Dining

Beverage (cocktail) napkins are about 25 x 25 cm (10 x 10 in) unfolded, used at bars and receptions. Luncheon napkins are about 30 to 33 cm (12 to 13 in) square. Dinner napkins are about 38 to 43 cm (15 to 17 in) square, folded to 1/4 or 1/8. Linen-like napkins, made from airlaid paper, feel close to cloth and are used in place of linen for catering and casual fine dining because they need no laundering.

Melamine is dishwasher safe, including commercial machines, and is popular because it is very hard to break and much lighter than ceramic. It is not microwave safe: microwaving can damage the surface and is not recommended by manufacturers. Melamine should also not go in ovens or be used for cooking. Use non-abrasive pads and avoid chlorine bleach soaks, which can dull and stain the surface.

A common par is 3 of each plate size per seat: one on the table, one in the dish cycle and one clean on the shelf. Banquet and catering operations that serve everyone at once often need 1 to 1.5 times the guest count per course instead. A 60-seat restaurant with 3 plate sizes therefore stocks about 540 plates. Melamine helps keep breakage replacement low.

TAD (through-air-dried) paper towel is dried with hot air instead of being pressed, which leaves it bulkier, softer and more absorbent, so people use fewer sheets per hand dry. Regular pressed (conventional) towel is less expensive per roll but less absorbent. TAD hand towel rolls, such as Sysco Imperial, are common in restaurant washrooms and hotels, while conventional towel is used for general kitchen cleanup.

Tiered towers present a large amount of food in a small footprint and draw attention on a buffet line. For cold seafood, fill each tray with crushed ice, keep the food at 4 °C or colder, and replace the ice and food at least every 2 hours. For desserts and pastries, a 3-tier stand holds roughly 30 to 60 small pieces. Place the heaviest items on the bottom tier, and choose towers with removable trays so they can go through the dish machine.

Shipping is a flat $16.50 anywhere in Canada and free on orders over $199 before tax. Orders are processed in 2 to 3 business days (cut-off 10:00 AM MST, Monday to Friday) and Canadian transit takes 2 to 6 business days. We also ship to the United States, with duties and taxes shown at checkout. See the Shipping page for full details.