Anolon Advanced Bronze Collection Santoprene Cutlery 4-Piece Steak Set, Bronze
Rada Cutlery Cooks Spoon With Holes, Stainless Steel, Made in USA (R125)
IMHO it is over priced
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Kyocera Revolution Series 3-1/7-Inch Paring Knife, White Blade
You probably also know the disadvantages of ceramic knives. Unlike steel knives ceramic knives can chip or break so you want to avoid dropping them, tossing them in a sink or kitchen drawer, or arguably even washing them in a dishwasher. (Most ceramic knives come in fitted plastic packing material that can be saved, or you can store them in something like this Kyocera Bamboo 3-Slot Knife Block.) If you actually succeed in dulling a ceramic knife, it will need to be professionally sharpened, though Kyocera has come out with a sharpener for home use: Kyocera Electric Diamond Knife Sharpener for Kyocera Ceramic Knives. Unlike steel knives ceramic knives cannot flex without breaking so there can be no such thing as a ceramic boning knife, and you only want to use ceramic knives to cut boneless meats. Finally, although using a proper cutting board is a good idea with fine steel knives, it is an absolute requirement with ceramic knives; using a ceramic knife to cut something on a plate is an absolute no-no.
So the only remaining question is whether to go cheap: Harbor Freight Tools Ceramic 3 Inch Paring Knife or expensive: Kyocera Revolution Series Ceramic 3 1/7 Inch Paring Knife Black Handle, and due to the fortuitous timing of a couple of good sales I can offer an opinion.
Blade: The Harbor Freight blade is double bevel ground while the Kyocera Revolution blade is chisel ground. Along with Kyocera's claims that its micro-grain ceramic is more dense than its competitors, this should result in a sharper blade, but any difference was too subtle for me to detect. Both knives will be MUCH sharper than any steel knife you are used to, cutting through citrus rinds (and even seeds!) like butter.
Handle: Both the Harbor Freight and Kyocera Revolution have superficially similar ergonomic handles, but I noted a couple of significant differences. In the Harbor Freight the finger guard is part of the handle while in the Kyocera Revolution it is part of the blade. Surprisingly, I found the Kyocera Revolution handle a bit slippery, which in light of the consequences of dropping it is significant. The tackier surface of the Harbor Freight handle provided me with a surer grip.
Color: The Kyocera Revolution paring knife is available in five other handle colors:
Kyocera Revolution Series Ceramic 3 1/7 Inch Paring Knife Blue Handle,
Kyocera Revolution Series Ceramic 3 1/7 Inch Paring Knife Green Handle,
Kyocera Revolution Series Ceramic 3 1/7 Inch Paring Knife Orange Handle,
Kyocera Revolution Series Ceramic 3 1/7 Inch Paring Knife Red Handle,
Kyocera Revolution Series Ceramic 3 1/7 Inch Paring Knife Yellow Handle,
and one other blade color:
Kyocera Revolution Series Ceramic 3 1/7 Inch Paring Knife Black Handle, Black Blade;
the Harbor Freight paring knife is available in any handle color,...
as long as it is black.
Sharpening: If you manage to dull your Kyocera Revolution knife, Kyocera will sharpen it in return for shipping and handling; if you manage to dull your Harbor Freight knife, you are on your own.
Price: This obviously varies but in most cases you can expect to pay between twice as much and four times as much for the Kyocera Revolution paring knife as for the Harbor Freight paring knife.
Note: An inexpensive Kyocera Ceramic Y Peeler in all of the matching handle colors, is also available.This has become my favorite paring knife. Starts sharp and stays sharp. I've been using it for months now and it clearly outperforms my Four Star J.A. Henckels paring knife. I'm seriously considering replacing all my knifes with ceramics.
Buy Kyocera Revolution Series 3-1/7-Inch Paring Knife, White Blade Now
Hampton Forge Silversmiths Rena 17-Piece Flatware Set with a Purple Caddy
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Shun TDM0714 Premier Vegetable Knife, 3-Inch
YOSHIHIRO - Blue Steel Hongasumi Yanagi Sashimi Chef Knife 10.5" 270mm -MADE IN JAPAN
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About YOSHIHIRO"YOSHIHIRO" has been designated as a one of the Best Sword Craftsman in Japan since 1550. Over 500 years of their sword making history and technique achieves one of "Best Sushi Chef Knife Maker" in Japan.If you love LV, you'll love Yoshihiro^^
Farberware Wasabi Sand 20-Piece Flatware Set, 18/0 Stainless Steel
Core Bamboo Matte Finish 3-Piece Modern Bamboo Cutlery Set, Magenta
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Epicurean 23-by-14-Inch Pizza Peel
1) Smoother than wood so the pizza slides easier. I was afraid aluminum would scratch my counters.
2) Dishwasher safe / NSF approved
3) Much lighter than wood my wife can easily sling a 14" pie with it.
4) Much thinner than wood and short handled design means it stows more easily space is at a premium in our kitchen.
5) Looks nice we serve right off the peel The aluminum ones don't look as nice and typically have long handles which can be a hazard when serving.
I have to admit that at first I felt the price wasn't justified as it's an "engineered" material. After using it for a year it's clear that the material they use is very good. Some reviews mention a chemical smell. I'm very sensitive to these smells but have not been able to detect any. Perhaps they got a bad batch? Note: I've never run it through the dishwasher, as it really doesn't fit.
We've been making homemade pizza once a week for several years. Here are my top tips:
1) Check out "Good Eats" Season 3 Episode 9 "Flat is Beautiful" for an instructional video. YouTube is your friend.
2) A Pizza stone is best and the only way to get super thin crust pizza (my favorite) I have a traditional stone, my sister uses a cast iron griddle as a "stone" with excellent results. Pan pizza in a cast iron skillet works really well too (no peel or stone needed) use oil with no cornmeal.
3) Use the hottest setting on your oven (ours is 500F)and pre-heat for AT LEAST 30 minutes. I checked with some pizza shops and they are all > 650F. This gives a crispier crust without burning the cheese. You want the stone in one of the lower racks not the top rack.
4) Brush or spray a thin layer of olive oil on top of the crust before the sauce. This helps keep the crust from getting soggy.
5) Corn meal only no oil on the bottom. Get stuff which is fairly coarse. It acts like little ball bearings. Something like Masa Harina is too fine. No oil it will smoke and set off your alarms. If your smoke alarms tend to go off, crack a window in a different room and turn on your kitchen exhaust fan.
6) Build your pizza directly on the peel. No matter how much corn meal you use you will not be able to slide the peel under smoothly if you build the pizza on the counter.
7) Give your peel a good shake to confirm that the pizza isn't sticking before you put the toppings on (After the sauce and cheese). If it's sticking at all, use a spatula to lift up the edges of the pizza and put some more corn meal down, then shake again. If you have to shake it hard after you've put the toppings on, they will get all over the place.
8) You can make pita bread with any extra pizza dough. Roll it out super thin (~1/8") and throw onto a hot stone. Check it in 2 minutes or so and flip over after it has puffed up. Be careful, they cook VERY QUICK!
We use the Kitchenaid stand mixer pizza dough recipe, but double the salt and olive oil. Alton Brown (Good Eats) also has a great recipe (note he calls for Kosher Salt, which is less dense than table salt if you use a tablespoon of table salt, it will be too much)
Bon appetit!
If you've found this review helpful, please let me know!As a novice pizza maker, one of the best tools I've found so far is the pizza peel. This allows you the ability to place the pizza on to the hot stone, giving you the correct searing of the crust (as opposed to using a pan, which results in a soft bottom for your pizza).
Prior to purchasing this peel, I bought a cheaper wooden one from Amazon. It worked fairly well, and looked attractive hanging in the kitchen. However, it couldn't be placed in the dishwasher, and (probably due to lack of proper oiling, etc. on my part) it cracked after a few months of use.
This surface costs more, but I think will be worth it in the long run. The ability to put it in the dishwasher alone is worth the cost delta to me. Also, being able to run the pizza cutter over it without fear of cracking the board is a nice plus also.
The other distinct advantage is that this surface seems to have a lot less friction than the wood, making it easier to slide the pre-cooked dough off after it's loaded up an operation I find to be a little tricky. I'd advise using PLENTY of flour to assist in this (regardless of whatever peel you buy), but I think you'll find this Epicurean peel easier to use than wood in this regard.
Buy Epicurean 23-by-14-Inch Pizza Peel Now
I bought this item because it was dishwasher safe and could serve as a cutting surface, but did not know what to expect. After receiving and using the peel, I could not be happier. After receiving the peel, we washed it in the dishwasher, and when the cycle finished we took it out and discovered no warping, and it was ready for use. We typically sprinkle corn meal on the top of the peel, roll the dough out on the meal, and then slide it onto the hot stone in the oven. I had no trouble doing this, and I had no trouble sliding the dough back onto the peel after 8 minutes in the oven. I kept the dough on the peel while I loaded it with toppings, and slid it back in. About 10 minutes later I was able to place the peel under the pizza and slide the heavy pizza back onto the peel. Since cutting on the peel is safe I sliced and served our dinner, with very successful results.Read Best Reviews of Epicurean 23-by-14-Inch Pizza Peel Here
Five stars though I ding it for the color I have the "natural" color and saw the "slate" at a friend's"Natural" looks better (to me) for the following reasons:
1) "Slate" shows wear a lot more than the lighter color.
2) "Slate" is VERY dark so unless you have black granite countertops, it really stands out and not in a good way.
3) "Slate" looks dirty with corn meal and stuff on it think of a black car it looks dirty as soon as any dust gets on it.
Below is my review of the "Natural" color
This peel costs about twice as much as aluminum peels, and about 50% more than wood. I think it's worth it:
1) Smoother than wood so the pizza slides easier. I was afraid aluminum would scratch my counters.
2) Dishwasher safe / NSF approved
3) Much lighter than wood my wife can easily sling a 14" pie with it.
4) Much thinner than wood and short handled design means it stows more easily space is at a premium in our kitchen.
5) Looks nice we serve right off the peel The aluminum ones don't look as nice and typically have long handles which can be a hazard when serving.
I have to admit that at first I felt the price wasn't justified as it's an "engineered" material. After using it for a year it's clear that the material they use is very good. Other reviews mention a chemical smell, but I'm very sensitive these smells I have not been able to detect any. Perhaps they got a bad batch?
We've been making homemade pizza once a week for several years. Here are my top tips:
1) Check out "Good Eats" Season 3 Episode 9 "Flat is Beautiful" for an instructional video. YouTube is your friend.
2) A Pizza stone is best and the only way to get super thin crust pizza (my favorite) I have a traditional stone, my sister uses a cast iron griddle as a "stone" with excellent results. Pan pizza in a cast iron skillet works really well too (no peel or stone needed) use oil with no cornmeal.
3) Use the hottest setting on your oven (ours is 500F)and pre-heat for AT LEAST 30 minutes. I checked with some pizza shops and they are all > 650F. This gives a crispier crust without burning the cheese. Also, you want your stone on one of the lower racks in the oven.
4) Brush or spray a thin layer of olive oil on top of the crust before the sauce. This helps keep the crust from getting soggy.
5) Corn meal only no oil on the bottom. Get stuff which is fairly coarse. It acts like little ball bearings. Something like Masa Harina is too fine. No oil it will smoke and set off your alarms. If your smoke alarms tend to go off, crack a window in a different room and turn on your kitchen exhaust fan.
6) Build your pizza directly on the peel. No matter how much corn meal you use you will not be able to slide the peel under smoothly if you build the pizza on the counter.
7) Give your peel a good shake to confirm that the pizza isn't sticking before you put the toppings on (After the sauce and cheese). If it's sticking at all, use a spatula to lift up the edges of the pizza and put some more corn meal down, then shake again. If you have to shake it hard after you've put the toppings on, they will get all over the place.
8) You can make pita bread with any extra pizza dough. Roll it out super thin (~1/8") and throw onto a hot stone. Check it in 2 minutes or so and flip over after it has puffed up. Be careful, they cook VERY QUICK!
We use the Kitchenaid stand mixer pizza dough recipe, but double the salt and olive oil. Alton Brown (Good Eats) also has a great recipe (note he calls for Kosher Salt, which is less dense than table salt if you use a tablespoon of table salt, it will be too much)
Bon appetit!
If you've found this review helpful, please let me know!
Want Epicurean 23-by-14-Inch Pizza Peel Discount?
I had read the reviews before buying, but it seemed like only a few mentioned the smell, so I figured I'd take my chances. Well, it definitely smells. I'm not a scientist and I haven't contacted the company, but I did want to share with others, that if you care about these sort of things, or have a sensitive nose, a portion of this pizza peel definitely has a strong "dissected frog"-like aroma. It's pretty gross. Due to this, I haven't used it, nor have I washed it (which, I've read, can make the smell worse). I have pin-pointed the odor (on the one I received) to come directly from the engraved "Epicurean" logo. The rest of it only smells very faintly. If I wasn't thinking of using one side as a cutting surface and the other side as a pizza peel, I might be able to overlook this issue. However, I'm concerned that the more it is cut into, the more it will smell. Of course, then my concern grows from a bad odor to, "what the heck may be leaching into my food?" It's really a shame, because I love all the other aspects of thing, Renewable Resource, Made in USA (less transportation than imported items), light, NSF-Certified, Good Size, and generally great reviews. So, 5 stars for those redeeming qualities, but minus 2 stars for such a strong formaldehyde-like odor.I've found many great products by reading the competition's reviews, so if you're thinking about the Epicurean, but are concerned about the possibility of the odor, here's my two cents:
Despite the origins of the odor (formaldehyde or not), I'm quite picky about these sorts of things, so I think I am going to somewhat-reluctantly return this otherwise nice item and replace it with the Totally Bamboo pizza peel. It currently only has 1 review, however, other Totally Bamboo items seem to get high stars. Even though it is imported, it does seem to be otherwise eco-conscious. Oh, and there's no complaints of it smelling funny, and the description specifically states that it is formaldehyde-free. Hmmm...
--------------
Just an UPDATE: I did end up sending it back and am happy that I don't have the worry of "wonder what that smell is, on my pizza?" I LOVE the smell of garlic, so I'd be happy to have that around (it's great when we dehydrate it in the Excalibur whole house smells garlicky-goodness!!)
I ended up buying a Lodge Pro-Logic P14P3 Cast Iron Pizza Pan, Black, 14-inch which is GREAT! It works for pizza, should also work for "almost" crepes (haven't tried it yet), and makes a nice "lid" for our Lodge Pro-Logic P14W3 Cast Iron Wok, Black, 14-inch.
As an aside, sometimes we make flat bread pizzas, which fit well on something such as Norpro Stainless Steel 10 X 15 X 1 inch Jelly Roll Baking Pan, with something like these Matfer 321005 Exopat 11-5/8-by-16-3/8-Inch Nonstick Baking Mat these are examples, as we use a combo of sizes and brands for our oven and toaster/convection oven. Choose your sizes according to your needs.
We like a variety of pizza, so it's nice to have a variety of pans, especially for a party. These all work great for that purpose, as well as cookies, etc. Mmmm...
I rely on reviews here at Amazon to help me make informed buying choices. I hope this review has helped you in the same manner. :)
Ginkgo Le Prix 20-Piece Flatware Set, Service for 4
I highly recommend this to anyone who wants something really nice for their dining. This can be used both inside and outside for dining al fresco.
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I was pleased to find a replacement for my everyday flatware that is sturdy and nice looking as well.Read Best Reviews of Ginkgo Le Prix 20-Piece Flatware Set, Service for 4 Here
I've owned this stainless steel flatware for nearly ten years in several different colors. It looks today as new as the day I bought it. It washes beautifully, with a nice shine, and is practically indestructible. I bought the red to have a nice splash of holiday color against the white tablecloth. The white is especially elegant. This type of flatware is reminiscent of what we had when I was a kid. Actually, the knives are about perfect to me. The stainless steel is hard, so I've never had a problem cutting through anything. Very retro and practical.... love it.Want Ginkgo Le Prix 20-Piece Flatware Set, Service for 4 Discount?
Fits in the hand nicely and feels sturdy and solid, all while it is pretty.Black Boomerang Corkscrew with No Blade" Foil Cutter"
One thing I should warn of: You will be unable to remove the foil all the way down below the protrusion of the glass lip. While this doesn't affect your ability to remove the cork, wine's flavor changes drastically when it reacts with certain types of metals present in some foil. So, remember to wipe the lip with each pour so that any drops of wine sitting on the foil never make it to the glass.This is a great improvement on the traditional cork screw with knife. I love the built in foil cutter that even the 'rabbit' and other fancier handle operated twin turbo cork screws are missing. It is faster and easier to open this way vs having multiple tools. I first saw one of these at a restaurant in France, so that has to make it a better tool. Found 1 in Aix en Provence at a wine store and used it for years until the handle broke (probably user error). Then I wanted another one, and this is made by the same manufacturer.
I would recommend this as a gift for any wine enthusiast as I prefer the simplicity of it vs the 4 handled gigantic robo-openers. Open the foil cutter spin and pull and then uncork. Safer than using a knife and cutting off a finger. You cannot lose the foil cutter either.
I have 3 of them. Enjoy the wine! :)
Buy Black Boomerang Corkscrew with No Blade" Foil Cutter" Now
this corkscrew is big enough to get you easy leverage when pulling the cork out of your wine bottles. the foilcutter is the best part, its not sharp and wont ever cut you, and cuts the foil perfectly every time. no more sawing away at the foil with cheap foil knives attached to your corkscrew. just open the foil cutter, place it over the bottle, give it a squeeze and twist. a clean perfect cut every single time. highly recommended for bartenders, servers and waitstaff.Read Best Reviews of Black Boomerang Corkscrew with No Blade" Foil Cutter" Here
This corkscrew is fantastic. I have used a waiter's corkscrew for ages, but hate trying to cut wine capsules by blade. The boomerang is large for a waiter's corkscrew approximately half an inch longer than my old one, and about a centimeter wider. It works very well, but the lack of a double hinge is disappointing. Though outweighed by the brilliant retractable foil cutter, both of these flaws, along with the following point, make the corkscrew rate 4 stars instead of 5. The foil cutter unfortunately does not cut below the lip (see attached picture) but it is still wonderful. It makes a smooth, perfect cut in one easy motion. I would love to see a smaller, double-hinged version of this corkscrew, but until someone makes one I can't see myself using anything other than this.Want Black Boomerang Corkscrew with No Blade" Foil Cutter" Discount?
The ingenious sliding pivot point with two-step leverage works better than my other double-hinged openers. Apparently some of the other reviewers here never figured out how to use it. Slide the pivot toward the center of the opener for the first pull, then it returns to the outside to complete the job. It's now my favorite opener.HIC ErgoChef Chef Knife
Guy Fieri Knuckle Sandwich Battle Station, 17-Slot Knife Block
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Perfect complement to my entire collection of Guy's knives in my battle station! works great! Love the weight and proud to display itRead Best Reviews of Guy Fieri Knuckle Sandwich Battle Station, 17-Slot Knife Block Here
Awesome knife station. Got a great price on Amazon.com. Perfect for the serious home kitchen chef. It is also a perfect gift for Mothers Day or Fathers Day.Want Guy Fieri Knuckle Sandwich Battle Station, 17-Slot Knife Block Discount?
I actually ordered the wrong thing...I wanted a knife sharpener..But, this looks great in our kitchen, so we kept it...Shun Reserve ND0747 Hollow-Ground Chef's Knife, 6-Inch
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Wusthof Gourmet 8-Inch Carving Knife
Knife Set, 4pc. Quick Paring
Towle Living Alpine 20-Piece Flatware Set
Darice VL0032, Heart Metal Knife Server Set Boxed Engraved
You THINK?
Good price, fast Shipping.product arrive on time. its very pretty. the box it came in was damaged. i love that it is engravable.
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The first set I ordered was bubbled but I was immediatley sent a replacment shipment. I love the set and for the money you can't go wrong. I absolutely am so happy with the fact they are not plastic but rather metal. So nice for being so cheap. Highly reccomend.Read Best Reviews of Darice VL0032, Heart Metal Knife Server Set Boxed Engraved Here
Victorinox Swiss Classic Chef's Knife with Granton Edge
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Norpro 404 Grip-EZ Silicone Handle Grip
Buy Norpro 404 Grip-EZ Silicone Handle Grip Now
I bought 4 (hoping they would fit) for our Calphalon pots/pans so I wouldn't have to take one off to put on another as I was cooking. They work great with our gas stove with no hot spots. Thinking about buying more for the pots/pans I don't use as often. They remove easily so I can wash and drip dry along with my cookware but are snug enough that they don't move around while you are cooking.Read Best Reviews of Norpro 404 Grip-EZ Silicone Handle Grip Here
This handle didn't work for me, I prefer the Le Creuset because it fits better. I also have Lodge silicone grips and those are good too.Way too loose for All-Clad D5 handles (two different pans). Perhaps it fits the regular Tri-ply better but kind of doubt it.
