In the heart of Bukit Merah, Singapore, Istimewa Nasi Padang has stood as an iconic store for delicious Malay cuisine for over 30 years. Founded by the parents of the current owner, Mr. Abdul Hadi Kamarolzaman, Istimewa Nasi Padang is open 6 days a week and serves 100 to 120 customers a day. Initially, Hadi’s parents used a small traditional kitchen consisting of a large rice cooker and 4 stove burners to make their delicious dishes. However, ever since he was introduced to the RATIONAL iCombi Pro, Mr. Hadi can no longer imagine going back to using traditional kitchen appliances.
“The iCombi Pro has really revolutionized the industry. We can replace traditional cooking methods but still maintain and improve the quality and standards of our food.”
Nasi Padang originates from West Sumatra in Indonesia and consists of steamed rice topped with different pre-cooked dishes of meats, fish, and vegetables. As the second-generation owner, Hadi attaches great importance to efficiency in the kitchen. The traditional oven, in combination with a wok, has been replaced by the iCombi Pro with the ConnectedCooking and iProductionManager features. To make optimum use of the nine square meters of space in the kitchen, Hadi has placed two iCombi Pro units on top of each other. This investment not only saves space but also personnel and costs. One of the biggest challenges for Hadi is the shortage of labor in Singapore.
Thanks to the use of modern technology, Hadi no longer needs trained specialists to prepare the dishes. Anyone who can operate a mobile phone can work for him.
Hadi developed a passion for cooking at an early age, but due to the very long and labor-intensive days in the kitchen, his parents envisioned a different future for him. However, he was not deterred by this and followed in their footsteps. The introduction of the iCombi Pro enabled him to significantly reduce his working hours: Instead of preparing food at 3 a.m. like his parents, Hadi can now start his working day three hours later with the help of the iCombi Pro.