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Catering Kitchen

jim baird

Silver Member
Joined
Oct 17, 2009
Messages
490
Location
Comer, GA
How often do members here encounter the concept "catering kitchen" in plans?

Where is it defined?
 
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A catering kitchen, pantry, or warming kitchen usually applies to an area where final preparations are made. Food may be brought in from the main kitchens in electric warming carts either in bulk or already set up on plate. The catering kitchen is used to get the food out to the guests. In my experience, a catering kitchen, pantry or warming kitchen usually does not have commercial cooking equipment that would require a hood or fire extinguishing system. Some may have dishwashers depending upon the food service program. The area would also usually have beverage dispensing, including coffee urns.

No sure there is a formal definition anywhere, but this is typcial in convention centers, arenas, stadiums, conference centers, hotels or other assembly areas with food service that are not restaurants.
 
treat like any other kitchen, if you are talking in commercail setting.

what is the real question besides defintion

catering kitchen, ballroom kitchen, event kitchen, snack bar, if it looks like a kitchen it is a kitchen
 
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jim b.,



The term will most likely be defined by each AHJ and how they want to

interpret / apply it. Coug Dad has given a good description though! :)



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We have a number of them. One of our resort hotels has numerous catering kitchens serving a 1 million square foot convention center facility. As others have said, they are really mainly staging and prep areas, with spaces for warming carts, tables, and coolers/freezers. They are approximately the size of my neighborhood. They do not have cooking.

Do you have specific questions/concerns?
 
have seen so called catering kitchens that are full blown kitchens

seems like it would be case by case, to what is shown on the plans
 
Thanks for replies.

No hidden agenda cda.

OP relates to the one I put up on grease traps.

Project done and bid "behind my back", or prior to my arrival. Small town project with grant money for historic pres., architect allowed "catering kitchen" desc. to avoid commercial hood costs, then caved in to city clerk's insistence on domestic range, two wall ovens, garbage disposal, and residential dishwasher.

My note to architect that even domestic cooking equipment needs hood etc in non-residential setting brought an emphatic recommendation to eliminate all those "extras".

Small town life.
 
Aha. Then it's not a catering kitchen, it's a commercial kitchen...
 
Vindicated

vin·di·cate (vnd-kt)

tr.v. vin·di·cat·ed, vin·di·cat·ing, vin·di·cates

1. To clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting arguments or proof: "Our society permits people to sue for libel so that they may vindicate their reputations" (Irving R. Kaufman).

2. To provide justification or support for: vindicate one's claim.

3. To justify or prove the worth of, especially in light of later developments.

4. To defend, maintain, or insist on the recognition of (one's rights, for example).

5. To exact revenge for; avenge.

SO YOU are batting 4th:::

"""Project done and bid "behind my back", or prior to my arrival"""

Clean-up hitter Player hitting fourth in the batting order - a power hitter who's expected to clean the bases by bringing his teammates home
 
In the Confused State of CA

A caterer is regulated and permitted by the local health Department. A caterer is a person, business, or food facility that prepares, transports, and serves food at public and/or private events. The food is stored and prepared in an approved, permitted, permanent food facility, regulated under the California Retail Food Code (CRFC) through an annual health permit. There are two types of caterers:

Type 1: A fixed restaurant facility that also caters. This facility holds a health permit that allows catering (i.e., the permit should designate the facility as a caterer). Prior to any catering, the restaurant is required to submit a separate plan review of the catering operation for review and approval by this Department.

Type 2: A caterer who utilizes a permitted kitchen, provides a written agreement for use of that kitchen, and obtains a catering permit. The caterer is required to submit a complete plan review of the catering operation for review and approval by this Division prior to obtaining a health permit and beginning operation.The caterer is required, among other things, to submit a "Verification of Commissary" form.

A caterer is required to prepare all food at an approved food establishment, with the exception of barbeque. If a caterer is preparing and serving food all day at a public event (e.g., a booth at the County Fair), the operation is then a Temporary Food Facility, requiring a different health permit and permit fee.

http://www.edcgov.us/emd/envhealth/pdf/CalCode.pdf
 
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often times a caterer just needs a place to warm things up (usually a chafing dish of some kind).

If they COOK, it's a commercial kitchen.
 
Way down here at the bottom.....

Today I got an inquiry from a catering business that prepares food and delivers to event locations. they would like to expand from a too small location. There will bo no food consumption on premises, a small commercial kitchen, stockroom, and rest room.

What occupancy would you assign to them?
 
We get them all the time, especially with day cares and elementary schools. I use the IMC definitions for appliances and bi-product production where Type I and Type II hoods are required. If no hoods are required, it is then a catering kitchen. A Type II hood is required for even a domestic range, unless it can be documented that the mechanical system can handle the extra steam/vapors generated, and no preparation of grease laden foods is permitted (usually requires signage to indicate limits of usage).
 
Papio Bldg Dept said:
We get them all the time, especially with day cares and elementary schools. I use the IMC definitions for appliances and bi-product production where Type I and Type II hoods are required. If no hoods are required, it is then a catering kitchen. A Type II hood is required for even a domestic range, unless it can be documented that the mechanical system can handle the extra steam/vapors generated, and no preparation of grease laden foods is permitted (usually requires signage to indicate limits of usage).
F1 works best
 
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