If the promise of sun, clear waters and luxurious beaches weren’t enough to lure you to the Maldives, then the unforgettable food on offer at Cinder restaurant may do the trick.

Cinder is a new addition to the rich culinary landscape of this island nation. Designed, operated and owned by well-known local chef Naju Rachey, this small but impressive restaurant (seating only 32) opened in November 2023.

Showcasing the freshest ingredients, the commercial kitchen design oncept at Cinder also spotlights the skills of its kitchen staff and the state-of-the-art appliances they use to create Naju’s unique and popular creations.

“Customers can interact with commercial kitchen staff while they work and it “demonstrates to hospitality customers that Cinder delivers on its promise to handle their food with care and respect”.

With only a few open commercial kitchen restaurants on the mainland of the Maldives, this design ensures Cinder gets diners’ attention. Customers can interact with kitchen staff while they work and it “demonstrates to customers that Cinder delivers on its promise to handle their food with care and respect,” says Naju. In an open kitchen, it also helps to have quality restaurant equipment as “you want people to see cleanliness, efficiency and smooth operation.”

As Naju likes to experiment and create unique food, as well as deliver menu items that are on trend, Cinder doesn’t limit itself to only one cuisine. While most customers have already tasted Naju’s food and trust they will want to experience whatever she creates, diners also include those staying in the guesthouse where Cinder is situated.

Opening her own restaurant was a long-held dream for Naju, one which Experglobal helped make a reality. Naju’s reputation “as a figure of considerable renown in the Maldives’ culinary scene, with a reputation for creativity and innovation” was one of the reasons Experglobal was keen to be involved, says Project Consultant, Maaish Abdulla.

“I knew what I wanted from day one” Naju says, “and Experglobal made it very easy for us to choose the equipment.” That equipment had to be versatile enough to handle various cooking techniques and cuisines with precision and allow for the experimentation Naju is famed for. Moffat was recommended by Experglobal for “their meticulous installation and maintenance of commercial cooking equipment.”

THE KITCHEN DESIGN

As part of the kitchen design, Experglobal devised creative solutions to enable the fit-out of the kitchen within the confines of the existing building space and using existing utilities. As an open kitchen, it was also important to have appliances that delivered on reliability and efficiency for fast service and ease of movement.

“We helped optimise the available space by selecting equipment that could deliver maximum functionality within a compact footprint” says Maaish. “The layout and the equipment, such as the Waldorf Bold Range and Turbofan convection ovens, were fitted in a way that allowed efficient workflow, movement and kitchen ventilation.”

Finally, Experglobal provided thorough hospitality training for Naju’s staff on how to operate the commercial food equipment for maximum efficiency. “The equipment is single-handedly the most important part of the whole kitchen operation,” says Naju. “I feel 100% sure that it will last and the after-sale service from Experglobal will be top notch.”

IN THE KITCHEN

A Waldorf Bold line-up sits centre stage in striking chilli red flanked by a Turbofan oven, all chosen due to their longevity, reliability and superior quality. Together they ensure that Cinder delivers the consistently top-quality cuisine which Naju Rachey is known for.

Maaish Abdulla from Experglobal says they chose Moffat due to the company’s “premium brand portfolio, offering a diverse range of kitchen equipment. They are ranked amongst the top when it comes to food and beverage equipment suppliers globally.

“Coupled with this, Moffat’s top-quality services, including seamless communication and reliability, have proven beneficial for Experglobal, and our customers, over the years.”