A twist on Tuscan traditions
A twist on Tuscan traditions
When luxury resort Castelfalfi decided to open a new 400-person event space, it turned to Baron equipment to combine modern functionality and time-honored techniques. Chris Evans gets the full story.
Nestled in the Tuscan hills and featuring three restaurants specializing in regional dishes, Hotel Castelfalfi attracts guests from all over the world.And now, the five-star luxury resort has another highlight: a traditional Italianstyle event space where culinary delights are crafted using state-of-the-art, Italian-made Baron appliances. “We have designed and built this 650 square meter compound, called Aria [meaning ‘air’ in English], for banquets, events, weddings, dinner parties and so on, that can accommodate 450 people seated,” explains Leonardo de Pinto, project manager at the resort.
“The key thing is that we give our guests an experience, and this is reflected in how the chefs prepare and present the food, always on display through a window looking out on to the event space. The aesthetics of the food and products are very important, as is the finishing of the kitchen itself.” At the heart of the kitchen is the space-saving Baron Talent Multi-Function, a versatile unit tailormade for preparing multiple dishes to perfection. Chefs prepare the ingredients in advance, to schedules coordinated by the Talent, and there’s a recipe storage system to ensure coherence and quality in the dishes served.
“This was a new and very appealing thing for us and the executive chef, to see all the recipe descriptions and programs already pre-set in the Talent,” says de Pinto. “Multi-functionality means chefs can execute multiple tasks with a single piece of equipment,” enthuses Raul Fadda, sales manager at Baron, who is overseeing this project. “With our high performance ovens, they can just select the product they want to cook and choose the end-result. There’s software inside that uses an algorithmic system to determine temperature, time and humidity, which means the chefs don’t have to keep watching and controlling the food while it cooks. “Instead, chefs can spend time talking with their customers, explaining about the food and then presenting it. So, the relationship between the chef and customer is now completely different.”
Where Tuscan tradition meets modern hospitality
The luxury resort of Castelfalfi in Tuscany, Italy
Multifunctionality means chefs can execute multiple tasks with a single piece of equipment
Induction’s a gas
Baron’s advanced technology also enables chefs to stick to a more traditional style of cooking. “Many chefs prefer to use a gas range because they want to play with the pot over the flame, and do things such as flambé or salt the pasta. With our electric inductions, they can still do this. Even when they raise the pan from the glass-ceramic hob, the circuit isn’t cut and the heat remains,” says Fadda, adding that the induction also has safety sensors to avoid overheating.
The kitchen is also equipped with other Baron equipment innovations, including an 80-litre electric motorized tilting bratt pan with duplex tank, which collects data to monitor operations, and a Fry Top S Electric M80 AISI Plate with thermostatic cooking temperature control. It also has a large, floodable gutter around the perimeter of the hotplate to collect cooking residues and drain them into a large drawer. De Pinto notes that this functionality is backed up by modern touches, including easy-to-use touchscreens and digital displays.
“The professional quality, efficiency and spacesaving of the Baron products has really impressed us,” he says. “Our executive chef is looking forward to using them to prepare dishes to suit our customers’ needs.” Baron and the luxury resort are even discussing the possibility of the chefs making local, Italian ice cream with the diners. “The client has asked us to find a machine to achieve this. Thankfully, the Ali Group is huge, so we are looking into one of our sister companies supplying this,” says Fadda.
Every detail contributes to the guest experience
The functionality of Baron's equipment is backed up by modern touches
Built for high-performance hospitality
Technology designed for culinary excellence
A partner for the future
There’s more to this relationship than simply identifying the right machine, though. To help foster a long-ter partnership with its clients, Baron will provide regular maintenance and technical support to the resort plus training sessions to help the kitchen staff maximize the potential of the appliances. Baron will also advise on potential future upgrades, ensuring the kitchens continue to evolve with the latest innovations.
“Raul has taken care of us throughout the entire process so far, as has Baron’s technical department, which arranged installation of the products within just three days,” says de Pinto. “We have every confidence that when we test the appliances, the event space and kitchen will be a success, and Baron will continue to provide great support. We have already secured a subscription of maintenance service that will be available within 24 hours, which is crucial,” he adds.
Looking ahead, Hotel Castelfalfi is planning to build a few more restaurants, so Fadda is looking into potential solutions. “Following the success of our partnership on this project, I hope we will get the chance to supply more equipment and expand our strong relationship,” says Fadda.
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For 30 years, Baron has been designing and manufacturing professional kitchens
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Countries in the world where Baron products are exported
1400
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Different products in the Baron catalog produced in its Belluno plant
Can innovation and tradition work together?
Yes. Baron blends advanced technology with authentic cooking techniques, giving chefs precision without compromising tradition.