Calphalon JR1211P 11" SQUARE GRIDDLE

A perfect griddle
It's heavy and dead-flat. What can you say about a griddle except that it does exactly what you wish a griddle would do. There are no hot-spots, and the handle stays cool. (The Calphalon Contemporary handles are big, and may get in the way occasionally -- but they stay very cool.)

One thing, though -- the non-stick surface is *really* non stick. Make an omlette and it'll spread over just about the whole bottom of the pan in no-time-flat -- which is just great, so long as you like really thin omlettes. Over-easy eggs can be a bit tricky because it's so slippery -- it's not that easy to get the spatula underneath! (Part of that's because plastic and coated spatulas are thicker than metal ones.) One time I almost pushed an egg right off the griddle and onto the stovetop. But anyone who's ever had something stick to a griddle will not complain that nothing can stick.

Cleanup is strange. It just doesn't get dirty. I've only had this awhile, but I've used it twenty times, and...

Great griddle
I have a cheap griddle same size, and now have this Calphalon one. BIG difference. Much better heat distribution, better teflon = easier clean. Handy for bacon (may need to pour of drippings if a lot of bacon), grilled sandwiches, pancakes, eggs.

Warped Griddle
I purchased this griddle In August of 2006 and use it every Sunday. There is alot i like about the pan, but one huge problem is it warped. I know you are not suppose to put a hot pan in cool water because that will cause this to happen, but I did not do that. I have a smooth glass top surface to my stove so a warped pan is not good. I do have to say the heat still conducts though the pan to give me even cooking thoughout.

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KitchenAid K5THSBP 5qt Stainlees Bowl

Timing is everything...
I ordered a back-up bowl for my mixer for "just in case" or those times I was doing lots of baking and didn't want to wash the bowl every time I needed to prepare something different. I could simply change bowls. Although this product arrived in a very timely manner and was marked as being for Kitcheaid 5-quart tip mixer, the company has apparently changed the size of the base where it screws in. This one was about 1/4" smaller in diameter than my original, so this was unusable for me and it had to be returned.

Makes life so much easier
I was a little hesitant on spending so much on an extra mixing bowl for my KitchenAid mixer, but now have absolutely no regrets. This mixing bowl is hardy, easy to handle and a breeze to clean. I often turn out chiffon cakes which require separate mixing of yolk and white based mixtures. By having 2 mixing bowls I have eliminated the risk and hassle of having to thoroughly wash a mixing bowl before preparing meringues. Even my mum was converted and now has 2 mixing bowls for her KitchenAid mixer.

found it cheaper elsewhere but love the product
I bought 3 of these. I thought I was getting a deal until I found it at Macy's for 1/2 what I paid for it. Don't pay more than $20 for these. They are great though.

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KitchenAid Stainless Steel Mixer Bowl KB3SS , 3 qt.

love it!
Love my bowl and this mixer! Bowls lock in place. Only thing better would be a sturdy handle. EASIER WORK

Extra bowl makes baking easier!
It is great to have an extra bowl when baking. I use it to beat egg whites to blend into the mixture in my large mixing bowl.

What a find
I didn't realize KitchenAid made a smaller bowl. Not everything I make requires the large bowl. Plus, if I make a cake, then I still have a clean bowl to make the frosting in.

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Calphalon Triply Stainless 2-1/2-Quart Shallow Saucepan with Glass Lid

Worthy accompaniment to its larger brother
In my opinion, Calphalon Tri-Ply is just as good as All-Clad's Stainless line, except it's 3 times cheaper. With All-Clad, you're getting the same three-layered stainless steel with aluminum disk, but paying hundreds more. I was considering All-Clad for awhile, but there were two things that changed my mind. The only possible advantage of All-Clad Stainless over Calphalon Tri-Ply is that it utilizes magnetic steel, which may help if you have an induction cooktop. Add to that fact that I don't have an induction cooktop, and magnetic steel tends to be of lower quality as well.

1) It just seemed insane and stupid to have to pay nearly $100 for an All-Clad lid, and that's for the LID!! Can anyone say price inflation?

2) I like the glass lids on the Calphalons, because I can then look inside without having to open the lid.

Quality of the 2.5 quart saucepan is excellent. There are big rivets holding the cool-V handle in place, and I like the feel of...

This Pot is HOT HOT HOT
I have been shopping around for the best buy on Calphalon for several months. This pan is worth the price and some. It cooks evenly, heats in a jiff. The glass lid is a plus and fits snug on the pot. The handle is sturdy and stays cool. You wont have to worry about it coming off like the cheaper brands. I read other comments about the rivets and cleaning them. That is a small minus when you think about the quality and cooking performance of this cookware line. I have hard anodized and stainless steel pieces all are great. I do advise looking for discount prices. Another great tip is cleaning with the distilled vinegar when the stainless steel gets discolored. This works instantly. Whether you cook a little or alot, gourmet or not, you NEED this pot in your cabinet.

A Good Sauce Pan and Here are My Reasons
I bought this 2.5 quart shallow saucepan for ~$40 and I like it. The pan is 8 inch in diameter and 3.5 inch tall. The handle in ~8 inch in length.

You may be still deciding if stainless steel is for you. I don't believe every cookware should be stainless steel. For example, I believe a carbon-steel wok is superior to a stainless one and a cast-iron skillet is just unbeatable. Nevertheless, stainless steel is a good all-purpose material and should play an important role in one's cookware collection. The initial cost for good stainless steel cookware can be high, but they last a lifetime. In the long run, a $100 stainless steel sauce pan is cheaper than buying $20 nonstick pans over and over.

The Calphalon Tri-Ply stainless steel cookware belongs to the medium-high end cookware. There are several pricier brands, such as All-Clad. The Calphalon Tri-Ply is just as good as the All-Clad in most aspects. They are both heavy and sturdy. The only two...

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Panasonic NN-S933BF 2.2-Cubic-Foot 1300-Watt Microwave, Black

What A Difference A Watt Makes
I was happy with my old microwave with 900 watts. I didn't realize the big difference in getting more wattage. With this microwave, I have to adjust my thinking because items cooks even faster.

I love the "reheat" button. It is so simple. All you do is tell it how many servings you are reheating. The book tells you that 4 oz is a serving and you go from there. I used to over heat things, but I don't now.

I also like the Inverter Turbo Defrost. Food seems to defrost more evenly. You have to convert ounces to hundredths of a pound. In the book there is a chart. I just made a copy of that page and put it next to the microwave to be handy when I need the conversion to defrost something. It seems to be a much better way to defrost items.

I like the choice of three sizes of popcorn. With the "more" or "less" button you can really get most of the kernels to pop.

The extra large size seems to be convenient for even smaller size dishes because...

Microwave cooking for one
I am 83 years old, widowed, and live alone, cooking most of my meals from ingredients, not prepared items. I have had three microwaves over 25 years and have developed quite a few recipes for the microwave. I was attracted to the Panasonic by its Inverter technology that actually modulates the power during cooking, not timed bursts of full power. It also allows programming up to four cooking steps at differing power levels and cooking times. Starting with the oatmeal I cook for breakfast, everything is cooked uniformly throughout. It is a superior device.

Great Value & Enormous Oven!
If you're looking for a huge capacity microwave, you will NOT find one any bigger than this one! It has a 16" round turntable large enough to hold the largest casserole dishes, even the long ones. This oven has many many times saved me from heating up my regular oven, so I use much less energy. Defrosting is a breeze to as you just key in the weight of the item you're defrosting, and everything sets itself, so no more guessing defrosting times! If you don't own this and need a large micro, then BUY THIS or any other Panasonic 2.2 cu ft models. You'll be glad you did!!

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Calphalon Commercial Bakeware 5-Piece Set

Even Baking!!!!! Wow!!! Great Gift for Hope chest/Bridal
Ok, I'm not like the best cook, but these bakeware products by Calphalon make it hard to mess up.

This is a great set because:

1. TWO 8" round pans- You always need 2 pans when you're making a cake and for the price amazon has this whole set is like the same as just buying the 2 pans.

2.Jelly Roll Pan- This multipurpose! It has just enough sides on it to cook brownies, but flat enough to also make cookies. Also Calphalon products are great about not sticking!

3. Loaf Pan is great size for banana nut bread for the holidays!!

4. 6 Cup Muffin Pan- perfect for the cook who needs those few muffins in the morning for a small family

Great Starter set for the Hope Chest or Bride

CALPHALON are the best!
Bought this set a little over 6 months ago. I've never had any problems. I love all Calphalon products as they deliver what is promissed on the box.Recommend! I just ordered another one from AMAZON. Hope it's the same quality!

A Great Bargain!!!!
Simply the best - don't fool around with the discount store run of the mill bakeware. This is a set that will last forever (with proper care). The only negative - you cannot wash it in the dishwasher. To do so voids the lifetime warranty and damages the nonstick finish.

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Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 3-Quart Saute with Glass Lid

Great pan but coating doesn't last
I loved cooking veggies in this pan. But am looking for a new saute pan as the coating on this one is gone after a year or so. I believe it should last much longer than that.
So have to say I would not recommend this pan.

Love it, love it!!!!
Found this on Amazon at a great price plus free shipping...same pot sells for $150 + tax at department stores and other sites...This is the third pot I have from this line and I really enjoy cooking in them...I love the depth of the pots and the glass lids so I can monitor the food while it's cooking...simply the best!!!!!!

BUY CALPHALON WITH CARE
Calphalon produced some Contemporary Non-Stick cookware with faulty lids
which as far as I can tell lack an internal "O" ring allowing leakage of cooking fluids into the lid. I contacted Calphalon with this information but they never addressed the issue.

I took care to purchase some of their cookware which had properly manufactured lids, they work well.

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Calphalon JR8782-2P Contemporary Nonstick 2-1/2-Quart Shallow Saucepan with Lid

Fantastic Versatility!!!
This is the best pot, bar none, for its size that I have ever used or tried. I love to cook, so I have many different models and brands, including earlier Calphalon models, of this sized pot but had never been completely satisfied.

What's so extraordinary about the Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick, is the unique design which enables a versatility unmatched by all others.

The shape, which tappers gracefully upward, allows you to saute, simmer, steam, stew or even fry with ease. As a result, the volume it safely holds is much truer to its specifications than other 2 1/2 quart models. From gentle sauces to fried chicken, NOTHING is beyond its capability for producing consistently excellent results.

In addition, the nonstick surface is exactly that: nonstick. It is not just easy release, but genuinely nonstick, while still allowing you to brown foods for flavor as desired. It also comes with a lifetime warranty, ensuring the nonstick properties will...

Cooks like a champ...
I bought this pan based upon a recommendation of the America's Test Kitchen. Once again, they did not let me down. The pan is double riveted and well balanced. The glass lid it just heavy enough not to be cumbersome. A joy to cook with.

Well worth the price
This is a wonderful pot. It's a bit wider than a large saucepan. The base is just a bit smaller than the larger burners on my stove, and it is wider at the top. It's just the right size and shape to make a generous portion of pasta sauce for two, including sauteeing the meat. Calphalon's Contemporary line is the best looking of all their pots. The handle is a bit long, but feels great in your hand, smooth, and stays cool. I like the glass lids to be able to see in the pots, though I worry a bit about dropping one. They have a ribbon of stainless around the edge, which might prevent breakage though. If you don't have the cash to buy a full set of these, start with this pot, it's a bargain.

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Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick Double Griddle

Works as advertised.
I use this pan for bacon and eggs, just for the two of us. I let it preheat a little so that the pan is completely hot. I put bacon on one end and eggs on the other. I put a big round glass lid over the bacon so that it doesn't splatter. It's perfect for cooking up bacon for a crowd if we have company. It sits perfectly flat against the stove top, which is my ceramic stove top requires. It's great for breakfast, grilled sandwiches, hamburgers for a crowd, etc. I've owned a number of griddles over the years and the Calphalon griddle is my favorite.

One of the best griddles on the market
Calphalon has become my favorite brand of cookware. Although I prefer the company's traditional hard-anodized professional line, I bought this nonstick double griddle because Calphalon does not make a fully hard-anodized griddle. The rectangular pan easily covers two burners and is great for making pancakes, grilled sandwiches, eggs - whenever you need a large flat cooking surface.

I have a gas range, and I find that the heat does not distribute as evenly as I'd like, though it's adequate for most cooking purposes. Cooks with electric ranges might get better results with their more radiant burner system. The uneven heating is in part due to the pan's design since it spans two burners with obviously a gap between two heat sources. However, you can't beat this useful griddle for cooking of a batch of pancakes or other family meals more quickly than you would with one pan. The nonstick surface has proven to be durable, and the pan itself is extremely sturdy...

Great griddle !!!!
This griddle is a great addition to my cookware. I have used it several times and have not been disappointed. It cooks pancakes evenly and perfectly all the way across my two burners. I noticed that in some of the reviews for various brands of griddles that they were not to be used on glass cooktops. This one works and I am very pleased with my purchase. The only thing I might add is that it does not have trough around the edges to drain the fat. When I cook bacon, it has to sit in the grease until I take it off the griddle. However this is not too much of a problem as I make sure it is well drained before I serve it. It is a little pricey for no more than I use it, but it is a great product and I don't think you could go wrong with this one if you are in the market for a double griddle. Amazon does have the best prices around.

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Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 12-Inch Omelette Pan

Cooks omlettes evenly and great all purpose pan
There are a lot of things to love about this pan. First, it's heavy enough to keep eggs from scorching. Second, it's truly non-stick...even using cooking spray, our omlettes slide out of the pan in one beautiful piece. Third, it's got great heat conductivity, which allows for even cooking (critical with omlettes, fried eggs, etc.) Fourth, it's so easy to clean, I reach for it for more than just cooking eggs. We use it as a small saute pan and our vegetables never stick.

The pan can also be put in the oven to keep food warm, a nice feature. This was a real find.

it's okay... but
We bought this pan 1 1/2 years ago and use it a lot, but the non stick part is coming off and we never put it in the dishwasher and only use the plastic utensils. so.. for $29.50 it's okay, but don't expect it to last a life time. calphalon will send you a new one, but you have to mail in your old one first...

Really great pan
This is indeed a great pan, nonstick surface is wonderful and it conducts heat beautifully on my smooth cooktop. The coating did, however, bubble just to the side of the rivets inside the pan.

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Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 8 Qt. Stock Pot with Cover

Use often, great even after 4 years of use.
I've had this stock pot for 4 years and it still looks brand new and works great. Often times in the winter I make two batches of soup at the same time so I purchased a second one about a year ago. Couldn't be happier.

At last............
I purchased this after "making do" with my other brands of stock pots over the years. In this, various foods do not stick that are of a heavy nature. i.e. Chicken and dumpling, legumes of various types, etc. This is perfect! Heavy, things dont stick, easy to clean.



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Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 8-Quart Stainless-Steel Pasta Insert

Calphalon Contemporary Pasta Insert
I have the Calphalon Contemporary pots and pans. This insert will only work for the Calphalon Contemporary collection. It is made extremely well and so nice to have the insert and the pot together so you don't have to get a separate stainer out from the cabinet while preparing pasta. I love it and use it often.

Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 8-Quart Pasta Insert
Bought this item to accommodate the Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 8-Quart pot, which I obtained from a outlet retail store. Now my wife has the complete set. Works great for steaming frozen vegetables.

Necessary item
This should be standard with the stock pot. Calphalon is certainly quality. A silicone ring might be a good add to it for seal against stock pot, but I like it just the same. Can't wait for shimp boil.

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Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 8-Inch Omelet Pan

cutest little pan!
This is such a handy sized pan. It is great for one grilled cheese, scrambled eggs or omelettes for one and any small sauteeing job. I like the Contemporary Nonstick series from Calphalon because I have never had any success using the anodized type of pan, this is the more traditional non-stick and I am happy with it. I've had several of this series for over six months now and the surface is holding up fine, no deterioration so far. The design of the pan is good, the handle stays cool on the stovetop and you can put it in the oven because it is all metal. The weight is comfortable and the shape is stable on my gas cooktop.

Kitchen Staple
I love this pan and use it all the time. I make eggs or a frittata for 1-2 people, hot sandwiches, small quantities of sauce and can even blanch small amounts of vegetables in it. I have both this and the 10 inch pan and for a 2 person home I use this 8 inch pan most often. If you have a larger home then the 10 inch would probably be more handy.

Omelette pan
This omelette pan by Calphalon is outstanding. For the first time in my life, I can actually make an omelette without it falling apart.

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Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick Roaster Set

The Jeep Grand Cherokee of Roasting Pans
Most of my cook- and bakeware is of the hard-anodized Calphalon ilk. That said, I will admit that the Calphalon was not my first choice for a roasting pan. I will also admit that my first choice was the shiny, uptown All-Clad Roti. And I will even be so brazen as to admit that the Roti was my first choice because (a) it is shiny, (b) it is All-Clad, and (c) I am not immune to the whole cache of All-Clad and that whole "kitchen-bling" thing that it has going on. But then I realized that for the cost of the Roti, I could get the Calphalon, a 25 pound turkey, two bags of cranberries, a bottle of wine, and a vintage cookie jar that I have had my eye on.

This pan, like all my stove-tops items, fared amazingly well. The handles are very sturdy. At first, I was a little perturbed by the fact that the handles tilt in (i.e., over the interior of the pan, rather than sticking out), but then I quickly realized that this was handy for many reasons. I thought the pan was easier...

Great bang for your buck!
This item was a great value after free shipping and promotional discounts. I am no gourmet chef, but this worked quite well with my stuffed chicken.

Great turkey and gravy
I used the pan for Thanksgiving and then again for Christmas. I loved it and it did very well for gravy. I was concerned since I had a Calphalon sauté pan that is terrible... but I am very happy with this pan for roasts and turkeys. Next I will try lasagna in it.

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Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 12" Everyday Pan

The pan's names says it all.... !!
My wife is an excellent chef. We eat high-end restaurant quality dinner virtally every night. We bought a set of non-stick pans quite a number of years ago, and one pan was used so much that she essentially wore it out and the non-stick surface eventually failed. The pan that she liked so much, and used almost every day was a pan that is very similar to this pan. The pan has no long handles, but rather two short handles, one on each side, making it very easy to grip and control. When I started to look for a replacement, I immediately found the Calphalon Everyday Pan. The first one I bought was the hard anodized 12" pan. She loved it but she also wished that it was non-stick. I also bought the 10" non-stick at the same time as this first pan. She loved that one also and used it all the time, but needed the 12". So, we turned around and bought this non-stick 12" Everyday Pan. She literally uses one of these three pans (almost always the 12" Calphalon non-stick) every day. Since I do the...

Hot handles
This pan is the pefect pan for so much of my cooking.
It is for that reason that I am so frustrated with the amount of heat the side handles and the top handle retain.
I have never burnt my fingers as much as I have with these pans.
The non stick surface is amazing, and the pans clean up in a second.
They would get a five star if they threw in a set of insulated handle covers.

I LOVE this pan!
I use it EVERYDAY! I can sear/brown my food - and put into the oven to finish cooking! No more dirtying a skillet AND a baking sheet! The only think I DON'T use it for is soups and stews. Clean up is an absolute breeze. I used to be a fan of T-Fal - not anymore. Like they say - "You only get what you pay for!" Paid $79 here at Amazon - worth every penny!

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Lello 4070 Gelato Junior

No more days of planning and prep to make ice cream
Just received and tried out the Gelato (reportedly manufactured by Simac...but the company name on the machine is Lello..don't know why a different name). Results were great! The machine is rather large and heavy, due to the self-contained compressor, but that means you don't have to plan ahead or take up freezer room to prefreeze the bucket. Makes enough ice cream for about four people, although if you need more you can start another batch right away by moving the first batch to another container (or your mouth <grin>)and refilling the bucket.

The machine runs quietly and freezes well (albeit I would add 10 minutes to times listed in the included receipt booklet). A timer is included to signal when the "set time" has ellapsed. The timer does not stop the churner or turn off the machine. However, according to the manual the machine will shut off before mechanical damage is done, if the ingredients become too frozen and the churner stops.

For a few dollars more...

A step above the rest.
I have gone through my share of ice cream makers. I have had the hand crank and electric version of the ice/salt mix and I had the Villaware ice cream maker available here on Amazon, sold it and my old icewater/salt type at a garage sale. None of them compares to the Lello Gelato Junior when it comes to convenience and ease of use. You just dump the ingredients in the little bucket, put the mixer/lid on and go. With other models you have to keep the bucket in the freezer or mess with an icewater/salt combination. Sure it might take some of the fun out of making your ice cream by eliminating the turning of the hand crank, but so does buying store bought ice cream or for that matter store bought butter.

The big plus with this model is that you can even dump in the ice cream mix while it is still warm off the stove (you have to cook a custard ice cream base). Just turn on the compressor a few minutes before you begin and it will start chilling the bucket.

You...

Great Gelato maker !!
I ordered this unit from Amazon.com when it was offered on a Friday Sale at such an attractive price that I could not let it go. Some reviewers commented that the booklet could come with a better instruction... I agree !! The first time I tried to use the machine the paddle would not turn around because the lid was not closed properly. I was trying to figure out why ? It was because the freezing basket was not placed in properly. After I figured it out then everything else worked great.

The recipes from the included booklet assume certain things like when you buy frozen rasperries, they are the kinds with sugar or syrup. The kind I buy is without sugar added. So the first raspberry ice cream I made was kinda tart as the recipe did NOT call for sugar. Now I know I have to add sugar to the frozen raspberries that I buy !!

The negatives to this unit ? I wish the timer was set so it would shut itself OFF automatically; I went like 10 mins longer than it should and the ice cream was...

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Le Creuset Stoneware Heart Ramekin with Cover, Red

This is a charming item worth the investment!
A perfect deep, well-shaped 8 BIG ozs. in a great shade of almost crimson red. Consider this an investment for lots of fun meals from Valentines'

Day to Christmas and even harvest dinners. I was impressed at how large the container is for it's shape, easily holding enough of any treat for two or a main dish for one. Right off, we used it for a nut dish and got many compliments on its' charm. So I went back and ordered 7 more!!

Cute as anything!!
I bought these for Valentine's Day for my husband, but we only took them out to use yesterday. They are cute as a button! The red is esp. cute b/c it has the dark shading on it, just like the big pots. Plan to use them for French Onion Soup :-) The quality is high, and they are versatile--freezer, oven, microwave. Can't beat that!!

The mini Le Creuset items may become an addiction for me!

I wish I had ordered more than one!
It's a beautiful serving dish - I only wish I had ordered more~ they are perfect for individual servings. Great starter piece for Le Creuset collectors. I love mine.

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Breville JE900 Juice Fountain Professional Juice Extractor

10 stars would do this machine better justice...
After my flimsy Juiceman Junior finally went to small appliance heaven, I decided to look around for a machine that I can actually live with = use it without hating to clean the thing afterwards. I'd never heard of Breville before, but the solid 5-star rating caught my eye. The idea of a wide enough feeder tube so I don't have to spend so much prep time was enticing, but what made me decide to buy the machine (cheaper some other place, look around) were the high marks on cleanup and performance. - Usually I don't write a review right away, but this juicer simply blew me away. What a beautiful piece of well thought-through craftmanship! Being German, I certainly prefer lasting performance over flimsy throw-away items, and this machine looks and feels like it will stand the test of time. I don't find the motor any louder than my previous machine, so that's not a problem. One reviewer wrote to put a damp paper towel around the pulp catcher rim to prevent tiny bits of pulp from...

Wonderful product
I got this machine as a birthday present and am over the moon about it. I've made some wonderful juices...papaya/apple, apple/carrot/ginger, and citrus mix. Anything I put in is thoroughly juiced...very little moisture is left in the pulp container. It is loud but this doesn't bother me at all. I do find that I have to cut the fruit into smaller wedges...whole apples, in spite of what's advertised on the box, do NOT fit down the spout. Still, a very minor point. I highly recommend this machine...for the price, you can't beat it. And clean-up takes all of 5 minutes if you're thorough. Even comes with its own scrub brush.

After intensive research, this was the one
I research almost everything I buy: my blender, coffeemaker, palm pilot, my car, electric razor, laundry detergent, etc.

After about 5 hours of research, I decided on the Breville JE900. My mother has a juicer from the TV guy (Jack LaL...) which I thought was decent. But I wanted to try something different, and the Breville had the highest marks I could find for the price.

Assembly was a snap after unpacking the box. While the juicer is mostly plastic, its high grade plastic and looks sharp on the counter.

The biggest differences between the Breville and the Jack LaL... juicer are: 1) size, 2) cleanup, and 3) noise.

The Breville is smaller (but juices just as much), MUCH easier to clean (the Breville mesh screen quickly snaps in and out, while the other one requires a special tool to unscrew the screen), and is louder than the Jack LaL juicer. All of the reviews I read said "the Breville is TOO LOUD." It may be a bit noisy, but it can crunch through hard...

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Spode Christmas Tree Sugar Bowl and Cover

Broke mine and this was a quick replacement
Holidays were coming up and I broke mine and I was able to order it through Amazon. Seller was great and it arrived in perfect condition and was very reasonably priced.





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Breville EW30XL Electric Gourmet Wok

Hottest Wok I've Ever Used
This Wok has some serious heat. As a professional chef with Asian style recipes on the menu I've used many a stove top wok. Until now I'd never found an electric wok that could generate enough heat to sear in the flavors of meats and vegetables. Not only does the Breville Electric Wok deliver as much heat as a top of the range stove top wok, its surface is non-stick so I can use less oil for healthier results. Every thing about the wok is clever, from the detachable base, to the dishwasher safe parts, to the cook and look glass lid. Whoever designed this is in to wok cooking in a big way. Very clever, very stylish, very hot.

Great HOT wok - with terrific instructions
I've done a fair amount of stirfry over the years, and for a long time had a professional level one similar to this Breville. Once it died, I did not get another, and anytime I tried to do stirfry on the oven it was a disaster. Even a new pretty powerful $800 gas oven did NOT get the on-the-stove pan hot enough. I would end up 'stewing' the food, and it bore little resemblance to my stirfry's of the past.

I was VERY impressed with the excellent instructions that are provided in the book this comes with. I studied all their tips for an hour, and was amazed at the things I did NOT know, or had forgotten. Someone who never stirfried before could get first rate results by studying just a few pages. Little things are important - I used to just turn it on, and throw in the oil and wait for it to get hot. WRONG! You are supposed to turn it on EMPTY, let it get VERY hot, and only then put in the oil. And I realized I had started to get lazy, and was not doing smaller...

Wok is really hot but what's with the non-stick surface?
I bought this wok based on the reviews posted here. I have to say that I agree that it gets really hot and I am amazed at how well it performs. That being said, I have noticed that the non-stick surface has a lot of surface scratches and I use a plastic spatula. Yesterday, I made Beef Lo Mein and the pan was just as great as beforehand. However, upon washing it up in the sink, I noticed that a piece of the non-stick had peeled off. My experience with that coating suggests that this will continue to occur as I use the appliance more often. This is very disappointing as this is the best performing wok that I have ever used. I'm crossing my fingers hoping that the non-stick won't continue to peel. That would certainly betray the overall performance of an otherwise excellent appliance

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Kuhn Rikon Durotherm 2-Quart Cook & Serve Pan

Good product....
The quality is good, for a okay price.

One complain, the serving base is not easy to come off, especially if you have something inside the pan. Sure hope Kuhn Rikon improve on that.

Kuhn Rikon Durotherm 2-Quart Cook & Serve Pan
It is a good pot I did wish I bought the bigger size. I holds food hot for about 2 hr so it is great for meals that I cook before work.



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Breville MFM50XL Muffin Magic

Convenient and easy to use!
I love the Muffin Magic (MM)--muffins turn out great every time, even using whole wheat flour and bran. When I cook muffins like that in the oven, they tend to rise into a nice shape, but fall as they cool. Not so with the MM! I make up muffin mix ahead of time (you can use boxed muffin mix, your favorite muffin recipe, or recipes from the owner's manual), and in the process found out something really great--muffins made in the MM from refrigerated batter are lighter and rounder than those made with fresh batter! When making muffins, it takes about 3 minutes for the MM to heat and 11 minutes to cook the muffins. The MM wipes clean with a damp paper towel. It is small enough to store easily in a kitchen cabinet. It saves energy and prevents the kitchen from overheating in the summer from the oven. It makes a great gift.

I did have one problem with my purchase: The box containing my MM did not include an owner's manual. Amazon did not have one to spare and suggested...

WOW!
I hate stuff sitting around the kitchen so tend to shy away from all the electric stuff. But...This caught my eye because I love cornbread but hate to fire up the oven just for one person.

This is wonderful! really bakes wonderfully. I find 9 minutes rather than 12 minutes as the book says.

Fill 3/4 full as you would regular baking tin, bake and in 9 minutes enjoy. One Betty Crocker cornbread (6 muffin size) make 4 oversized muffins in this unit.

I'm wondering if you could make individual kisch in this? What do you think? I'm going to try. Tart shells? from cookie dough? I can see endless possibilities to try without doing harm to the unit.

Get one if you are single. Or even for two peopleA.

Really good muffins
Muffin Magic is a great product. It is easy and fun to use. The 3 years old who assisted me in using the Muffin Magic for the first time thought "It's awesome!" I get moist, great tasting muffins in around 20 minutes of baking time. I use an olive oil spray, before putting in my muffin mixture.

I was disappointed in the recipe book as the recipes are not for 3 muffins, but much more. Scale down the recipes. The recipe book expected self rising flour. Go on the internet for a recipe or used your own, forget the recipe book that comes with the Muffin Magic.

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Metrokane Houdini 6-Piece Wine Tool Kit, Red

Pass on this one, buy the Rabbit instead
I was extremely excited when I originally ordered this item, as I have had great luck with this type of opener in the past. In addition, the extras in the package make this an attractive item. However, even though the gears of the the corkscrew are made of metal, the handles and body seem to be made of a cheap, flexible plastic. The solid feel of the Rabbit is missing in this model. In addition, about one of every 5 corks is not removed properly. The bottle stopper and drip ring are nice, but the foil remover is the worst I have ever used. Do yourself a favor and spend a little more money on a better quality opener...

Didn't Hold Up
I knew this was a cheaper version of 'The Rabbit', but I still expected it to last a bit longer than it did. After about 25 uses, the corkscrew no longer works, although I sitll have a fantastic bottle stopper and drip ring. This product is not recommended.

A New Way to Remove Corks
I've wanted this sort of opener but would not pay the [$$] or more it would cost to get one, until this amazing offer appeared. My first couple of attempts to open were clumsy, but once I got the hang of it "normal" corks open without a hitch. I find that I still use the old style opener on faux corks that seem to be stressing the mechanism of this opener.

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Bodum Chambord Milk Frother

Such a pleasure (and so easy)
I bought my Bodum milk frother thinking I was buying a nice TOY but I was not really expecting a lot. With a little bit of practice (4-5 times, 2 minutes per time), I found myself enjoying the most delicious capuccino I had ever been able to prepare.
The froth is soft and fluffy - I could never achieve this with my expresso machine.
Just one advice - use really hot milk for best results and enjoy !

As easy as one, two, three!
I don't understand how some people can have problems operating this wonderful, foolproof Frother.........all I do every morning is:
1. Fill the caraffe up to the black line with cold milk
2. Heat in microwave oven
3. Move the plunger up and down a few times and - voila -
the most wonderful creamy foam to top my cappuccino.....bye bye Starbucks..................

Easy and fast for great cap
Very Cool! Easy to use and quick so you are willing to make a great capuccino before jetting out the door. Was using the steam on my machine but it is easier with the frother, great foam!

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Kuhn Rikon Durotherm 3.2-Quart Cook & Serve Pan

Duotherm pots by Kuhn-rikon
I inherited two of these pots from my mother, who got them in the 1970's. They were her favorites and are mine too. You have to learn to use them for what they are good for: steamed vegetables, delicate dishes such as egg enriched white sauces, etc. They prevent overcooking. The vegetables come out beautiful.

They can often be used in place of a double boiler.

If your pot comes with a base for serving, be careful to remove for cooking! I melted a hole in the base of one of my pots.

it's okay
I thought when using this product that it would be more of a "continue to cook" product. I liked the idea of bringing the food up to temperature, cooking for a short while, closing the lid and turning it off. I have tried it now three or four times and each time I say...."it's okay." It's not great; it's not bad. I just prefer the Emile Henry FLAME cookware which I also bought recently. I think it's called FLAME...........it can be taken from the freezer to the microwave; it can be used on the stovetop and the oven and looks lovely. I had to search but found a wonderful green color. Anyway I judge purchases like this one by asking myself if I'd buy another size in this type pot or pan. I wouldn't. I'd purchase the Emile Henry.



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Chef'n Lab 921 Pivot Grinder

A Great Grinder!!!!
This pepper grinder works exceptionally well.Not only that but it looks cool too. I paid only $17 for mine. Though I would have been willing to pay full price for it as it works better than grinders that I've paid a lot more for. I had been using a William Bounds pepper mill and even when it was set to the coarse grind setting the pepper came out with a powder like consistency. I really like really coarse pepper and this pivot grinder put out very coarse pepper, just the way I like it. Do not be afraid to get this grinder, you will not be disappointed!!! As I'm both a Personal Chef and a Certified Nutritionist I like to use only the best that I can find and so far for the price, performance,and high quality construction this grinder is hard to beat.

Answer to my prayers
I have arthuritus in my hands, fingers, wrists & arms. This is wonderful to use. I just flip the top back & fourth and no pain.



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Marcato Ampia 150 Pasta Maker

Marcato Ampia Pasta Maker Machine Mod 150
I'm Italian and love this product. As a kid we rolled everything with a rolling pin....lots of hours of work. My aunt first got one of these Ampia's and told the familia. We got one & it works great & saves alots of time. It's well built, sturdy, inexpensive but most important does a great job with little effort.

Only thing missing is an english manual
GReat product. My daughter uses it for polymer clay and loves it. It stands up to everything she puts into it, unlike the ones sold specifically for Poly clay. It's a simply machine that anyone can figure out, so the manual is just a plus, really. It would be nice, though, to have more sort of "how to use this product to best effect" instructions, and in English, rather than Italian. Not complaining, though. Its quite satisfactory.

Good but not what it claims
this is an extremely well made machine and does a great job at what it does however, it lists lasagna as one of the types of noodles it makes and that is the main reason I bought it. The only place lasagna is mentioned is in the ad and on the box. The machine doesn't have a place for making them and the directions say nothing about them! I'm not sure why it is listed. Furthermore, no attachments can be added so that isn't one you can add! If I had known the ad was wrong, I wouldn't have gotten this machine; I'd have bought an attachment for my old machine!

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GEFU Adjustable Rolling Pin

Good pin, but....
This is good rolling pin, but it's short.
If you need to roll the big piece of dough you wouldn't be able to do that with it.
but it's really non sticky.





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Kaiser Bakeware Alfi 31435010100ermal Carafe, 8-Cup

Good Deal - Not Perfect
This is my first Carafe of this kind so I cannot compare with any other one. This Carafe is good looking in pure white plastic - didn't look cheap. The lid is very well designed - easy to close/open and good system for liquid delivering. On bad side, they say that this pot can keep liquid hot for up to 13 hours but it's not true. In fact, coffee will stay pleasurably hot for about 3 hours - not more. I'm still satisfied about this buy regarding the very fair price.

Wonderful insulated carafe for the low Amazon price....
I purchased this to hold my Bodum french press coffee maker coffee so it would not continue to steep and get bitter. It works like a charm and holds the entire pot (about 1 litre) at a uniform temperature. Reasonable care must be taken when washing or handling due to the glass liner. All-in-all, an attractive, high quality carafe that insulates the way it is supposed to.

Great carafe - keeps my tea nice and hot for hours
I use my carafe (which Santa brought me) to keep my tea hot for hours. It's attractive, stable, easy to use. The lid goes on easily, though it can be difficult to open after it's been sitting for a while. For making tea, by the way, I find that a chopstick makes a great stirrer. An excellent choice, and a great value.

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Rosle 9.0 qt Deep Bowl

Great Bowl, Great Size
Gorgeous bowl, and this 0.8 qt size is perfect for a lot of things. I use it daily to mix up scrambled eggs...this size handles 3 or 4 eggs quite nicely, and the shape allows you to whip the eggs without them sloshing out as would happen with a shallower bowl. Admittedly rather overpriced, I still sprang for it because of the unique size and shape, which I hadn't seen with any other brand. Beautiful and well made like all Rosle products, it's a gorgeous stainless (shiny inside) and surprisingly heavy and solid for the size.

Good SS Bowl
I bought this to use in my pressure cooker when cooking grains and legumes. It works perfectly. The bowl is very solid. I agree with another reviewer that the edges of the bowl can seem a bit sharp as the steel is thin where it folds down, but it's not bad enough for me to lower my score down to three stars. All in all I'm very happy with this bowl - it met my needs perfectly.

rosle bowl
I regret that I didn't buy elsewhere only because the bowl had a rough edge and counter [?] scratchs. It didn't meet my expectation of a new bowl.

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Rosle 18/10 Stainless Steel Coarse Grater

Excellent grater
I bought this grater after reading the reviews from Cooks Illustrated magazine. It is very functional and serves the purpose of my former stand up grater. It takes up less space and is designed to work with any size bowl. Highly recommend. Just wish Amazon carried it so I did not have to pay shipping.

Absolutely worth the money
I felt a little silly paying this much for a grater but after years of frustration trying to grate carrots or cheese with inexpensive and/or poorly-designed kitchen tools, I gave it a try. This grater is worth every penny -- sharp, solid, heavy and fits well over a medium mixing bowl. Did I mention it's sharp? It's not just sharp, it's really sharp, sharp enough to slice a chunk out of your knuckle if you're careless, which I was the first time I used it since I was used to duller graters. (It wouldn't hurt to invest in a cut-resistant glove, just to be safe -- I'm ordering one today.) But since sharpness is the point of a grater, I'm not complaining and would highly recommend this product.

Amazing grater.
This grates cheese like no other. I can take a two pound brick of cheese down in about a minute. Potatoes go even quicker. This is a production quality, professional tool. The only way to grate any quicker would be with a food processor. Be very, very, very careful. It will grate so fast that you will grate your fingers before you know it. I've done it.... twice! And it doesn't just make a little cut on you and bind up. It takes an unbelievable gouge out of your finger. Without getting any more graphic, let me just say that you should wear a cut glove or leather glove until you get the hang of it on different foods. I am serious. That and stop grating long before your fingers get close to the grater. In one pass, you can go from thinking your fingers are a safe distance, to becoming part of the meal. Do not let children use this! Keep your crappy old grater for ANYONE else who wants to help you in the kitchen.

If you want an amazing hand grater, this is the...

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Alfi Top Therm 1/2-Liter Vacuum Bottle with Automatic Lid

Best on the Market!
I know Alfi for their exceptional carafes and this vacuum flask is not different! I followed the advise of a friend and took the plunge with this one. I was tired of wearing coffee stains from my former leaky flask. Now I stay clean and warm with a hot cup of coffee in hand all day!





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Food Grip / Hand Guard

Rosle Food Grip/Hand Guard
Love my new Rosle Coarse Grater that is VERY sharp. The Food Grip/Hand Guard is almost a necessity. It works very smoothly with the grater.





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Kuchenprofi Stainless Steel Chrome Plated 24-Inch Utensil Rack and Hooks

Decent quality rack with poor quality hardware
The anchors that came with this were really low quality. One broke in half when I was trying to push it into the wall, and the other didn't grip the wall well enough. I ended up getting new ones from a local hardware store and that helped a lot.

Great product
Great product, very easy to install and exactly as described. Great value for the price. Fine German quality, simple design but yet elegant

Good product, just a comment on the screws AND I used this on my ceiling.
This will typically be screwed into a wooden stud, via drywall. The screws provided are far too short to give strong enough support in the wood after going through the drywall. It's not a big deal to buy longer ones though and the color/material isn't important because the screw head is covered up by the rack fitting.

And for what it's worth, I attached mine to the ceiling and not the wall.

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Atlas Marcato Multipast Pasta Machine Set

A Dream Machine
I have been talking about getting a pasta machine for a long time. I was tired of making noodles by hand. I never knew if they would turn out the same way twice in a row.
After all the research I had been doing, finally one night I just ordered this one! I love it! It is easy..makes less mess and in way less time! And I don't have to use near as much room! I am just waiting till I make the little raviolis'
It does clean up fast. I just brush it down with a pasta baster that I keep with it. Wipe excess dust with a cloth and it looks like new!
I am disabled and it is easy to operate the handle.

What an awesome pasta machine
The only reason this gets 4 stars instead of 5 is the lack of instructions on how to use the additional pasta rollers.
If you go to their website, you will find the instructions, but it should be included with the machine.

Aside from that, I love it. It is easy to use, and you can use it for more than just pasta. It can be used for bread dough, cookie dough, clay, etc

Pasta Machine
I haven't used this product yet but am looking forward to trying it out. My brother-in-law just bought one and loves it. I considered getting the pasta attachments for my stand mixer but they were just so expensive.

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Rosle Conical Colander

FLAT, STABLE, FUNCTIONAL, AND ANOTHER GORGEOUS ROSLE PRODUCT
This Rosle colander is terrific. It's the right size for a family size portion of pasta, etc.. Drains quickly. Holes are large enough to make it easy to clean too. The handles are large enough to grip securely even with the big bulky silicone oven mits I use. I prefer this shape to the much more common bowl shape colanders as it sits flat and sturdy. Built for a lifetime of use. It's also just plain gorgeous as I love stainless steel kitchen utensils and Rosle's are the best.

Made in China - Cheap Steel
Very disappointed in this product. Rosle typically make high quality products. All made in Germany. If I knew I was paying $45 for a colander made in China, I would have never bought this. It is noticeably thinner steel than the other Rosle products I own (e.g. the mixing bowls).

Beware.

High Quality 18/10 Stainless Steel - Functional Design, and Beautiful
Rosle Conical Colander

Admittedly, I was a little leery about this being manufactured in China as someone already mentioned; however, it was designed and engineered in Germany, is manufactured to those very high standards, and this craftsmanship shows. This colander has met and exceeded all my expectations whereas, it is light; however, very durable and doesn't warp or discolor, and the Product Features & Details are spot on.

I've used it primarily for sorting, washing, & draining beans, straining stocks & soups, draining water/stock from cooked potatoes, and straining washed fruits & vegetables before going into the food processor, and it works great, and cleans up easily & very nicely! I also really like the wider handles that let you rest them on the sides of a sink (if you only have one hand free), or across a bin for washing fruits & veggies. This highly polished, beautiful 18/10...

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Fissler Magic Whisk

Fissler Whisk
Another quality piece of kitchen ware made by who else Fissler (German). Fissler makes kitchen products you can hand down to your grand children.

Best traditional whisk money can buy
what can i say this thing is awesome. after diving down a long rabbit hole that is finding the perfect whisk i came out of the darkness with this thing. EPIC



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Jura Decalcifying Tablets 9 tablets

Exactly as described, but not an exceptional value
Can't complain, they work (I think). At least the machine stopped asking me to run the descaling cycle. Can't taste a significant difference. Instructions could be more clear. But after I read them (such a grown-up) realized that it uses 3 of the tabs per cycle.

Cleans the machine very well, but could be cheaper
Cleans the machine very well, but could be cheaper... But, at the same time, the tablets do last for a long time so I can't complain. Works great for our Jura Impressa F9!

Works well
Sure they are overpriced, but using the correct product on your expensive automatic coffee maker is a small price to pay to ensure that it is going to keep working. When you pay $2000 for a coffee maker, why would you try to save $5 and risk either harming or only partially cleaning it? False savings!

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Screwpull Champagne Opener and Stopper Set

If you like champagne, you'll love this!
I have had Screwpull Champagne openers for a long time and find them extremely useful. I give them as gifts, as well. If there's no one with strong hands about, and I'm stuck by myself in opening a bottle of champagne or sekt or prosecco and having difficulty with a stubborn cork, the Screwpull is the perfect solution. I highly recommend these bubbly elixirs of life--and recommend just as highly the Screwpull Champagne openers.

The Absolute Best Champagne Opener and Stopper Set; Great Investment!
AAA+ Five-Star Rated. Highly recommended and worth the money. We own two Screwpull Champagne Openers and Stopper Sets. They are absolutely the best openers and stoppers that we've ever used. We bought one set over a year ago and loved it so much that we recently bought a second. The star opener securely grips the cork, which allows the user to gently turn the cork. The slow turning movement of the star effectively removes the entire cork very easily for lightening fast (and safe) uncorking. As unbelievable as it may sound, I used the stopper on a very special bottle of champagne, which we finished drinking one month after the date it was opened. The champagne was just as perfect as the day it was opened. Of course, we had forgotten about the open bottle, but to our delight, it was still perfect. The opener and stopper also work wonderfully with all sparking wines.

Screwpull Products Tops!
The Screwpull itself it great and everything else they make is terrific. I was delighted with this purchase and recommend both items.

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Viking 6-Slot Knife Block with 4 Steak Knife Slots

Just What I Wanted
I received this product in a very timely and professional manner. I would most definitely recommend the dealer. Very happy with the service and product that I received.





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Weber Barbecue Apron, Red

good quality
My husband loved the size, quality and heavy weight of this product. Great for the male chef in the family.

Weber Barbecue Apron
Very good apron...made of high quality material! A must for the king of all summer barbecue grillers!!!

well made
This is reasonably heavy and adjustable. I think it's a nice shade of red also.
It's perfectly fine, nothing amazing about it, but no complaints.

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Bodum Darjeeling Large Tea Pot, Black Plastic Lid and Stainless Steel Frame, 1-1/2-Litre, 51-Ounce

Stable high quality tea pot
I use these bodum teapots at work and tend to break them on a regular basis (about one a year). This was the only pot currently in bodum's line that was the size I wanted. There are a couple of detractions to this design. 1: The plastic lid's draw knob is press fit and pops off very easily. 2: This model does not have a plungers in the tea strainer/filter. Therefore you must remove the strainer entirely before pouring any of the brewed tea, as the tea leaves will spill over into the pot if you leave the strainer within the pot.

The good aspects are the stainless steel feet and bracing. This pot is very stable and does not tend to roll over and break like the round plain glass models. The large size makes a lot of tea and handle is very comfortable. There is a benefit to not having a plunger, as the tea leaves are not compacted into the strainer holes. You just need to have something to put the strainer/filter into after you have brewed your tea. I make a lot of...

It's good, but could be great...
This teapot is a pleasing shape that has delighted my guests so far. Many people think it looks bigger than it is (I guess we're not used to hemispherical teapots?), but the 6-8 cup capacity is a good size for tea with friends - or going through a pot on your own!

It's relatively stable on its three feet, though it's surprisingly easy to rest it on only two of them while putting it down and have it sway alarmingly for a moment - I haven't tipped it over yet, thankfully! The glass keeps tea drinkably warm for an hour; any longer and it gets a bit tepid.

I bought this pot to replace an older Bodum glass teapot, which cracked due to a design flaw (the plastic "half-moon" that cradled the glass pot hooked onto the pot's rim at the top of the handle, putting a major strain point on the glass there). Fortunately, this teapot's design lacks that flaw, with the handle attaching only to the stainless steel cradle; hopefully the steel frame diffuses the pressure on...

Lovely teapot
The teapot is easy to use and clean. The basket is porous enough for the tea to brew well. The lid is a little underwhelming. As the little knob on top is a bit wobbly and is not firmly anchored. But on the whole, it is a wonderful teapot.

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Alfi Juwel 8-Cup Carafe, Chrome Plated Brass

Expensive but worth it.
I bought my first Alfi carafe 15 years ago after a trip to Europe. All of the hootels we stayed in used them to pour coffee. I liked the way it looked and the waiters assured me it would keep hot liquids hot all day. Well, it does provided that you prefill it with hot water (and then obviosuly dump the water before filling with your beverage). The thing will keep stuff steaming for 7 or 8 hours. If you can afford the freight - it is well worth it.

A Worldwide Classic for Carafes
I saw this model of Alfi carafe all over Germany when I was over there in the Army, 1984-87--in upscale hotels, resturants, and well-furnished homes--this Alfi Juwel 1-liter model. Got one myself and paid $75.00 U.S. then. It functioned perfectly for many years, but it got left behind in a divorce. Had to have another one--it works flawlessly too. It costs more than others, but it's worth it--(I've tried some.)
NOTES ON ALL CARAFES: (1) The purpose of a carafe is to retain coffee FLAVOR as well as temperature. Without the airtight seal provided by a carafe, the oils and chemicals of FRESH coffee are steamed/evaporated away into open air quite rapidly if heated on just a warmer/hotplate. A good carafe will preserve FULL flavor. (2) For any carafe to function, it must be preheated with hot water for 2-5 minutes, and then the hot water dumped, just before the coffee/other hot beverage is put into the carafe.
If properly preheated and filled with an early-morning...



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Brabantia 297625 Classic Corkscrew, White

The only wine opener that works for me!
I bought this wine opener in France about 15 years ago. It is the only wine opener I can use, due to fine motor control issues in my hands. But then I forgot to put it in my checked luggage and it got confiscated at the airport! Panic! Luckily my sister wrote the brand name on her boarding pass, and I was able to go online and find it again. This time, I bought two!Brabantia 297625 Classic Corkscrew, White

The Best Wine Opener Period
This is, simply, the best wine opener I've ever used and I've tried a bunch. There have been all the usual standard corkscrews and butterfly corkscrews and multiple Rabbits. They were either hard to master or didn't work well (especially with synthetic "corks") or broke easily. This opener works. Turn clockwise to insert the screw and withdraw the cork (it's a bit harder for some synthetic corks, but no big deal) then turn counter-clockwise to remove the cork from the opener. I'll be giving these as Christmas and birthday presents and hostess gifts.

great tool
I brought one of these after seeing them used at a Winery. The ease of removing a cork has never been smoother or more effortless.

I purchased 2 more to give as gifts.

My favorite cork screw!

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Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 14-1/4-Inch Wok with Glass Lid, Cherry

Not Well Thought Out At All
I know this review is going to get trashed, with people howling about what Amazon reviews are 'supposed' to be. But with this review I may very well save some people a big chunk of change, so onward.

See, this product is a good example of the problem with Amazon reviews - anyone who really knows how to use a wok wouldn't even consider this product, much less buy it and post a review. So this product gets very high reviews from happy but misled customers, and much better woks costing 1/5th as much get slightly more mixed reviews from people who know what they're doing but compare one decent wok to another.

Reasons this is a poorly thought out product:

- Heavy weight hinders you when tossing food. Tossing food is not just for show - it's an essential part of the main school of wok-based cookery. It exposes food to extremely high heat in brief bursts but at the same time moderates the heat and keeps food from overcooking or burning. This is crucial for...

Fantastic Wok
I was not sure this wok would measure up to my standards of Chinese cooking. I have two other traditional Chinese steel woks that I use a lot. But, what I found with this wok is that, even though the heat source doesn't have to be on high, the mass of iron in this wok generated much more heat and my Chinese dishes came out fantastically. I have been totally shocked at how this wok performed.

The surface needs to be gently seasoned, as do the surfaces of Le Creuset's grill pans, but, once that is done, food rarely sticks to it (or, the grill pans). I usually let some water soak in the pan after I've taken the food out, and after that, stuck-on food easily come off. I highly recommend this pan.

STAUB Wok - versus - LE CREUSET Wok
Product Dimensions:

Le Creuset Wok measures: 14 x 14 x 4 inches ; 14.1 pounds -
Limited lifetime warranty

Staub 7-quart Wok measures 14 inches in diameter; 15 pounds -
Lifetime limited warranty
__________________

Le Creuset claims their wok is "Dishwasher safe" However, one should not place seasoned woks in a dishwasher as the detergent will break down the pan's seasoning and "wok hay". That is after all, one of the desired characteristics of a wok.

Le Creuset is oven safe to 400 degrees.

Staub 7-quart Wok: Hand washing recommended by Staub. Although their new cooking surface is less tenuous than the Le Creuset's matte surface due to Staub's superior enameled interior, in addition to their exterior surfaces being enamel-coated.

Staub is oven safe to 500 degrees.
__________________

The Staub wok is ready to use immediately.

My Le Creuset, while also enameled, it performed best...

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Le Creuset L7473-0030 Moroccan Tagine (Cobalt Blue)

Love My Tagine
I ordered this following a vacation trip to Morocco. WHY DIDN"T I BUY ONE IN MOROCCO ? I was impressed with the Moroccan style of Tagine cooking but wasn't sure I could count on a lead-free glazes on the Tagines at the markets or shops. I was told the cooking Tagines were plain terra cotta and the decorative ones were for serving only. Before I ordered my Le Creuset Tagine, I put up several jars of salted preserved lemons. When the Tagine arrived I was surprised to find a lighter weight bottom than the normal Le Creuset enamel over cast iron cookware and a heavy pottery chimey top. I read reviews, suggestions and recipes on line and decided to try a chicken, lemon and olive tagine as my first dish. I combined the cooking instructions that came from Le Creuset with a recipe I got in Morocco. When I watched tagine cooking in Morocco, at various stages of cooking, they set the chimey top of the tagines on the edge of the base and ocassionally removed it from the base. I observed the...

Great Stews
Although I have no background to vouch for any ethnic authenticity of this product (I was almost thrown out of Williams Sonoma when I asked the lady if I could prepare a beef stew in a tagine), I will say that the Le Creuset version is a very attractive piece of decor and it makes for some awesome stews.

So far I have not been able to get food to stick to the base (unlike my other Le Creuset pots) and the steaming at low heat does seem to concentrate & intensity the flavor. I bought some new (to me) spices (cumin, tumeric, coriander seeds, etc) to follow some simple recipes and everything has come out wonderfully well.

The only down side is that it will not make a lot of food at once (dinner for four is a stretch) and it is not quick. But it does things for stews that no other preparation method can do.



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Emile Henry 5-Inch Individual Pie Dish, Set of 2, Citron Yellow

Single serving pot pies
I'm in love with these little dishes - I love using them for pot pies - which can then be frozen and reheated :) Home made pot pie is a million times better. They are easy to clean, beautiful, heat evenly, and cute enough to serve in - if you had company.

Give It Back!
I brought our downstairs neighbor an apple pie in one of these dishes, and we ate the other one. It was a delicious pie, baked to perfection in the dish and quite attractive in the miniature. The only problem with the whole experience has been that our neighbor apparently thought so too, as she hasn't returned the dish!

Great Little Pie Dish
I got these for my daughter for Christmas (at her request). They are super little dishes and just the right size for making single serving "gift" pies. Given the quality, they could easily become heirlooms.

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Emile Henry 13-by-10-Inch Lasagna Baker, Azure Blue

Great purchase
I will make it short - really great and high quality product. Ideal for lasagna, oven baked chicken and other baked stuff including deserts. Easy to clean. Really worth of buying.

Good lasagna dish
Well, this dish gets the job done. For me the lasagna dish works out to a good height for the lasagna. I imagine with this dish you do have to be careful with it. It is can be heavy once filled. It is also easy to clean up afterwards.

My favorite bakeware by far ... Emile Henry
This is a beautiful dish to accompany my other Emile Henry items. You just can't beat this brand for beauty, quality, durability and easy clean-up. You won't regret buying Emile Henry products ... my very favorite and ... my highest recommendation. With care, they last a lifetime, so they are well worth the initial investment ... from preparation to serving in style ... to easy clean-up.

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Calphalon Commercial Hard-Anodized 3-Quart All-Around Pan

I love this pan!
All of my pans are the Calphalon Commercial Hard-Anodized pans and so I knew I'd love the way it cooked before I purchased it. This pan is a great size! Perfect for browning hamburger meat, chicken, etc. The rounded bottom and sides make it easy to scrape the sides and it is deep enough that the stove isn't spattered with "stuff". I am very happy with this pan. Easy to cook in and easy to clean up. Very important, pre-heat the pan to keep foods from sticking. Also very important, no dishwasher soap, only dish soap. I always soak the pan with a little soap and hot water before attempting to clean it and they always clean-up easily if I do this. Like I said, I love this pan!

"While Supplies Last"
Another reviewer gave this pan high praise and, rather than repeat it, I will simply agree. Although my preference is for cookware with long handles, this is one pan you can take from stove to table. With trivet underneath, it makes a fine serving dish.

There is only one thing you need to know: Buy It Now. (Which is exactly what I did at a certain auction site and, even with shipping costs, paid a few dollars less than the thirty-five Amazon priced it on a Friday sale.)

A note of caution: this pan may be made in either Toledo, Ohio or China. In my experience, the quality of the Calphalon cookware is better in the Toledo products (such as the one I have) and if Amazon can tell you the country of origin, so much the better. Regardless, this is a substantial pan that will be used for a lifetime.

But one thing is certain: Calphalon is discontinuing the Commercial hard anodized line of cookware and this is one of the few pieces left in the series, at the time of this writing.

Fabulous
This piece of cookware is my all time go to..
I have other pieces of Calphalon but always go to this.

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Blomus Tray 36 Cm

Was hoping for better
Tray is too flimsy for what its supposed to be used for. I suspect this is a re-purposed lid for something. "Hey, look! Turn it over and it's a tray."

Sturdy and beautiful
This tray is now the centerpiece for our living room coffee table. It is shiny, durable, and looks great! It cleans easily, and we even put some felt stickers on the bottom of it so it glides around the table without scratching. This tray is awesome and totally worth the price!

good idea
i bought one try for a side table to protect for spills. but it soon was moved to my dining table where i have all stainless steel cups glasses and plate chargers. it now holds the salt, pepper, cheese container, napkin holder etc. it really saves space on the table. i bought 2 more one for the kitchen table and finally one for that side table. for those of you who like stainless steel.

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