“I’ve used RATIONAL equipment throughout my career. When I joined Derby County Football Club it had a few units already, but knowing how versatile the RATIONAL is I began bringing in more. Now the majority of the cooking here is done on RATIONAL equipment.” - Neil Hardy, Head Chef, Derby County Football Club.
Derby County Football Club, known as the Rams, have a long and proud history. They were one of the twelve founder members of the Football League and one of only ten clubs to have competed in the league in every season since. Their home, Pride Park Stadium, was opened by the Queen in 1997 and has some of the best facilities in British football. There are seven restaurants serving a comprehensive range of menus, from the fine dining experience of the Clough Taylor Lounge, to contemporary bistro fare in Igor’s Lounge.
Modern football catering has come a long way from the days of a meat pie and cup of Bovril at half time, and while the old staples are still popular today’s fan is just as likely to want a fine dining experience. With such a wide range of different menus being offered and under such strict time limits, Neil has no doubt that the SelfCookingCenter® is vital to the service he runs. “They’re so versatile, and fast, I dread to think what work would be like without them!”
Derby’s RATIONAL equipment is spread between seven kitchens, and includes a selection of the SelfCookingCenter® units packed with intelligent software capable of overseeing and managing every aspect of the cooking process. Controlled via a touchscreen interface, the iLevelControl shows which dishes can be cooked together. Each rack is separately monitored and cooking times adjust automatically to take account of opening the door, guaranteeing perfect results every time. “Being able to steam vegetables and sous vide in the same appliance at the same time is so useful,” says Neil. “Such a timesaver!”
Ease of use control is designed in at every level. The control interface is laid out in simple to understand steps, making it straightforward for new staff to learn. “That’s really handy,” says Neil. “You can just teach them the basics, and once they’ve got that, the rest of the controls are self-explanatory.” Not only that, but the SelfCookingCenter® also learns from the chef.
The iCookingControl system monitors how it’s being used, and automatically adjusts its programmes to fit preferences and cooking styles.
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