DAY 2 BOSCH BLANCO BLOGGER RETREAT

So where were we?  Ah yes, day 2 of my latest great adventure.  Friday, after an impressive little breakfast spread, we settled in for a guided tour of the new BSH Experience and Design Center and yes it WAS quite an experience.  We were outfitted in our very own custom and official looking lab coats (my first).  A camera crew toured with our group so someday I expect a film or two to make its appearance.Our first stop was THE WALLS (excellent use of hallway space, I might add).  These walls illustrate through shadow boxes, the details of materials, engineering and quality control that go into a Bosch appliance.  Each appliance undergoes not 25, not 250 but 2500 checks before being sent out into the world.  Yes, your new dishwasher may have a couple water spots and that's why.  The Bosch design philosophy is inspired by German industrial designer Dieter Ram's 10 principles of design .  They are in good company.    Apple Inc. is also one of the few companies designing products according to his principles.DESIGNED FOR LIFENext on the hit parade was Designed for Life-an Interactive Design Workshop.  My group worked with a member of the industrial design team to design a range.  We looked at things like how it could work for people that have limited mobility, are visually impaired (just had to remove my spectacles) or victims of advanced pregnancy.It was a real eye opener and I actually did come up with some ideas.  Here are my notes.  From sketches and notes the design team takes it to 3D imaging on the computer where they will tweak until its ready for the prototype stage.

 LISTEN TO THE SILENCEFrom vision to hearing, the next experience was all about my favorite Bosch product, the quintessential dishwasher.  Bosch makes the quietest dishwasher in the industry rated at 39 decibels.  I know this to be a fact from personal experience.  I've been squirted a time or two from opening the door when I wasn't aware that it was running (probably didn't have my glasses on).  They have solved that problem.  In new models a red laser dot shines on the floor when the dishwasher is running.  You can't miss it, even sans glasses.  In addition to the silence these dishwashers are rated the most water and energy efficient.  They are quite proud to have placed in Consumer Reports latest top ten in five categories including number one in value.  Speaking of value, you will spend anywhere from $549-$1,999 for a Bosch dishwasher.  The nice thing is that whether you opt for high end or entry level you don't have to sacrifice efficiency or silence.  The differences are in the interior bells and whistles. FIX AND FEAST!Time for lunch and a great opportunity to test drive all the Bosch appliances and Blanco plumbing fixtures .  Under the guidance of company chef, Kyle Jacobi, we collectively prepared a feast including fish tacos, stuffe chili rellenos, bacon wrapped shrimp, Spanish rice and more!WHAT'S COOKING?After lunch it was time to learn about induction cooking and convection ovens.  If you're not cooking on induction now, you will be in about ten years.  I'm not kidding.  Even the glass top electric range will go the way of those coil burner types we used to use.  Remember those?  The cool thing is you cannot burn yourself.  The heat only happens when the burner comes in contract with the bottom of the pan.  It uses a lot less power too!Convection ovens have been around a long time but I learned a couple of things about them too.  True convection, as featured in Bosch ovens, has its own separate heating element.  Then there is something called "Speed Convect".  What that means is no preheating.  Zero to 350 in no time at all!  We finished the BSH Experience in some really comfy chairs learning about the Forces that Drive Innovation presented by Tim Maicher, Director of Marketing at Blanco America.  I loved that he expressed that there is an emotional as well as technical component to kitchen design.  I have always held that belief.THE LAST HURRAH!The final event of this two day adventure was dinner at The Cannery in Newport Beach.  Here I got another glimpse of the water but for the first time the sky turned gray. (Guess it was sad we were leaving).That's it!  I have a lot more to share about new products at Blanco along with my random musings on stuff.  I hope you enjoyed your personal virtual tour.  I'll be loading lots more photos to the On the Road with Kitchens for Living Flickr album.  I'll let you know when they're up.  Ciao for now!  

DAY 1 BOSCH/BLANCO BLOGGER RETREAT

Back to the real world!!  Got home around 11:30 last night.  Jet lag be damned. I owe you!  Here are my notes from Thursday which was officially day one of our Blanco/Bosch Blogger Retreat. So without further ado:It's beautiful here!  The sun is shining but no sweat!  They tell me it's because it's dry.  I could get used to this no humidity stuff.  Last night the first arrivals gathered for dinner at Bayside, a beautiful restaurant in Newport Beach.The food was delicious, the scenery beautiful and I was so excited to be in California with such an impressive group!  This morning we went on a walking tour of the amazing Segerstrom Preforming Arts Center which is right around the corner from our hotel.  It's a world class venue for concerts, theater and especially dance. In fact it's the largest privately funded performing arts center of its kind in the nation. The oldest part was built in 1986 and the newest twenty years later. The design is comprised of an interesting juxtaposition of triangles and undulating curves.The 3000 seat theater is currently running the musical American Idiot featuring the rock group Green Day. We got a sneak peak back stage. I had no idea it was so complex behind the scenes!After a delicious lunch at Seasons 52 it was time to descend on the brand new BSH Design Center located close by in Irvine. BSH will feature not only Bosch but also Thermador and Gaggenau appliances when completed. Blanco and Bosch are two German based companies who value fine German engineering so it makes sense that they are collaborating to offer consumers the whole package, sinks, faucets and appliances of unmatched quality and design.

After a champagne reception we got to participate in a panel discussion on kitchen design trends moderated by Dwell Magazine Contributing Editor Erika Heet.

 

Thursday's dinner was a real treat.  The event was titled Designed to Devour.  That was a pretty apt description.  True Food Kitchen, Newport Beach is a new restaurant specializing in a very "California" type of cuisine, very whole, healthy and organic.  I had the best panang curry ever (vegetable, of course).  The acai-pomegranite mojito was not too shabby either!Enough for day one?  Day two we entered the "design lab" (lab coats and all, honest!).  We got a first hand view at the design process, materials and more.  Check back next post for round two where we really dig into the nitty gritty of what makes Bosch appliances so extraordinary.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

Checking in from Costa Mesa.   After a slightly anxious day I finally arrived at Orange County Airport (Official name is John Wayne Airport-I bet you didn't know that).  We shall remain photoless until sometime tomorrow afternoon due to the fact I'm phoneless.  This I did not discover until I was in the plane looking for it so I could turn it off.  It was my good fortune to sit next to two delightful ladies who taught me about Napoleon Hill (Think and Grow Rich), self publishing and let me borrow their cell phone to call home.  Anyway the phone is accounted for and winging its way west as we speak (one can only hope) thanks to my awesome son. After a weather related diversion to Austin we finally circled back to Dallas making the connection with a good ten minutes to spare.Upon check in I was given a lovely bag of swag, courtesy of hosts Blanco and Bosch, consisting of a stainless steel water bottle, a leather passport case and a very interesting looking book about the history of Bosch. Tomorrow's events promise to be much more interesting and enjoyable.  We get to discuss design trends with Dwell Magazine Contributing Editor Erika Heet for starters.  If you want to know what else is in store you're just going to have to check back tomorrow!  Off to dinner to meet my blogger pals then to BED!  Cheers :)

CALIFORNIA HERE I COME!

Yes,  I'll be on the road again.  As a proud member of the Blanco Design Council I have been invited to a Blogger Retreat happening May 31st-June 1  in Orange County.  The event is sponsored by Bosch and, of course, Blanco.

My last California adventure was for my honeymoon in 09 when the hubs and I explored San Francisco and surrounding locales.  This time it'll be the southern scene.  We're staying in Costa Mesa and will also be visiting New Port Beach.  They've got all kinds of interesting events in store all based around the theme "European Design for the Modern Kitchen".  I'm also very excited to meet up with my fellow bloggers and Design Council members, some of whom I will be seeing for the first time!  As usual, YOU get to come along (virtually, that is).  Stay tuned!  Until then I'll be California dreamin...