Revolutionising Unique Malaysian Pub Cuisine with RATIONAL Cooking Systems

Lucky Lychee, now firmly established in The Green Man, Winchester, offers an authentic taste of Malaysian cuisine. Co-owned by James Harris and his wife Nicole, the journey began as a market stand before acquiring The Green Man pub in April 2022. Their menu, rich in Malaysian heritage, features seasonal dishes made with high-welfare, local produce, and quality Southeast Asian spices, crafted from scratch using family recipes and traditional techniques.

The pub, boasting 80 covers, a versatile event space, and two kitchens including a spacious prep area, is equipped with Rational cooking systems. James Harris highlights the versatility of the iCombi Pro, stating, “If I could give one piece of advice to someone considering buying an iCombi, it would be to think about all the space that it could buy you. We use it to fry meat, seal meat, steam, roast, and sous vide. It’s the piece of equipment that gets the most use in the kitchen. It’s quick to clean and easy to train new people on.“

Nicole, co-owner and head chef, adds, “Our best seller is actually a fried chicken bao. We make the dough and then use the iCombi to prove it. Before that, we used traditional bamboo steamers, and it took a long time in winter. With the iCombi, it’s consistent and now we can just prove it in 30 minutes. For the rendang dish, we used to cook it in a pot for eight hours, but with the iCombi, we can leave it overnight, and the quality is better. It saves significant labour and is way more efficient with utility costs. We certainly felt the wow effect.”

Their subsequent investment in the iVario Pro advanced bratt pan has further enhanced their culinary operations. James remarks, “We installed the iVario Pro in November last year. During the busy holiday season, it was a game changer, allowing us to manage a higher volume of prep with complete control over the cooking process. The consistency of our dishes remained high quality.”

Nicole emphasises the practicality of the iVario Pro, saying, “The heat control is really good, we have a different type of program for curry paste, and we sous vide ducks and pork with it. Before, we used pans on the hobs and had to keep stirring the curry paste. With the iVario, it heats evenly, so we only stir occasionally. It saves energy and labour. We were thinking about hiring another chef in December, but the iVario replaced that need. We’ve increased our yield, efficiency, and reduced the amount of time spent watching and stirring. It’s a lifesaver for us.”

Nicole advises, “Be open-minded about your menu. Look at every process in your kitchen and consider how the iVario can replace traditional methods, save labour, and open new possibilities.”

For an in-depth look at Lucky Lychee’s journey with RATIONAL cooking systems, view their case study on RATIONAL TV.