Small Bites, Flights, and Buffets: The Versatility of Small Servers

Small, individual serving pieces are surprisingly versatile, supporting a wide variety of applications. They can help you make the best use of available labor and enhance safety at the same time.

Whether used for serving side dishes, tasting flights, mix-and-match samplers, or on a buffet, small serving vessels present a wide range of benefits:

Efficient use of labor: Kitchen staff can pre-prep and hold at the appropriate temperature prior to serving.

Portion control and uniformity: No additional measurement is required to ensure consistent presentation and portion size.

Enhanced presentation: The vessel serves as attractive packaging, adding elegance or a fun factor to even simple or monochromatic dishes without the need for advanced plating skills.

Reduced food waste: Smaller portions are more likely to be finished, so less time is spent scrapping and less food goes to waste.

Increased buffet hygiene: Single serve portions can be picked up without serving utensils that have been handled by multiple people.

Versatile Serving Options

Treat your guests with delicious desserts, appetizers, and drinks with break-resistant Mini Dessert Glasses from Cambro. Made with durable Camwear plastic, these 4-ounce glasses replicate the look and clarity of glass without the breakage. A heavy base adds stability during service. Mini glasses can be washed safely in a 49-compartment Camrack (49S318) in any high heat commercial dishwasher, but we’re partial to Champion.

The Touch Free Dining Collection by BauscherHepp enables attractive and hygienic presentation of single servings for buffets, outdoor serving, grab-and-go style dining, and more. 

The base is made of premium German porcelain while a clear, shatterproof cover protects food while showing it off. 

The Touch Free Dining Collection is dishwasher safe and stacks for space-saving storage.

TableCraft's Mini Roasters serve up a fun and casual presentation for individual soups, mac and cheese, or sides. Small handles can be used to hold utensils and make it easy to transport from kitchen to table without accidentally touching food. 

Made of 200 series Stainless Steel, Mini Roasters hold up to 14 ounces of food, are dishwasher safe, and can withstand temperatures up to 500°F.

If Mini Mason Jar Cocktail Glasses by TableCraft could talk, they would say, “Relax. You’re about to have a great time and enjoy food and drink that will bring you joy.” 

Craft beers, cocktails, salsa, snacks? The possibilities are endless with this dishwasher safe, 4.5 oz crystal-clear glass. 

Glasses are 2.875" x 2.125" x 3.25" and fit TableCraft tasting flight paddles Bamboo FLIGHT1, Acacia FLIGHT2 and Stainless Steel 20002.

TableCraft’s bamboo paddle tasting flight holds mini tasting glasses or ramekins of dipping sauces or condiments. For durability and flexibility, this 17" x 4" x .625" paddle is reversible with four square cut-outs on one side and four circular cut-outs on the other. A slot is built into the handle to conveniently display your flight tasting cards. Hand wash only.

Hot and Cold Display

For hot foods, Hatco's HBG Portable Rectangular Heated Base Glass Shelf features a heated ceramic glass surface that blends cleanly into your buffet display or serving area. 

This base helps keep hot foods at safe-serving temperatures for short-term food holding. 

Uniform heat across the entire surface ensuring that even multiple single-serve portions are getting the heat they need to stay safe and delicious. It’s made of approved food-safe materials, so it’s safe for direct food contact. Adjustable thermostatic controls allow for easy control of the surface temperature with a range from 100°F-195°F.

For cold foods, TableCraft Cooling Plates keep food chilled for up to 3 hours. This versatile solution is available in three sizes (Half, Half Long, and Full). Use them separately, on stands, or in a cooling base station. 

The 3-Tiered Half Long Cooling Display shown here (#CW40309B) includes three half-size Cooling Plates and Black Powder Coated Stand to save space and improve product visibility. Components are also sold separately.

We can help you find the perfect serving pieces and equipment to match your style and support how you serve. Contact us!