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When it comes to preparing and actually eating these dishes, the culture is also typically Spanish. Dining also takes on a rather important social function on the Iberian Peninsula. People usually cook and eat together, if possible, together with the entire family. Whereas in other regions of the world food is prepared in woks, pans, cooking pots, ovens or charcoal or gas barbecue grills, the electric grill platter, also known in the Spanish-speaking region as »plancha«, has long been considered an indispensable household appliance in Spain, thanks to how practical it is. ”For us, preparing food each day on planchas has a long tradition. This has to do with the so-called Dieta Mediterranea that involves grilling a lot of fish, meat and vegetables,” explains Réne Rovira, Managing Director of Electrodomesticos JATA, a company based in Abadiano, North Spain. Rovira really knows what he is talking about: JATA is a pioneer and leading manufacturer of »planchas« that rank among the electrical appliance maker’s most successful products, next to kitchen electrical items such as deep fryers, mixers, citrus extractors, coffee makers, etc.

As a result of the disadvantages of the Teflon-coated surfaces that were used in earlier »plancha« models, JATA was looking to find “something durable” that would enable them to improve their top product. Conchita Lopez, a sales employee at SCHOTT Iberica, already knew about the problem. She contacted JATA and provided samples of cooktops for test purposes. This proved to be successful, because JATA decided to introduce an initial grill in cooperation with SCHOTT that featured a smooth surface and was given the name »Vitro Magic« GR1. Then, the GR2 model with a wavy glass ceramic surface followed in 2006. Finally, the GR3 model with a multi-functional grilling surface was introduced to the market in 2007.