Cohousing-L Mailing List: Equipping the common kitchen - saga and questions

[Dahako (Dahako]

Hi all -
 
I'm part of the team at Eastern Village that is working on equipping  the 
common kitchen.  Remember, we have 56 units and it is becoming  increasingly 
common for us to have 50 or more people at each meal (and  we still don't have 
a 
common stove yet!).
 
As an FYI, we plan to split the difference on the great  
commercial/residential dishwasher debate and have one of each, with matching  
stainless fronts.  
We want to keep a more residential look, so we plan to  get the Hobart 
under-counter commercial machine for general common meal clean-up  (and are 
working on 
taking Rob Sandelin's advice to raise it).  Right now,  we are planning for 
the residential machine to support our members who  are vegan or who keep 
kosher. 
 
 
We chose plain Corelle Winter Frost White plates (and got them at a  40% off 
sale) for their neutral design, light weight, break and chip resistance,  and 
compatibility with either dishwasher. We splurged on tempered glass glasses  
that stack and we got inexpensive restaurant flatware from a restaurant supply  
place.  We don't have enough money for small tools and gadgets and linens,  
so we made a list of items we'd like to have in the kitchen and are soliciting  
donations from the community.  

 
Q: It looks as if we will have an electric stove due to some concerns  raised 
by the fire marshal.  So, I am looking for recommendations for  brands/types 
of large sauce and stock pans that are especially compatible with  electric 
stoves.  Any thoughts?
 
Q: For the ovens, we plan to use mainly stainless steel "insert" pans (half  
size, various depths) because they are cheap, versatile, easy to clean  and 
fit four at once in each oven.  I am looking for a recommendation  for cookie 
sheets. Any other oven-related "must haves"?
 
Q: Does anyone have a good source for a hardy and nice-looking kitchen cart  
to carry bus trays and or service trays back and forth between kitchen and  
dining room? 
 
 
Q: Are there any other communities that are trying to manage separate vegan  
or kosher dining issues?  If yes, do you have any tips for making it  work?

 
I don't know if the cohousing-L list wants these answers.  It is fine  to 
email me directly, using the same subject line, at dahako at aol dot  com.
 
Jessie Handforth Kome
Eastern Village Cohousing
Silver Spring, Maryland
"Where we celebrated Memorial Day with a big patio dinner in the courtyard  
using our new patio furniture and new common silverware. The rain stopped  just 
in time!"