Bosch Built-in Training Day..

Well I thought I would say a few words after spending last Wednesday in Milton Keynes at the newly refurbished Bosch training facility.

We started the day with a meet and greet with some of the reps and our trainer Paul Stringer accompanied with a very nice latte from one of the Bosch coffee centres, at this point I had a quick nosey around the Showroom were we were going to be doing the training, and i must say i was very impressed the showroom is finished in a very contemporary style with handle-less white doors, chunky white frames and elegant worktops not to mention the vast amount of appliances, which obviously you would expect but they are laid out in a very easy to follow way grouping the different sub brands, Classixx, Avantixx, Exxcel and Logixx.

After we finished our coffees we were seated in the training room to go through the days itinerary and learn a bit of background information about Bosch as a company, which i must admit may sound boring however was very interesting, in the two short films we watched they showed footage of the product testing that takes place, planning and designs of new future eco friendly ideas and a few quotes from Robert Bosch the founder of the company. One thing that was said was that ‘he would rather loose money than trust’, which I believe still to this day is followed in all Bosch products and service.

Once we had finished the films we were taken through into the Showroom to be shown how the 3D Hot Air cooking works. In the Showroom we were greeted by Adrian the chef who had already put two trays of fresh croissants and a large tray of roasted vegetables in the oven, which already smelt fantastic making me even more hungry than i already was, you would think that cooking these items together in the same oven would end up in having vegetable flavour croissants however because the air is drawn to the back of the oven heated up then circulated around individual shelves no smells or flavours are intermingled, this means you could cook fish, sausages and a sponge cake at the same time without ending up with a fishy sausage sponge, however if this sounds appetizing I’m sure there would be something along these lines in a Heston Blumenthal recipe book.

We then returned to the coffee machines for a nice latte along with the freshly baked croissant which i must say were beautiful and for the record roast vegetable free. Elevenses done it was time for us to have ago we donned our aprons, washed our hands and took to the Kitchens, in our groups we prepared ham and pineapple calzones, sweet chilli chicken kebabs and apple and berry crumble. With each course we got chance to programme the ovens and were told which shelves to put certain products on and why along with using different functions for the different dishes, for example we used the hot air grilling function for the kebabs, which alternated between the grill and fan locking in the moisture yet still giving a crispy grilled finish. All food in and timers set Paul showed us round all the different sub brands and explained the differences, before we knew it BEEP BEEP BEEP.. Dinner is served.

our lunch time menu at BoschDinner finished we were taken along with our bursting bellies back into the showroom to go through the different ranges of hobs, we covered gas first, Paul explained how as standard all their hobs now come with Flame failure devices, LPG jets and automatic ignition, showing us models ranging from 4 burner gas on glass to 90cm 6 burner stainless steel hobs with wok burners. We were then shown the ceramic and induction hobs which was done with a boiling water race to show how induction hobs benefit from speed, safety and controllability, obviously the induction wins hands down. One product that is soon to be released which may be of interest to some people is a 4 zone induction hob which can be run on a 13amp supply even coming with a 3 pin plug already attached, which will mean alot more people can benefit from induction without having to rewire only downside to this product being that if all 4 zones are ran at once on full capacity the power levels will be reduced.

Having covered quite an extensive range and people starting to flag after the large dinner it was time for abit of fun in the form of the biscuit challenge, we were again split into our 4 teams and each given a large chocolate chip cookie and some icing pens, Paul then shouted out different functions that we had learnt throughout the day and we had to expertly ice the symbols onto the cookie.

The majority of the hard graft done now our day was nearly at an end we just had enough time left to go into the extraction room to show how important having the correct ducting on your cooker hood is. They have set up a hood with 6″ ducting going into a large box with 4 different ducts coming out of it, each duct was blocked by a perspex shutter which when pulled out the airflow went through that channel, this was to demonstrate the noise difference between 4″, 5″, 5″ Compair and 6″ and if you could hear it for yourself you would without a shadow of doubt run every future extractor on 6″.

Returning to the training room we gathered up our belongings and were given certificates and a few little gifts to end our very enjoyable day at Bosch.

 

 

Neff C77V60N2GB Series 5 Coffee Centre

Forget Starbucks and Costa, the Neff Series 5 Built-in Coffee Machine is the perfect companion for every coffee lover as it offers exceptional features to help you make the most professional beverages. From Cappacino’s to Expresso’s it can provide the perfect caffeine fix, i know this because we have one in our showroom which is in regular use with myself and my colleagues. Whatever your preference, the coffee machine will match your requirements. So if you like your coffee black and strong, or white and weak this clever coffee machine can deal with your demands.

With a container for up to 1000g of coffee beans and 2.5litre water tank, there’s more than enough opportunity to make perfect drinks every time. As it has 4 stage grinding settings you can choose the grade, strength and temperature of your chosen beverage with ease. If you like your coffee in a particular way, you can use the My Coffee memory function to store your requirements so you don’t need to enter them each and every time you use the machine. So you can get your hands on your latte or cappuccino in double quick time.

This model also offers sleek and stylish good looks that will add a contemporary feel to any kitchen. Its high quality LCD display with interactive menu and simple push button control also makes it very easy to use. This intelligent coffee machine has even thought of the cleaning and features an automatic cleaning programme and a descaling programme, to make sure it continues to work efficiently. This machine can provide the most enthusiastic coffee lover with enough caffeine to keep them going through those busy days.

Heres a quick easy guide on daily use:

  1. Switch on
  2. Fill up water tank, milk container and coffee beans (if required)
  3. Select type of beverage (latte machiatto, cappacino, expresso etc…)
  4. Select strength
  5. Select size
  6. Enjoy your beverage
  7. Use as much as required throughout the day
  8. At the end of the day set the machine to descale and clean itself ready for tomorrow
  9. Switch off

Simples!

 

Kitchen Lighting by Sensio

It’s time to get involved with the latest trend to bring the best out of your kitchen – lighting! Up until recently a funky lamp shade would have been enough to count as designer lighting but not anymore. With so many lighting options available it’s very easier to build a bespoke system to highlight features and create a stunning look.

Our manufacturer of choice is Sensio. With a mission statement focusing on quality, versatility and functionality combined with industry leading design and a range second to none we feel we cannot go wrong with Sensio. Sensio have identified 3 keys aspects to consider when planning you lighting scheme: Task – providing ample lighting to undertake everyday activities. Mood – used to accent, add dimension and depth to a kitchen & finally Convenience – directed and intended to be focused on specific areas.

With eight different types of lighting in numerous different styles and colours there really is a light for every need. The eight different types are: <Deep breath> Under Cabinet Lighting, Under Cabinet Strip Lighting, In Cabinet Lighting, Over Cabinet Lighting, Flexible Strip Lighting, Plinth Lighting, Drawer/Shelf Lighting & finally Ceiling Lighting.

Lighting can add value to your kitchen with the “WOW!” factor. A well planned, bespoke lighting scheme can be the ultimate finishing touch. Surely lighting should be just as an important element of kitchen design and be given a reasonable amount of consideration as other design aspects like flooring and tiling/painting. We have created an album of lighting effects (using Sensio images) which can be seen on our facebook page here. Just imagine how different everything looks and how plain it would be without lighting.

And finally why LED lighting?

  • High Definition LED’s are 80% more efficient than Halogen and could save you £50 a year on your electricity bill!
  • They will also out last the life span of your kitchen: Halogen lights have around 3,000 hours of useful life whilst LED will stay strong for 40,000 hours.
  • No wasted heat: around 90% of the energy used in a Halogen bulb is converted to radiant heat, whilst LED is only a small fraction of the energy used.
  • And finally the light output on an LED is the equivalent of a 20W Halogen bulb.

To check out the full range we have available go to our website here and don’t forget there is also the powerpods online in various finishes here.

Heston Inspired Chilli..

After watching ‘How to cook like Heston’ the other night I thought I would take a few of his tips and create my own recipe for the perfect Chilli, here is what you will need:

1 500g Pack of Lean Mince Beef
1 Large Onion, finely diced
1-2 Carrots, finely diced
2 medium chillies, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 Tomato, chopped
A 400g tin of unsweetened kidney beans, drained
A 400g tin chopped tomatoes
Half a Bottle of red wine
500ml Beef stock
Pinch Ground All Spice
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp mild chilli powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp tomato ketchup
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
5 tbsp olive oil

  • Add 3 tbsp olive oil to a large sauce pan and heat over a high heat until smoking hot. Add the mince, do this in batches, if the pan is over crowded the meat will stew, cook until seriously browned almost blackened. Remove and set aside
  • Turn the heat down to medium and add the remaining olive oil. Add the onions and carrots and cook until the onions begin to colour, then add the garlic, chilli and chopped tomato (not tinned, they get added later) and cook for another 5 minutes.
  • Add the all spice, cumin, chilli powder, paprika, tomato ketchup and Worcestershire (you can also add some cayenne pepper at this point but is optional) sauce stir and cook for another 1 minute until everything blends together. Add the browned mince, pour in the red wine and allow to reduce until a syrupy consistency.
  • Add the tomatoes, kidney beans and stock and simmer over a low heat for at least 1 hour or until it has reduced to a thick sauce.
  • Season to taste with salt and freshly cracked black pepper and serve with rice or tortilla crisps and a sprinkling of cheese.

Think i covered everything there and for the record this really was one of the best chillis i have ever tasted, try it and see for yourselves. Enjoy..

Abode Quintessential Range

Our new Abode Quintessential range offers 4 different taps in 3 different styles, single lever, dual lever and bridge in both chrome or pewter. These taps offer a classic design with a modern twist which will suit a variety of kitchen styles.

Each style and colour can be accompanied by a Hendon handspray which can be purchased with the tap or as an addition at a later date. The Hendon compliments each tap in style and can suit any kitchen. Here is a run down of each tap:

  • Astbury : The Astbury collection reflects a golden era in brassware design, with its curvaceous shapes and fluid lines forged in the past, but with the
    technology utilised in its manufacture very much of today.
  • Brompton : The Brompton collection is a modern reflection of the classic themes of vintage British design.These imposing styles will grace all kitchens, from progressive modernism to enduring classicism, conveying a simplicity of form with life long performance.
  • Bayenne : It is the sophisticated & distinctive flavours of classic Edwardian design that epitomise the Bayenne family of kitchen brassware. Today the outline is the same but under the skin it has evolved with the integration of the latest technology in valve design, delivering smooth and effortless operation, time after time.
  • Langley : The Langley Bridge Mixertap design has a long and distinguished heritage.
    The elegant styling originates from the golden era of the Victorian foundries and still today casts its own mark over our kitchens with its continued timeless popularity.

Click here to see the full range

Now that we have added the Quintessential taps to our already vast abode range we feel that they offer a tap to suit every kitchen style. Each tap is built to the same high quality and has the same quality finish so it seems like you have to look no further.

Siemens Compact Appliances..

Siemens being one of the leaders in built-in appliances, alongside there outstanding cooking, cooling, laundry and other items they have a fantastic range of compact appliances.

The trend in kitchens has changed, Double ovens used to be a very popular choice for any kitchen be it traditional or modern. Although double ovens are still available, with more and more combinations of compact appliances becoming available alot of customers are leaning more to having a single oven and then selecting a compact or a bank of various compacts to suit them. Siemens Compact45 range have the choice of combi steam ovens, coffee centres, combi microwave ovens, warming drawers and dishwashers.

Range of Siemens Compact AppliancesCompact45 range models in iQ700 styling co-ordinate with each other perfectly. Whether you are after clean, vertical lines or are putting various models side by side as shown above, everything lines up beautifully. If placing an iQ700 compact45 model side by side with a full-sized single oven, the iQ700 HB78AB590B single oven is recommended because it has a reduced-height fascia for perfect co-ordination with compact models.

Compact45 range models in iQ500 styling also co-ordinate with each other, both vertically and horizontally. If placing an iQ500 compact45 model in column with a full-size oven, for optimum co-ordination we recommend an iQ500 oven – although an iQ300 oven also makes a great match when placed in a column. The ovens below IQ700 are recommended for vertical co-ordination in a column format however the top black glass strip and handle will line up in a side by side set up, we have them in our showroom and they dont look out of place.

Siemens Compact Combi & DishwasherSome nice additions to the range which really do make any kitchen stand out are the TK76K573GB Fully automatic bean-to-cup coffee centre and the SC76M530GB
SpeedMatic Modular dishwasher.

The compact dishwashers are new to the Siemens range coming with 6 programmes, 1-24hr time delay, refill indicators and other great features, this compact dishwasher small in size but packs a real hi-spec punch with an A+ Energy rating too its got everything going for it. A unique eye catcher which is available in 2 heights 45cm and 60cm, so they can be tied in with a single oven or a compact depending on what setup you are having either way Siemens have a model to accommodate every situation.

Onto the Coffee Machine, Siemens sophisticated fully automatic compact45 built-in coffee centre makes all kinds of hot drinks with flair. Discover a new espresso world, where every process from bean to cup is, as the Italians say, perfetto. The compact45 coffee centre means you can build-in the fastest and most efficient appliance of its kind, where the technology is more than just brand new; it’s revolutionary.

So there you have it a little bit of an overview on Compacts, if you need any more info on anything that i havent covered like the Steam combi’s or the compact ovens you can either give us a call on 01159385111 or have a look at our Siemens products online here

 

Neff £5000 Diamond Dishwasher Giveaway!!!

Want to win £5000 worth of diamonds? Well lets be honest no-one is really going to say no are they. So I hear you ask whats the catch? All you have to do is buy a dishwasher, that…..is…..it!

From now until the 8th May 2012 inconjunction with Finish, Neff are offering the chance to win a number of various prizes. Simply buy any Neff Dishwasher, answer the multiple choice question (on the entry form) and it entitles you to enter the Diamond Prize Draw. 1st prize are Diamonds worth £5,000, 2nd prize are Diamonds worth £2,500, 3rd prize are Diamonds worth £1,000 and there is also 5 monthly mini-draws for £250 worth of John Lewis vouchers.

Not only do all Neff dishwashers work very efficently saving money, energy and your time they now come with the chance to win Diamonds! There is a dishwasher for everyone in a range of sizes , colours and models (fully integrated, semi-integrated, in-line or slimline)

You can view the full range of Neff Dishwashers on our website here or for more details on the competition visit Neff’s website here.

What are you waiting for order one today before Neff change their mind!!!

Schock Sinks

Schock Granite sinks are considered by many as the finest and most durable sink range available today, and I would have to agree with this. Schock sinks are produced in two materials, Cristalite and Cristadur. In each of these there are a vast range of models and colours. Materials such as Cristalite and Cristadur have been specifically developed by Schock to meet the requirements of modern kitchens. Schock sinks are extremely durable and easy to clean whether it be red wine, coffee or heavy pans, they leave absolutely no marks.

Around 80% of the material used in Schock sinks is quartz, the hardest constituent of granite. Over the past few years, the granite sinks developed by Schock have achieved a reputation as premium product. The granite used in the sinks is combined with high grade acrylic to produce a hardened composite material that is resistant to cracks, dirt and also responsible for the long life of the sinks.

Cristalite Granite sinks will not stain or scratch. You can scour the surface with a brillo pad, use cleaners like Bar Keepers Friend and even chop food on the drainer, thats how tough this material is. Cristalite is Schock’s outstanding basic material, easy to clean, safe for use with food and equipped with Schock Antibac across the range. Schock Antibac is the first and so far the only antibacterial hygiene protection system for the kitchen sink. This integrated protection system uses natural silver ions to inhibit 95% of bacterial growth.

Cristadur is a superhard, super smooth material that Schock have used to create a unique range of sink styles and colours. Cristadur is so smooth that dirt and residue cannot be trapped on the surface. It is impervious to staining as the surface cannot be penetrated by staining agents from currys to inks. Simply wipe down regularly after use with a damp cloth. Along with this silky smoothness comes extreme hardness, it will not mark or scratch even when cut and chopped upon. Besides possessing all of the positive attributes of Cristalite, this premium material also has an extremely fine nanostructure, allowing for unprecedented ease of care and featuring the Nanoclean Effect. Dirt that could be a breeding ground for bacteria finds it impossible to stick to the material’s surface. It runs right off. The silky-smooth finish gives the material a delicate shimmer and a soft feel with maximum resistance.

The Cristalite comes in various models in both single and 1.5 bowls. These are the Solido, Lithos, Genius, Venus, Campus, Primus, Signus and Domus. They come in a variety of colours, these are:

  • Alpina
  • Colorado
  • Pera
  • Polaris
  • Avorio
  • Magma
  • Onyx

The Cristadur comes in various models in both single and 1.5 bowls. These are the Lotus, Focus and Waterfall. They also come in a variety of colours, these are:

  • Nuvolette
  • Lucida
  • Polaris
  • Avorio
  • Magma

So if your after a granite sink in any style, shape or colour then look no further……..

New ‘Colours’ Range from Newworld..

The house hold brand Newworld have always produced products with quite a basic/simple look, they have just launched their exciting new range with the addition of some brightly coloured built-in ovens. The Colours collection features a range of single and double ovens which contrast stylish black glass with a brightly coloured trim available in metallic red, blue, green and purple, as well as the more traditional white, chrome, stainless steel and a full glass version in black.
New Colours ovens for NewworldAvailable in single, built under and built in double ovens in electric or gas. They start from £246 on our website and are perfect for anyone wanting to add a splash of colour and style to their kitchen with out breaking the bank. The new product launch comes as Newworld unveils a fresh new look and new brand strapline – ‘Designed for life’. Aimed at the younger generation and first time buyers on a budget, Newworld’s range of affordable, yet stylish appliances include range cookers, built-in ovens and hobs click here to check out there range.

Steak & Ale Casserole

With the popularity of the previous recipe i thought i would share another one of my favourites. This one is taken from a great little recipe book i have called one pot meals (by Joanna Farrow) and is perfect comfort food for this time of year.

Steak & Ale Casserole

Serves 5-6 Steak & Ale Casserole
Preparation time 20 minutes
Cooking time 1 3/4 hours1

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons of plain flour
1kg braising steak (cut into chunks)
25g butter
1 tablespoon oil
2 onions (chopped)
2 celery sticks (sliced)
several thyme sprigs
2 bay leaves
400ml strong ale
300ml beef stock
2 tablespoons black treacle
500g parsnips (peeled and cut into wedges
salt and pepper

To begin with season the flour with some salt and pepper and coat the beef. Melt the butter in a large flameproof casserole and fry the beef in batches until deep brown. Drain with a slotted spoon while cooking the remainder.

Add the onions and celery and fry gently for 5 minutes. Return the beef to the pan and then add the herbs, ale, stock and treacle. Bring just to the boil then reduce the heat and cover with a lid. Bake in a preheated oven for 1 hour approximately (160c).

Add parsnips to the dish and return to the oven for a further 30 minutes or until beef and parsnips are tender. Check the seasoning and serve.

I recommend serving inside a large yorkshire pudding with either a strong powerful red wine or more of the strong ale! I hope you enjoy as much as our house does!