I just returned from the fabulous new Bosch showroom in Irvine, California, a beautiful facility that includes state of the art appliances and beautiful kitchen vignettes which showcase the full line of Bosch appliances.

There is a hallway describing and celebrating the Bosch commitment to precision engineering and sustainability, specific areas for training purposes including a theatre with chairs one can take a nap in easily, and the centerpiece...a huge (huge) kitchen outfitted with Bosch appliances including an amazing wall mounted herb garden. One can test appliances...and then clean up using the gorgeous BLANCO sinks and faucets, seen throughout the entire showroom.

The Bosch central testing kitchen

The kitchen images will follow in my next post with lots more good information on Bosch appliances, but I think you'll understand that my instinct in writing this first post follows with my wanting to show you the result of all of these precision and user friendlly appliances - the food!!! Let's go there first. Below are Carmen Natschke and Andie Day hard at work!

Carmen Natschke from Decorating Diva and Andie Day from Lifestyle blog

Together, we all (members of the media invited for the very first look at the Bosch showroom, flown in from around the country) cooked lunch together and wow, many types of food were cooked fast and with precision. It was an incredibly delicious lunch - after all, that's what the appliances are all about: performance, ease of use, and we need the fun factor in there too that operating great appliances bring to the party!

An upward look at a floating, nearly floor to ceiling herb garden

And, below, this is how a good number of us cook....

Oh yes, I do love to go to these brand retreats - I come back wiser (most important) and definitely well fed! More soon on Bosch appliances and BLANCO sinks and faucets AND gorgeous kitchen shots from this beautiful showroom.

I was delighted to be invited to the Bosch training and showroom facility in beautiful Scottsdale, Arizona. I so welcome these opportunities to travel to corporate showrooms around the country (and abroad) for focused product training, which always adds another dimension of insight into a brand’s unique history and philosophy.

Robert BoschWho knew the founder’s name was Robert Bosch (1861-1942) who was equal parts socialist and capitalist, botanist and inventor, pacifist and philanthropist … whose company was one of the first to provide health care to its employees as well as the eight hour work day … who worked with Thomas Edison for a year here in the US and who had a commitment in theory and in practice to (what we now fashionably call) Reuse, Recycle and Reduce - in extreme ways? Bosch (the corporation) has recently celebrated 125 years of being in business as well as celebrating their equally long tradition to social commitment.

Half of the profit that Bosch generates each year goes toward philanthropic and environmental endeavors-nearly astounding! Since 1964 the Robert Bosch foundation has funded more than one billion euros toward the company’s social and environmental commitment. What an inspiring piece of “corporate history.”

BOSCH SHOWROOM DELIGHTS

I will have more information on some of the great features of Bosch appliances in another post. Quite frankly, I lost track of all the #1 awards Bosch has won, but it is impressive. Half the fun of going to these events is to enjoy the beautiful showroom design! I’ll take you for a short tour. Let’s take a look, and note the appliance integration. Enjoy the view.

Below: A look at the Bosch reception area just past the front desk. Tranquil and serene, connected to the feeling of the Arizona landscape

Below: A wide shot (with the exception of one leg of the “U” shape) of the kitchen we cooked in, with a complete suite of Bosch appliances. A simple design with just a touch of coolness in the countertop and tile backsplash, accented with cool (toned as well as featured) stainless steel appliances.

Below: The tall wall of appliances and storage – so popular in European kitchen design, it serves as a visual foundation to the kitchen.

Below: We were all “Engineers in Training” for the day with real Bosch product engineers! Taking a short break in between learning all sorts of mathematical equations and theories-exhausting! Winking smile

Below: A nice tight integration with cabinetry and countertop – the Bosch slide-in range. A slide-in range is a superb and elegant solution (and less costly than the purchase of a separate cooktop and oven) to what could otherwise be the bulky look of a freestanding range. An often forgotten product solution, the slide-in range provides a “flow” to your kitchen

Below: A fantastic and delicious artisan focaccia, just out of the Bosch true convection oven. It was delicious! Part of our experience cooking with Bosch appliances

Below: Now, let’s take a peak at a few other kitchens in the Bosch facility with either Thermador or Gaggenau appliances, both under the Bosch corporate umbrella

Bye, Scottsdale! (sniff...)

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