A la Cart Inc. : F.A.Q's

What sets A la Cart, Inc. apart from other companies that offer retherm systems?

How does the cook/chill process affect the nutritive value and quality of food?

Are all A la Cart systems designed for use with cook chill food preparation?

Does A la Cart only provide systems for hospital food service?

How does A la Cart support its products?

How long has A la Cart's System II been on the market?

Q:	What sets A la Cart, Inc. apart from other companies that offer retherm systems?
A:	We believe, as do our customers, that this answer is based on two elements of our company. First, we provide the most advanced technology available associated with rethermalization and managers' ability to control this process. Secondly, our expertise and operational support, as well as our commitment to our customers, are well known in the marketplace, even to our competitors.
Q:	How does the cook/chill process affect the nutritive value and quality of food?
A:	In preparing food, the cooking is stopped at the "just done" stage and the food items are rapidly blast chilled or tumble chilled, quickly and safely, to below 40 degrees F. Food is then stored at this temperature to preserve texture and color. For plated retherm meal service, food is plated cold, then brought up to serving temperature (greater that 165 degrees F) immediately prior to meal delivery. This method maximizes the nutritive value of foods by avoiding overexposure to heat in the cooking and holding process, which often occurs with conventional cook/serve methods.
Q:	Are all A la Cart systems designed for use with cook chill food preparation?
A:	No. Some of our systems are designed specifically for use with cook chill, but others can be used with either conventional or cook chill. For more information, see section Search for Products by Cooking Method.
Q:	Does A la Cart only provide systems for hospital food service?
A:	No. While our System II was developed for patient meal delivery in health care facilities, other A la Cart systems are designed for use in all types of food service operations. For more information, see our section on Searching for Products by Your Industry.
Q:	How does A la Cart support its products?
A:	All of A la Cart's systems are supported by our exceptional commitment to personalized customer service, including our unique Customer Care Plan for System II. See section on Complete Service for details. In addition, we back our systems with excellent product warranties.
Q:	How long has A la Cart's System II been on the market?
A:	We introduced our first plated retherm meal delivery system in 1985. Since then, we have continued to add improvements and fine tune the system for more efficient operation. In 1997, when we added state-of-the-art software to the controller/chiller unit, the system "officially" became known as A la Cart's System II.

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