FOOD TECHNOLOGY
Local MP
Pamjit
Dhanda
Pamjit Dhanda
(centre) and David
visits Target
Pedrette (left) MD
of Target Catering
Catering
Equipment.
Equipment
to see the
i-Hob for
himself.
HEAD OF FT KITCHEN DESIGN &
INSTALLATION COMPANY HAS A
MISSION – TO MAKE EDUCATION
KITCHENS SAFER, WITH HIS i-HOB
DAVID PEDRETTE is a man stainless steel pasta maker and
with a mission. He is special boiler for use on an open
determined to ensure
electric hob. This led to Target’s
educational kitchens are safe
involvement in specialist cooking
places in which to learn the
equipment for school classrooms.
skills and the art of cooking and
But as David explains:
that catering establishments are
“Unfortunately, many schools
believe you just slap in the
safer places to work in.
white goods and that’s it. But
How is he going to do this?
first of all, you have to sit down
Well, it is by technology – a
with the school or college and
technology called induction
discover exactly what they are
heating. It has been utilised in
intending to achieve in the
industry for years and only now is
beginning to be used in the
kitchen refurb – a catering unit,
conservative world of the
a training kitchen complete with
catering.
an island console for the tutors
David, managing director of
and perhaps an interactive white
Target Catering Equipment,
board for the students. Then
demonstrated the benefits of this
there is the question of the
technology to Technology in
dining room or café.”
Education recently on a visit to his
“It is,” he explained, “like
i-Hob is bringing greater safety and reduced running costs to education.
headquarters. He put a pan of cold
planning a workshop and/or
_______________________________________________________________
water on one of his induction
factory. Kitchens and restaurants
heating hobs, placed a £10 note
have an uphill task to get i-Hobs been assured! David left the Navy are busy places with hot food
between the pan and the hob and
into the primary and secondary when he married and began an being conveyed. Unless they are
brought the water quickly to boil.
schools and colleges in this engineering business from his planned well, they can be
The £10 note was warm but did not
country because the initial cost is home in Gloucester. hazardous. Stainless steel is still
catch fire. And the hob only heated
higher. However, he says: “In the The business flourished and the favoured material because of
where the pan was in contact with
long run, i-Hobs will save them David and his team have been its hard wearing and hygienic
the top of the hob, which his
considerable sums of money. The busy putting stainless steel properties.”
company has called the i-Hob.
running costs in terms of energy chimneys and flues in commercial Since then, Target has gone
David told Technology in
and maintenance will save kitchens throughout the UK. on to gain contracts for
Education: “It is very much more
thousands over the years.” One day, out of the blue, he had educational kitchens and
efficient and greener than
A former Merchant Navy a call from a home economics catering units for such establish-
conventional gas rings. However,
engineer, David, during his time teacher wanting David’s team to ments as Worcester College,
the main thing is that students on the high seas, had to look after help supply pizzas for a fund-
Gloucestershire College and the
cannot burn themselves on the top his many pieces of plant and raising event. Subsequently, the
Royal Agricultural College at
of the i-Hob and in education that equipment including keeping the same teacher asked David if he
Cirencester.
is paramount.” galley operational for the crew. could help with pasta making. He
A realist, David knows he will Otherwise a mutiny would have and his company supplied a
Circle No.E18
Technology in Education No.165 March 2009 36 Check out our website: www.technology-in-education.co.uk
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