To cut down on labor and simplify kitchen prep, club chefs can rely on high-quality prepared products.
Diners tend to look down on establishments that serve and incorporate prepared items into dishes. There is also a bit of guilt associated with buying prepared or frozen products, especially in a club setting where members’ expectations are high. However, with so many high-quality prepared items now available to chefs, few might realize just how common the practice is.
Not only are prepared foods more convenient, but they can save on labor while also simplifying the food preparation process. Suppliers now have many items that resemble and taste like scratch-made and reduce prep time for an understaffed kitchen. Some of the most useful prepared products for a club to use include soups, sauces, appetizers, hors d’oeuvres, pastries, desserts, breads, and even sous-vide portioned meats. Turning to canned or frozen fruits and vegetables can also help save on preparation time.
Chefs will usually pay a higher price for prepared products, but suppliers can make suggestions for the best products that can help reduce labor while still maintaining quality. Normally these items can be quite time-consuming to prepare, especially for larger events, but with a high-quality product, the unnoticeable difference makes the saved time worth it.
Not all pre-prepared products are created equal. It is important to communicate with suppliers about quality and for the staff to prepare items correctly. Pre-prepared items also do not need to be kept as is, chefs can add their own twist to the product to help it stand out. Using pre-prepared foods should not make up the whole menu, but pre-prepared items can be a great supplement when needing to cut down on preparation time for a club’s kitchen staff.