“We chose Kent, WA for our new state-of-the-art Test Kitchen because it’s centrally located — close to the airport and not far from major cities like Tacoma and Seattle,” explained Carl Kisner, President of Ignite. “We decided to create a longer hood with a ventless area in our Kent facility. Our other test kitchens don’t have that. We have equipment from all the manufacturers we represent, our beautiful Ignite ‘Wall of Fame,’ a bar area, a conference room, and a bigger space for cooking and collaboration. Thank you to everyone who came to the Grand Opening to help us celebrate.”
As Corporate Chef and Brand Ambassador, Chef Ryan Devereaux will support customers, dealer partners, and consultants in the Pacific Northwest region, including running the daily operations in the Kent Test Kitchen. Chef Ryan brings a wealth of knowledge to the team, including expertise in training, oven programming, and menu development. Additionally, he is well-versed in identifying challenges and offering solutions to help control labor and food waste, ensuring that Ignite clients get the most out of their equipment and operations.
The Kent facility joins the Ignite Test Kitchen family with Denver, CO, and Phoenix, AZ, to become the third site. For customers not in the Pacific Northwest, Chef Robert Simmelink is our Director of Culinary Services, and Chef Luke Simonds is our Corporate Chef/Brand Ambassador in Denver.
The venues are the perfect place for customers to make buying decisions on specific equipment or develop a killer menu in real time. Clients and consultants who visit will be able to see the equipment in action, get hands-on experience with equipment training, participate in menu development, and discuss solutions to their operational challenges. Carl invited people to come in and fire up their culinary skills. “We have a fully stocked kitchen and an amazing culinary team ready to cook with you.”
Test Kitchens provide a platform for culinary professionals to unleash their creativity, and the photo wall in the new venue is a testament to the success stories and innovative ideas implemented by culinary teams over the years. The Kent Grand Opening celebrated Ignite’s continued dedication to investing and sharing knowledge with its clients and partners.
