hostess trolley

Ethelbags, how many chars do you currently employ ?

Not been incinerated yet ethel! The elements are covered and it is very low wattage. As I mentioned, mine has a wooden top that sits on the heated glass top (when it has cooled) except when DGS2 was going through his switching phase and we gradually became aware of a smell of charred wood. He had switched the top on! We now unplug it at the wall when not in use.

I don't keep mine in the kitchen but we have a big dining room.

kitty ive just looked it up, never seen one like that before but isn't it a fire risk using a vintage appliance like that overnight and leaving the teatowel in the door. I would never sleep.

where on earth would you store something like that, my kitchen has just got room for appliances and a tiny table (no chars at present as Im updating them).

It's not an oven, it keeps things warm after they've been cooked. There is a heated cabinet, with another heated section on the top which contains three Pyrex serving dishes with lids. The cabinet section will keep a large joint or a turkey warm, or large casseroles, plus plates. When there are only four or five of us eating, I, like you, dish up in the kitchen, but we used to have eight or ten people to dinner of three or four courses and they were long leisurely affairs, so anything you put in a dish on the table would soon go cold. It was invaluable then, but the only time I use mine now is at Christmas. And these days, with my back, I couldn't bend backwards over anything, let alone a hostess trolley!!

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Philips-Hostess-Heated-Trolley-/112018029149?hash=item1a14cb7a5d:g:x9IAAOSw1DtXJexT

Mine is like this but has a heated solid glass top rather than the dishes.

I keep mine in the dining room, it's too heavy to move around. We use it to keep food warm until we are all sitting down. My MiL used to have a gold trolley - its not like that at all!!It's a heated cupboard thing, ethel

I make meringues in the usual way and put them in the trolley to 'cook' rather than putting them in a cool oven. I usually put a folded teatowel in the door to slow it down even more and often just leave them in there all day (or overnight).

I'll find a link to one like mine and post it.

Is it a type of oven?, you lot have really cheered me up today, lol, I just cant stop singing that daft Victoria Wood song now.

Can someone enlighten me as to what exactly is a hostess trolley, my late MIL used to bring us our tea and cakes on a gilt trolley which she used to trundle in from the kitchen but reading these posts I see that they are heated ?. I must admit Ive never imagined one with heating too. I will google it as soon as ive done this. However the people who use them must have huge houses to need to push a trolley laden with food into the dining room.
I dish up in the kitchen and we either eat there or in my living room which has a huge dining table and the whole journey is a matter of about 6 steps. Most houses nowadays are eating/dining ares anyway so what purpose is a trolley ?

I love my hostess use it every time we entertain, often. Would like to know how you make meringues in it Kittylester.
Mostly use it as a plate warmer and to hold vegetables on the way to the table, within 10 minutes or so. Wouldn't risk much longer as mine cooks on l believe.

anne53 doesn't that conjure up a wonderful image!

My sister and I share the hostess trolley! Use it a lot at Christmas and when we have people round for supper. Not sure how we are going to get it the three miles down the road between houses now. It use to travel in the camper van, which they have just sold! Maybe I'll have to attach a small motor and ride it!! ?

My second one is not ugly. It's made of teak and has two internal shelves, both heated, and a heated glass top which has a teak cover. The top and cupboard can be used independently. Have you guessed that I love it.

I have lovely happy memories of my nan using hers every time there were lots of us at hers for dinners! It was used very regularly even if just for warming the plates up! When she became unwell but before she passed away, my mother gave it away to an local old peoples home, I was miffed because I would have loved to have been offered it. It may have meant my cooking would appear to be a little more organised at the very least! I only hoped they were able to use it what with health and safety regulations within such settings and food hygiene rules, I think it would've ended up as bin fodder personally, shame. My nan adored it.

My mother gave me hers about 30 years ago when she decided she didn't need it any more (we never throw anything out in our family!). We'd always scoffed at it but, though it's just ugly bit of furniture most of the time, I find it very useful if we have a lot of people to feed and there's no room for veg on the table. I think it must be 40+ years old now but still going strong.

The only mishap I've had with it was when the Christmas sprouts were accidently left inside it (not by me) and we didn't discover the source of the truly dreadful smell until 6 months later

Had my hostess trolly for about 40 years same time as DH. Probably both a bit naff but think I will hang on to them both.

As for the Kenwood Chef got mine with Greenshield Stamps about 43ish years ago.

I inherited mine from a very dear elderly friend. When we lived close I often borrowed it if the need arose.
I still have it, covered up in the garage, and it comes out perhaps twice a year. However, even though my children make a joke of it, it either goes on occasions to my daughter who lives locally, or we lug it down to Kent for our son and daughter-in-law to use.
I certainly would never have bought one myself but have to say they are so useful on occasions.

My family think my hostess trolley is a family joke but it comes out every Christmas and makes life much easier it's a bit of a tradition as whoever is providing the lunch as my two daughters and myself take turns comes on Christmas eve and collects it it's been in the family over twenty years

Marmight, you should write comedy, your description of Sunday lunch had me in stitches

My DinL borrows mine at Xmas and thinks it's wonderful. I will have to leave it to her.

Would not be without mine. Glass containers, stainless steel tops and the table top variety.

I had the old style fake mahogony trolley and used it everytime we had friends for dinner or when all our family got together. When we downsized I got rid of it but missed it so have bought a table top one. It only has 3 dishes as opposed to 4 in the cabinet style and my plates a a bit large for the warmer bit at the bottom but it does take the stress out of trying to get everything ready at the same time. About half an hour is the longest things are in there.

I've had my trolley for over 30 years and I love it. So so usefull when trying to feed lots of people with hot food all at the same time.

Don't care if anyone laughs.

I have had mine for 42 years and use it regularly. It is an absolute boon when all the family come for Sunday Lunch (ten in total). Yes, there is general amusement that I have got it but I think I have the last laugh.

I have an ancient flat glass hot tray. Been useful over the years for standing pots and pans on at gatherings but recently my sister said she'd thrown hers away as a friend plugged hers in and it exploded. I've probably owned it for ooh, 25 years maybe, and am thinking covering guests in exploding glass and food may cause them to leave! Been looking for a replacement in stainless steel but they either have glass dishes inside, or are too small. My 'may explode' current one is 28in x 12in. Does anyone own a stainless steel one they can recommend?

Enjoying your replies and perceptions here.

Do I really need a new one? No, of course not. I actually have 3 just now but one has no dishes. I got mine years ago, in the 80s and lent it to a friend and didn't like to ask to have it back. Meanwhile I picked up a second hand (immaculate) one from a local forum. The gliding mechanism on the top wasn't great but it was usable. Someone else offered me a newer one but wanted to keep the dishes. I took it and married up the best bits with the intention of freecycling the one with no dishes. These can be purchased on Ebay. Again meanwhile, my friend moved house and offered me back my own one which I am going to take, because it is the newest of all of them. I am about to pass on the "refurbished" one to my daughter in law, the one that has no dishes but which still is useful as a warming cabinet, I will pass on and that leaves me with my own one. However, my friend has one of those brushed steel ones and it is very nice so I am considering getting one and giving my original one to my niece who has just bought a flat in London and she likes to entertain.....

So, no, I don't need a new one at all really but, I can see myself going for a new one.