As caterers return to business in the post-pandemic “new normal,” they will face challenges unlike any they faced in the past. While there may be supply chain challenges due to the unpredictability of restrictions and reopenings, the smartest caterers will be flexible and not only survive but thrive, says Lee Baker, Vice President, Sales - iVario® RATIONAL North America. Here, he explains how.
The worst thing would be to let culinary standards slip. It’s almost like everyone is a new customer. We promote “SBMO” — smaller batches more often — because combi ovens and our iVario tilt skillet cook more quickly and there is much more consistency. This approach reduces waste and improves taste and food quality, allowing caterers to maintain consistency. With the right cooking technology in an operation, food preparation becomes much more precise and agile. This reduces waste from overproduction and enables a rapid increase in production when required.
Intelligent equipment can replace headcount in the kitchen, allowing staff to effectively do more things at once. The RATIONAL iCombi Pro cooks food intelligently and cleans itself. The iVario Pro can replace practically all other conventional appliances. Boiling, pan-frying, and deep-frying are all possible with the iVario. The intelligent platforms of the iCombi Pro and iVario Pro complement each other and makes production or a la carte cooking simple, with the press of a button.
We suggest smoothing out the production process using what we call Finishing®, which is accomplished by producing food during the day in the iCombi Pro or the iVario Pro, blast chilling and then retherming in the iCombi Pro prior to serving. The labor and food savings are well documented. It also reduces staff and stress in the kitchen. This process allows caterers to only cook what is needed, saving time, energy, labor and waste. More importantly, it gives them the ability to consistently serve high-quality food items.
Make it easy on staff. The RATIONAL iCombi Pro and iVario Pro offer the same operating system. They can be programmed so that staff can make signature dishes at the touch of a button. And they are both very easy to clean and maintain. Staff love that the iCombi Pro cleans itself automatically, even overnight. The iVario is the most flexible of cooking equipment. It’s easy to use without having to worry about monitoring, burning or boiling over. Intelligent foodservice equipment is the future, and RATIONAL is at the forefront revolutionizing the way commercial kitchens operate.
The iCombi Pro and iVario Pro work together seamlessly to give caterers — and every other operator — unsurpassed performance. With advanced technology that works together, they can replace many other traditional pieces of cooking equipment, saving time, space, energy and labor in the kitchen.