The Volunteer Inn. Ottery St Mary, Devon, UK.

“We’ve gone from a drink-led pub to a food-led destination pub. We’re able to serve more customers a greater variety with fewer staff – it’s been a significant investment, but we knew it was important to make.” - Mike Down, owner, Volunteer Inn.

“With the iVario Pro I can be preparing stock, sauces or pie fillings in one pan – in a fraction of the time of the old equipment – while the other one is cooking pasta.”

Gemma Youlden, head chef, Volunteer Inn

Expanding the menu.

The iVario Pro 2XS features two 17 litre pans that combine a diverse range of cooking functions including boiling, pan frying, and deep frying. “We had initially only been interested in the iCombi Pro,” says Mike. “But when we saw the iVario Pro we knew that it could really make a difference here.” Jacqui agrees. “When we used to cook pasta, potatoes – head chef Gemma appreciates the flexibility afforded by the cooking systems. “It makes my work here ten times easier,” she says. “It's changed the way we operate massively, it means we can offer a much larger regular menu, as well as a varied special menu and themed events.”

This flexibility is afforded in both cooking systems by powerful intelligent assistants that control every aspect of the operation. As the Volunteer Inn has a Combi Duo this adaptability is increased further. “We can be preparing large batches of lasagne or pies in one, while the second can be making something else,” says Gemma. “It's letting us do things that wouldn't be possible before, for example cooking ten steaks at once.”

RATIONAL cooking systems:
  • flexibility
  • energy efficiency
  • speed
  • Combi-Duo stacked
  • iVario Pro
  • VarioSmoker
  • Autolift
  • Intelligent assistants, iCooking Suite and iProduction Manager
  • ConnectedCooking

Customer benefit:

We’re getting amazing feedback from customers about the food here, and more people are coming back because they know they can be sure of consistent quality. There’s a very positive vibe about the Volunteer Inn locally, and our Rational cooking systems are a huge part of the reason why!” say Mike.

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