Food service apparatus and process

Abstract

A food preparation and/or storage apparatus includes modular removable elements having a drawer with one connector for mechanical and electrical engagement with a heat only chamber and electrical connections to a removable heat transfer element. The heat transfer element also provides power from one removable heater to an adjacent removable heater. A shim positions a heat transfer element relative to a supporting drawer. A template releasably positions a center of each container directly above at least one heat transferring surface. A power connector includes a rubber-like grommet for tolerance in connecting to an external power source. A method of and an apparatus for adjusting the height of a plurality of vertically oriented shelves in a housing allows a plurality of vertically stacked shelves to be accessed from substantially the same height. The heat transfer element provides conduction heat to the container of food and, in combination with a heated air directing element, provides convection heating to the same food. Frozen food can be heated. Improved insulation is obtained by minimizing chamber to frame contact, by minimizing the clearance between drawers and spacer bars while a portion of the drawer is disposed outside the chamber and by adding a drawer gasket seal which contacts at least one of the spacer bars when the drawer is in a closed position. Waterproof electrical connections are included in the chamber element, on the drawer and on the heat transfer element.