Abstract: A food station includes a base configured to support a food product, a frame coupled to the base and including a longitudinal member having a length extending in a longitudinal direction, and a heat strip module coupled to the longitudinal member. The heat strip module includes a housing, a heating element coupled to the housing, and a reflector coupled to the housing. The heat strip module is at least one of (a) selectively rotatable relative to the longitudinal member between a first orientation and a second orientation and configured to emit the energy in both the first orientation and the second orientation or (b) selectively repositionable along the length of the longitudinal member between a first position and a second position and configured to emit the energy in both the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A cookware handle includes a grip comprising a first side, a second side, a pocket between the first side and the second side, a first aperture in the first side, and a second aperture in the second side. The cookware handle also includes a shaft comprising a proximal end configured to be coupled to cookware, a distal portion positioned in the pocket, and a third aperture aligned with the first aperture and the second aperture. The cookware handle also includes a plug including a ribbed thumb grip aligned with a surface of the first side of the grip. The plug retains the grip on the shaft by filling the first aperture, the second aperture, and the third aperture.

Abstract: A food service system comprising a housing having a first bay, a first positioning bracket having a first opening, and a first power supply module having a first mounting interface. The system may further comprise a first canister to selectively couple the first power supply module and controllably dispense a first food product, where the first canister comprises a first receptacle, a first base coupled to the first receptacle, and a first dispenser. The system may further comprise a first drive motor module removably mounted to the first base and operatively coupled to the first dispenser, where the first canister is removably mounted in the first bay by at least an engagement between the first drive motor module and the first mounting interface, and where the first drive motor module may actuate the first dispenser and the first dispenser controllably dispenses the first food product.

Abstract: A manual food processor includes a base, a plurality of blades coupled to the base and extending from the base in a vertical direction, a rod coupled to the base and oriented at an acute angle relative to the vertical direction of the blade, and a carriage slidable along the rod from a top end of the rod to a bottom end of the rod. The carriage is configured to support a food item from below the food item and to push the food item from above the food item. The carriage is positioned entirely on a first side of the plurality of blades when at the top end of the rod and is intersected by the plurality of blades at the bottom end of the rod.

Abstract: A temperature regulation device for positioning in a well of food service equipment, the temperature regulation device including a housing and a support coupled to the housing. The housing includes a top surface and a bottom surface and the support includes a connector having a connector axis, an outer surface, and an inner surface. The support is rotatable about the connector axis between an extended position and a retracted position. In the extended position of the support, the housing is positioned in a first position relative to the well, and in the retracted position of the support, the housing is positioned in a second position relative to the well.

Abstract: A method of arranging an induction coil in a food service well includes supporting, by supports in an extended position, the induction coil at a first height in the food service well, rotating the supports from the extended position to a retracted position, and supporting, with the supports in the retracted position, the induction coil at a second height in the food service well, the first height different than the second height.

Abstract: A probe used with food preparation, rethermalization, storage, transportation, and/or service includes a head portion with a display, and a shaft portion that is coupled to the head portion and is configured to be at least partially immersed in a foodstuff. The probe further includes a sensing unit configured to collect data including the temperature of the foodstuff and a wireless device configured to transmit data collected by the sensing unit to a supervisory control device.

Abstract: A food station includes a base configured to support a food product, a frame coupled to the base and including a longitudinal member having a length extending in a longitudinal direction, and a heat strip module coupled to the longitudinal member. The heat strip module includes a housing, a heating element coupled to the housing, and a reflector coupled to the housing. The heat strip module is at least one of (a) selectively rotatable relative to the longitudinal member between a first orientation and a second orientation and configured to emit the energy in both the first orientation and the second orientation or (b) selectively repositionable along the length of the longitudinal member between a first position and a second position and configured to emit the energy in both the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A manual food processor includes a base, a plurality of blades coupled to the base and extending from the base in a vertical direction, a rod coupled to the base and oriented at an acute angle relative to the vertical direction of the blade, and a carriage slidable along the rod from a top end of the rod to a bottom end of the rod. The carriage is configured to support a food item from below the food item and to push the food item from above the food item. The carriage is positioned entirely on a first side of the plurality of blades when at the top end of the rod and is intersected by the plurality of blades at the bottom end of the rod.

Abstract: A breath guard for a food serving system includes first and second supports positioned laterally offset from one another, a guide rail coupled to the first support and extending in a substantially longitudinal direction, an adjustable panel extending between the first and second supports, and an adjustment mechanism coupled to the adjustable panel and configured to selectively engage the guide rail in a series of locations. The adjustable panel is rotatably and translatably coupled to the guide rail and is rotatable relative to the guide rail about an axis of rotation that extends laterally. The adjustment mechanism prevents longitudinal movement of the adjustable panel in a first direction and allows movement in a second direction opposite the first direction when the adjustment mechanism engages the guide rail, such that the adjustable panel is selectively repositionable between a plurality of longitudinal positions.

Abstract: A hopper cover for a dispensing machine includes an exterior side having an exterior surface and an interior side having an interior surface that defines a plurality of recesses. The plurality of recesses are configured to receive a plurality of components of the dispensing machine. Each recess of the plurality of recesses corresponds with a specific component of the plurality of components. The hopper cover is configured to cover a hopper cavity of the dispensing machine when in a first orientation and facilitate organized disassembly and reassembly of the dispensing machine when in a second orientation.

Abstract: A breath guard includes a first support, a second support, a guide rail coupled to the first support and extending in a substantially longitudinal direction, the guide rail including a rack defining a series of teeth, an adjustable panel extending between the first support and the second support, and an adjustment mechanism including a pawl rotatably coupled to the adjustable panel and configured to selectively engage the teeth of the rack. The adjustable panel is rotatable relative to the guide rail about an axis of rotation that extends laterally. The adjustment mechanism is configured to prevent longitudinal movement of the adjustable panel relative to the guide rail in a first direction and allow longitudinal movement of the adjustable panel in a second direction when the pawl engages the teeth of the rack, such that the adjustable panel is selectively repositionable between a series of longitudinal positions.

Abstract: A probe used with food preparation, rethermalization, storage, transportation, and/or service includes a body configured to be immersed in a foodstuff, one or more sensors configured to collect data including the temperature of the foodstuff, and a wireless device configured to transmit data collected by the one or more sensors to food equipment to control the heat provided to the foodstuff.

Abstract: A probe used with food preparation, rethermalization, storage, transportation, and/or service includes a head portion with a display, and a shaft portion that is coupled to the head portion and is configured to be at least partially immersed in a foodstuff. The probe further includes a sensing unit configured to collect data including the temperature of the foodstuff and a wireless device configured to transmit data collected by the sensing unit to a supervisory control device.