August 31, 2007

	For Further Information, Contact, Lisa Hosey, Marketing Coordinator AGA Foodservice Equipment (856) 428-4200, ext. 5135 l.hosey@agaappliance.com   Stellar's New Polaris Catering Model Enables Steaming On The Go New portable catering steamer offers event-oriented operators the ability to steam foods anywhere, from banquet halls to poolside.     Cherry Hill, NJ, August 2007 -- For too long, caterers and other foodservice operators working in non-traditional and on-site environments have been forced to prepare menus with a limited set of tools. Sometimes, they've had to rely on hot-side equipment using only one connection, such as a portable electric oven. At outdoor events, connectionless pieces such as propane or charcoal grills have been the norm.     For the most part, special event and remote operations have been forced to make do without water-using cooking equipment because of the multiple connections such equipment has required. Now, Stellar Steam, an Aga Foodservice Equipment company, is breaking the connection barrier with the world's first fully mobile, completely connectionless catering steamer.     The Stellar Polaris is a four-pan steamer that is fired by a 30-lb. propane tank, both of which sit on a mobile stand supported by sturdy casters. Once the Polaris is filled with water, it can cook anywhere, with no hook-ups required. A single tank of propane generates enough steam for 22 consecutive hours of full-load operation.     Mark Whalen, President of AGA Foodservice Equipment remarked, "The Polaris is a welcome addition to the Stellar family of high-efficiency steamers. We continue to emphasize three major distinctions that make our products broadly appealing to the diverse needs of foodservice operators: energy and utility efficiency, technical innovation and reliability backed by our standard two-year parts and labor warranty."     "We're very pleased to offer operators, specifiers and business partners the first fully portable steamer on the market," said Mitch Cohen, vice president of cooking system sales for Stellar. "The Polaris expands our product line to a niche that no one else is filling at this time."     According to Cohen, the Stellar Polaris is particularly well-suited for operators who set up shop at banquet halls and other off-site venues. It is also ideal for large noncommercial campuses and hotel, casino and resort operations that hold outdoor events.     "I was just in Las Vegas and talked to a lot of chefs about this steamer," Cohen related. "These kitchen professionals do a lot of parties outside by a pool. At these events, they've been forced to boil foods that they would normally steam. Stellar's Polaris gives those operators a chance to offer a fresh product out of a steamer instead of product that's been sitting in water."     Like all Stellar units, the Polaris is constructed with a cast-aluminum interior that holds heat better than steamers with stainless-steel cavities. It is also boilerless, which eliminates the time and labor required to remove scale and lime from a boiler.     The Polaris will be available for shipment in mid-September. It will be on display at the NAFEM Show, scheduled for Oct. 11 through Oct. 13 at the Atlanta Convention Center, in the Aga Foodservice booth, # 2905.