Winteringham Fields

GREEN APPROACH HELPS DELIVER CONSISTENT STAR QUALITY
The aim of gaining two Michelin stars is within sight of award-winning chef Colin McGurran- largely due to a new kitchen which is helping reduce his energy consumption by over 60%!

The chef/ owner of Winteringham Fields, which already has five AA gold stars and two AA rosettes, turned to leading commercial kitchen company CHR Equipment to help achieve the target.  “Michelin star attainment is not just about the quality of the food, it has to be consistent, “ explains Colin. “Switching to highly energy-efficient equipment has given us greater control, but amazingly is drawing around 60% less fuel than the old kitchen!”

As a result, his overheads have been significantly reduced: not only has his fuel bill been cut, but the enhanced control improves efficiency of food preparation in staff time and ingredients. In addition, reduced heat build-up in the kitchen decreases ventilation requirements. The cooking process cuts soiling of pans and subsequent washing-up. All those factors combine to accelerate payback on the £170,000 capital investment.

Key features integrated into the new kitchen by CHR Equipment are the inclusion of sous-vide facilities, a new range that reduces carbon consumption from 90kW to 38kW, two combi ovens, a salamander, induction hobs that only use energy/ heat up when a pan is on, exchangers that recycle heat emitted by low carbon refrigerators and use it to heat water, and innovative metering technology.

Added Colin, “The new equipment gives us assured consistency but equally has created a nicer working environment…. the air in the kitchen is cleaner, so we don’t need as much ventilation, and we have fewer noisy fans; the cooking processes mean there is reduced heat build-up; the induction process does not blacken pans like gas, so that reduces dishwashing.”

Founded 20 years ago, CHR Equipment (www.chrequipment.co.uk) has built a reputation for consistently delivering practical solutions, applying innovative thinking and utilizing developments in technology to create commercial catering solutions on time and to budget whether new build or refurbishment of a hotel or college through to the upper echelons of Michelin-starred establishments and stadia. It has, for three years in succession, won national CEDA (Catering Equipment Distributors Association) Awards, each in a different category.

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