At the 2025 Craft Brewers Conference in Indianapolis, a significant trend emerged: a majority of brewery owners and operators are seeking to introduce food programs to gain a competitive edge and encourage patrons to linger longer. In some municipalities, offering food isn’t just advantageous but it’s a requirement. Many states including Texas, Kentucky, Kansas, Utah, and Virginia require that a significant portion of revenue, often between 30 and 70 percent, come from food sales in order to legally serve alcohol, making a food program both a competitive advantage and a regulatory requirement [sources: R Street Institute, Cornell Law, Texas Administrative Code]. However, challenges like limited space, lack of ventilation infrastructure, and the need for high throughput can make this endeavor daunting. TurboChef’s ventless, high-speed ovens, including the Double Batch and Bullet models, provide an ideal solution that doesn’t require a kitchen buildout or a big staff.
Serving More Than Beer
In partnership with sister Middleby beverage brands like Deutsche, Wildgoose, and SS Brewtech, TurboChef was tasked with offering a full tasting menu to prove just how easy it is to serve high-quality, high-margin food even without a traditional kitchen.
From the Bullet Rapid Cook Oven and the Double Batch Impingement Oven, we served:
- Chipotle Chicken Empanadas
- Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
- Toasted Italian Subs
- Pretzel Bites with Beer Cheese
- Beer Cheese & Brats Pizza
- Air Fried Chicken Wings tossed in BBQ Beer Sauce
- Chorizo Queso Bites
- Dulce de Leche Dessert Bites
These offerings, developed in collaboration with partners like A Friendly Bread, Pegasus Food Group, and Nuchas, showcase the versatility and quality achievable with TurboChef ovens.
The Bullet combines impinged air and microwave assist technology in a compact footprint, delivering crispy, melty results in minutes, sometimes less. The Double Batch offers two independently controlled cavities in the space of one oven—perfect for handling varied menus or high volume with zero flavor transfer.
No Hood, No Problem
What makes this lineup possible in spaces that typically don’t have kitchens? One word: ventless.
Both the Bullet and Double Batch operate without traditional ventilation, making them easy to install wherever you’ve got power. No costly retrofits. No building permits. No hood systems. Just plug, program, and serve.
Traditional commercial kitchens often require expensive ventilation systems to manage smoke, grease, and odors. The ovens circumvent this need through an integral recirculating catalytic converter. This system chemically ‘scrubs’ the air within the cooking chamber, breaking down volatile organic compounds into harmless substances like CO₂ and H₂O, which are safely released when the oven door is opened. This innovation not only simplifies installation but also reduces energy consumption and maintenance costs.
Maximizing Space with Stackable Designs
Space constraints are a common hurdle in brewery settings. TurboChef addresses this with stackable designs that double cooking capacity without expanding the kitchen footprint. The Double Batch oven features two independent cavities, allowing simultaneous preparation of different menu items. This flexibility ensures that breweries can meet high demand without compromising on space or efficiency.
Heat and Hold Without the Hassle
Enhance your menu effortlessly with the SinAqua™ Souper from CookTek. This waterless, induction-based warmer rethermalizes and holds soups, sauces, and dips—like beer cheese or queso—without the need for flames, drains, or plumbing. Simply plug it in and start serving.
Available in both freestanding and drop-in configurations, the Souper comes in 4, 7, and 11-quart capacities to suit various service needs. Freestanding models are offered in a range of finishes, including black, red, and stainless steel, allowing you to match your establishment’s aesthetic.
With features like programmable stir notifications, dry-pan detection, and capacitive touch controls, the SinAqua Souper ensures consistent quality and safety. Its ventless design simplifies installation, making it an ideal solution for taprooms, wine bars, and breweries looking to expand their food offerings without extensive kitchen modifications.
Learn more: cooktek.com/product/souper
Raise the Bar on Your Bar
TurboChef makes it easy to add or enhance a food program that matches the craft behind every pour. We’re guiding taprooms, breweries, and tasting rooms toward a full-circle guest experience: great drinks, great food, and the kind of consistency that keeps people coming back.
Integrating a food program can transform your brewery into a destination, encouraging patrons to stay longer and increasing revenue. TurboChef’s ventless, space-saving ovens make this integration seamless, allowing you to offer a diverse, high-quality menu without extensive renovations or staffing increases. We’ll help you build a menu that pairs with your brand, fits your space, and scales with your growth
Explore TurboChef’s range of ventless ovens and discover how they can revolutionize your brewery’s offerings.