Blog posts tagged with 'crystal stemware'

Crystal stemware is used a lot in fine dining restaurants as well as rented out to special events where a little sparkle is necessary on the table – or if a more luxurious atmosphere is wanted. It tends to be synonymous with a higher end price tag. There are misconceptions that exist with both crystal stemware and glass stemware but today I’m going to touch on the 3 misconceptions that people often assume about crystal stemware – in no particular order.

1. It’s really expensive

While it is true it can be a more expensive – this is more often than not the result of how it is manufactured and who is selling the crystal stemware. Crystal stemware that is hand blown by master craftsman is obviously going to be priced higher because of the human labour involved in producing it. Also, glass blowers are not a dime a dozen and is a craft that doesn’t have millions flocking to learn the trade. That being said, crystal stemware can be machine made – making the glasses more uniform in appearance and lowering unit costs. Also, companies that sell crystal stemware get very good at knowing how to specifically market crystal to appeal to our wants of luxury, fine craftsmanship and extravagance. Because of this, the pricing has been inflated because they have created a market that can support a higher price. Looking for wholesale suppliers of crystal stemware can help alleviate these higher prices.

2. It’s even more breakable than glass

While generally a more breakable substance than glass, crystal stemware tends to have the same issues that also occur with glass stemware. The bowls of the crystal and glass stemware can pop off the foot. That being said, assuming you handle crystal stemware like it can break – and that it isn’t indestructible – it should hold up well for you.

3. It’s not safe because of lead content

Health Canada’s stance on lead crystal is that it may release lead into your food or beverage. That being said, there is lead-free crystal stemware that exists these days. This eliminates the worry that may exist of potential lead poisoning.

Highball glasses are a versatile bar glass for any event or restaurant with a beverage menu. Not only are they used for traditional highball cocktails such as Cuba Libre, or Scotch and Soda but also can be used as glasses for water, soft drinks and juices. With a need for highball glasses, the next question sure to be on your list is “How much do highball glasses cost to buy in Canada?” We’ll answer that question below so you are able to gain a better understanding of the budget you’ll need to purchase your highball glasses.

Cost of Highball Glasses in Canada

The average cost of highball glasses in Canada ranges from $2.00 to $4.82 wholesale not including taxes or shipping. The cost ranges due to the material of the glass (whether it’s glass or crystal), whether the glass is handmade or machine made, the volume size of the glass and the brand distributing the product. Retail cost for glasses at any home décor retailer will range from $4.69 to $84.99 again dependant on the material of the glass, handmade or machine made, volume size and brand.

Hopefully this post gives you an idea of the approximate costs to be associating to your new stacking chair budget.

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo we’re busting out our margarita glasses and providing our restauranteurs and chefs with some of the must-have margarita recipes for your menu. We’re willing to taste test for you as well!

The Proper Margarita Recipe (or as Chow’s Senior Editor says “the only way to make margaritas”)

Photo Source: Chow

What you need:

• Salt for rimming
• Margarita Glass or Rocks Glass
• Ice
• 1 ½ oz 100 percent agave tequila
• 1 oz freshly squeeze lime juice
• ½ oz Cointreau (not Triple Sec)

For complete instructions head over to Chow.com for the play by play.

The Best Coconut Margarita Recipe (that’s a lot of margarita’s one had to drink to lay claim to “the best”)

Photo credit: foodiecrush.com

What you need:

• Margarita Glass or Rocks Glass
• 1½ ounces Patron reposado tequila
• ½ ounce cointreau
• 1 ounce coconut cream
• 1 ounce coconut milk
• ½ ounce fresh lime juice
• Splash of half and half
• Splash of simple syrup (1/2 cup sugar, ½ cup water brought to a boil until sugar dissolved, then cooled.)
• lime wedges for garnish

This recipe looks absolutely divine and the story behind the Patron Tequila Express train along with images is a great read and visual experience! To read the full story and get the instructions, head on over to Foodiecrush.com.

Skinny Marg’s Recipe

Photo credit: Shape.com

What you need:

• Margarita Glass or Rocks Glass
• 1 ounce añejo tequila
• 1 ounce Cointreau
• ½ ounce lime juice
• 1 pinch pink Himalayan salt
• Polar® Ginger Lemonade Seltzer

For the health conscious guest, here’s a margarita lighter on the waistline but heavy on the flavour. For instructions on how to make, head over to Shape.com.

Blood Orange Margarita Recipe

What you need:

• Margarita Glass or Rocks Glass
• 3 oz juice from a freshly squeezed blood orange
• 2 oz 100% agave tequila
• 1 oz Triple Sec orange flavoured liqueur
• splash of agave syrup (optional yet recommended by recipe creators Todd Porter & Diane Cu)

Todd Porter & Diane Cu’s blood orange margarita recipe is making my mouth water as I write this post. Check out their recipe, full instructions to produce this gorgeously hued drink along with their fantastic and famous food photography at whiteonricecouple.com.

Strawberry Margarita Mocktail Recipe

Photo credit: everydaysouthwest.com

What you need:

• Margarita Glass or Rocks Glass
• 10 oz frozen strawberries, thawed
• 6 oz can frozen limeade concentrate
• ½ cup orange juice
• 20 oz lemon-lime soda, chilled
• 3 cups of crushed ice
• Fresh strawberries for garnish (optional)

Let’s be honest – not everyone can or wants to indulge in alcoholic libations so I’ve included a mockarita (?)… mocktail margarita (?) …whatever you want to call it for those wanting to live on the edge without the edge in the drink! For full recipe and instructions, head over to everydaysouthwest.com.

What are your favourite recipes? Let us know in the comments!

Anyone not in the foodservice and restaurant industry would not understand the need to write a blog post about crystal and glass stemware and glassware – however you and I both know that even something as miniscule as the choice of glass material for your guest’s choice of beverage goes a long way towards enhancing the aesthetics and atmosphere of the restaurant. If you’re reading this blog post though, chances are you’re in the midst of determining what type of crystal and glass wine glasses make the most sense for your establishment. We’ll shed more light below on why choose crystal wine glasses over glass wine glasses and vice versa.

Crystal Wineglasses

• Traditionally used in upscale fine dining establishments or restaurants less prone to breakage
• Older crystal wine glasses can have lead in them. Most crystal wine glasses these days are unleaded due to the fact that lead used to leech into the beverage making it hazardous for a person’s health
• Help to control the temperature of the wine
• Accentuates the aroma and flavours of the wine
• Allows light to refract through the glass making them sparkle on the table
• Light in weight
• Frailer and therefore more fragile than glass stemware
• Sometimes hand washable only
• Average cost is more expensive than glass stemware thus replacement costs are higher

Glass Wineglasses

• Traditionally used in more casual dining atmospheres and restaurants where more breakage occurs (i.e. pubs / bars)
• Doesn’t shine the way crystal does as it is slightly more opaque
• More affordable than crystal so replacement costs are lower than average
• More durable than crystal
• Thicker structure (thicker bowl, rim, foot and stem) generally
• Dishwasher safe

Restaurants with an extensive wine menu and upscale offerings or restaurants looking to position themselves as a food and wine destination would do best purchasing crystal wine glasses. Fast Casual restaurants, pubs and bars would do best purchasing glass wine glasses enabling them to optimize the durability of the glass.

Crystal champagne flutes add to a restaurant's or event's aesthetics. They exude luxury and contribute to the look of the venue as well as the atmosphere. Having sold thousands of crystal stemware including crystal champagne flutes to party rental companies and restaurants across Canada, we understand the need to budget for crystal champagne flutes, especially for industries with such high turnover of the crystal stemware. We've answered the important question – how much are crystal champagne flutes in Canada – to provide an easy to reference guide for estimating costs as well as providing you with a benchmark when looking at a new supplier.

Cost of crystal champagne flutes

Crystal champagne flutes can be found almost everywhere as a number of retailers sell them – however – for the purpose of this post we will be looking at commercial retailers who sell to businesses only. These commercial retailers tend to feature less mark-ups than a traditional consumer retailer. In commercial establishments, champagne flutes in crystal range in price from $2.85 to $35.24. The range in cost is dependent on whether it’s man-made or machine made champagne flutes (man-made are more expensive), the volume of champagne the glass can handle (larger volume has a higher cost), whether it’s sold direct from the manufacturer and brand name.

Hopefully this guide will help you determine the approximate cost you’re willing to pay for your party rental company or restaurant.