Given Vicky Rose Pacheco’s impressive culinary credentials, the graduate of the famed Les Roches in Bluche, Switzerland, and executive chef and managing partner of the Chateau 1771 group of restaurants thought she had seen it all in the kitchen. That is, until a recent cooking demonstration in Miele’s showroom on Pioneer Street, Mandaluyong.
Chef Vicky, who regaled a small audience with cooking tips while preparing delicious Baked Eggplant Rolls, Eggs Florentine with Mushrooms, Rib-Eye Steak and Bread and Butter Pudding, used a Miele grill and oven—a first for this seasoned chef.
“It’s a dream,” she says with a sigh when asked if she owned an appliance from the noted German brand. Amazed at its speedy cooking time, quick heating, Centigrade and Fahrenheit options, and adjustable overhead hood, she also liked the sleek, user-friendly push-button panel that even household help and fledgling cooks can master with a little practice.
Founded in 1899 by Carl Miele (say mee-leh) and Reinhard Zinkann, the German manufacturer of high-end, innovative domestic appliances is the brand of choice of “passionate cooks” as well as “the super A market,” says Aline Lopez, AVP for the home furnishings division of Focus Global Inc., distributor of Miele and other international brands in the Philippines.
Live home demo
While the former can figure out the knobless panels for themselves, the latter eventually acquaint themselves with their purchases through a live home demo offered by the local distributor. “Some people call us a year after they buy an oven and ask us to send someone over to teach them how to use it,” says Lopez with a smile. “But it’s very user-friendly. I myself don’t really cook, but when I use the Miele steamer for pasta, my noodles are always al dente. The results are always perfect,” she swears. “No fail.”
Admittedly, cost for these appliances is steep (be prepared to spend at least P200,000). But Miele gives you more bang for your buck. In addition to boasting more sophisticated features, it has a long lifespan; even with regular use, a Miele oven, says Lopez, lasts a good 20 years.
And then there’s the brand’s timeless, ultra-modern and minimalist design, a feature that lends an air of sophistication to the part of the house that is fast becoming a favorite hangout of families and their friends. “People tend to gather in the kitchen,” says Lopez. “The kitchen has become the center of the home.”
Try Chef Vicky Pacheco’s dishes at Chateau 1771, Sentro 1771, and Cafe 1771. For more information on Miele appliances, call Focus Global, Inc. at tel. no. 634-8587, or visit the showroom on Pioneer corner Reliance Streets, Mandaluyong City.