Recipe for excellence

WHEN YOU STEP INTO this quietly elegant conservation shophouse on McNair Road, it feels as if you're entering someone's home. A home that is clearly outfitted for one who loves to cook and entertain, with its top-of-the-line cooking appliances, refrigerators and enviably stocked wine chillers fitted with enough technology to do everything except pour your favourite red into a glass.

Channelling strong French design elements with American accents, guests are free to explore the different levels - from the library to BBQ zone and 'man cave', and even pluck some fresh basil from the thriving herb and vegetable garden before settling down to an elegant meal prepared in its comprehensively-equipped kitchen spaces. And if they're inspired to do the same in their own homes, they've come to the right place - for this is the living, breathing flagship showroom of premium American kitchen brand Sub-Zero and Wolf.

75 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

For three-quarters of a century, Sub-Zero has been making hand-crafted, premium grade food preservation and kitchen appliances for home-owners who believe in quality and craftsmanship.

Currently in the third generation of their family business, the American brand clearly shows no signs of slowing down. "This is a family business, and family is at the centre of everything we do. That sets us apart in the appliance industry," said Jim Bakke, president and CEO of Sub-Zero Group, Inc. "Since my grandfather, Westye F Bakke, established the company, it has operated on the belief that if you make the highest-quality product, you'll always have customers."

Customers who visit the Singapore showroom will find plenty to look at, all seamlessly integrated into a living environment. There are full-sized and integrated refrigeration units, cooking ranges, built-in ovens, wine storage, outdoor grills, coffee systems and more.

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Sub-Zero's refrigeration products feature top-notch preservation technology and designs such as the dual refrigeration unit, nano-technology spill-proof glass shelves, multi-refrigeration compartments and sealed cooling systems for the refrigerator and freezer. On top of that, an antimicrobial NASA air purification system scrubs the air clean every 20 minutes, getting rid of mold, viruses and bacteria.

As for Wolf, the brand was refining and perfecting highperformance cooking instruments in professional kitchens before offering them to home kitchens. Its illustrious product line offers the kind of precise handling that lets home cooks achieve commercial restaurant standards. In fact, Wolf's intelligent integrated modules also allow for a range of cooking methods that help to transport culinary inspiration from cookbook to plate.

While cooking brings great joy, there is also the confidence that the brand's authorised distributor, SZ & W (Southeast Asia) Pte Ltd, provides full, certified technical support to ensure that the appliances are always in perfect working order. Together with KitchenArt (Thailand), they are the sole authorised service and maintenance agents for Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances in South-east Asia. That means only brand new and genuine spare parts are used, and servicing work is carried out by factory certified servicers who have been trained at the parent company in the US. All this is important to discourage the use of unauthorised, third-party service agents that don't use genuine spare parts and often employ poor workmanship. SZ & W, on the other hand, provides all customers with a 3-month service warranty, and a 6-month product warranty on all spare parts installed.

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER

To mark the brand's 75th anniversary, SZ & W (Southeast Asia) has customised one unit of the professional Sub- Zero Pro 48 refrigerator with a special diamond design embedded into the door panel, which it will gift to one lucky client, says SZ & W's director Yam Churn Meng.

"We want to pick someone who believes in the brand," he adds. Also, the diamond, being the hardest rock on earth, "symbolises Sub-Zero for its longevity, durability and quality".

"We got the idea when we were at a charity event for the Eye Foundation," says fellow director Karen Gonzago. They met Saagar Mehta, director of Infiniti Jewels, who had donated a jewelry piece to raise funds for eye operations for the needy. As Infiniti specialises in bespoke jewellery, they decided to work together to craft a design that would represent the Sub-Zero brand. Ms Gonzago chose the final design, made with hand-selected diamonds of F colour and VVS quality. The diamonds can then be removed from the fridge to be presented to the recipient's loved one, adds Mr Yam, who hopes to get SZW's CEO Mr Bakke to announce the client's name.

It will be a fitting finale for SZW's anniversary as it epitomises the three most important qualities that it believes in: the belief in its clients; its legacy; and craftsmanship. And which it will continue to uphold for the next 75 years and beyond.

The House of Sub-Zero and Wolf is located at 31 McNair road, Townerville, Singapore 328529. Tel: 6386 9335. Service hotline: 9880 1981. Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm. Saturdays by appointment only.