What is simmering in the kitchens of commercial establishments? It isn’t just the development of new recipes or the sampling of exotic ingredients; it’s the wave of technological innovation that is sweeping across the culinary landscape, reshaping how food is prepared, presented, and experienced.
The technological revolution in the kitchens of hotels, restaurants and catering services (HoReCa) is more than that of efficiency or environmental responsibility. It’s about empowering chefs to push the limits of their creativity, blending age-old traditions with innovative techniques to create dishes that are a feast for all the senses. In this new era, commercial kitchens are transforming into labs of innovation, where technology and tradition dance in harmony to create culinary masterpieces.
In this video, Chef Somsak Rarongkum, President of the Thailand Chef Association says that the market is growing because people are spending more on dining and Chefs are experimenting with international cuisines. He added that THAIFEX – HOREC Asia will expose industry insiders to the latest culinary trends and equipment.
Huge showcase of Kitchenware
To see one of the largest showcases of kitchenware brands that are redefining cooking with innovative precision instruments, look no further than THAIFEX – HOREC Asia, 6-8 March 2024 at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, Thailand.
Exhibitor UNOX sell ovens that feature digital operating systems to let you control your equipment remotely and use Artificial Intelligence to apply feedback to cook every ingredient exactly the way you want henceforth. Learn about CHEFTOP-X™, one of the most powerful combi ovens that provides speed, quality, and energy savings. It is Digital ID enabled, the most advanced operation system ever installed in an oven, with a fast and intuitive interface with hyper-connection functions powered by artificial intelligence. Or discover BAKERTOP-X™, a professional high-performance combi oven equipped with a state-of-the-art operating system and intelligent technology designed to perfectly handle any pastry and bakery cooking process. Artificial Intelligence enables the oven to recognize food and start the right baking program automatically. It can communicate and listen to the chefs, and learn how to act independently, advising how to achieve the desired results in the most effective way possible in terms of speed, quality, and energy savings.
Catering to Quick Service Restaurants
In Southeast Asia, current demand for commercial kitchenware particularly derives from quick-service restaurants. Statista estimates the market is worth US$276.7 million.
And so if it seems like every fast food service restaurant, cafe or bar you go to has a Merrychef oven, it’s because their ovens deliver food true to taste fast and efficiently. With the largest cavity and the smallest footprint of high speed ovens, Merrychef ovens deliver ultra fast speeds, up to 80% faster than other cooking methods. Imagine getting a 16″ pizza in 90 seconds! At THAIFEX – HOREC Asia, see the Merrychef conneX®16. It has the largest cavity (16” x 16”) to smallest oven width (18”) of any high-speed oven on the market and delivers food up to 80% faster than conventional cooking methods.
If you are transporting food, say to street-level or street-front kiosks, Franke’s Transporter helps you carry prepared food products from a loading zone located in a kitchen area to an unloading zone located in a customer service area that is either directly below, or directly above the loading zone. The system automatically loads and unloads and runs continuously. Installed in over 500 restaurants around the world, the system provides customers with a cost-effective and trouble-free way to increase sales and profitability.
When you need to get food cold, fast, there’s the Koldtech Blast Freezer: BCF 20, a Blast Chiller and Shock freezing all in one. The blast chilling function takes food from +90 Celsius to +3 Celsius in 90 minutes, or Shock Freezing from +70 Celsius to -18 Celsius in 240 minutes.
And then there’s prudence and cleanliness. Among the sleek counters and gleaming knives of modern kitchens, you’ll also find advanced technology like Hobart dishwashers, a symbol of sustainability and respect for resources. Their innovations are testament to the deep-rooted ethos of efficiency and environmental consciousness that has been growing among Chefs and Restauraters to bring about cleanliness without wasting precious water in the kitchen.
Smart dishwashers, like Winterhalter state-of-the-art cleaning solutions, can also adapt and optimize their functions based on the load, ensuring that every plate and utensil is sparkling clean, ready for the next serving of delicious food.
Automation
At THAIFEX – HOREC Asia, visitors will discover how automation to transforming the lives of Chefs. For example, precise control over temperature and cooking duration means that Chefs can deliver consistent results. Consistency results in creative dishes can be replicated perfectly every time, which is crucial in professional culinary settings.
Equipment that can be controlled remotely and even with voice lets Chefs control the cooking process while free to do other things like exploring new cooking techniques, which leads to innovative dishes and unique flavour profiles.
Consider exhibitor 75’s Varimixer’s Spiral Mixers such as the AR40, for all beating, whipping, and kneading. Its helpful whether you run a medium-sized bakery, a commercial kitchen, or engage in large-scale food production. It is also available as a specialized pizza oven, equipped with an extra powerful motor. The beauty is it can be customised to deliver precision and perfection in every mix.
If you make pizzas, exhibitor Smile Equipment will showcase the French-made Quickpizz, a multi-purpose pizza maker. After turning on the machine, the Lava stone can be heated up to 300 Celsius within 15 minutes by the Heater 1900 W. After that, the pizza dough can be baked in a short time. It saves on energy, because it only consumes energy when you are baking.
You may also find a plethora of new, small and powerful gadgets at THAIFEX – HOREC Asia like smart thermometers and scales, that enhance a Chef’s cooking experience by providing precise temperature control and ingredient measurements. They help advance the development of new techniques which result in the creation of visually stunning dishes with unique textures and forms, significantly enhancing the visual and tactile sensory experiences for diners.
Healthy & Plant-based Cooking
Healthy and plant-based menus can easily be developed with up-to-date kitchen equipment.
At THAIFEX – HOREC Asia, there’s brands of Steam Ovens that help enhance and preserve colour, flavours, and nutrients, retaining moisture, colour, and nutrients better than traditional cooking methods. Steam Ovens minimise the need for calorific cooking oils and butter and are versatile for preparing a wide range of nutritious dishes, including grains and vegetables. Plus, they can bake foods without drying them out!
There are also advanced sous vide cookers that let flavours gently intensify in a vacuum-sealed environment, lending dishes depth and complexity.
Fusion & Global Flavours
Recent trends to integrating global flavours and fusion cuisine are facilitated by equipment that supports diverse cooking techniques. For example, multi-cookers that pressure cook, slow cook, or steam help chefs to experiment, merging different culinary traditions into innovative fusion cuisine.
Sustainability
In progressive kitchens, there’s a heightened emphasis on reducing carbon footprint. Changing old equipment to state of the art equipment has benefits in terms of operating expense and for regulatory compliance.
Energy-efficient appliances and sustainable practices can reduce utility bills. Compliance with regulations can provide benefits such as tax incentives and rebates. Plus, consumers want to know the kitchen’s practices and show favour to those that demonstrate environmental responsibility.
THAIFEX – HOREC Asia exhibitors including Franke Foodservice Systems from the Philippines, Thai Steward Services, and Epta, industrial groups that offer services and commercial refrigeration, will demonstrate energy-efficient HoReCa solutions.
A push towards sustainability has also spurred innovation in the materials used in kitchen design, waste management systems, and cleaning systems. Many of the brands mentioned in this story are helping to change the way how water, food, and other resources are used, which will ensure their availability in the long term. Such resources are crucial for the ongoing viability of food service businesses. Furthermore, reducing the use of harmful chemicals in cleaning and maintenance enhances the health of workers and customers alike.
Food packaging that is clean, safe, and environmentally friendly is equally important. At THAIFEX- HOREC Asia, exhibitors such as Alterpacks and the Thai Paper Co offer environmentally friendly packaging products. Alterpacks even makes use of food waste!
Conclusion
In summary, by registering for THAIFEX – HOREC Asia, you’ll see that the contemporary kitchen equipment on exhibit not only augments the functional aspect of cooking but will significantly help boost a chef’s ability to innovate, experiment. Kitchenware helps Chefs provide an enriched sensory experience to diners. The latest kitchenware helps save on operational costs and better benefits the environment. As Chef Somsak Rarongkum, President of the Thailand Chef Association says, “it’s shaping the industry’s future.”
