Tabletop cooking assembly

A method for removing grease particles from smoke generated by preparing foods directly on a tabletop cooking assembly, the tabletop cooking assembly comprising:

• a cooking element disposed on a table frame,
• a vent disposed along a side of the cooking element for receiving smoke generated during the preparation of food on the cooking element,
• a vent hood disposed adjacent to the vent and extending above the cooking element,
• a first exhaust duct having an inlet and an outlet and disposed in fluid communication with the vent,
• a filter assembly comprising a filter disposed in fluid communication with and connected to the outlet of the first exhaust duct,
• an electrostatic precipitator disposed in fluid communication with the filter assembly, and
• a high velocity blower disposed in fluid communication with and directly connected to the electrostatic precipitator, and the method further comprising:
• operating the high velocity blower at a speed of at least 1,250 feet per minute to draw smoke from the cooking element through the vent at a velocity of at least 750 feet per minute such that said high velocity blower has a discharge efficiency of at least 50% of a blower capacity;
• and
• exhausting exhaust from the tabletop cooking assembly having less than 5 ppm grease particles therein and having a temperature of no more than 7 degrees above room temperature where said tabletop cooking assembly is operating.

A method for removing grease particles from smoke generated by preparing foods directly on a tabletop cooking assembly, the method comprising:

• disposing a cooking element on a frame of the cooking assembly, the frame having a plurality of exterior sides and defining an interior therebetween;
• disposing a vent along a side of the cooking element for receiving smoke generated during the preparation of food on the cooking element;
• disposing a vent hood adjacent to the vent, the vent hood extending above the cooking element;
• disposing a first exhaust duct in fluid communication with the vent and within an interior of the cooking assembly, the first exhaust duct having an inlet connected to the vent and an outlet connected to a filter assembly comprising a filter disposed in fluid communication with the first exhaust duct;
• disposing a housing in fluid communication with the first exhaust duct and filter assembly and within the interior of the frame, the housing having an inlet connected to the filter assembly and an outlet for exhausting air therefrom, the housing comprising an interior, and a particulate remover and a blower disposed within the interior of the housing such that the housing surrounding the particulate remover and the blower is unitary.