I purchased a bar called the Double Barrel from an auction and teamed up with Craig Savage who owns the REAL Steakhouse & Grill brand. We installed the Steakhouse business concept in the bar incorporating the steak cooking stone cooking concept as a unique selling point for the new business.

 

Firstly we approached a company called Black Rock Grill, who has a very good granite cooking stone however seemed quite expensive. Then shortly after, we were approached by a company called Steak Stones in Surrey, who eventually won the sale as they were a lot more competitive on price. However they would not produce a demo of their product and insisted on a bank transfer of funds, very suspicious. So we insisted on a credit card payment just to protect us. They failed to deliver the product for our grand opening, and when we actually got to try the product it was not suitable for cooking steaks. The stone was small hence the low price, the oven was no more than a pizza oven with a limited timer of 30mins which is no good for a commercial kitchen operation. And to top is off the oven only heated to 350 degrees, which is just not good enough for a restaurant as you require a minimum of 400 degrees for the stone to be hygienically safe and sizzle working in a commercial enviroment. Their steak stone is also a type of volcanic rock which does not hold heat very well, granite is by far the best conductor for heat. The wooden platters they use are also not a good idea as the plates are a poor fit and the ramekins just cause extra costs and slow the kitchen down, our head chef hated them! By the time to stones got to the table they were cool and you end up with returns and disapointed customers, what a waste of money!

 

So we managed to return part of the delivery back to the Steak Stones Company however we were stuck with some stock we had used and an unfit-for-purpose oven also used, i repeat .....what a waste of money for a start-up business. The Steak Stones Company refused to take back not suitable for purpose product and the Managing Director even screamed profanities down the phone when I pointed out the problem with his product and service. And yes Nick Metcalf I can say this as it is of a true event.

 

Black Rock Grill however was a totally different story, they came to visit us on site at the newly refurbished steakhouse and were armed with a demonstration oven, seafood, chicken and steaks. Needless to say, the presentation was great, the product was great and the service was impeccable. The oven was also a proper commercial oven. The only issue was the high price but compared with steak stones set in a cheap wooden platter you got a bargain, a really nice family company and we did not hesitate in buying from them there and then.

 

So why am I now selling Steak Stones?

 

I saw a gap in the market for a stone which is suitable for the domestic and commercial market. My design is larger to hold bigger steaks and the dish is also stronger with a totally different design. And….. my product has a lower cost to produce, making the price more cost effective for the buyer. This also means if you are a business, like we are then there is a quicker return on investment. So I have a better product at a better price, that’s just good business isn’t it?

 

Order a sample today and compare.

 

All the Best

 

Jason Mace

Business Person of the Year 2013/14