Starting a Mexican Restaurant? Here’s a Stainless Steel Checklist
Mexican cuisine is known for its rich heritage & unique blend of flavors. It currently stands as the third most popular cuisine in the United States. More than one in ten (10.6%) Mexican restaurants are fast casual concepts, and nearly as many fall into the casual dining & midscale dining categories, with 9.9% each & growing at an annual rate of 1.4%. With that said, Mexican restaurants are here to stay & more are being built annually. That means each one needs to be specially equipped. Stainless steel equipment is here for the job.
In this article, we’ll give you a checklist of 4 stainless steel products that should be integrated into any Mexican restaurant. We’ll also offer up some IMC products to aid in your journey. Let’s start.
☐ Hot Food Counters
In general – tacos, quesadillas, nachos, burritos all should be served hot with warm ingredients. Key ingredients such as rice, beans & some meats should be kept toasty when doing prep. In fact, they should be readily available between 140°F-200°F if possible.
In order to achieve this, hot food counters are recommended. They can safely organize & keep your foods warm while in the prep stage. They can also be used for buffet operations in the front-of-house if you are operating a buffet style Mexican restaurant.
IMC offers two main hot food counters – Models #SHF & #SHFC. SHF is a standard hot food counter that can be fitted with 2-6 wells, depending on your needs. SHFC is similar, but includes a heated compartment has a heated base with a pan slide assembly for back-up storage. Here’s a peak:
☐ Worktables
Mexican food is known for its visual appearance. The bright, vibrant colors are something that is desired in any Mexican restaurant setting. But, if you are going to create a visual feast, you will need worktables (or prep tables) to get the job done. Having a multiple flat top surfaces organized in a sensible way will make serving smooth & quick.
To help, IMC offers Models #WT, #WTB, & #WT1.
Model #WT is IMC’s standard worktable available in 14 or 16 gauge type 300 series stainless steel. Model #WTB is the same as above except it has the addition of a 6″ high backsplash to protect your walls from damage. Model #WT1 features a 1½” backsplash. Here’s a breakdown:
☐ Knife & Accessory Cabinets
Meat such as chicken, pork & fish are a vital part of Mexican cuisine. In fact, there are over 10 ways to prepare meat in Mexican cuisine. Meat must be sliced & diced the proper way, so knives will be mandatory. You’ll want a safe spot to keep them when finished with service. A dedicated knife cabinet will surely be put to good use.
IMC offers Model #KNC, a wall mounted knife cabinet. KNC has a solid stainless steel door with a knife holder holding up to 10 knives securely. Here’s a look:
Aside from knives, Mexican cuisine calls for other smaller utensils such as spatulas (cuchara de madera), squeezers (exprimidor de lima), empanada presses & so on. These small tools need to be stored in a safe & reliable area when not in use. Consider an exclusive accessory cabinet for these items. Multiple accessory cabinets can be implemented for further organization as well.
IMC offers Model #AC, a wall mounted accessory cabinet. AC features (2) adjustable shelves with a stainless steel door & an optional lock box attachment. Check out this preview:
☐ Equipment Stands
Many small countertop cooking machines are needed in Mexican cuisine such as tortilla presses, cheese melters & rice cookers. With multiple pieces of equipment in play, having a special place to hold & operate these is crucial. Equipment stands are a perfect home for these appliances.
IMC offers Models #EST & #ESTP. EST is a stainless steel equipment stand constructed of rugged 14-gauge type 300 series stainless steel. Standard height is 24″, so operating your machinery should be a breeze. Model #ESTP is unique equipment stand designed to capture any scrap or crumbs in a removable tray. A brush is included with the stand for easy clean up. Here’s a closer look:
Mexican cuisine is full of delicious flavors & attractive dishes. In order to bring these creations to life, you will need the right stainless steel equipment. Armed with the right products, success is guaranteed. To learn more about how IMC can cater to your stainless steel needs, click here.
