Month: June 2021

As more and more cities are emerging back from lockdown, food businesses are also doing what they can to adhere to the implemented health measures so they can operate back to full capacity.

Masked restaurant personnel, distanced table arrangement, and plexiglass barriers – these are just some of the things customers will notice the next time they eat out. In fact, some restaurants go to the extent of placing stuff toys on some seats on the table to remind everyone to observe social distancing at all times. And while fast foods, bars, and restaurants are still suffering financially, these establishments are coming up with clever ways to help them re-open while complying with the existing health and safety standards.

Read more as we’ll know more about how restaurant interior design has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic in today’s entry.

More Room To Provide More Air For Customers And Staff

The health, safety, and comfort of everybody are always important. That is why restaurants are adapting to new design changes to give more room for employees and guests and allow everybody to breathe the open air. And even if quick-service restaurants have relatively low risk considering customers are making short visits, the need to make room and open windows (or additional air exhaust) is still necessary since restaurant personnel is mostly exposed to the shared air during their eight-hour shift.

Do bear in mind that the chance of contracting the virus is relatively high in interior places with poor ventilation. In fact, studies have already proven that even though the airborne transmission of the coronavirus is not likely to happen, the possibility of infection increases if more people are confined in the same room and are breathing shared air.

Distanced By Design

Another reason why restaurants have to alter their interior design is they are required to provide enough space where people can practice socially distancing while dining and enjoying their meals.

Social distancing is a prerequisite according to health and safety guidelines. And if food businesses can’t provide an area where people can distance themselves at least 2 meters apart, their establishment will be forced to close.

That is why aside from incorporating new elements like plexiglass barriers at ordering counters and cashiers, restaurants are also extending existing barriers to create an area that is safe for guests and employees. Even bar tops are deepened, sneeze guards are elevated, and queuing spaces are also widened. You may also notice partitions being installed in-between booths and tables as well as the removal of communal seating that is usually found in beer gardens, food halls, and cafeteria-style environments.

Back Of House (Kitchen) Changes

Safety and sanitation have long been observed in all back of house spaces inside restaurants. And due to the current health crisis, an anticipated shift has already been implemented to extend safety and sanitation inside guest-facing areas. As for sit-down restaurants, implementing safety and sanitation requires moving away carpets, cushions, drapes, and any other soft surfaces. Likewise, porous materials like granite, wood, plastic, and tiles are replaced by non-porous surfaces like porcelain, laminate, and stainless steel. While quick-service food businesses are expected to use plastic-based, easy-to-clean fabrics.

The open kitchen design trend that is typically used to establish a connection between the customer and their food or to provide visual attraction as their orders are being prepared will be adapted by more and more food establishments since it gives patrons a chance to see the restaurant’s back of house cleanliness.

On the other hand, the line approach where dishes are prepared in front of diners will be adopted by quick-service restaurants.

Redefining Décor

Many restaurants are now shifting from the traditional tabletop decorations to minimize things that require constant cleaning. To be specific, decors like candles, flowers, lamps, tablecloths, and even menus are taken away to give way to the minimalistic but safe style. Also, disposable items have seen new light as one-use plates and utensils are now used for serving food.

In addition, some food establishments have channeled their newfound creativity by using stuffed animals and mannequins to be seated in specific areas to prevent people from sitting too close.

Maximizing Outdoor Space

Outdoor dining is again being practiced, and it looks like this trend is here to stay. Government agencies are giving special considerations to restaurants so they’ll be able to set up tables on streets and pavements.

Experts suggest, outdoor setting is much safer as it lessens the transmission of the virus and it also reduces the duration which the COVID-19 can stay on surfaces. Some establishments have even considered closing their indoor dining rooms and switched to outdoor dining.

And as of summer of last year, more and more tables with umbrellas are being set up outdoors as people are becoming comfortable again with the idea of re-opening.

Technology Is Expanding Its Role In Restaurant Operations

Food businesses have now installed bathroom doors with magnets and sensors, voice-activated lighting and window treatments, and other additional technological enhancements that allow patrons to enjoy the same convenience that they are expecting without the possibility of being infected with COVID-19.

Likewise, in-room technologies like interactive screens that allow the customer to have an outdoor scene while dining are also being installed in certain rooms. Aside from that, similar but larger screens are also being incorporated so that customers will be able to conduct large-scale conferences without the fear of being exposed to the coronavirus.

Routine Disinfection

Finally, restaurants are now in the habit of routine disinfection to protect customers and employees against COVID-19. And this is necessary since the coronavirus is known to linger on any surface, which also increases the risk of spreading the virus to other people.

Now, everything is disinfected from countertops to doorknobs, and just about any surface that is frequently touched by any person. Regular disinfection inside the restaurant is crucial to mitigate the risk of contracting COVID-19.

Moreover, restaurants are also giving disposable wipes to all their workers so that everybody will develop the habit of disinfecting even whether they’re facing customers or not.

If you’re looking for an experienced restaurant interior designer during this time, you can contact Decodence Design UK today.

Every food lover longs to dine at a good restaurant. And while most people choose an eating place based on the food being served, there are other factors that you also need to consider to make the most of your dining experience.

So if you’re looking to visit various restaurants in the Spring City, then we suggest you continue reading as we’re going to talk about the 7 key elements of the best restaurants in Waukesha that you’ll need to consider so you can have an enjoyable lunch or dinner with your family or friends.

These Elements Are Combined To Create An Optimal Dining Experience

1. Delectable Dishes – First and foremost, you’ll have to check on the food being offered on their menu. Regardless if you want to eat American, Asian, Mediterranean, or fusion dishes what’s important is that the food should be delicious and well-prepared. Also, the price point must be appropriate to the servings they offer.

This is very important so you’ll be able to satisfy your hunger and enjoy your meal down from the last morsel.

2. Range Of Beverages – Choose a restaurant that offers a wide range of drinks and beverages that cater to different tastes. Certainly, other customers would want variety. So it won’t be a sin to have this kind of preference as beers, cordials, wines, and spirits are also necessary to appease your cravings and complete your restaurant dining experience.

3. Cozy Atmosphere – Some people say that whenever you eat out, you’re also paying for the ambiance of the place. So pick a restaurant that has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere like the Tofte’s Table. And by this, we mean the place should have a welcoming, the background music should not be too loud to allow patrons to talk, and the restaurant personnel is trained to refrain from making unnecessary noise and distracting behavior.

4. Excellent Service – The staff always greets customers in a friendly manner and is always willing to get out of their way to provide the best service possible. And aside from being efficient in their jobs, the food is always served on time (or with minimal delays, if possible) and customers won’t have to struggle during bill out.

5. Convenient Location – Depending on your preference, the restaurant you’re going to visit must be accessible from where you are staying. Fast foods are usually located inside the malls or within the vicinity of these places while high-end diners are often situated in the up-market areas that are also easy to access.

Adequate customer parking should also be provided to avoid the hassle of parking your vehicle away from the restaurant.

6. Hygiene And Cleanliness – The restaurant must be spotless at all times from the table to the comfort rooms. Likewise, their kitchen should be clean and their food supplies should be kept in proper storage according to the health and safety standards to prevent spoilage and to prevent incidents from happening.

7. Culinary Expertise – Last but not least, the chefs must be passionate about preparing food and must possess the necessary skills to create (or invent) unique dishes, especially to high-end restaurants. Moreover, the management and waitrons must have appropriate culinary knowledge about the food they are serving on the menu.

Grilling is one of the common ways of cooking a juicy slab of steak. But when you’re grilling a premium kind of meat like a Wagyu steak, there are certain ways of preparing to ensure all the natural flavors of the meat are retained and the smoky aroma is fully absorbed. Likewise, Wagyu requires a special way of cooking since this type of meat doesn’t contain many connective tissues and the meat breaks down easily.

So if you’re going to grill a sumptuous slice of Wagyu ribeye today, then we suggest you continue reading as we are going to share some helpful tips to cook a Wagyu ribeye steak and enjoy it the right way.

Here’s The Secret To Grilling Wagyu Ribeye

The first thing that you have to do is to prepare the gar grill and make sure that it is already preheated to 500 degrees before grilling. This is important to ensure that the exterior part of the steak will be nice and crusty and the inside of the meat is packed with delicious juices.

Most grillers have to be pre-heated at least 15 minutes before cooking to reach the right temperature.

And while you are waiting for the griller to warm up, get a paper towel and use it to wipe the exterior of your Wagyu steak. This is needed to remove any excess moisture which might prevent the Maillard reaction from happening. The Maillard reaction is a chemical reaction that reduces sugars and amino acids to produce a brown appearance and gives the meat its distinctive flavor. Once the steak is dried out, you can now salt it and add all the other ingredients you want to rub onto the meat.

Then, place the Wagyu steak diagonally to create that distinct grill marks. Make sure that the slab is close to the lid of the grill and leave it there for 2 to 3 minutes before turning it on the other side. Once rotated, cook the stead for another 2 to 3 minutes.

If you like it rare with a cooled raw center, remove the steak immediately after the cooking time indicated above. But if you like it cooked, close the grill again for a couple of minutes more before removing it. Most chefs say that the steak gets 10 to 15 degrees warmer once you leave it on a closed grill for another 3 minutes.

Set aside the steak for another 5 minutes and let it cool before serving at the dinner table.

Never Overcook Your Steak

The basic rule of cooking a Wagyu steak, especially if you’re going to grill it, is to avoid overcooking. So if you’re grilling it for the first time and you’re not really sure how to go about with the process, then it’s best to try undercooking the meat first. In fact, some people prefer having the steak rare (almost rare).

But if a raw steak does not appease your palate, you can always put it back on the grill if you want to cook it a bit more. The key is not to have the steak well-done as it will lose its natural flavors and ruin the texture of the meat.

The truth is, cooking Wagyu, especially the A5 variety requires little to moderate technical skills only. But it also demands a standard knowledge on your part so you’ll be able to cook it properly, regardless if you’re going to grill, smoke, or pan-sear it.

Secret Ingredients You Can Add More Flavor To Your Grilled Wagyu Steak

Experts say that steaks will be fine with a bit of salt and pepper. But you’re adventurous and want to have a great tasting steak, you can try using these ingredients to level up your gastronomic experience:

1. Rosemary – Adding rosemary is one of the easiest tricks that take minimal effort and yet works exceptionally well. All you need to do is place a rosemary sprig on top of the ribeye steak and allow the flavoring of the herb to mix with the natural juice of the meat. Then, use a tong to grab the sprig once you flip the steak on the other side and place it back on top to achieve the same infusion of flavors.

2. Spicy Or Smoky Ingredients – To take your taste buds’ pleasure to new heights, you can choose to rub cayenne pepper, chili powder, ground cumin, or smoked paprika to add more depth and to emphasize the natural beefy flavor of the steak.

3. Fresh Herbs – Sprinkling your Wagyu steak with freshly sliced parsley is more than enough to complement the natural flavors of the meat. But you can also use a combination of fresh herbs and turn them into gremolata or chimichurri so you can spread it all over the meat to balance the beefy and buttery taste of the meat.

4. Freshly Grounded Black Pepper – If you don’t like to complicate the flavor of the meat, you can also choose to add freshly grounded black pepper as the spiciness of this herb accentuates the beefiness of the meat, making it more delectable and mouthwatering.

5. Garlic – If you’re not really into fancy steak rubs, then simply rubbing your slab of steak with garlic cloves will be enough. You can also place the cloves on top of the meat as it becomes soft and tender on the grill.

Wagyu Cooking Tips

Now that we’ve already shared all the things you need to know to grill a Wagyu steak, allow us to share a few more tips to help you with your next Wagyu steak:

Allow The Steak To Thaw – Don’t cook the meat right away, and let it sit for about an hour or so until it reaches room temperature. Having excess moisture on the meat prevents the steak from being cooked quickly and evenly.

Always Be Aware Of The 3 Elements – Heat, Wagyu fat, and salt, when properly combined, creates a crispy and delicious steak. So make sure your grill is pre-heated to the right temperature to sear the exterior of the meat and lock the natural juices before turning it down to moderate heat as you finish cooking.

Use A Thermometer – Relying on estimated cooking time will often lead to varied results. So it’s recommended to invest in a meat thermometer to get the right results at all times.

Rest It Before Serving – Allowing the steak to rest for a few minutes will let the juices be distributed evenly so the meat will be juicy and tender the moment you eat it.

Don’t Spare The Salt – And lastly, don’t forget to season the steak with salt and pepper on both sides when it reaches room temperature before plating.

If you’re looking for a place to buy high-quality wagyu beef online, you can check out Maries River Wagyu today.