Let’s see. Where were we? Ah, yes. I was going to tell you about FTK at iSaloni. If you don’t know about my trip to Milan with the Blanco Design Council during Design Week, you’ve got some catching up to do! Anyway, FTK, or Technology for the Kitchen, is a showcase for innovation in the category of domestic appliances. 
The focus is on the seamless integration of cooking and refrigeration technology in the kitchen. It is a world event so I saw names I am familiar with such as Miele, Electrolux and for the first time at this show, Subzero Wolf (above). I also saw many unfamiliar brands such as Turkey’s Arcelik (Beko) Group which was also making its debut at EuroCucina 2014. 
In Europe we Americans have a reputation for embracing BIG! This includes cars, portions and, yes, refrigerators. Did you know what we call a standard refrigerator is referred to as an “American Refrigerator” in Europe? This is a misconception as there are many NYC apartment owners who I'm sure would warmly embrace their kitchen luxury a bit scaled down! Am I right? Compact sizing was a popular offering along with ease of operation and low energy consumption. 
I saw new color choices for appliances such as the return of black and white for high end appliances, as featured at Miele.
Ventilation was perhaps the “design star” at FTK with all kinds of sculptural sexy hood choices on show. All the appliances were design oriented as well as efficient, offering consumers products that meet technical demands while holding their own in the “looks department”. This means appliances for the home have taken on new shapes, colors and materials in addition to being light, compact, ergonomic and extremely appealing. 
Steam and induction cooking continue to take the industry by force. They’re not going away peeps! 
Contemporary lifestyles and increasingly open floor plans require versatile, multi-purpose solutions. In some areas of the globe, not only is fresh water a precious commodity, but so is fresh air. Check out these interesting air purifiers. 
Next up: What's going on in the bathroom? Salone Internazionale del Bagno. If you'd like to see all my photos from Design Week Milan, I've got you covered. Just click here.
BETTER LIVING BY MIELE
This past week I was given the opportunity, by the nice folks at Miele (rhymes with tequila), to mix business with pleasure. I attended a Miele Table Artist Salon for an evening of culinary creativity. I was not disappointed.
Not only were we treated to an exceptional gourmet experience, courtesy of Chef David Whyko, but I also got to learn more about the two most promising and up and coming appliances in the industry. (Trivia: Chef David was chef for Lenny Kravitz for ten years!)
Greeted at the door with a glass of bubbly set the tone. This was followed by a sit down dinner for around 20 people. All food prepared by Chef David was cooked using a combination of induction, steam and speed cooking.
Miele, based in Germany, is a family owned business started over 100 years ago. Their guiding principle is to provide “Better Living” with products designed to make one’s life easier. All appliances are tested to last a minimum of 20 years.
We’ve been hearing the buzz about induction cooking and, as I have written before, it is a safer, faster and more efficient way to cook. You will certainly be seeing the induction cooktop become a major player very soon. The second star of the show was Miele’s steam oven. Steam cooking is gaining in popularity as more people become aware of the capabilities it offers. For example, you can do anything in a steam oven that you can do in a microwave. Not gonna lie, there are two exceptions to that rule which are popcorn and reheating your morning cup of joe. Here’s how it works. Fill the reservoir with water, set your temperature and in about ten minutes average you should be done. Steam cooking retains flavor and nutrients to a greater degree than with other modes.. A big thanks to the Miele Gallery in Boca Raton for an informative and delish event. The Gallery offers prospective customers a hands on experience so you can see how their products add a little "better living" to your life.