A method and apparatus is provided to cool and/or protect chilled food in a food pan from warmer ambient air by passing low velocity chilled air from air vents proximate the food pan into and/or over the food pan to form a relatively stable mass of cooled air within the interior of the food pan. The low velocity air may also form a slowly moving barrier of chilled air that hinders warmer ambient air from reaching the food pan. Various embodiments employing numerous arrangements of food pans, cooling system and air ducts configured to direct the chilled air at a low velocity into and/or over the food pans are disclosed.