Shortages of raw materials, soaring shipping costs, and transportation labor issues, all boil down to one more hurdle facing almost all restaurants in this post-pandemic climate. Supply chain challenges. If erratic deliveries and shortages of everyday products have you reinventing ways to prepare new menu items or create new versions of the classics, Upper Crust

Even in the heat of summer, diners still crave crispy fried foods. Unfortunately, fried foods can be heavy and oily. Not a good fit for summer fare, or anytime really. An easy solution for transforming those heavy fried foods into light and crispy customer favorites is as easy as replacing one very simple ingredient in

Over the past several years Japanese panko fried foods, like Katsu and Sandos, have seen an incredible increase in popularity. Food & Wine® speculates their popularity will continue to increase throughout the year. And why not? Few can resist a golden fried cutlet, which is one of the leading reasons Japanese Katsu (crispy coated pork

Are your customers seeking solace in deep-fried foods? Here’s an easy way to make America’s favorite fried foods better! According to an article in the WSJ “Demand for Comfort Food Greases Market for All Things Fried”, sales for french fries, fried chicken, and fried cheese curds have skyrocketed. So much in fact repairs for restaurants’

Crispy on the outside, melt in your mouth on the inside … fried foods (done right) create the perfect alignment of taste and texture. Even the most health conscience patrons can’t resist. Foodmarket recently published an article, Demand Sizzles for Fried Food, outlining how one of Americans’ oldest obsessions was taken to new heights during

While many food trends come and go, one trend that isn’t “going” is the demand for quality food. And that includes all the ingredients used in the preparation. The increased demand for plant based and Non-GMO menu options shines a light on the importance of “all” ingredients used to create a dish. Including something as

From appetizers all the way through to dessert, Authentic Panko is one of the hardest-working, most-versatile ingredients in a professional pantry. Unfortunately, it’s probably one of the most overlooked ingredients as well, mainly due to a few misconceptions of its capabilities. If you thought Panko was just for Japanese cuisine, think again – Panko is

One fact you can take to the bank is not all Panko Brands are the same. Because not all brands of Panko are Authentic Japanese Panko. While there are many commercial brands available, only a few are truly an authentic Japanese Panko. The word “Authentic” is important. An Authentic Panko is made using traditional Japanese methods

If you’ve tried our extra crispy Authentic Tempura Batter, you will love our All Purpose Seasoned Batter Mix!  Seasoned to perfection and versatile, it’s an ideal base batter for fish, chicken, vegetables, seafood, pork, or beef. Our All Purpose Seasoned Batter Mix delivers a light crispy coating that stays crispy for an extended time. With

Maintaining the vision of Masashi Kawaguchi, siblings, Lauren and Jonathan Kawaguchi are ready to lead the next generation forward. Both Lauren and Jonathan are actively involved in Upper Crust Enterprises and learning the ins and outs of producing Authentic Panko, while fulfilling their grandfather’s original vision. Lauren and Jonathan grew up in the family business