We owe Gabe Newell, the head of Valve, not only the Steam Deck. He also became the godfather of a high-tech kitchen device through a meeting with two cooking nerds. For this, he even took the lead role in a promotional video.
Steam chief Gabe Newell is known for his sometimes eccentric nature. He enjoys poking fun at this role in short appearances and portrays it exaggeratedly. For example, in a trailer for DLC for DOTA 2.
In a commercial for a high-tech kitchen device, the Valve boss manages to shine and competes with the actual star of the video. What exactly this kitchen utensil is and why Gabe Newell appears as the godfather in a commercial, you can find out here with us at MeinMMO.
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 device. He financed the further development of the device named Joule
with a personal loan. Because he was so excited about the idea, he also appeared in a short commercial by the manufacturer ChefSteps.
In the video, Gabe Newell is seen preparing a steak. He seasons the piece of meat generously and then packs it into a resealable bag. He then places the high-tech kitchen helper into a pot of water. Using the accompanying mobile app, he sets the cooking level for his steak and puts the meat into the pot.
During the 30-minute waiting time, Newell enjoys a small drink. After half an hour, the app notifies him again, and the head of Valve takes the steak out of the pot. Before the meat hits the plate, he quickly sears 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 tastes it. He looks up dramatically and lets out a delighted scream. It’s no wonder the commercial is called “Steak so good, you’ll scream.”
What kind of kitchen device is Joule? With the Joule, food can be prepared with pinpoint accuracy. The small stick is packed with technology and is waterproof due to its application environment. Inside, it has a heating element for cooking various ingredients. This method of preparation is also called sous-vide cooking.
In sous-vide, food is vacuum-sealed in a plastic bag and gently cooked at relatively low temperatures in a water bath. This keeps meat tender and juicy.
A meal and its son convinced the Steam boss
How did the head of Valve become aware of the founders of ChefSteps? At a charity auction at his son’s school, he purchased a dinner. This meal was to be prepared by the ChefSteps founders themselves. When it finally came to dinner at his own home, Newell was impressed. He said: “They came over, and it was definitely the best meal I’ve ever had.” (via eater.com)
His then 11-year-old son was also thrilled and subsequently showed great interest in cooking. This enthusiasm did not escape 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 said: “They talked to me like a scientist, like an engineer, and I didn’t think people in the cooking world talked like that. These guys are cooking nerds.” (via eater.com)
As a newly admitted community member, Newell subsequently supported further work on Joule with a low-interest loan. He is not involved with the company but is regarded merely as a godfather. According to Young from ChefSteps, Newell does not interfere with the company’s affairs. He doesn’t tell them how to run the company, but occasionally asks if there are problems that need solving. Maybe he was just too busy playing DOTA 2 during that time.
Did the cooperation go beyond Gabe Newell’s personal investment? Yes, it did. For a short time, a promotion existed that culminated in a popular Valve game on Steam. Buyers of the 230 Euro Joule received an additional emote for Team Fortress 2. This emote features a Heavy-class game character in front of a small table. Some food and a cooking pot with the Joule are placed on it.
The emote is only supposed to appear 450 times in Team Fortress 2, making it a rare curiosity. The cooperation is no longer continued, but the Joule is still available for purchase in an improved version.
