Scanpan Classic Ceramic Titanium Double-Burner Grill Griddle Review

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(More customer reviews)Scanpan's double burner grill griddle far exceeded my expectations and is now my favorite way to cook meat and fish. It's quick, easy, and siphons off excess fat. Plus the teflon-free non-stick properties make it easy to clean. I put it in the dishwasher.

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Scanpan combines the latest technology with elegant, functional design and old world craftsmanship to manufacture the ultimate non-stick cookware today.Made of pressure-cast aluminum with ceramic-titanium non-stick surface.

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Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 9-Inch Panini Press Review

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(More customer reviews)While shopping a retail cooking store, I fell in love with the Krups FDE312 panini press. A bit of Amazon research, however, turned up a disturbing pattern of sudden failures in this product. Research into other presses from Cuisinart, DeLonghi, Breville, Villaware, and others failed to produce a clear front runner. It seemed that each product had one or more issues - non-removable grill plates, difficult cleaning, lack of grill ribs, flimsy handles, tendency to dry food, non-adjustable temperature, etc. Enter the Le Creuset 10 ¼" grill pan and panini press. You can submerge them to clean. They're coated with enamel, not Teflon, which means with proper care they will last two lifetimes (although they're only guaranteed for the lifetime of the original owner). There's no electrical element to burn out, no cord to store, no moving parts to break. Use is simple. Heat the grill on one burner (we have gas, but they're supposed to work with other technologies) and the press on the other. Wait until a spatter of water vaporizes almost instantly. Brush grill pan with some oil. Place sandwiches on grill pan. Pick up the press, brush on some oil, place on sandwiches and press for a few moments. Sizzle, sizzle. Wait until the cheese melts. Serve. The panini were just like what I'd eaten in Italy. I haven't owned an electric press, but I can't imagine they'd be better. Cleanup of the enamel surface requires a bit of care but, unlike every Teflon-coated product I've ever owned, that surface will probably still be there 20 years from now. And since the grill pan actually has sides (unlike every electric panini press I looked at), there was no side-spattering and thus no cleanup to do around the cooking area. The only disadvantage - the grill/press combination cost me $150, about twice the cost of the average electric panini grill. But since many of the grill reviews I read spoke of this being their second (or third) electric grill, I suspect I'll make my money back over the next 20 years.

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Easily impart authentic grill marks on food--from cafe-style hot sandwiches to paninis and melts--with help from this 9-inch weighted press. The square-shaped press helps trap heat while creating tasty grill marks on the top side of sandwiches. It nicely complements any Le Creuset square-shaped grill, but can also be used with other brands of skillets and pans. Like other pieces in Le Creuset's line of enameled cast iron, the panini press features a long-lasting enamel exterior that resists chipping and cracking, while its underside provides a satin black enamel--no need to season the cookware in the oven before use. As cast iron is unexcelled for even heat distribution and superior heat retention, the panini press helps cook food uniformly and gently without hot spots and can be used for cooking on the stovetop or finishing in the oven. Oven-safe up to 350 degrees F, the press comes fitted with a heat-resistant phenolic knob and should be hand washed for best results.

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Cuisinart PrepBoard/Counter Protector, Square Review

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(More customer reviews)I ordered two of these for use in my kitchen. As the previous reviews stated these are GREAT for serving. I agree that these are perfect for serving snacks, fruit, etc. Though these should not be considered anything more then light duty cutting boards. The lip they have make it near impossible to mince safely, and they tend to slide around quite a bit since they're made of plastic and do not have any rubber/cork/etc feet. They are fine for carefully slicing fruit/tomatoes/etc. Though if you need something to do some regular knife work around the kitchen I'd recommend the plain plastic cutting boards for a quick and cheap solution.
Tip: The label that these come with state to "use a damp towel between the counter-top and PrepBoard to avoid slipping". I went down to the local hardware store and picked up a package of the rubber feet you usually see on cupboard doors and applied them to each corner of the board right on the outside of where the plastic feet are and also placed one in the middle. This works well but raises the board a little, again, this isn't safe to do heavy mincing or anything on it since it'll easily tip if you apply pressure to the edge. The good news is it's not slipping around anymore!


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White square prepboard/counter protector with raised edges to catch liquids. Will not dull your knives. Does not absorb odors or bacteria. Durable and dishwasher safe.

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Bodum Chambord Stainless Steel Stovetop Espresso Maker Review

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(More customer reviews)I must get something out of the way first:
The reviewers who griped about the handle breaking must not have read the instructions, which clearly state to NOT tighten the top using the handle. The handle on both my coffee pots (I own both the small and large versions) have worked perfectly well for the six or more months I've owned them. There is nothing wrong with either the design or use of these pots that a little common sense wouldn't have fixed, and it's a shame to see such a wonderful product unfairly reviewed.
Okay, with the air cleared, I'll move on to the review:
I have owned and used a Bialetti aluminum stovetop "Moka" pot for years. Bialetti's pots are just fine, but the untreated aluminum discolors and stains easily.
Keep in mind, a stovetop espresso pot will give you percolated espresso (if you use espresso roast coffee) which is not the same as a traditional espresso shot, like what you'd get from Starbucks. Frankly, I think it tastes better, but it is different, and there's little or no "crema" with a percolated espresso.
If you move to Bodum's pots from Bialetti, as I did, you will immediately notice how the fit and finish of these pots is clean and precise. Screwing the top to the bottom is silky smooth (unlike the Bialetti that can squeak and chatter). The gasket that forms the seal between top and bottom appears to be made of black silicone, and remains springy and supple even after all the months of daily use I've given it. (Bodum includes a replacement gasket in the box, but I can't imagine when I'll need to replace it.) The gasket with the Bialetti is white, and appears to be made of rubber, and will discolor the first time you use it, and goes on to form tiny cracks fairly quickly.
When you make a pot of percolated espresso, "low and slow" is the general rule. Fill the stainless steel filter basket, but do not overfill and DO NOT pack the grains down. You will want to use only a percolated grind, which is a grind roughly the size of "Sugar in the Raw" granules. To use anything finer will result in clogging of the filters, grains of coffee in the top pot (and in your cup) as well as down into the water reservoir.
Fill the bottom reservoir with water up to the max fill line. Make sure there are no grains of coffee on the lip of the basket. Sit the basket down into the reservoir, and screw the top on to the bottom (ahem... and do not use the handle to tighten, per my opening rant!) Tighten it fairly tight - you want a good solid seal - but don't over-tighten. Too loose, and the pressure of the boiling water cannot come up and into the top carafe.
Set you heat fairly low. The coffee will start to flow silently and slowly at first. The trick seems to be to immediately turn off the heat once water is exhausted and the perc head is hissing and bubbling a bit; the coffee will be about 1/4 inch from the bottom opening of the perc head.
Cleanup is a breeze. Disassemble your pot when it's cool. Use something plastic (a bic pen cap works perfectly) to remove the silicone gasket. Clean everything with warm sudsy water and dry. Or put it in the dishwasher. (Something you can't do with Bialetti.)
Keep in mind...
If you have your coffee ground at Starbucks or Peet's, remember to make a point of explaining that you need a Percolator (or "Moka Pot") grind. You definitely do NOT want the typical espresso dust type of grind, or you will not enjoy your Chambord!
I have zero regrets with either of my Bodum Chambord espresso pots, and highly recommend them to everyone. I hope some of this was useful to you. ENJOY!

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Do it like the Italians!Bodum's award winning Chambord design is now available in the new Chambord Stovetop Espresso Maker!Commonly known as a Mocca pot, you can brew and serve fresh espresso fast in this competitively priced and stylish mirror-polished stainless steel pot. The efficient steam extraction method produces an exceptionally rich espresso. In this traditional method, steam is forced through coffee grounds and condenses into the pot's upper chamber. To use, fill water chamber to MAX mark, insert filter, and fill with fine ground coffee. Tighten containers and place on stovetop. A silicone gasket and release valve allow steam pressure to build safely. All parts are dishwasher safe and handle is heat resistant.Available in 3 and 6 cup sizes.

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Lodge Cast Iron Scrubber Brush Review

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(More customer reviews)I have owned 3 of these brushes in the past month. I wash all wood by hand, dry immediately and never allow the wood to sit in water. Still, the wood is a cheap brittle wood which soaks up water, expands and contracts and cracks--then the bristles fall out. One came cracked and the other two cracked after just a few uses. I went back to using my Rubbermaid brush designed similarly but with a plastic handle. I have owned other Rubbermaid brushes which have lasted 10 years so far. I have contacted the Lodge company about this brush. Lodge is a great company with EXCELLENT products. This product could lead some to a negative impression if they are not familiar with the usual outstanding quality of Lodge. I'm just surprised--almost stunned by how awful this brush is!

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This stiff bristled brush is designed with wood handle, synthetic bristles, and the Lodge skillet logo burned into the brush head. Great for cleaning your cast iron pieces.

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