It all commenced with wine. The Hestan emblem and symbol initially adorned the tags of Napa various wines crafted by renowned vintner Thomas Rivers Brown. An amalgamation of the names of its founders – Helen and Stanley Cheng – the Hestan title was an almost instantaneous indication of wine-related quality and uniqueness. More recently, the Hestan designation has become synonymous with culinary eminence. A pioneering brand in kitchenware and kitchens for both commercial and residential use, Hestan Culinary has been well-received by leading chefs in America, such as Thomas Keller who acts as a brand representative for Hestan.
The esteemed chef with seven Michelin stars employs Hestan kitchenware in his highly-regarded eateries including The French Laundry, Bouchon Bistro, Bouchon Bakery, Per Se, Ad Hoc, Addendum, La Calenda, and The Surf Club. A significant portion of the commercial kitchen appliances at his renowned The French Laundry hail from Hestan; collaborating with Cheng, an engineer by profession, Keller contributed to the efficacy and conception of Hestan Commercial, the custom sets and ranges of which are now installed in over 1000 restaurant kitchens nationwide, as well as in the renowned Culinary Institute of America, Johnson and Wales, and The White House kitchens. Celebrated chefs Tim Hollingsworth, Corey Lee, Matthew Accarrino, Mei Lin, Michael Tusk, Melissa Rodriguez, James Kent, Chris Shepherd, and Joey Ward, among others, are all enthusiasts.
In his partnership with Cheng, Keller worked on specific enhancements for a distinctive line of kitchenware, Thomas Keller Insignia, incorporating features requested by Keller such as ventilated universal lids, handles that remain cool and seamlessly attached to the pan, and sealed stainless steel borders that will never fracture or degrade. Keller expressed, “One of the impressive aspects of collaborating with Hestan was working with Stanley, who is truly an exceptional engineer.”
Acknowledged as a trailblazer in kitchenware design through the introduction of the Circulon and Anolon series that combined non-stick surfaces with hard-anodized aluminum, Cheng serves as the Chairman and CEO of Meyer Corporation, Hestan’s parent company. Originating from Hong Kong, he pursued an engineering degree at Oregon State University. After returning to Hong Kong to join the family business, he launched his inaugural line of kitchenware in London, England in 1972, while continuing to revolutionize the industry with unprecedented innovations. In 1996, he relocated Meyer Corporation’s main office to Vallejo, California, and then acquired a vineyard.
The Cheng family’s picturesque Hestan Vineyards estate, situated on the serene eastern slopes of Napa Valley, encompasses 110 meticulously and sustainably managed acres producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, and Grenache grapes, crafted into award-winning, limited-edition wines under the Hestan, Meyer, Stephanie, and Vincent Christopher labels. The Hestan and Meyer labels are the brainchild of Thomas Rivers Brown, one of the wine industry’s most illustrious winemakers, utilizing only the finest grapes cultivated on the estate vineyards. Winemaker Jeff Gaffner fashions the Bordeaux varietal Stephanie wines, named after the Chengs’ daughter, and the Sonoma Coast-originated Vincent Christopher Pinot Noir, named in honor of the Chengs’ two sons. Majority of the Chengs’ wines have been granted ratings exceeding 90 by Wine Spectator and other wine critics, including the esteemed selection of the 2014 Meyer Cabernet Sauvignon ranked as the #8 wine globally.
The complete collection of these wines is available for tasting at the Hestan tasting room in Yountville, a charming town in the heart of Napa Valley, where several of Keller’s acclaimed restaurants are located. The close proximity of these establishments is what fostered the alliance between Cheng and Keller in their pursuit of culinary distinction. When Keller felt disenchanted with his loyalty to another kitchenware brand due to the company’s inability to meet his innovative standards, he discovered Cheng was prepared and eager to fulfill his meticulous requirements. Keller remarked, “I was genuinely proud to witness the mastery and the quality of materials that are incorporated into our kitchenware,” in admiration of Hestan’s Italian manufacturing processes. He further adds, “The production facility, their meticulous attention to detail, their capability to precisely execute what we had designed was nothing short of truly remarkable.”
Cheng established Hestan cookware factories in the splendid regions of Bergamo and Bologna in Italy. Each piece of Hestan kitchenware is meticulously handcrafted adhering to the highest quality standards and proudly stamped with the phrase ‘Made in Italy,’ symbolizing a balance between performance and sophistication. Keller extolled, “Hestan offers the most quick-witted, long-lasting, and exquisite kitchenware with a seamless design and exceptional quality. These are the quintessential kitchen necessities you’d want to complement your collection.”
Consumers have an array of choices from Keller’s exclusive Insignia line to four other trailblazing collections, including the groundbreaking NanoBond line featuring patented titanium-based nano-technology creating multiple titanium-based nano layers directly bonded to stainless steel – an innovation unseen in professional kitchenware previously. The CopperBond assortment utilizes a five-layer bonded construction with a substantial 100% pure copper core for swift heating, exceptional temperature control, and uniform heat dispersion. The ProBond series showcases a revolutionary cold-forging process enhancing the metal to generate a thicker base for even heat distribution. ProBond with TITUM™ Nonstick is not only the most resilient nonstick compared to standard variants, its cooking surface fortified with diamond and titanium delivers a culinary-grade searing and browning experience. All Hestan kitchenware is designed for induction. When customers encounter queries regarding the most suitable set for their specific lifestyles, Michael Kane, Hestan’s Cookware Concierge (the pioneer of such a role) is accessible for consultation via phone, Zoom, or SMS.
Hestan has been crowned the most accoladed kitchenware brand, boasting over a dozen distinctions and fourteen patents across its collections, including the Red Dot Design Award for Thomas Keller Insignia, CopperBond, ProBond collections, the Good Design Award for CopperBond and ProBond collections, the Kitchen Gear Award for NanoBond skillets, as well as numerous accolades from Good Housekeeping, Reviewed.com, and Bon Appetit for Best Stainless Steel Cookware, Best Copper Cookware, and Best Nonstick Cookware. A recent accolade involved an invitation from Bloomingdales to partner with other iconic brands (e.g. Dior, Valentino, Tod’s, etc.) to create a limited edition item in celebration of the esteemed department store’s 150th anniversary. Hestan crafted 250 11” gold NanoBond skillets adorned with the Bloomingdale’s logo and individual serial numbers on each pan.
The success of Hestan’s kitchenware and commercial appliances spurred the brand to expand into Hestan Outdoor (high-performance outdoor living suites, refrigeration, and complementary products), and Hestan Indoor, a collection of skillfully-engineered ranges, refrigerators, dishwashers, wall ovens, ventilation systems, smart devices, and more. Additionally, the brand introduced the Hestan Campania Pizza Oven and recently launched the Hestan Smart Gas Range, the first to regulate the gas flame to a precise temperature, along with the Hestan Cue Smart Cooking System, the world’s initial cooking technique that offers meticulous temperature control and over 800 chef-guided, step-by-step recipes – some with instructional videos.
Renowned chef Tyler Florence is yet another devoted supporter of Hestan. An early star of the Food Network, Florence is currently in the process of transitioning both his restaurant kitchens in San Francisco to exclusively feature Hestan equipment. “When you reach the apex of reliability in kitchenware, everything else just pales in comparison,” Florence remarked, who also utilizes Hestan kitchenware in his Marin County residence. He frequently employs the brand’s Provisions OvenBond collection of chef-inspired brushed stainless steel roasters and sheet pans also as serving ware. “Hestan is genuinely unparalleled.”
Image Source: Just Luxe
