As I do every two years, I attended the NAFEM (National Association of Food service Equipment Manufacturers) show in Orlando last week. I go to this show for a few reasons, the biggest reason is to see the new innovations in equipment and things that I can use in the designs I am working on. I seem to always find something at this show and the NRA (National Restaurant Show) that I may not have found otherwise. Another big reason I attend is to foster and maintain the relationships with manufactures in the industry. OK blah blah blah right? This year I found a few things I thought were pretty cool:
So this badly taken picture is of a two Viking Salamanders mounted on a range. I think I first saw Vikings commercial line two years ago or last year at the NRA show. The stuff costs a fortune (but probably not if you are comparing to the highest end equipment) and it is awesome to look at. This salamander is completely open at the sides which would make really easy to use. all the surfaces are designed to be very easy to clean. I looked closely at the range and the burner area is in a large pan that has no fasteners or sharp edges. No one else has a range like that. I don't know anyone using any equipment from this line yet but I am hoping I have a project where it make sense to put a cooks line in. In the mean time I am thinking my house would be a good plan. 
This exhaust hood is made by Halton whom I have always thought was at the top of the innovators list in exhaust. I wish I had a picture of this how it would be used in a real setting. its a small exhaust unit that would be perfect for upfront saute in front of guests. the filters are in the box and it would then be exhausted out from there. The glass surface at the bottom is mounted above an induction unit unit and allows great exhausted but doesn't block the view at all. since this unit will require very little cfm of exhaust it is very efficient and wont require much air to be available from an HVAC unit to supply air. 
This is rear view of a mobile heated holding cabinet made by Cres Cor. it is powered both by small propane tanks and a solar panel for the controls. You can also plug it in if there is power available. This cabinet is going to be very popular with serious caterers who have events where power is very hard to come by. One small 16.4 oz (camping size) bottle of propane will last 7 or 8 hours. There is also a back-up bottle built in. The big rubber wheels are great for those all terrain gigs.
This is a beer tap and handle design by Mircomatic. Recently I worked on a bar design and had an impossible time finding small handles that would provide a uniform look and more importantly be mounted so the bartender could reach over the huge thing and serve the guests sitting on the other side. The picture bellow is what I ended with with which wasn't bad as most of the beer companies had small handles but as you can see its still not as clean a look as it could be.
Here is a little shout out to those trying to make a booth of restaurant equipment not look like say a pile of restaurant equipment. These folks did this whole spider thing. I was too scared to go in so I can't say whats in there. But yes Drew (my kid) I know what shape the ice is. He thinks its very funny that I know what ice machine a restaurant is using by the shape of the ice and tests me often. One final thought on convention going. Wear your most comfortable shoes and turn down the fourth night cap. You can't party like a rock star anymore bucko.
