Central Coast Chefs and Restaurant Owners look for new products and pricing options for the coming year
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Hundreds of products and rows of vendors were in place Monday for chefs and restaurant owners on the Central Coast and beyond, all coming for the invite-only Jordano's Food and Equipment Show.
The annual event at the Earl Warren Showgrounds offers a variety of supplies, food products, and specific ingredients that are sought after in this very competitive field.
Jordano's President Pete Jordano said, "we're the second oldest continuous operating business of any type in Santa Barbara. I walked the floor the last two days and see our customers and be able to thank them."
Restaurant owners, chefs and special guests were checking out samples and talking to vendors over the two day show. This is where deals can begin or be finalized. This is where costs can be cut and margins can grow.
"We have customers coming in from Bakersfield from Los Angeles from Paso Robles. They are coming from all over," said Jordano's Vice President and General Manager of Food Service Patrick Day.
About 200 vendors were in attendance to meet with more than 1500 people coming through the doors.
There are many on-site samples with company experts talking about the background of the products and how they can help an owner's bottom line and the quality of their meal preparations. The owner of Dave's Dogs, Dave Reynoso said, "I just found a woman offering some chorizo style bits that we can mix into our chili so we can make a chorizo style chili on a hot dog."
The event is about products, service and confidence in all aspects of the supply chain. And where there are changes, Larry Noble the Director of Operations for Lucky's Steakhouse said, "they may say you're using this product and it's running out and everyone one is using this other product. We take their word for it. We've got decades and decades of trust with them. "
Jordano said, "there's always new things you can sell for sure to upgrade their menu."
Cantella's sausage products, with an owner in Santa Ynez, had several samples as it looked to expand its distribution to more grocery stores, restaurants and wholesale distributors. One of its customers is the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Some of the local companies looking to grow their distribution include Babe Farms, Lori's lemonade and Ivan.bar.
There are also suppliers of to-go containers, cups, and both one time and reusable utensils. It all adds up to the costs a restaurant owner has to factor in to their operation.
There are also innovative cooking tools that could make food preparation and quality much higher.
Those interested in the showroom equipment can buy on the spot and have it delivered after the show.
Jordano's is based in Santa Barbara County and is 110 years old. It serves six counties in Southern California with thousands of products.
