We don’t just owe the Steam Deck to Gabe Newell, the head of Valve. Through a meeting with two cooking nerds, he also became the godfather of a high-tech kitchen appliance. He even took on the lead role in a promotional video.
Steam boss Gabe Newell is known for his sometimes eccentric nature. He also enjoys making fun of this role in short appearances and exaggerating it. For example, in a trailer for additional content for DOTA 2.
In a commercial for a high-tech kitchen appliance, the Valve boss can skillfully present himself and compete with the actual star of the video. You can find out exactly what kind of kitchen utensil it is and why Gabe Newell appears as the sponsor in a commercial for it here on MeinMMO.
The ChefSteps commercial on YouTube
Steam boss Gabe Newell prepares a steak in a commercial
What is it about? In 2015, Steam boss Gabe Newell became the godfather of a high-tech kitchen appliance. He financed the further development of the device, which was named Joule, with a private loan. Because he was so enthusiastic about the idea, he also appeared in a short commercial for the manufacturer ChefSteps.
In the video on YouTube you can see Gabe Newell preparing a steak. He seasoned the piece of meat extensively and then packed it in a sealable bag. He then places the high-tech kitchen aid in a cooking pot with water. Using the accompanying mobile phone app, he sets the cooking level at which his steak should be prepared and puts the meat in the pot.
Meanwhile, Newell bridges the 30-minute wait with a small drink. After half an hour, the app reports again and the head of Valve takes the steak out of the cooking pot. Before the meat comes to the plate, he briefly browns it in a pan with a piece of butter.
At the end of the video, Gabe Newell cuts off a piece of the steak and tries it. He looks upwards in an advertising manner and lets out a pleasurable scream. It’s not for nothing that the promotional video is called “Steak so good you’ll scream.”
What is Joule for a kitchen appliance? With the Joule, food can be prepared to the minute. The small stick is full of technology and is waterproof due to its application environment. Inside there is a heating element for cooking various ingredients. This type of preparation is also called sous vide cooking.
With sous vide, food is sealed airtight in a plastic bag and gently cooked in a water bath at relatively low temperatures. This means the meat stays more tender and juicy.
A meal and his son convinced the Steam boss
How did the boss of Valve become aware of the founders of ChefSteps? He bought dinner at a charity auction at his own son’s school. This meal would later be prepared by the ChefSteps founders themselves. When it finally came to dinner at home, Newell was impressed. He said: “They came over and it was easily the best meal I’ve ever eaten.” (via eater.com)
His then 11-year-old son was also enthusiastic and then showed great interest in cooking. This enthusiasm was not lost on Newell and a conversation ensued between him and the two men from ChefSteps. Chris Young and Grant Crilly spoke the same language as the Valve boss. Newell says: “They talked to me like a scientist, like an engineer, and I didn’t think people in the culinary world talked like that. These guys are cooking nerds.” (via eater.com)
As a newly accepted community member, Newell will now support the continued work on the Joule with a low-interest loan. He is not involved in the company, but is merely considered a godfather. ChefSteps’ Young said Newell doesn’t interfere in the company’s affairs. So he doesn’t tell them how to run the company, but occasionally asks if there are problems that need to be solved. Maybe he was just too busy playing DOTA 2 during this time.
Did the collaboration go beyond Gabe Newell’s private investment? Yes, she did. For a short time there was a promotion that resulted in a popular game from Valve on Steam. Buyers of the 230 euro Joule also received an emote for Team Fortress 2. This emote shows a heavy-class character in front of a small table. There are some foods on it and a cooking pot with the Joule in it.
The emote is only said to appear 450 times in Team Fortress 2, making it a rare oddity. The cooperation will no longer be continued. The Joule is still available to buy in an improved version.
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