Ask most people what their favourite food is and I’m quite sure a big percentage wouldn’t hesitate in saying Italian. All. That. Pasta. My niece loves pasta so much she asks for it every time we go out and as an accompaniment instead of veg and I’m quite sure she’s on to a good thing. If there’s one thing I love more than Italian food (and yes, still loads of delicious options even being plant-based), it’s Italian design and so let me introduce you to Bertazzoni.
I say introduce with hopefully the resounding response that you all know exactly who I’m talking about. I was very kindly invited to a lunch with them a few weeks ago in Knightsbridge and I felt very ashamed to admit that they weren’t a familiar name to me despite being over 100 years old! So let me tell you about this wonderful family-run company in case you’re as in the dark as I was.
Hailing from the Emilia-Romagna region in the north of Italy, Bertazzoni has based itself around this traditional area, known as the bread basket since Roman times. Its fertile ground produces local Parmesan cheese, Parma ham, mortadella sausage, cured meats and salamis, balsamic vinegar, many types of pasta and several wines. It makes complete sense therefore that out of this history of food came the production of such high-end and stylish kitchen appliances.
It was back in the 19th century that Francesco Bertazzoni made precision weighing machines for the local cheese makers in the region. He used to observe trains coming into the region from Germany and Austria, which were not only powered by wood-burning stoves but those same stoves allowed the crew to eat hot food. Inspired, he set about creating his own version of the stove with his son Antonio and by 1909, the next generation of familia Bertazzoni had opened a factory in Italy to increase production.
Surviving both World Wars, by the 1950s, the first gas stoves were manufactured with electricity and dual fuel following on. Fast forward to the present day and Bertazzoni is now run by the 6th generation of this incredibly entrepreneurial family. Isn’t that so inspiring? They’re sold in more than 60 countries worldwide including the US and Canada and have since expanded the range not just for cookers but to include a full collection of refrigerators, dishwashers and hoods to match – essentially the heart of a high performance kitchen.
Currently there are four main collections within the Bertazzoni family: Professional Series, Modern Series, Master Series and Heritage Series. Each range has all of the above appliances available allowing the company to appeal to everyone from corporate kitchens to luxury individual lifestyles and more modest domestic households. It would be an absolute honour to cook with Bertazzoni and depending on the spec of your kitchen they can also provide built-in or stand alone ovens.
For me though, it’s always about the finish and the finer details. Imagine being inspired by the finish of Italian sports cars? Here’s the artisanal inspiration which is incorporated into Bertazzoni’s collection of ovens:
Bertazzoni prides itself on bringing together industrial production methods and engineering skills with Italian design flair.
This thinking has led us to create four new special finishes inspired by the pinnacle of Italian craftsmanship. Each Bertazzoni machine is an elegant combination of form and function, technology and inimitable style. These special finishes take this thinking to a new level.
Our designers and engineers were inspired by the flawless paintwork found on beautiful Italian sports cars, powder-coated finishes and the traditional enamel finishes of Bertazzoni’s original stoves. Each finish is matched with different series to complete a sophisticated and instantly recognisable look. Whichever Series and finish you choose, it will bring a unique touch to the look and style of your kitchen.
At long last after what feels like a long time of wasteful consumerism, there’s definitely a not-so-subtle shift back to well-made quality items for our home. Encouraging us to seek provenance and not just make snap decision purchases that will need to be replaced in a year or two. Bertazzoni must be doing something right and to hear the family took with such pride and passion about their business is so inspiring. I don’t know about you but I’m sold.
Disclaimer: I was invited to a lunch with the Bertazzoni brand with no obligation to share but I was genuinely impressed and thought you might want to hear about them too!
Follow me on Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter
