Author: Media Two

As the most used items in your kitchen, cutlery needs to withstand the stresses of daily use. For this reason, you need to pick a set that is made from strong material like stainless steel.

Stainless steel cutlery is stain and rust-resistant. This is because its composition contains both chromium and nickel. These materials form a thin, invisible layer on the surface of the steel and protect it from a wide range of corrosion media. They not only strengthen your cutlery set but also protects it from discolouring and is the reason why stainless steel has such a long life-cycle.

For these reasons, stainless steel cutlery is the best option for regular use and the perfect choice for hospitality, catering and domestic use. If you invest in a quality stainless steel cutlery set, you will enjoy a range of durable items with an exceptionally long life cycle.

What You Will Find In Our Cutlery Collections

Though not necessarily needed for informal dining occasions, a complete stainless steel cutlery range is a fantastic investment for your hospitality future. This is because these sets generally contain everything you need to serve any dish from the exotic to the mundane. Below we describe and discuss the uses and appearance of these items so that you are fully equipped for any dining occasions and we’ll even show you how to set a formal dinner table in just a few steps.

How To Set A Table For A Formal Dinner

Table Fork

The table fork is your standard item of cutlery used to eat the main course. It measures at about 180mm in length and paired with the table knife or steak knife. They come in a variety of sizes such as the larger continental-style fork used for more formal settings.

Table Knife

This item of cutlery features a single cutting edge and a blunt end. They are your most typical knives found at the dinner table and are of moderate sharpness only because they are designed to cut through cooked and prepared food.

Dessert Fork

Not to be confused with the cake or pastry fork, the dessert fork measures at about 150 to 180mm and is slightly narrower than a table fork. Its specialised design features a left tine (prong) that is wider than the rest in order to provide more leverage in cutting firm desserts.

Dessert Knife

These knives are used during the dessert course and are typically smaller than a dinner knife coming in at about 200mm. Their unique feature is a narrow blade with a rounded or pointed tip. The round tip variety allows you to section soft deserts while the pointed tip style is better equipped for cutting through hard desserts.

Soup Spoon

The soup spoon is similar in size and shape as a tablespoon but the bowl is a little smaller and slightly tapers towards the tip. It also generally has a smaller handle than a tablespoon.

Pastry Fork

The pastry fork or cake fork is slightly shorter than the dessert fork, measuring in at about 130mm. Its specialised design features a notched left tine (prong) to provide extra leverage in cutting.

Dessert Spoon

The dessert spoon lies midway in length between the tablespoon and teaspoon at about 177mm long. It features an oval shape that holds just about two teaspoons of food. You will commonly find the dessert spoon in both formal and informal dining spaces.

Butter Knife

Butter knives feature a round point that prevents diners from tearing their bread when they spread butter. In very formal dining settings, a master butter knife is used to section and serve individual pats of butter to guests who then use their own butter knives for spreading.

Fish Knife

The fish knife features a specialised shape designed for eating fish. It has a wide 225mm long blade with a dull edge and a tip made with a notched point. This point is used to separate the skeleton from the body and easily lift the bones onto your plate.  

Steak Knife

These knives are, as the name implies, made for cutting steak. They normally feature serrated blades and are the only sharp knife typically found at the modern dinner table. Steak knives do however also come in a straight blade variety for cleaner cuts of food but these need to be sharpened more often.

Fish Fork

The fish fork measures at approximately 185 to 197mm in length. Its unique design has a wide left tine (prong) and an optional notch, which is grooved to fit over the bones of fish. These features provide extra leverage in separating fish from the body.

Snail Fork

One of the smaller forks at the table setting, the snail fork is approximately 115mm long and features two long, pointed tines (prongs). As the name implies these forks are used to eat snails prepared in both formal and informal dining settings.

Tablespoon

Tablespoons are the largest spoon used for eating. In general, tablespoons refer to serving spoons but in some places they are used for eating, these varieties usually hold about 7-14ml.

Soda Spoon

The soda spoon or iced tea spoon is used to stir cold beverages in tall glasses like iced coffee and iced tea. It is the longest spoon in a range of cutlery and features a small bowl with a long handle. The soda spoon is normally between 180 to 250mm in length

Teaspoon

The teaspoon is one of the shorter spoons in a cutlery set, measuring in at about 130mm. It is mostly used in informal dining to stir hot beverages, sip soup and eat solid food. It is also a common unit of measurement with a bowl volume of 5ml.

Coffee Spoon

The coffee spoon is very similar to the tradition teaspoon, it is just a little smaller. Its unique shape allows it to pair excellently with coffee cups.

How To Care For Stainless Steel Cutlery

So now that you have your cutlery set, you will need to know how to properly care for it in order to keep it in prime condition. Luckily, it really is quite simple. Here we’ll show you exactly what you need to do to get the most out of your brand new cutlery set.

Hand Washing

If you wash by hand, make sure to use warm, soapy water. Once washed, immediately rinse off in hot water and wipe dry with a soft, clean cloth. Do not soak your cutlery or leave unwashed overnight. Below are our top tips for hand washing stainless steel cutlery.

• Do not use a powder cleaner rather stick to a liquid or cream detergent
• Only use stainless steel cleaner for stubborn stains
• Rinse cutlery when in contact with salt or acids
• Do not use wire wool or other abrasive cleaners because they can scratch and remove the sheen from your cutlery

Dishwashing

If you are using a dishwasher, you will want to follow the instructions of your manufacturer carefully. Once the washing cycle has been completed, you should unpack and dry your items as soon as possible. If slight discolouration occurs due to hard water or certain foods, you can easily remove it by wiping the stain with lemon juice, vinegar or stainless steel cleaner. Below are our top tips for dishwashing stainless steel cutlery.

• Make sure the design of the cutlery is suitable for dishwashing
• Follow the instructions that come with your dishwasher
• Do not mix stainless steel and silver plated items in the same cycle
• Remove from the dishwasher as soon as possible

Buffing

If for some reason your stainless steel cutlery set does become stained, you can easily treat it by buffing it out with a simple steel buffing compound. Unlike silverware and other forms of cutlery, stainless steel does not require regular polishing because it won’t tarnish.

At Core Catering Supplies we have several ranges of stainless steel cutlery sets available. Each of our sets is made from hospitality-grade stainless steel and feature a long life cycle. You will find that each of our unique ranges includes a huge variety of items, allowing you to find exactly what you’re looking for and ensuring that it matches the rest of your set. Browse our complete cutlery sets from the casual to the creative below.

A MIXOLOGIST’S GUIDE TO SUPERIOR SHOTS

Try some unique and interesting shots that will bring the wow-factor to your bar. In this guide, we’ll show you how to create seriously sumptuous shots that are both daring and delicious. We also reveal some of our favourite sizzling shooters you can try for your menu.

SAY HELLO TO JELLO

Once the stars of juvenile jubilations, jello shots are now making a huge comeback. Gone are the days of the simple flavoured gelatin and vodka in a cup formula as today’s jello shots are marvels of presentation and flavor. The great part is they are just as simple to make as usual, all you’ll need is a stove, saucepan, shot cups or a baking pan and a refrigerator.

Step 1

Dissolve gelatin in a hot liquid like water, juice, tea or coffee. Remember to choose a liquid that complements the flavor of your chosen alcohol.

Step 2

Stir in cold liquor and pour the contents into a mold or other container. This is where you can start to get really creative. Experiment with different containers to give your shots unique shapes. We like to make glassless jello shots because it highlights the colour of your creations. For instance, if you set your jello shots in a baking tray, you can use cookie cutters to give them interesting shapes or you can set the shots in a loaf pan and using a serrated knife, cut them into cubes as you would a brownie.  You can also use our layering technique to create new and interesting combinations.

Step 3

Leave to chill and set in the fridge up until the moment of service.

LEVELED UP LAYERS

Another technique you can use to make stunning shooters is layering or, as we like to call it in the industry, floating. The trick behind the trade is to layer liquids of differing weight and density through the power of gravity. The bottom ingredient of your shot needs to be the heaviest so that the rest can float on top of it. The greater the difference in density between ingredients the better separation in layers you’ll get. This technique seems difficult at first, but with our help and a little practice you’ll nail it every time.

Step 1

Start with the heaviest and most dense ingredient at the bottom of your glass.

Step 2

Hold a bar spoon upside down over the drink and pour the next ingredient over the back of the spoon on top of the drink, moving the spoon up as the glass fills. This slows down the pour and disperses the top liquid, preventing the two layers from mixing. You can use any spoon to achieve this but we recommend a bar spoon as it is thinner and will most likely fit right into the glass.

Step 3

If your shot has multiple layers, simply repeat step 2 making sure you fill the glass in order of heaviness and density. The key with layering shots is practice. Start with something simple in a cocktail glass like a white Russian or Irish coffee. Once, you feel like you got the hang of it, you can start trying it out on shots. In the meantime here are a few extra tips that will expedite the process.

• Do not stir the glass as it will mix up the layers
• A chilled glass works best for layering. You can also chill the ingredients before pouring
• A speed pourer can help you slow down the pouring speed
• Try to put the tip of the spoon just under the first layer, which helps the liquid stay on top
• You can easily do layering with a food-safe syringe. It doesn’t look as glamorous but it certainly gets the job done.

A FRUITY AFFAIR

Nothing is more refreshing than the taste of fresh fruit. So, for the perfect shooter, you’ll need to reinvigorate your menu with new additions that incorporate the flavours of the season. Using fresh fruit in your drinks menu also gives you immediate access to garnish that will push your beverage presentation to a new level. Just make sure to use fruit that accentuates and complements the other ingredients in your shot.

SCRUMPTIOUS AND SALUBRIOUS SMOOTHIES

One of the handiest bar accessories you can have is a pro blender. It opens up your drinks menu to so many possibilities and it makes the mixing process a breeze. Get creative with your repertoire by experimenting with new flavour combinations. With a blender, you can easily juice ingredients that won’t typically be found in shots to create exciting and healthy blends that go beyond expectation.

OUR NEW CRUSH

Cool off your guests with delicious crushed ice shooters. An ice crusher is a bar must have because it can be used for a variety of purposes. Masking hard liquor with crushed ice chills the drink and makes it go down much smoother, in other words, it’s the perfect ingredient for shooters! A crushed ice shooter is a must so start mixing today.

OUR TOP SHOOTER RECIPES

Now that you have the bartending skills to create some seriously sizzling shooters, you can try them out on our pick for the top shots. Each of these recipes uses some of the techniques we discussed above so they make for great practice. Don’t worry if they don’t come out perfect immediately, the flops will be just as delicious to drink!

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