I'm Chef Noselot. From time to time I will post some helpful hints on making better use of the great products represented by Koehler Borden. If there is something special you'd like to know about, please drop me an email at chef@koehlerborden.com. I'll do my best to get you an answer promptly.

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Welcome Spring and Summer with Great New Patterns and Exciting Serving Pieces from Homer Laughlin China

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Take Good Care of Your Homer Laughlin China!

When you invest in Homer Laughlin China you have decided to offer your customers the very best. It's important to ensure that you maintain this investment by preserving the presentation as time goes on.

According to RESTAURANTS AND INSTITUTIONS Magazine, the cleanliness and appearance of a restaurant's tabletop, especially the china is the biggest factor in maintaining confidence in a restaurant's quality. If you follow these handy tips you¹ll not only be prolonging the life of your Homer Laughlin China, but also ensuring that your customers understand your insistence on the highest quality for them.

Step 1: From Table to Dirty Dish Scraping
• Use high grade stainless flatware! A low grade flatware usually means you increase chances for marking your china glaze. Markings can be removed, but they require commercial cleansing powders and lots of work!
• Train your bus people to stack dirty dishes properly. Plates should be on the bottom with smaller items stacked on top of them. Only use a plastic bus box!

Step 2: From Dirty Dish Scraping to Dishwasher
• Dishes stacked for pre-wash should have adequate space for working. A congested, confined space leads to breaking and chipping!
• Rinse your china as soon as possible after it has been cleared from the table. If you need to scrape, use only a rubber scraper or water spray. NEVER USE AN ABRASIVE!
• In loading the dishwasher, the dish racks should always be loaded with dishes of the same size.
• Check your dishwasher regularly to ensure that the spary pattern is reaching all of the contents! If you're not washing right, you're damaging your china. And you're offering a negative impression to your customer!

Step 3: From Dishwasher to the Shelves
• Avoid stacking plates higher than 12-16 inches. A tipped stack means disaster!
• Set plates squarely, one piece on top the next without sliding the foot on the other. This keeps the glaze from being scratched!
• Store items by size. Never stack different sizes top on each other. When you do, that means you have to move stacks to get to another size. And that leads to trouble.
• If you stack cups, only stack those that are made for stacking! There's a reason they're made that way!

Step 4: From Shelves to the Table
• Always think about thermal shock. Homer Lauglin products have high heat retention. When you expose them to extreme temperatures, such as going from a freezer to a heated surface, you risk damaging the china.
• For buffet service, use a Servolift Eastern self-leveling device. Be sure that you load with the correct sizes to prevent tipping and jamming.

Step 5: ANYTIME YOU HANDLE YOUR CHINA
• Use Care and common sense. Remember, China doesn't break. It gets broken!!!

If you have any questions or comments about specific problems in dealing with Homer Laughlin China, or the other fine products that are represented by Koehler-Borden Associates, drop me an e-mail.