bar and fine dining equipment for hotels, restaurants, culinary schools and other institutions, headquartered in Genoa and Bresia, Italy.

In the display area, we were overwhelmed by the equipment ranging from massive state-of-the-art machines to tiny teaspoons, all guaranteed to be made of 18.10 chrome and nickel. There are dishwashing machines that sanitize as they rinse; of panini grills; steam convection ovens with 6 to 10 layers programmed to pre-cook, prior to serving roasts, etc.; coffee machines and grinders; pasta makers capable of producing 18 different types of noodles; an automatic pizza crust maker; and more.

The smaller items included oyster spoons, lobster peel, and knives, among these ceramic models which are ideal for cutting salmon and ham, and 54 kinds of flatwear. We learned how to detect inferior quality spoon or fork by using a magnet. Where it sticks, it is fake. The knives – butcher, mincing, ceramic, etc. – are available and some are provided with individual bags. To withstand heat and extended use, the pots and pans have thick, reinforced bottoms. It is quite difficult to list down all the items in this center as the inventory is huge. In the words of Giovanni Bet, the Italian gentleman from HSSC, the company provides all the equipment required to prepare food, to cook and to serve on the dining table. Interested? Call 971-0142.

We got word from Equilibruim that their Arizona brand of ready-to-drink tea is now available in supermarkets. They come in 16-ounce or 20-ounce bottles. The flavors are promegranate, raspberry, lemon, mandarin and plum. For direct orders, call 862-3041.

For quite sometime, we missed the Dizon Farms bagoong from the markets. We are happy to note that it is now available in more supermarkets and stores. We must confess that this is one of the best prepared bagoong that gives full flavor to our binagoongan dish. As accompaniment to mangoes, it does not require sautéing. A bottle costs P150.

New products you might want as early Christmas gifts or to use in your homes: Echo Home Basics linen spray, 150 ml, P250; anti-bacterial surface cleaner, 300 ml for P199 and 50 ml for P95; coco sap sweetener (especially for diabetics) at P195 for a bottle of 300 gms, pili nuts in sea salt at P110 a pack of 80 gms; Philippine coffees from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, a pack of 200 gms at P205 per plus the Yrong Yrong produced by the Ati tribe at P105 a pack.

Natural products with medicinal element – lagundi capsules for cough, P150 and sambong capsules for kidney health at P145. All available at Echo Stores at Serendra and Poduim.

“Coffee Origins 2010” will be held from Oct. 7 to 20 at the Greenbelt 5 Gallery, organized by the Philippine Coffee Board. Those interested may log on to [email protected], or philcoffeeboard on Facebook and Twitter. The many aspects of the beverage, from growing the beans to savoring the aroma, will be highlighted during the event.

Ongoing until today is the Negros Trade Fair at Rockwell.

Price watch – dressed chicken now sells for P105 to P115 a kilo, pork kasim between P170 and P220 a kilo. Tilapia from P90 a kilo and bangus from P120 to P180. Mangoes, considering they are not in season, now sell at P140 a kilo. Take note of how much food items cost, even if they are not needed right away, so when required, you would know where to go. 

Have a happy Sunday.

 E-mail comments and questions to: [email protected].