Known for manufacturing state-of-the-art cooking solutions including combi ovens and rapid cook units, Unox is at the forefront of innovation in the market. Now, in a move designed to support the chefs of the future, Unox has delivered and installed two 7 GN 1/1 tray CHEFTOP MIND.Maps PLUS to the esteemed kitchens of the Escoffier Room at Westminster Kingsway College.
Named after the celebrated chef, Auguste Escoffier, one of the founders of Westminster Kingsway College, the Escoffier Room uses the principles taught by this great chef and combines them with modern-day techniques and presentation methods. Featuring a weekly menu, designed and cooked by third-year catering students using the finest seasonal and natural ingredients from across the world, the restaurant is famed for its formal offering and has world-famous alumni, including the likes of Jamie Oliver, Ainsley Harriott and Geoff Galvin.
With as many as 300 full-time students across three years, Westminster Kingsway College is the oldest and one of the most prestigious catering colleges in the UK. Understanding the need for graduates to complete their course having had access to the latest catering equipment found in today’s commercial kitchens, the team college team approached Unox for support. Explaining why Unox was the preferred partner, Norman Fu, Head of 3rd Year Professional Chefs Diploma explains:
“It’s vital that our students start to think about the importance of equipment when cooking food in a professional kitchen. From different cooking techniques to the technology that ultimately drives consistency and results, learning about catering equipment is an essential part of training the chefs of tomorrow.
We are delighted to have partnered with Unox and have two CHEFTOP MIND.Maps PLUS ovens in the Escoffier Room kitchen. It’s head and shoulders above the previous combi oven we had and with the MIND.Maps technology installed helps to really test our students – it’s especially ideal for the 3rd year students and the stage they’re at. Being double stacked, the ovens give us the flexibility to cook in one and hold in the other, while the unique landscape loading feature is great and saves space in the kitchen. The integrated cleaning function is also exceptional and saves a lot of time.”
Five chefs produce a delightful six-course tasting menu for up to 30 covers from the Escoffier Room kitchen. Complemented by a team of second-year students who use their food and beverage service techniques to offer a Michelin-starred standard front-of-house, the offering in the intimate restaurant is one to savour. On partnering with Norman at Westminster Kingsway College, Ben Ross, Key Account Manager at Unox UK adds:
“It was a real privilege to be able to support Norman and the team at Westminster Kingsway College, installing our award-winning oven technology in a truly unique environment. The catering college and the Escoffier Room have a fantastic reputation for excellence and for producing some of the most extraordinary chefs over more than a century. As a brand, we’re committed to supporting the chefs of the future. Installing our ovens and regularly undertaking training to ensure the student chefs can get the most from the ovens and their technology, we’ve been able to witness the exceptional standards achieved by one of the UK’s most well-regarded catering colleges.”
The Unox CHEFTOP MIND.Maps PLUS ovens installed at Westminster Kingsway College are intelligent combi ovens that are capable of grilling, frying, roasting, browning, smoking and cooking with steam. The unique MIND.Maps technology features automatic cooking cycles and smart functions to deliver precision, consistency and impeccable results.
For more information on the Unox CHEFTOP MIND.MAPS range or to find out about the wider Unox equipment portfolio, please visit www.unox.com or call +44 (0)1252 851 522.
