Bon Home DDR100WH Heat & Dry Dish Rack

I love this Heat and Dish Dry Rack. I thought I would take it out and put it away but I leave it up all the time. I do not have a dishwasher or room for one so I thought I would try this. It's wonderful! I wash my dishes and put them into the rack and when it is full I push the button and keep on washing. In ten minutes the dishes are dry and I put them away. Then I load up the rest (if I have more). Or while I am waiting for the dishes to dry I have time to wash up the kitchen counters and put this and that away and then I turn around and put the dry dishes away. Done. All done. You do have to learn how to put the dishes in so they have access to the heated air coming up. But honestly that has not been a problem as I am motivated to make it work. All my plastic containers are dry in 10 minutes and I can just put them away. The lids may have a hidden drop of water on them here and there but that is no problem. There is a very small drip tray that slides under the rack and I slide it out when I remember and pour the excess water into the sink. But it is very small and only about a 1/2 inch tall. You can move around the metal racks that come with it. So if you don't need any of them you can just remove them and use them later when needed. My son said he hates drying the dishes they don't put into the dishwasher as he feels he never gets done with all of it. So I am getting one for him and my daughter in law. It is perfect for drying all the bottles and cups and plates she uses with the kids as well as her plastic containers.

Update June 4, 2011: Last week the light started to blink on and off and the motor would come on and then stop over and over. Last night it was doing that while we were not home. And today it won't work at all. It's dead.

I am so disappointed! This was my favorite thing in the kitchen. And we have only used it for the months of Feb, March, Apr, and May. I sent an email to the company and am waiting to see what the warranty is and if there is anything I can do about this. But $100 for 4 months is not very good. I will update if I hear back from the company.

Update June 9, 2011: They are great! I have a new one sitting in my living room right now. It was just delivered and I only sent the broken one back yesterday. They were so quick to reply to my emails and so helpful and honest. I got personal attention and a new dish rack!

Update December 4, 2011: THE SECOND ONE IS BROKEN. IT LASTED 6 MONTHS. We were not even using it. Same as before. We came home and the light was blinking on and off and I unplugged it and then plugged it in and now it is dead. I don't understand it. I make sure there is plenty of room around it for air flow. I use it about 5-6 times a week. I do not overload it. So I will send the company another email and see what they can do. I will update when I know more.

After months of use my wife started telling me that this rack was not working correctly, exactly as described in other reviews submitted on Amazon. Then one day it would no longer start at all. What I found is that the small momentary switch that starts the drying cycle sticks in after a few months of usage. The design is so that the switch itself is used as the return spring of the plastic ON/OFF button in the front and after time has passed either the switch spring loses its spring tension or the sliding actuator gets material under it which hinders its ability to slide forward then back, therefore not allowing the switch to pop open again when pushed. (This is the reason for the delayed starting customers have been experiencing. That happens when the switch finally pops back out.) For ours I replaced the old switch with one I purchased, but if I had to do over again I'd simply do the following first and save myself the soldering hassle:

(1) Unplug the power cord. (2) Remove the top snap-in dish rack drain plate. (3) Remove the four small screws over the front switch compartment and take the cover off. (3) Pull the small switch printed circuit board up by removing the one clamp screw on the power wire going into this small compartment. (4) Push in and pull out the front plastic button that actuates the switch. (4) Put a small amount of grease or WD40 on the two small slides at the bottom of this actuator. (5) Reverse the process and reinstall everything. The whole job should take about 30 minutes.

Since I've replaced the switch instead of oiling the slides I don't have any idea how long this lubing "fix" will work, but if you do it once it won't take long to do again and again and keep on air drying for a long time. Good luck. Bon Home DDR100WH Heat & Dry Dish Rack

Buy Bon Home DDR100WH Heat & Dry Dish Rack Now

It was my husband's job to dry the dishes so he is extremely pleased with this great invention! I love it because our new high-efficiency dishwasher does not dry plastic. This drying rack is perfect for doing that job. I also use it for drying my fine china and glasses.

Read Best Reviews of Bon Home DDR100WH Heat & Dry Dish Rack Here

What's wrong with this dish drainer? Let me list the ways:

1. Blower failure after 2 1/2 to 3 weeks of use the blower would suddenly, on its own, start up and fail to stop. Or it wouldn't start when the button was pushed. Totally erratic. At times, completely unresponsive.

2. Blower failure aside, even if that worked perfectly, there are other issues with the design. Due to having to direct the air up through the dishes, the bottom area is a closed "box" with a small, shallow drawer that the water from the wet dishes drains into. The capacity of this drawer is about 2 teaspoons. When that is exceeded, you will have a drainer that "piddles" all over your counter top. Expect to empty this drawer numerous times throughout the course of a meal's worth of dishes. Apparently designing something that would actually DRAIN the water into the sink was too much of a challenge for Bon Home's design team.

3. The warm air works beautifully to dry the dishes when the blower is actually working; it also works beautifully to heat up the kitchen...which could be an advantage if it's in the single digits outside and supplements to heat are appreciated. Not so much in South Texas, where the more likely scenario is triple digits outside, and an air conditioner running darn near full time to combat the heat. This unit will be a major set-back to utility bills in warmer climes. If it had been designed with some sort of cover/closure method to contain both heat and dishes, it might be a viable design. One review mentioned both heated and non-heated air...there was no such control on my drainer, nor any mention of such in the owner's manual.

4. Customer service: this is the big question mark...I've called Bon Home and a young man took my name and number, telling me someone would get back to me. I've asked for the unit to be replaced and for them to send me a shipping label for the defective unit...I've yet to get a commitment for that from Bon Home.

So there you have it...too much money for a shoddy product. Buyer beware.

1-4-2012 update:

Bon Home customer service stinks. They finally got back to me, told me they have discontinued the item and turfed me back to woot.com since that was where I purchased the item. Told me I would have to get credit for THEIR defective product from woot. Great business model...make crappy products, then refuse to stand behind them when they fail. That attitude would make me wary of purchasing ANY product by Bon Home. Once again, let me say it: Buyer beware.

2-22-12 update:

Woot.com did replace the unit in January, 2012 without hassle. Kudos to woot's customer service. However, desperate for a drainer while all this went on, I broke down and ordered a Simple Human bamboo drainer (works very well, by the way), so when the replacement Bon Home arrived, it stayed in the box, as I scratched my head wondering whether I trusted a second unit enough to try it (having recently read a Consumer Reports article on fires started by malfunctioning household electrical appliances, I was understandably dubious about any appliance with a propensity to start up spontaneously). On 2/17/2012, Bon Home followed up on my original customer service contact (December, 2011); they are now offering to refund my money. I replied this morning and will take them up on their offer.

Additional comment 6-18-12:

In response to one of the comments, below, no, the refund was not in addition to receiving a replacement unit the unit that Woot sent was returned to Bon Home, after receipt of which, Bon Home mailed a refund.

Want Bon Home DDR100WH Heat & Dry Dish Rack Discount?

I got this heat and dry dish rack and completely fell in love with it! It's very convenient and it dries the dishes that I can't put in the dishwasher very quickly. I also liked the fact that I didn't have to assemble it once I received it. The drier is quiet and overall very easy to use. I would definitely recommend this product to my friends and family!

Save 51% Off

Read More >>

Beverly Clark 70V Simply Silver Cake Knife and Server Set

I bought this set to use at our up-coming wedding. And to hopefully, one day, pass it on to one of our children. The set is just okay...not the best quality. My attention was first drawn to the fact that it is displayed in a great looking keepsake box. But, when it was shipped I quickly learned when I took it out of the box....there was NO display box at all! It was just in really cheap cardboard...that is not even in the shape of a box!!! Not impressed...I would have bought a different server set had I known that it DID NOT come with the box.

Read More >>

ILC 3 Pieces Ceramic Knife Set (6" Chef's, 4" Utility, 3" Paring) Glossy White Blade

I got the Cutco Knives a while back and it claims to be the sharpest knives and at least I thought so when I got it. It does work great, but it wasn't until I saw this set and decide to give it a try. I tried to slice lemon for my drinks and when I used my original knife, it actually squeezed out juices. But when I use the knife I just got, it cut through without having to put in too much force. I am surprised, so I give it a 5 stars. I also like how it came with a stylish design set rather than the regular wooden knife holder!

Pro: Stylish set, good packaging.

Cons: I wish it comes in more sizes/pcs.

Read More >>

Trudeau Appetizer Forks, Set of 4

Those forks look cuter in pictures, I think. They are pretty thin I personally like heavier sliver wears. I wanted longer forks for fondue, and expected them to be longer. But I kept them because I didn't want the trouble to return. Put aside my original expectations, they are actually pretty convenient good for different kind of fruits. So I gave them an average score for three.

Save 21% Off

Read More >>

Chef Craft 21526 1-Piece Adjustable Cheese Slicer, White, 8-Inch

We had a zinc cheese slicer that broke after 16+ years of good service (parent hand-me down). I couldn't find a "replica" of the broken slicer until I came to Amazon and found this little "jewel."

We were happy for about two weeks, and then it broke; the zinc that holds the roller snapped, and just like that, it was trash.

Not worth returning; so, I guess we'll have to try again.

Exactly as I expected and exactly what I was looking for; it's the style I like and know how to handle. Description and picture were excellent, allowing me to purchase the perfect product for my needs.

Buy Chef Craft 21526 1-Piece Adjustable Cheese Slicer, White, 8-Inch Now

I got this slicer and used it on a block of Colby cheese that I needed to slice. The whole time I was using it I was concerned that the wire was going to break on me. It didn't break, but I am still concerned about the wire breaking. I will change my post when it does.

Read Best Reviews of Chef Craft 21526 1-Piece Adjustable Cheese Slicer, White, 8-Inch Here

sent it back to amazon. very poor quality and the adjustable part was not manufactured right. more trouble to use it than to just cut with a knife

Want Chef Craft 21526 1-Piece Adjustable Cheese Slicer, White, 8-Inch Discount?

Read More >>

Wusthof Classic 3 Piece Essential Knife Set

The eight inch chef knife and shears are great. I really just wanted an 8 nch Chef's knife but I found the set less expensive than buying the knife separately. My son is a chef and this is favorite knife. His Classic Wusthof 8 inch chef knife was damaged at work so this is a replacement. We have found the sharpener worthless but since it came with the set, we now have another one. We have found the Wusthoff sharpening steel to be the better sharpening utensil.

This offer was a good price. The order came quickly and in an original box.

Save 38% Off

Read More >>

eBags Lunch Cooler

Item purchased to replace a similar size/style item. For my son, of course it had to be red. This eBags lunch bag is available in several colors (including red) so it fit the bill.

The bag is a robust design using quality components. The zippers and zipper pulls are oversized and have pull assists covers on the attached lanyards, to make them easier to grasp and orient by smaller hands. They zip smoothly and do not bind. The shoulder strap is adjustable and of a quality woven nylon that should outlast the bag itself.

The interior of these type bags is where they most often (in our experience) fail, and this bag may follow suit. The insulated interior features an aluminized lining material that appears as durable as other makers, at least for now. Only time will tell if it should become brittle along crease areas and eventually tear allowing moisture leakage into the insulated space between the inner and outer lining. My original impression is that it should do fine under normal use. There is also a small netted pouch on the underside of the lid for securing fragile foods.

This lunch bag is a good size. It easily fits in my son's backback to carry to school, and on days when the pack is full, he can use the strap over his shoulder or around the backpack's extendable handle. So there are lots of carry options.

Shipping from eBags was very quick, as usual. The item arrived safely and was just as had been ordered.

*** UPDATE: January 2010 ***

This bag has been great! After a year and a half of school use it is still in great shape; i.e. no tears or rips, and it still looks very good as well. We liked this bag well enough to buy another one for my wife to carry her lunch to work in.

Purchased this bag for significate others' lunches. He loved it! He liked that black/gray color combo and the size was perfect. Enough room for sandwich, drink and snacks. The whole top zips open pretty wide. So those Gladware plastic containers fit just right inside the bag. I would highly recommend this product for a guy's lunch bag.

Buy eBags Lunch Cooler Now

This has to be the finest item of its kind that I've ever purchased. It's extremely well made and utilitarian. It keeps lunches cold from 6:00 AM until they are consumed around noon. The product is highly recommended.

Read Best Reviews of eBags Lunch Cooler Here

This bag was purchased for my 6th grade son's school lunch. It fits his Thermos, sandwich, fruit, chips, dessert, and ice packs with room to spare. The only additions I would make are an outside compartment for putting identification and a shorter handle in addition to the long strap. Bag seems durable. He's happy with it and I am too!

Want eBags Lunch Cooler Discount?

After recieving this lunch bag in the mail it took only one day to have the inside seams to come apart after normal use.

I would not recommend this type of bag to anyone due to its poor construction.

Save 22% Off

Read More >>

Peugeot PW200404 Ixon Lock Blade Knife

I drink wine pretty much every day and wanted a wine opener that looked nice and worked great. this was it! i had owned previous Peugeot products and always loved them, so when I saw this on amazon, i didn't think twice and bought it. The foil cutter is fantastic and the spiral goes in really smoothly. the only thing that could be made better would be the leveraging system: instead of one step, there should be a two step lever to extract the cork in an easier way.

Read More >>

Sunbeam Duo-Band 8-Piece Cookware Set

You get what you pay for so don't expect gourmet cook ware.However for the money this set is pretty good.The bottoms have a decent layer of metal.They clean up very easily.I had planned to give this set away.I wound up with them and find myself reaching for them often.Even though I have some better cook ware.As I said these do clean up easily.

Every time my husband or I cook with these we comment how nice they are. We've had them for six months and even joke that we don't have to say something about them every single time we use them yet we still do! Nothing and I mean nothing sticks to them. The only thing I don't cook in them is fried eggs because the egg whites are the same color as the ceramic coating so I can't see the edges of the eggs. (They'd be perfect for eggs otherwise.) We've been able to cook everything else with no oil (if we choose to do so) and love the results. Never need soaking. Super easy to clean. Highly recommend!

Buy Sunbeam Duo-Band 8-Piece Cookware Set Now

Read More >>

Chef's Choice 320 Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener, White

You must read the instructions and follow them to get the knack

of making "new" knife blades out of old. It took a bit to get my

extremely dull knives sharpened, but now they are fantastic!

I sharpened tiny paring knives up to my chinese cleaver and was

pleased with the super sharp results.

Make sure you allow the blades to align with the magnetic edge,

do the passes according to instructions and you won't be sorry.

Sorry Amazon doesn't have a better price, I actually found cheaper by $40.00 in Manhattan, still the price is good compared to some of the models I priced out at that big box store on 6th Avenue. My husband can't believe this sharpener delivers the goods without the addition of oil and water during sharpening.

I've been sharpening knives since I was a kid, but got really tired of hand sharpening kitchen knives everytime a family member cut through something on a ceramic plate (seemed like daily). I was really skeptical of any motorized sharpener, especially as costly as these are, but most of the reviews were good so I purchased one. I am so pleased. Don't try to use one of these without reading the directions...they have specific steps to follow that are not always obvious, even to those of us used to hand sharpening. And, like others have said, the first sharpening takes a while in order to correct the angle of the blade. Once you're there, you feel a huge burr/curl form on the edge, then you hone, and the knife will get extremely sharp. I have a large bald spot on my arm now where I tested the knives.

I really like the blade guides. They're not perfect in holding the blade, but are good enough to give you the idea of how to hold & draw the knife. Some have commented on scratch marks that are left on the sides of the blades. I got them my first try, then realized if I was more careful in holding the blade true to the angle guide, it didn't happen. As a word of warning, if you order one with a metal exterior it adds about $20.00 to the price. White plastic saves you money and doesn't have anything to do with functionality.

Buy Chef's Choice 320 Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener, White Now

...and that is purely because I am a traditionalist when it comes to sharpening knives. I spend a lot of time outdoors and sharpening a knife the old fashioned way is an essential skill for every man...and sadly maybe for the woman whose man won't develop the skill. Even during a stint in the deli and meat business for 9 years, I stuck with the old methods. As often as I had to sharpen knives, only occasionally and with a lot of work was I able to get our knives really razor sharp. Other times, they were only just pretty sharp!

Many people don't realize that the most dangerous utensil you have in the kitchen is a dull knife. A dull knife requires more force to do the same work. Dull knives are more susceptible to slipping and combined with the force that moved them, can still produce chilling and even life threatening accidental cuts. A sharp knife requires much less force, can cut more precisely and is easier to control.

I bought this device for my son and daughter in law for Christmas 2008. They owned excellent quality knives, but they were sharp only for the first few months after they bought them. After that, I discovered they may as well have used a butter knife because that's the condition these knives reached pretty quick. The knives also suffered from the very bad habit of being stored loosely in a drawer. Consequently they had nicks in addition to just being dull. I was afraid that my daughter in law would end up with a nasty cut. The situation got so bad that instead of sharpening the dang things, my daughter in law would just buy a new knife each year!

I used this device for the first time just last week only because I remained as stubborn about my son learning how to use it as I did about my own traditionalist methods. He and a buddy tried using it...without looking at the instructions... and didn't get anywhere with it. I learned very quickly that had I been smart, I would have bought one of these machines for ourselves when we started our deli business in 1994 !!

It is important to read and follow the instructions to get the best service from this machine. Starting with the dullest 10" knife and using only the weight of the knife, I drew the knife blade in 10 alternating passes. This very quickly produced the burr sought in the instructions for stage 1 along the entire length of the blade. (Normally, a knife in better condition would need only a total of 2-4 alternating passes to produce the same result.) After reaching the burr stage, only 4 alternating passes (2 on each side) in stage 2 produced an edge on this knife that I could use to shave the hair off the back of my left index finger! I gave that knife one more stage 2 pass for each side and went on to the next knife. This time fewer passes...same results! My daughter in law gave it a shot with another dull knife that would only smush a tomato and produced an edge in only seconds that would cut tomatoes paper thin! She also got razor sharp results on a short bladed paring knife!

Once a knife is this sharp, the machine won't be needed for quite a while. Generally, only a pass or two with a high quality ridged sharpening steel such as those offered by Forschner or Mundial will be enough to maintain the edge for months of household kitchen use. This is because the edge of a razor sharp knife becomes so thin that it will "fold over" in the shape of a J during use. The steel straightens the edge and restores it's razor sharpness with just a few VERY LIGHT strokes. The vision you might have of the butcher flailing his knife 10-20 times with the steel to restore the edge is really overkill and mostly for show. The two light strokes should do it...and as quietly and lightly as possible. I have even used the bottom of a ceramic coffee cup or the back edge of another high quality knife in place of a sharpening steel, although the coffee cup will remove some material from the blade of the knife.

In just minutes with this machine, we had 8 razor sharp knives and accomplished what could have literally taken HOURS to achieve with traditional methods. If you are not getting the same results with your machine, my humble guess would be that you are not using it properly. the steel in your knife is very hard or they are in really bad shape. Only as a last resort would I fault this machine. We were even somewhat saddened when we were done!

Remember to store your knives in a way that keeps them banging against each other. We prefer wood blocks designed for storing knives. They can get pricey if you buy them retail. We managed to pick ours up at Goodwill for $2....a real bargain. They have them every time I go in there.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UPDATE 11/29/2010

This sharpener worked so well on my daughter-in-law's knives that I took one of mine that I have been maintaining the traditional way on this trip to sharpen it on her sharpener. The knives I did for the above review needed only touch up sharpening and was done with them in a few seconds. My 10" kitchen knife, on the other hand, needed a lot of work. I was getting nowhere on the 1st stage and thought I might be using it wrong. In reality, the angle I had sharpened mine to manually was incorrect and the machine was putting the correct edge on them. I lost count of the # of 1st stage passes made to get the burr, but when I did, a few passes in the 2nd stage had the knife razor sharp. If you are not getting anywhere with this sharpener, you need to make sure you are following the directions and be persistent to get that "burr". Then you will be only seconds away from the sharpest edge you've ever had...

Read Best Reviews of Chef's Choice 320 Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener, White Here

I wasn't planning to buy an electric sharpener, but after reading a guide by Wusthof on honing and sharpening knives , I decided to go for it. Wusthof recommended this electric sharpener, as did my local Sur La Table store.

It works pretty well, was easy to use, and my knives were definitely sharper afterwards. I recommend this knife sharpener, and definitely recommend reading the Wusthof guide.

Want Chef's Choice 320 Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener, White Discount?

Product does a decent job of sharpening both everyday, cheap knives as well as the more expensive Henkel and Wusthof branded knives although in my experience I have been unable to achieve the "razor-sharp" edge that they have advertised. It could be that I am doing it wrong but will have to re-sharpen to find out if I can do it.

After reading the instructions and going through the motions it was easy enough and it did sharpen what were previuosly unusable knives relatively quickly compared to using a manual sharpener my only concern is that the motor did heat up somehwat after doing 4 knives in succession

Save 23% Off

Read More >>

Gunter Wilhelm Executive Chef Series Model 201 11 Piece Knife Block Set

We bought these knives from a local Warehouse club store when Gunter Wilhelm (GW) had a booth set up. They caught my eye because they looked identical to my wife's x-favorite knife made by Hammer Stahl (HS). It turns out that GW were the original inventor of these knives and HS copied them. When you compare the 2, the GW knives are bigger, heavier, heftier, more solid and made with better materials. GW knives are incredibly made, very sharp and high quality. They allowed me to trade the old HS knife with a GW knife. These are the best high quality knives you can get for the $. I have to say GW is ' a cut above the rest'. Sorry..

My only complaint is that they have to be hand washed, but most high end knives have the same requirement.

This set of knives is heafty, high carbon stainless steel, and carefully constructed. They have a rich feel in your hand and hold an edge for a reasonably long time. The company backs up their product. We purchased the set at Amazon after purchasing an individual knife at Costco. Amazon shipped quickly with good packaging. My wife does a lot of cooking and uses these knives constantly and she is very happy with them. We've had them about two months so this review is over a limited time period. We hand wash the knives and they seem to be holding up very well.

Buy Gunter Wilhelm Executive Chef Series Model 201 11 Piece Knife Block Set Now

These are truly exceptional knives. I have owned a few sets of kitchen knives, these are by far the best. I was able to pick up an 11 piece set at Costco for $220, which was a great deal. One of the knives had a scratch on it, I simply called the main office, without any hassle, they simply sent me a new one. They are an excellent company and they make a beautiful, sharp, durable knife. Highly recommended.

Read Best Reviews of Gunter Wilhelm Executive Chef Series Model 201 11 Piece Knife Block Set Here

What an amazing Knife set the Gunter Wilhelm (GW) Model 201 is. I also received a bonus instructional DVD on GW "Cookware & Knife Skills" when I purchased this at a local warehouse store. The GW Knives feel so hefty and natural, their sharpness is as good as it gets, and they stay that way. I have used Henckels for years, but keeping them sharp has always been problematic. The GW triple full tang construction provides complete confidence while holding the knife, and its Forged construction - unlike many major brands that are Stamped -provides a large metal bolster where the blade joins the handle. Each knife feels rigid, balanced, and virtually an extension of my hand.

I was so enthusiastic about and impressed with this set that I went back and purchased some additional GW items:

* 10" Boning/Filet Knife

* 5" Mini-Santoku Knife

* 10" Poultry Shears

* 12" Diamond Steel Sharpener

I am now set for doing virtually any knife task that a professional chef would do. The maple wooden block is spacious enough that I -with minimal woodworking skills -was able to drill a rounded hole and widen another slot to accommodate the shears and mini santoku, respectively. The other knives could be doubled up temporarily in a couple of the wide slots that other knives occupy; position them carefully with the top spines facing away from each other. As with any fine piece of equipment, you must handle the knives reasonably. They are not for banging or throwing around. It is best to hand wash and dry right after using.

The knives are a work of art. Handle them carefully and safely. They'll last as long as you are around! Their lifetime warranty is unbelievable -free replacement even if you messed up. Who else stands behind their product this way? If you want the best, GW is the brand to get.

Update 11/29/2012

I still love this knife set! At my suggestion and many other customers, GW went back and redesigned the wooden block from 11 to 14 slots. The replacement block now holds all my prior additions. There is still room to have one or two more knives, if the block were remodified. What would I first add? Probably the 6" boning knife.

If GW is doing a road show at your local Costco, it is hard to beat that costwise.

Want Gunter Wilhelm Executive Chef Series Model 201 11 Piece Knife Block Set Discount?

Picked the 7" Santoku at Costco during one of the Gunter Wilhelm show weekends and it has turned out to be the knife I use most at home, I like the weight and balance and it looks like a piece of art. Definitely recommend!!!

Read More >>

Fortessa Bistro 18/10 Stainless Steel Flatware Set, Service for 1, 5-Piece

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I'm going to risk the unhelpful votes and go against the rest of the reviewers on this item. While I agree that the design is extremely nice, the flatware manages to look both classic and contemporary at the same time, it's also nicely polished and very heavy, I still don't like this set.

Our everyday set is by Reed & Barton, also sold here on amazon but is priced far lower then this (less then $100 for service for 8). Honestly the weight is about the same, the Fortessa is a bit heavier but if anything it feels almost like a chore to lift the pieces with the additional weight. The edges on the Fortessa aren't consistently smooth, if you run your finger along the edge of the spoon for instance it feels uneven and rough. The final deal breaker for me is really my own fault for not looking closer at the photos, what they are actually considering a plus "makers mark on every item-craftsman symbol of quality" I can't stand. There is a engraved mark on the front of the pieces which no matter how many times I use them I always glance at and initially think there is some sort of dry food stuck to the piece and it drives me nuts.

If you can get past that symbol and are looking for very heavy flatware at a premium price it might be perfect for you, I'll stick with my other set personally :)

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program To set the stage I've been using the same Hampton Silversmiths "Bistro" flatware set since 2000, and I've been very happy with them. While I did start perusing flatware off and on about a year ago, I'm in no real hurry to replace them and not prone to sing the praises of just any nice flatware that comes my way.

That said, these utensils are quite nice and I'm happy that I was able to audition them. Style is all personal preference, and you can likely tell from the pictures if you like that. I'll discuss what you can't see. I think that the construction and build quality are excellent, with consistent fit and finish throughout. The heft is nice, with the exception of the knife that seems overly heavy to me, and all pieces have good balance. The surfaces are very smooth and comfortable (with one exception listed below). The utensils came packaged nicely to prevent shipping damage. I've been mostly handwashing them because I just have one set, but I've run them through the dishwasher at least a couple of times to check for issues and can't see any change in the appearance.

The one thing that I really don't like, and the reason for removing a star, is the makers mark on the spoons. The mark is, IMO, the single flaw in the comfort of the spoons. The mark annoys me because I can feel it every time I put one in my mouth. The mark on the forks isn't so bad because my lips don't tend to touch that part of a fork, but they touch the back portion of a spoon all of the time. If they had to mark them, I wish that it would have been where the base of the cup meets the handle where neither hand nor mouth would tend to touch it. Because I like everything else about the spoons, I've been using these for over a month now to try and get used to it, but I haven't at least, not yet.

Despite not loving the knife, I'd consider getting a full set of these if it weren't for the mark. However, because of it, I won't be ordering any more.

If you are used to such a mark, or are able to try out some spoons with one and don't mind it, then I recommend trying these. They really are very nicely made. At the current price of $30 a setting, these do seem pricey to me especially if you're getting enough for a family. I think that $20/service would be a decent (if not great) value. Even that would be about twice what I paid for my previous set, but these are a step up.

A note on the 18/10 steel. From what I've read, I think that's a bonus in this case because these are polished and the nickel provides a nice sheen. I've read how much better 18/10 (same as 18/8) is than 18/0 in regards to corrosion resistance, so I wouldn't even consider 18/0 flatware when I was looking last year. That is, until I found the packaging to my 11-year-old set last month and saw that it was 18/0. Imagine my surprise! I have never seen any signs of rust on my flatware none. They have been left in water (or dipping in pools of water in a bowl) for extended periods from time to time for over a decade. Of course, everyone's mileage may vary, but I'm less averse to 18/0 now. 18/10 is more corrosion resistant and offers some insurance, so I do think that it's worth more. I'm just not convinced that I need it, given that I don't plan on passing down my flatware as an heirloom.

Overall, these have a lot of nice qualities. I don't like the mark on the spoons and am not a huge fan of the large knife, so I won't buy any more. Given the pros, though, you might want to consider these (especially if you can see them in person at a store near you).

Pros:

Sturdy construction

Consistent fit and finish (with one very minor mark on one spoon, which was under the polish)

Nicely polished surfaces

Great balance

18/10 steel (apparently the same at 18/8, but a step up from 18/0)

Cons (for me, anyway):

The makers mark on the spoons

The knife is larger and heavier than I prefer. I think that it might be problematic for younger kids.

Buy Fortessa Bistro 18/10 Stainless Steel Flatware Set, Service for 1, 5-Piece Now

Pros Very sturdy. Could probably pull up the tile on our marble counter with the spoons. Weighty aka hefty. I like the heavy feel, but some may not. I read one review of someone getting fatigued while using heavier flatware. Really? If your hand / forearm gets fatigued eating, you're eating too much.

Cons Shipment came damaged (UPS' fault surely, so I am not docking for this). Seller responded quickly but was unable to ship out the missing knife in a timely manner (issue I am also not docking for as Amazon stated a 1-2 month delay on shipping at the time).

The real cons begin with the finish. First, this is 18/8.3 silverware not 18/10, but that's fine. I'd be surprised to find any silverware setting under $75 per that uses actual grade 305 stainless. That being said, the finish scratches SO EASILY. The wear was noticeable after three HAND washings using only a minimal amount of a non-lemon based soap and the soft side of the non-scratch (blue) sponge.

Numerous nicks and poor finishing job on the components. The finishing job was just hands down lazy. These were not buffed properly nor finished properly. It looks like the plating process was done totally half-assed. Furthermore, albeit small, there is an obvious dent in the bottom of one of the forks. It appears to be a total failure, across the board, by the QA person on duty when this set was made, which doesn't bode well for those buying a set in the near future.

Overall, if you are going to spend near $40 per setting (with shipping), look elsewhere. A middle grade Oneida or R&B set for similar, if not less money, will provide much more bang for the buck. Obviously you are not trying to buy top of the line if you're interested in this set / price range and that's fine, neither was I, but when I do it over again it will be for something either less money, so the flaws will be expected, or I will spend 50 100% more and guarantee satisfaction.

Would I buy from this seller again? Absolutely. Would I buy this product or anything from this manufacturer again? Absolutely not.

Read Best Reviews of Fortessa Bistro 18/10 Stainless Steel Flatware Set, Service for 1, 5-Piece Here

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program The flatware set I currently own was purchased as an 8-piece setting for under $100. It was cheap. It is also functional but is not as high quality as this single serving set which would cost $239.60 for a service of 8 at its current price of $29.95 per 5-pc single service.

Overall, I think this set is very well made. It is heavier, stronger, and in most cases larger than my current flatware set.

For instance, the dinner fork, dessert fork, and knife are 1 inch to 1-1/2 inches longer than my forks and knives. However, my spoons and these spoons are the same length. I also weighed each piece and compared it to the one I own and this is how they stack up:

Knife is 4.6 oz and my knife is only 2 oz.

Dessert fork is 2.2 oz and my dessert fork is 0.8 oz.

Dinner fork is 2.8 oz and my dinner fork is 1.1 oz.

Teaspoon is 1.7 oz and my teaspoon is .08 oz.

Tablespoon is 2.7 oz and my tablespoon is 1.3 oz.

There are only two things that disappoint me with this set. First, because the handles on the flatware are bulbous (more round than flat), they do not stack well. As a neat freak, I like my flatware to stack nicely one on top of the other. Second, all the flatware except for the knife have an engraved "trademark" on the front and name and "trademark" on the handle. The knife has no engraving on the handle and on the blade is a written name AND written "trademark." Since the name and "trademark" on the knife is in a different format than on the rest of the flatware, it makes the knife look like it is part of a different set. However, these are relatively minor points.

This flatware functions very well as eating untensils and except for the two disappointments I mentioned above, I think it is a quality set. They certainly are attractive.

December 26, 2011 Update I showed this flatware to my boyfriend and he was very impressed. He say they are very attractive and functional. He did mention it would be great if they sold it in sets of 4 or 8 at a cheaper price than $29.00 per one serving. However, in general he could find no fault with this flatware and to him the set is a five-star product.

Want Fortessa Bistro 18/10 Stainless Steel Flatware Set, Service for 1, 5-Piece Discount?

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program If you're looking for some nice flatware, then you really can't go wrong with this Fortessa 5-piece set. The package includes a dinner knife, dinner fork, dessert fork, tablespoon, and a teaspoon, all of which have a simple and elegant design. It is also worth noting that this set is a bit heavier with somewhat thicker handles than you might be used to. While I've seen a couple of other reviewers who dislike the weight and shape, I disagree it makes them feel very durable and long-lasting.

Overall, I'm quite happy to have these. If I ever need more good-quality flatware, I'd definitely buy a few more sets.

Save 40% Off

Read More >>

AmazingRibs.com Professional Steak Knives (Set of 4)

Impressive looking, but lighter than I thought they would be. (Although,that may be good thing for some users.) Still, a solid, well-balanced steak knife! Packed in biodegradable "peanuts"! Arrived 2 days earlier than expected. Came in a sturdy cardboard box, not a wooden knife box.

Used them that night and am completly satisfied.

These knives are the best. Very,very sharp. You will notice the quality as soon as you unpack them. The first time my wife and myself used them we were very inpressed.

Buy AmazingRibs.com Professional Steak Knives (Set of 4) Now

These knives are everything "Meathead" said. Used them the day they arrived and have absolutely no regrets, they fit your hand perfectly and have a good heft to them. They're sharp, well balanced look good and most of all they do the job.

Read Best Reviews of AmazingRibs.com Professional Steak Knives (Set of 4) Here

These knives cut thru steaks like you are cutting thru butter. They are the best steak knives I have ever used.

Want AmazingRibs.com Professional Steak Knives (Set of 4) Discount?

We have started using those knives to cut our steaks. They certainly worth the investment. I would recommend them for anyone who is looking for a professional piece of cutlery.

Save 17% Off

Read More >>

Forschner Fibrox 7-pc. Cutlery Roll Knife Set

I bought this for culinary school last September so I've had lots of time to really evaluate the set.

chef knife I'm a 6' 200lb guy with big hands and I find this knife unwieldy. 10" is just too big for my taste and I think many people would find it clunky. 8" would have been a much better size for the majority of buyers. The quality of the knife is fine, the edge comes sharp, has decent curvature for chopping and steels well and is easy to resharpen on a stone.

paring knife too long for a paring knife. It extends an inch further than you want for most paring operations (peeling, turning). It's nearly big enough to be called a utility knife. Luckily I also bought the 3 piece Victorinox paring set, which has a shorter paring knife. The knife quality is fine again but why did they choose this length?

boning knife this would be classed as "stiff", which is great for stuff like beef, veal and lamb. For chicken it's ok. For fish it's fairly useless. You need flex to fillet and it's not long enough. Get a longer, full flex knife if you need to do fish. It sharpens well, holds an edge somewhat well. I'm not amazed by this knife for butchery work.

bread knife great edge for bread. This one would actually benefit from being 2" longer, whereas the chef/paring above are too long. A little more curvature would have been useful too. A pretty good knife for slicing bread, trimming sandwich crusts, etc.

carving pretty decent and reasonably good length. Longer would be better but it's acceptable. Good edge and good geometry for it's intended use.

steel works fine with these knives, a bit short especially for the carving knife. Watch it with the longer knives.

the roll it's light, the pockets for the knives are just ok. Paring knives fall out while some other knives are too hard to slip in. It has a few pockets inside for spoons, peeler, etc. You can't expect much for a roll that basically comes free with the knives.

So overall, chef and paring are overly long whereas the bread isn't long enough. The carver is acceptable, the boning knife is maybe too stiff for broad use. A semi-stiff would be a good compromise since most people don't need a full stiff boning for beef but do need some flex for chicken and fish.

The knife quality is excellent for the money, some of the knife selection is questionable. If you are comfortable choosing each knife I would suggest that instead.

This is a great set of kitchen knives at the price. Forschner Fibrox knives have been top-rated by a lot of different groups, including Cook's Illustrated; I liked them even before I knew that, just because of the "Victorinox" stamp on the blades, just like my childhood Swiss Army Knives.

These knives handle beautifully and cut amazingly well; I've bought five or six of the "paring' knife in this set over the years (my dog likes to chew the handles up, for some reason). When I wanted to upgrade to a full set of kitchen knives and get a honing steel, I got this set, and it was a perfect purchase: the boning knife made dismembering my first whole chicken an almost comically easy process (although the directions in the Joy of Cooking helped too).

The knives are light and somewhat flexible, and they're made with stamped rather than forged steel, but they still function excellently despite that -they give forged function at stamped price.

Drawbacks:

Some people may find the largest knife in this set, the 10" Chef's knife, a little big and a little lightweight for the size -a slightly heavier, slightly shorter knife might be a little bit more easy to use.

The set also comes with a portable "knife bag" which is probably useless unless you're part of a traveling chef's road show, but if you're using a magnetic knife strip or buying a non-traditional knife block (like the Kapoosh brand knifeblocks, though the 10" chef knife might not fit into those), and don't want the wooden knife block most other knife sets come with, this set gives a great selection of excellent-quality basic kitchen knives at what I found to be an unbeatable price. A perfect choice for a first knife set if you don't want a wooden knife block for whatever reason.

EDIT: After having used these knives for about a year, I have to say that everything above is still valid, but they do dull a little quickly -you might want to grab an electric knife sharpener to keep them well-honed. Alternatively, if you want to teach yourself how to hand-sharpen knives, these would probably be a good set to practice on.

Buy Forschner Fibrox 7-pc. Cutlery Roll Knife Set Now

A very good cutlery set....recommended not only by Cook"s Illustrated as well as a very

good culinary institute!!!!!

Read Best Reviews of Forschner Fibrox 7-pc. Cutlery Roll Knife Set Here

My son finished culinary school and needed a new set to start work. He was looking at all the recommened high priced knife sets. I found these and looked at reviews not only on Amazon but other web sites. After seeing soo many positive reviews from professionals I bought these for him. He was very impressed and really likes them. He says they are comparable to the more expensive ones and makes a great started set.

High quality for the price.

Want Forschner Fibrox 7-pc. Cutlery Roll Knife Set Discount?

Great set of knives. This set has all the essential knives needed and made of quality steel that is easy to sharpen.

Save 41% Off

Read More >>

Mini Splayd® Australian Utensil Mirror Finish Set of 6

My wife has been wanting splayd's for some time now for her daycare. They are perfect for younger children (pre-school). very good quality. fast shipper. thank you very much.

Read More >>

Apple And Potato Peeler, Corer, and Slicer (BLACK)

This is an amazing product. It works better than expected. It peels, cores and spiral slices all at the same time. It follows the contour of the fruit perfectly. When I was a child my friends mom had one of these...that was 40 years ago. Our children are eating several apples daily now. We are on a crusade to eat "Raw" foods as much as possible, and now are children joining in without even knowing they are. I will recommend this product to everyone. I originally bought it to make "squash noodles". I haven't had a chance to try it for that yet,but I know it will work for that also. My son and I peeled an entire apple in one string with it. We stretched the string out between us the length of a jump rope. Make healthy food fun and they will eat it!!!

Roger

Why I never got one of these before now, I don't know! Making apple pie has become a breeze, and dehydrating is now another easy task. I now buy my fruits in bulk because I can slice them so quickly and dehydrate whatever leftovers I have. Great little machine!!

Buy Apple And Potato Peeler, Corer, and Slicer (BLACK) Now

I love this thing. I spent all weekend peeling apples and potatoes. I also discovered that if you run a potato through it a bunch of times, you can make hash browns from the peels! I absolutely love this thing. The kids love it and anything that can get the kids to eat more apples is FANTASTIC!

Read Best Reviews of Apple And Potato Peeler, Corer, and Slicer (BLACK) Here

This peeler has worked very well for me so far. I have only peeled apples, but they have turned beautifully, especially considering the bargain price.

Want Apple And Potato Peeler, Corer, and Slicer (BLACK) Discount?

For the money, this item works great. However, if you are working on bushels of apples, you might want to consider a more heavy duty model.

Save 68% Off

Read More >>

J.K. Adams HKG-1SM Kangaroo Slanted Knife Block

This is one of only two knife blocks that I could find online with a space for a cleaver. It is well designed, slanting enough that it can fit under a cabinet and still provide easy access. The quality is excellent. The price at Amazon was significantly less than other merchants, at the time I purchased, it was easily 40% of the others. It seems to have gone up a little. Always shop around-I could have paid as much as $170 for this at an upscale online merchant.

This was the solution when we wanted to replace a couple of cheap knife blocks. We consolidated all our knives, of all shapes and sizes, into this one block. The quality is good and free shipping was a good deal as it was very heavy. We have upper cabinets that are a few inches lower than average. This block easily fit underneath with room enough to pull even the longest knife. There was a slot large enough for our small cleaver and we used the row of small slots below for paring knives.

Buy J.K. Adams HKG-1SM Kangaroo Slanted Knife Block Now

Read More >>

Chef's Choice 310 Compact Diamond Hone Sharpener

If you're anything like us, you probably spent a lot of money on your knives a while back but secretly ask yourself "why did I bother?" because they just don't special anymore. That's because they've never been as sharp as when you bought them something this gizmo can DEFINITELY change.

This is a superb knife sharpener Cooks Magazine rated the Chefs Choice absolutely the best electric model. It puts the kind of edge on your old knives that makes you realize you'd forgotten the true meaning of "sharp".

There's only one flaw in their basic model, though. If your knives have gotten very dull, or you want to be a hero once in a while and put a better-than-new edge on a friend's knives, buy the model 110 instead. That model adds a heavier "grinder" blade (seen on the far left of sharpener in the picture) that can take off more metal quicly while creating the basic, third bevel on their "trizor" edge. Once you have that 3-beveled edge, touch-ups with the lighter grinding wheels seem to keep the knife sharp indefinitely.

You never need this more than once for all but the most neglected knife, but when you do it's nice to have. I've used it to sharpen a cheap fish fileting knife we bought while camping that turned out to be so thick and dull you could barely cut cheese. Now you could shave with it...

Even though I normally use a diamond sharpening block and know how to check the angles of the bevel, I have to admit, this device is quick and easy.

It gives an acceptable edge as long as you use it according to directions. It is convenient, as it can sit on your counter or be pulled out of the cupboard in a jiffy. So you tend to keep your knives sharp. The problem with hand sharpening is that it is finicky work that takes time. This is faster and easier, so you tend to do it oftener.

A sharp knife is actually a safer knife as it cuts easily. If you force a dull knife, it can slip and make a nasty cut. (The worst cut I ever saw was with a knife too dull to cut wax. It had no edge, but made a nasty, torn gash. The user was forcing the dull edge through wax and got injured.) So keep your knives sharp and in a block and use them with respect. This sharpener will certainly help you do that.

Buy Chef's Choice 310 Compact Diamond Hone Sharpener Now

I have been sharpening knives for over 45 years and this is the fastest, easiest way to get an excellent multi-angle edge on ALL of your knives. I orginally purchased a Model 300 about 12 years ago. The 310 is much better because it sharpens all of the way to the handle, a big issue with small blade pocket knives.

If you like sharp knives and either do not have the skill or the time to do it by hand get yourself one of these.

Read Best Reviews of Chef's Choice 310 Compact Diamond Hone Sharpener Here

I have had this sharpener for several years and am quite satisfied with it. When you sharpen your knives for the first time, it takes many repetitions with both wheels, but you get a very sharp edge. After "setting up" your knives with the first sharpening, you'll find it fairly easy and quick to resharpen every few months. I'd recommend it if you want to get good sharp edges but don't want to spend the extra $ for the top of the line sharpeners.

Want Chef's Choice 310 Compact Diamond Hone Sharpener Discount?

The Chef's Choice 310 is an outstanding home knife sharpener for its price. Very good value. My wife's knife are sharper now than they were when she bought them. Be sure to follow instructions on first time sharpening so the blade angles can be set.

Save 41% Off

Read More >>

Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Pro S 5-Inch Stainless-Steel Serrated Utility Knife

We live on our boat, almost full time. Although our galley is about the size of a medium on-land kitchen, the space for cutlery is relatively compact. The Pro-S series, in general is superior to any knife I have ever used. Specifically the 5 inch serrated utility knife is the single most used knife in our collection. For slicing veggies or anythng with a crust there is no equal. For slicing tomatoes it is almost a joke between Liz and I, that we can make one tomato last for a week because we can make the slices so thin and even.

My husband and I LOVE these knives. We use them for everything from slicing bagels to tomatoes. They are great!

Buy Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Pro S 5-Inch Stainless-Steel Serrated Utility Knife Now

I had this knife for many years. I dropped it on a tile floor, and the blade broke--I guess it was pretty brittle. I thought I was getting an exact replacement, but the instant I held the new knife, it felt lighter. I weighed both pieces of my broken knife, and the new knife, and sure enough, the new knife weighed less! Had I realized it was inferior, I would have shopped in person, so that I got a knife that felt good to me. This one feels "cheap," but at just under $70, it was not. I've been using it for a while now, and it's just not the same. I'll be looking for another one.

Read Best Reviews of Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Pro S 5-Inch Stainless-Steel Serrated Utility Knife Here

The Professional S series has been a blessing in our family in the two years since it replaced a set of those cheapo "Never-needs-sharpening" knives.

And the most used knife in the lot is this one, the 5-inch serrated knife. Whether you are slicing a few vegetables, peeling a fruit, or want an ultra-deluxe steak knife of the gods, this is the one.

The Professional S design is a classic that will hold up well over the years.

Want Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Pro S 5-Inch Stainless-Steel Serrated Utility Knife Discount?

I've owned a 5-inch Henkels serrated knife for about a year. The piece of metal that's riveted in the handle broke. I might expect the black synthetic portion of the handle to break, but the "forged stainless steel"? Pretty disappointing.

Save 30% Off

Read More >>

InterDesign Twillo Cutlery Caddy, Metallico/Clear

looks a little nicer than most of the others, especially in person. I ordered the metallico one. Ordering a second one for a beach house I love it so much..this time in sand/bronze.

I wanted something like this for when I host parties I'd previously been keeping the silverware in mugs. This was nicer than anything I found at Bed Bath and Beyond, etc. Very happy.

Buy InterDesign Twillo Cutlery Caddy, Metallico/Clear Now

This is perfect for parties and picnics. I have even put plates in with the napkin sections. It's one stop shop and looks contemporary and neat. Love it!

Read Best Reviews of InterDesign Twillo Cutlery Caddy, Metallico/Clear Here

i was going to throw a huge house warming party and was looking for an inexpensive but nice way to dispense cutlery. yes it is plastic, but the mesh material on top gives it a contemporary look that really goes with my decor. also, i bought it for a great price!!

Want InterDesign Twillo Cutlery Caddy, Metallico/Clear Discount?

I had a hard time finding a caddy I liked, so I bought this one because it looked decent and I figured that you couldn't go wrong for this price. I have to say that I am HIGHLY impressed. The pictures do not do it justice. It looks so much better in person. I am super happy.

Save 33% Off

Read More >>