Abstract: A rotisserie cooking apparatus has at least one cooking rod for holding food to be cooked. Each rod has at each end a guide element, which is preferably in the form of a wheel or geared wheel. A frame of the apparatus supports an inclined guide path at either lateral side thereof for receiving the guide elements for each rod and guiding the rod gravitationally from an entry point downward towards an exit point of the guide path. The guide element and guide path are structured to cause an axial rotation of the rod as it travels down the guide path, preferably by way of gear rack in the guide path that corresponds to the gear teeth of the guide element wheel. The speed of the rod down the incline path is controlled, preferably by way of a tension or friction force against a later wall of the guide path. A preferable structure provides for a tension element at the end of the rod, which is axially adjustable to provide for differing frictional forces against the lateral wall.

Abstract: An open-air cooking apparatus for cooking pizza and the like, includes a horizontal, rotatable, circular turntable cooking surface, sized to support and cook several items simultaneously. The turntable should preferably structured to provide constant, even heat throughout its surface. As the oven is open-air, the cooking of the items will be primarily conduction of heat from the surface of the turntable through the bottom of the item. As the items rotate, they will pass under a static radiant heat source located above the turntable. The radiant heat source will thus direct heat towards the top of the item only periodically, i.e. at one point per rotation. This allows the item, such as a pizza, to cook thoroughly from below by way of the cooking surface, while cooking and/or browning the top portion at a different, desired degree.

Abstract: A gravity fed toaster, particularly for restaurant or other commercial use, is described where bread slices to be toasted are fed by gravity and means are provided to simultaneously release a toasted slice of bread, while preventing feed of a subsequent slice from a gravity magazine.