The man who eats IKEA food for a living gives us insights on their famous meatballs and more

Summary

Join the Country Food Manager of IKEA Singapore for a kitchen tour at IKEA Alexandria, where a team of 175 aims to deliver delicious, affordable Swedish cuisine daily. Discover the secrets behind the traditional, slightly imperfect meatballs and the innovative defat chicken wings. Experience the self-service model, where customers can indulge in a variety of dishes, including new menu items like the Swedish sausage and creative cinnamon buns. Learn about the importance of matching food presentation to photos and adapting recipes to local tastes while celebrating festive occasions with special dishes.

Takeaways

• 🏢 The video is set in Ikea Alexandria, a Swedish restaurant managed by the country food manager for Ikea Singapore.
• 👩‍🍳 The food manager oversees three stores along with 175 coworkers, aiming to provide good and affordable food to customers daily.
• 🍽️ The kitchen tour begins with a discussion about the traditional Swedish meatball, which should not be perfectly round to maintain authenticity.
• 🍗 The kitchen also prepares chicken wings using a defatting process and has equipment capable of cooking about 100 wings in 5 minutes.
• 🥣 The kitchen uses a B Marine to warm up sauces and other accompaniments for the meals.
• 🍲 State-of-the-art combi ovens are utilized for food preparation, allowing for versatile cooking methods.
• 👥 The serving line is staffed by 2-3 coworkers, with the first coworker acting as a conductor to manage the flow of food and communicate with the kitchen.
• 🛒 Ikea operates on a self-service model where customers use a trolley and are encouraged to impulse buy by grabbing items that appeal to them.
• 📸 The food served must match the presentation shown in the photos, which is part of the staff's responsibility to ensure consistency.
• 🍴 The food manager introduces new dishes developed for the restaurant, including a traditional Swedish sausage and mushroom-based dishes.
• ☕ The video includes a tasting of a coffee-flavored cinnamon bun, indicating a creative approach to traditional Swedish treats.
• 🎉 Ikea celebrates festive occasions with local relevance, adjusting their menu to suit the tastes and preferences of the community.

Q & A

What is the role of the person speaking in the video?

The person speaking is the Country Food Manager for IKEA in Singapore, responsible for managing food operations at three stores: IKEA Alexandra, IKEA Tampines, and IKEA Jurong.

What is the main goal of the team at IKEA's Swedish restaurant?

The main goal of the team is to provide good, affordable, and delicious food to customers every day.

Why are IKEA meatballs not perfectly round?

IKEA meatballs are not perfectly round to maintain the traditional Swedish meatball appearance, which is hand-rolled and not too uniform.

What is the capacity of the chicken wing cooking process mentioned in the script?

The chicken wing cooking process can handle about 100 chicken wings, with a cooking time of approximately 5 minutes.

What is the role of the first coworker in the serving line?

The first coworker in the serving line is responsible for leading and coordinating the team, ensuring there is enough food, and managing the overall service flow.

What is the significance of the coworker's voice in the serving line?

The coworker's voice should be loud enough to communicate effectively with the team and customers, especially when calling out for more food.

What is the self-service model like at IKEA's Swedish restaurant?

IKEA's self-service model involves customers taking a trolley, moving through the queue, and selecting items they find exciting and delicious, promoting impulse buying.

What is the expectation for the food served at IKEA in terms of presentation?

The food served should match the photo exactly, ensuring that what is split and served is similar to the visual representation provided to the customer.

What is the purpose of trying out new dishes like the 'fuk' sausage in the script?

The purpose is to test whether the new dish aligns with traditional Swedish flavors and if it can stand alone or needs complementary sauces.

What is the significance of adapting dishes for local tastes at IKEA's Swedish restaurant?

Adapting dishes for local tastes ensures that the food is more appealing to the local customer base and meets their expectations.

How does IKEA celebrate festive occasions in its Swedish restaurant?

IKEA celebrates festive occasions by offering local relevant dishes, such as the 'nasik kuru' for the Hari Raya celebration, with slight twists each year.