Food preparation table having a refrigerated ingredient zone

Claim 1

A food preparation table including a means for maintaining foodstuffs in a continuous refrigerated state including: a work surface operatively disposed above a refrigerated area providing a work zone in which food ingredients are assembled; the food preparation table including a collection pan beneath the work surface, said work surface including a series of spaced openings of predetermined size thru which food pieces will pass to the collection pan and in which at least the bottom surface of the collection pan is refrigerated; said work surface being adjacent a refrigerated ingredient zone in which food ingredients are maintained in an accessible open relationshp with respect to the work surface; an enclosure for the refrigerated ingredient zone adjacent said work surface; said enclosure presenting an open front facing the work surface and having a fixed top surface extending above the food ingredients and including a means for providing a circulating flow of diffused refrigerated air flowing over the top surface of the food ingredients; said means including a cooperating diffuser plate and an air duct at separate locations adjacent the ingredient zone, whereby refrigerated air will flow between the plate and duct over the food ingredients; and a source of refrigeration for providing refrigeration adjacent the work surface and for providing the circulating flow of diffused refrigerated air over the top surface of the food ingredients in the refrigerated ingredient zone; said work surface being the upper surface of a lower cabinet on which lower cabinet the enclosure for the ingredient zone is mounted and in which cabinet the source of refrigeration is contained in a separate zone.