Have you had the Viking Experience? If you are imagining Scandinavian pirates and the high seas you are way off. Think spa, luxury hotel and gourmet French cuisine prepared by a chef — you.
Each year, thousands of admirers of these exquisite, top-of-the-line home appliances happily voyage to the Deep South to learn more about the ranges, refrigerators, grills, dishwashers, ovens and more. They experience the town in which the idea was born, tour the factory where they are produced and learn new and inventive ways to use their appliances from the most renowned chefs in the nation.
Fred Carl Jr., founded Viking Corporation with an innovative idea hatched in 1981, in his hometown of Greenwood, Mississippi.
“Fred Carl was a fourth-generation home builder, and he had just finished building a new home for himself and his wife, Margaret,” said Bill Crump, director of governmental affairs at Viking Corporation.
Carl was attracted to the idea of the stainless steel restaurant range, while his wife was partial to the heavy-duty classic appeal of her mother’s old Chambers stove, which was no longer in production. Carl did some research and could not find anything remotely similar to what he wanted, so he took to the drawing board. “He figured that if he was looking for something like this, maybe others were as well,” Crump said.
Once the design was complete, Carl took his idea to virtually every restaurant range manufacturer in the industry to find someone to make his product. He was turned down by all, but one. A company in southern California agreed to produce this innovative range. In 1986, the American Gas Association gave Viking its certification, and by January 1987, they were in full swing. Unexpected order volumes eventually caused Carl to move production to his hometown of Greenwood, Miss., in 1989. Then in 1992, Stephens Inc., made a major investment in Viking Range Corporation, which allowed the company to increase growth and expand its manufacturing capabilities to keep pace with the rapidly-increasing demand. Viking now has four manufacturing plants in Greenwood with a total of more than 600,000 square feet and employs approximately 1,300 people — it has been a major boom to the Mississippi economy.
“When the other companies couldn’t keep up, Fred finally just said, ‘If we can’t do it in Greenwood, then we’re just not gonna do it,'” Crump said. And do it in Greenwood they have. Viking has nearly taken over the downtown and led a tremendous revitalization effort.
Their corporate offices inhabit the historic Cotton Row District of downtown Greenwood. Just a short walk from the corporate offices, one can find one of the most highly-rated hotels in the south, The Alluvian Hotel. The Viking Corporation established the hotel in 2003 to provide luxury accommodations for the many developers, builders, designers, architects and Viking dealers — some of whom attend weekly training sessions — as well as the general public.
The Alluvian Hotel is an experience all its own. It is a lavishly-appointed work of modern design complete with the best of Mississippi’s humble southern charms. Guests are immediately greeted with elegant marble floors and modern furnishings in the lobby, which opens to the lush terrace; the lounge where one can find lively music and southern drink specials during happy hour; and Giardinia’s restaurant.
Stay in any of the hotel’s 45 rooms or 5 suites. Each room is outfitted with a whirlpool bath, and most are equipped with a stainless steel fireplace. Southern-style breakfast is served every morning on the fourth-floor terrace room, and evenings can be spent sipping mint juleps in the lounge or at the historic Giardinia’s restaurant where you can have an intimate dinner in a private booth or a festive group meal without disturbing your neighbors.
Step across the street into the Viking-owned retail boutique full of Viking products including cutlery, gadgets, small appliances and more. Take the elevator up one floor for pampering at the luxurious Alluvian Spa. This 7,000-square foot spa offers services, such as massage, face and body care, hot stone therapy, cosmetic and hair services, therapeutic baths and more. Sip on fresh fruit drinks in the lounge while you wait for your services; afterwards relax in the sauna to release the day’s toxins. Sample their signature Sweet Tea services.
The Viking Experience is never complete without a cooking lesson at the Viking Cooking School located next to the retail boutique. We took a lesson in fine Parisian cooking with the class titled “Date Night in Paris.” Cooking is easy with proper instruction. Learn techniques with Viking appliances and kitchenware, and follow recipes and direction from your instructor to create a five-star meal, then sit and enjoy your work — dinner party style.
This month look for a visit to the Cooking School by celebrity chef Lee Richardson of Ashley’s Restaurant at the Capital Hotel in Little Rock. This Little Rock chef will travel to Greenwood to stir up some good southern recipes made with the freshest ingredients.
For more information about the Viking Cooking School log onto vikingcookingschool.com. For more information about Viking log onto
vikingrange.com.
