Executive Chef Fred Ramsey
Sponsored by Montague Company
Style is at the heart of any resort, but chefs who run the kitchens of luxurious clubs look beyond the facade and are keen on reliability in cooking equipment. Sometimes, there is a sweet spot in kitchen hardware where classic design elements are matched with a durable framework, allowing chefs to have the best of both worlds while running the line.
“When I first started in this kitchen, we had a completely different brand of equipment,” says Fred Ramsey, Executive Chef of Pelican Golf Club (Belleair, Fla.). “From day one, we faced challenges, like issues with burners.” As a club chef overseeing two bustling kitchens, it was critical to have equipment his team could rely on to deliver the exceptional dining experiences the club is known for.
Having encountered issues with existing equipment that disrupted daily operations, Ramsey sought a brand he could trust. When asking fellow chefs for recommendations, Ramsey was introduced to Montague products due to their reliability. The company’s set of products proved to be a dependable solution for the club’s needs.
“It’s like a tank—that’s the best way to describe it,” Ramsey says. “Well made and solid, it’s just a dependable set of equipment.” Transitioning to Montague was efficient, offering improvements for refrigeration and a new charbroiler.
“Montague’s components are straightforward, not overly complicated,” Ramsey says. “We considered Montague because of the need for a charbroiler in our steakhouse. Montague’s was impressive, and I can honestly say I don’t want to eat a steak cooked any other way now. The char and seasoning it adds make it the only way to enjoy a steak. I’ve worked with regular char grills for years, but this charbroiler takes it to another level.”
Having experienced issues with refrigeration components, Ramsey also found the reliable lower refrigeration to be a plus. Functionality is an important piece of the puzzle, as well as having kitchen equipment that works seamlessly day in and day out. Montague products provided both.
But with new equipment comes upkeep. Ramsey relied on Montague’s responsiveness and commitment to customer care. “While I’ve encountered few issues, they were promptly addressed, and nothing major has occurred,” Ramsey says. “Recently, one of the representatives visited us and provided tips regarding the lower refrigeration units, guiding me on cleaning procedures, including vents and coils, and suggested handheld vacuums with brushes. This way, we can clean them regularly, preventing clogs in the fans and vents, which helps us maintain equipment and minimize potential issues.”
Quality, craftsmanship, and care go hand-in-hand with day-to-day functionality for Montague, earning trust from club chefs like Ramsey for over a century. “If I were setting up a new kitchen today, I wouldn’t hesitate to choose Montague,” Ramsey says. “It’s similar to finding the perfect steak supplier for your restaurant. You try different options, and once you find the one that’s the best and most consistent, you stick with it. Montague has proven I can trust it.”
For more information on Montague products, visit their website.
