|
We are really delighted to have on display one of the first of the new EDUCO Kitchen Centres to arrive in the UK. Priced at a competitive £99, we expect this to be one of the our best sellers this Christmas together with its accessories and is now available for pre-order. UK Stocks will be limited so early orders are essential. The assembled Kitchen Centre is shown below together with the box it comes in.
For us, this product replaces the PLAN Kitchen Centre. Over the past two years we sold large numbers of the PLAN Kitchen Centre but regrettably it is no longer being distributed in the UK.
We have searched widely to find a replacement and the EDUCO Gourmet Chef Kitchen really does fit the bill. It is a sturdy wooden kitchen providing both a "Hob" and a "Sink" with an "oven", cupboard and accessories shelf. There's even a towel rail on the right. The control knobs all give a satisfying click and the doors open properly - just like full size Kitchen Cupboards. The "oven" door includes a perspex panel, while the cupboard door is solid. There are "hot" and "cold" taps and a "water spout". The sink tray is plastic and could be filled with water
EDUCO is a brand of the German Hape company and comes with a strong commitment to quality. It is made from MDF, Lime Plywood, non-toxic paints and formaldehyde free glue.
A wide range of accessories will soon be available including matching pots and pans, a food mixer and utensils. We also expect to have a "fridge-freezer" available. Stock for sale in the UK should be arriving in September.
The manufacturer's guidance is that the Gourmet Chef Kitchen is suitable for those aged 3+ with a small parts warning. For those considering giving it to a nearly 3 child, we have yet to get a definitive statement on why there is a small parts warning. However, we believe that the likely reason is that the "taps" could be pulled out by a sufficiently strong child and are of a size that could choke a small child.
Assembly
The Gourmet Chef Kitchen is flat packed for Home Assembly. The assembly instructions may be downloaded from the Product Page and we have also assembled the first one in order to "road test" just how easy it is to assemble.
For a first time assembly you will need to allow 20 minutes to half an hour. This is not a job to be rushed, especially in the early stages. The Gourmet Chef Kitchen does go together well and requires only a normal level of hand strength to tighten the screws. However, there are many parts and you will need to familarise yourself with them beforehand. An Allen Key is provided along with a small spanner for the door bolts. However, you will also need a posidrive screwdriver.
The main trap for the unwary comes in the first two steps. These are shown below. Note that item E appears to have two groves in it - it doesn't and the accompanying photo shows what it actually looks like. Note the two holes top and bottom. The only grove is on the inside matching up with the grove in part A (into which the back will slot).
 
The screws (S) are actually bolts with a captive nut already embedded in part E. This makes for easy assembly as only a low force is needed to tighten using the provided Allen Key. Tip: do not fully tightened the screws until step 4 is complete, otherwise it will be difficult to insert the back panel.
From then on assembly was quick and straightforward. It helps to have an extra arm to hold the middle section at step 6 and remember to have the nuts on the inside when putting on the doors in step 9 (we didn't) - oh and make sure that the countersunk holes on the splash back are to the rear, but these are only minor points. This is an excellent product that is straightforward to assemble and should last for years of play.
|
