Blog posts from June, 2016

Photo Source: Madeline’s Weddings & Events Blog

There are a ton of wedding chair covers available in the marketplace. Some are easy to see the differences between them – a spandex folding chair cover doesn’t fit a banquet chair and a polyester banquet chair cover doesn’t fit a folding chair cover. But what about chair covers that fit the same chair? How do you determine the best chair cover for your needs? We’ve rounded up the differences between a ruched banquet chair cover versus a spandex banquet chair cover so you can make a decision what’s right for you.

Ruched Banquet Chair Covers

• Fits a teardrop backed banquet chair
• Used more often in weddings
• Gathered, ruffled look
• Adds texture so sashes or florals aren’t necessary (though still used for extra décor oomph)
• Machine washable
• No need for steaming or ironing
• More expensive than spandex banquet chair covers (because more material and elastic is needed)
• Elastic can be stretched over time creating a baggier silhouette

Spandex Banquet Chair Covers

• Fits a teardrop backed banquet chair
• Modern sleek silhouette
• Used more often in corporate events and weddings
• Easily decorated with sashes or florals
• Machine Washable
• No need for steaming or ironing (wrinkle free)
• Less expensive than ruched chair covers

Hopefully this helps you figure out which chair cover best suits your venue or company!

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Well, it’s officially feeling like summer weather in Ontario. We’ve had temperature highs up into the high 20s / low 30s over the past week with this week looking just as nice. This means prime opportunity to eat outdoors – whether that means hosting golfers poolside or on the patio or a large event such as a tournament, corporate picnic or wedding. Because the weather is hot, ensuring the food being served is safe for patrons is of utmost importance – and something that requires more attention and work then cooking inside a temperature-regulated establishment.

Here are some tips and tools to use when serving food outside in hot weather:

Before and During Transport:

1. Place raw meats in a separate cooler from prepared foods such as salads, raw vegetables etc. and make sure everything is well wrapped and kept separate from each other (i.e. meat wrapped together, poultry wrapped together, fish wrapped together)

2. All food that isn’t pre-cooked needs to be kept cold at 40 degrees F or below to prevent bacteria growth – use ice packs or ice, cooler and/or an insulated food pan carrier. Pre-cooked foods need to be kept at or above 140 degrees F – use a heated food pan carrier which allows you to hold the food at a consistent temperature.

3. Clean all fruits and vegetables prior to packing – you may not have an operating sink and proper cleaning supplies at your disposal.

When Serving:

4. Hot food needs to be kept at 140 degrees F or above – utilizing a chafing dish, warming pan or slow cooker.

5. Make sure there are plenty of serving utensils so each dish has a serving spoon or serving fork and no cross-contamination occurs.

6. Cold foods should be kept on ice to ensure they are kept at a temperature of 40 degrees or lower – you can utilize a Fill n Chill Party Table, a Fill n Chill Little Chiller or putting items on ice.

7. If you’re storing cold foods in a cooler, keep separate from beverages as the drinks will be accessed more frequently than the foods – leading to the food temperature rising.

8. All food shouldn’t be left out for more than 2 hours if outside temperature is between room temperature and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep a close eye on the temperature because if the temperature rises above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, food can’t be left out for more than 1 hour.

Sources: Whole Foods – Serving Prepared Foods Safely, US Food & Drug Administration – Eating Outdoors, Handling Food Safely

To date we have written a blog post comparing clear Chiavari chairs to resin chiavari chairs, aluminum Chiavari chairs to resin Chiavari chairs and wood Chiavari chairs with resin Chiavari chairs. We did this to shed light on the pros and cons of each product so buyer’s interested in purchasing Chiavari chairs could have an understanding of what they’re purchasing. There are a lot of different options out there – within the resin Chiavari chair category there are 4 different kinds of chairs. Having a complete understanding of the product your business will buy helps to ensure you’re getting the Chiavari chair that best meets your needs. This next blog post in the series discusses the difference between aluminum Chiavari chairs versus wood Chiavari chairs in an easy to consume list format.

Aluminum Chiavari Chairs:

• Lightweight chairs – generally less than 10lbs per chair
• Seams may be spot welded instead of fully welded
• 1.5mm thickness and hollow
• Because of the softness of the metal, seats tend to feature permanent cushions with fixed plywood base to avoid seat damage
• Metal material shows scratches with bare metal
• Water can cause damage to finish
• Often, only 1 horizontal chair rail instead of the traditional 2 horizontal chair rails
• 1 horizontal chair rail instead of 2 allows aluminum chair to stack easier
• Aluminum is a softer metal which can subject the chair to more give
• Aluminum can be (not in all cases) a more expensive metal

Wood Chiavari Chairs:

• The original Chiavari chair was made of wood and for many it is the clear winner
• Lightweight chair – around 10lbs
• Can be bought in a knocked down or assembled format
• Scratches and chips show the natural wood colour underneath
• Easily sanded and re-stained or painted
• A ton of colours available due to the nature of wood – can be stained a variety of colours that allow the wood grain to show through, or painted solid colours
• Factory assembled wood Chiavari’s will be the strongest most durable – knocked down chairs often have screws come loose
• Traditional 2 horizontal chair rails
• Water can cause damage to the finish
• Traditional Chiavari chair seat