Let me entertain you

Ask anyone with a love of entertaining what is the secret to a successful dinner party and the answer is invariably good food, good wine and good company. But entertaining well is also about having a well-equipped kitchen that's easy to work in. Great appliances go hand in hand with a great meal and great conversation.

This sleek kitchen was designed by owner-entertainer and professional stylist Linda Brander, who says she wanted her new kitchen to pick up the sense of the ocean, which can be seen from most rooms.

"An important part of creating that ambience was choosing the retro-look mint green Smeg Fab32 refrigerator," says Brander. "Its '50s curves provide a playful contrast to the kitchen's mainly clean lines. Aqua glass splashbacks complement the colour of the refrigerator. These tones are contrasted by the warm wood floor and the wood veneer on the island."

Besides an eye-catching aesthetic, the kitchen also had to perform to a high level.

"The three Smeg ovens take pride of place in the kitchen," Brander says. "Between the ovens and hob, I have a broad range of cooking options. For example, the Linea steam oven allows me to prepare a variety of meals from a risotto to a steam pudding. I can even steam a couple of trays of Chinese dumplings for delicious, moist aperitifs."

The Linea microwave convection oven the second oven offers two cooking methods in one compact appliance.

The Linea multifunction oven is the larger 60cm oven. With its 72-litre capacity, this oven offers a number of options.

"The 12 cooking functions include a Baker's Function, suitable for crisping delicate pastries, and a Supercook setting that brings precise temperature control through an airtight Thermoseal feature."

Brander opted for a large, top-of-the-line induction cooktop, incorporating the latest technology.

"The induction hob has been a major plus for this kitchen," she says. "Its metre-wide size means the individual zones are all in a line and easily accessible, with no need to reach over hot pans."

Induction technology is a fast and highly energy-efficient form of cooking. Heat is generated by an electro-magnetic field that directly heats the food in the pan, rather than the cooktop.

Other appliances in this kitchen include a Smeg 90cm fully integrated dishwasher, which is at hip height for easy access.

For information on Smeg appliances, visit the website: www.smeg.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas