Innovation is defined by Merriam-Webster as, “a new idea, device, or method.” New and unique perspectives are what make the culinary world desirable to consumers and chefs alike. Innovation shows us that, in food, there are no right answers.
Every year the National Restaurant Association (NRA) hosts an International Foodservice Marketplace called the NRA Show. As a gathering place for all people linked to the foodservice industry, this show sets the stage for some of the world’s best innovations in all things back of the house. The NRA show offers a look at what’s new in products, services, and education.
Each year, the NRA awards a small number of companies with Kitchen Innovation Awards. A few standouts from 2015 highlight the current trends of extreme hygiene and going green.
- Champion Industries Foodwaste Reduction System: Using repurposed gray water, this system reduces your water consumption up to 30% daily. Food is macerated by counter-rotating, slow-speed, low-noise level cutters in this powerful machine intended to help reduce the waste from commercial kitchens.
- Duke Manufacturing Co. FlexTech Advanced Food Holding Platform: The patented technologies used to create this machine promise to reduce waste and increase product availability by holding food in such way that each level is vented and no flavors transfer.
- Ecolab Syncra Total Hand Hygiene System: This automated, touch-free soap and water delivery system can be retrofitted to any handwashing sink. The pre-programmed system is comprised of three steps which distribute soap and water, time the proper lather, and rinse using 50% less water than normal handwashing.
- ThermalRite Sanisteel Antibacterial Slip-Resistant Flooring: The pre-coated finish on this pre-fabricated walk-in flooring promises to kill 99.9% of all mold, bacteria, algae, and fungi while providing the most slip-resistance on the market.
Chefs, owners, operators, and staff alike can appreciate the multitude of innovative equipment, techniques, and dishes created every day by those in the foodservice industry. From gadgets hidden in your chef coat pocket to massive pieces of equipment lurking in the corner, innovation is all around us. Everyone can be an innovator, you only have to open your mind and creativity then set yourself upon a goal.
Keep up with trends and technology by staying current on events like the NRA show and other organizational publications in the industry. What innovations can you predict for 2016?