There Are Pandas, and Then There Are Pandas.
And this isn't either of them! The Pandas we're talking about here, are watches, not bears. And what got me thinking about them (again) was a link posted this morning by @cm.rook who pointed a few of us to the very attractive (and not terribly priced) Yema "Rallygraph" Panda which, in it's most traditional arrangement, looks like the one on the left, but can also be had in the version on the right: The model on the left is a true Panda, while the model on the right is called a reverse Panda. The reason for that distinction is clear--Panda bears, only come in the first arrangement. Now at this point, everyone should be thinking about the most well-know Panda, The Rolex Panda, which is actually a Daytona, and among Rolex Daytonas, the most famous of which is the Paul Newman Daytona, which was famous first, because it was Paul's, and second because it sold at auction for $17.8 million (US Dollars). The story of that auction is well-known so I'll only...
Nov 8, 2019
I want a really good mixer for baking bread that doesn't come from KitchenAid. I don't know if such a thing exists, but I truly would like another option.
I also am searching for silicone tipped flatware that still has enough of an edge/ serration to cut soft things with the knife and with the fork, to poke through a strawberry or a sausage. I specifically want this so that I can cook in a nice All-Clad frying pan and use a fork and knife and not scratch the pan.
I want a magic toaster that I can control with my iPhone that doesn't cost $1000. Bonus points if it is also a microwave like the Advantium. This should have an actual thermometer in it that has been calibrated and displays real temperature inside the toaster.
I also would like a nitrous cavitation tool for making whipped cream that is specifically optimized for flavoring alcohol. (http://makezine.com/projects/make-41-tinkering-toys/nitrogen-cavitation/)
I would like to see a big Pink Himalayan sea salt cutting board. Really big is a plus.
I'd like to find a big french press made with double wall insulated glass that is also excellent.
I would like to buy shockingly rare spices and herbs that would be challenging to do without a group buy system. Examples include but are not limited to actual wasabi, juniper berries, citron, or hing.
I hope this community takes off, you have my two cents!
But after looking I just realized viking discontinued it's mixer. Sad day
Cuisinart is supposed to have good stuff but never used their mixers.
And not to get too deep into the coffee debate, but why french press and how big? Like enough for you and another person or 4 people?
I like my dirty french press coffee. Its delicious. It creates a mission for how much coffee I am going to drink, and makes it so my later cups become progressively a bit stronger as they have had more time with the grounds. So at least 24 oz, since that's about the minimum amount of coffee I drink in a sitting. If they are going to the trouble of making a really nice double walled, insulated french press with a great handle, it should probably be like 40 oz., so more than just me can potentially have coffee.
I like it very much, the build quality feels very solid, almost everything is thick metal. It has a fast outlet on top for e.g. a blender, a medium speed one for a food processor, a slow one in the front for a meat grinder / pasta making tool, plus the actual mixer with 4 tools. Works very well to make bread / pizza dough, I can drop a kilo of flour in there, no problem. I had a good deal on a set with many tools. Overall I'd recommend it.
Of course I've only had it only a couple years. I can only give a definite recommendation in 10 years, if it is still working then !
Many restaurant kitchens use Hobart mixers, including for doing all sorts of awful things to bread dough. Hobart makes loads other things for the kitchen but they're generally geared for the restaurant industry and less for home use.
Along those lines, for having the ability to cut into whatever you're cooking on the pan: if you can't find the right "non-scratchy knive" try a non-scratchy pan. This can be as simple as: a big or small, well seasoned cast iron pan or (one again) a restaurant-grade non-stick. You might have better luck finding a pan to accomplish your overall goal than a specialty knife.
Finally, these two options (mixer and pan) assume a budget if $10 (for a small, cast iron pan) to $1K+ for Hobart gear.
One way to get industrial gear cheap is to look for restaurants going out of business. In spits if the growing foodie crowd, there are many that go under too quickly and ma my be desperate to unload their investments to avoid a complete loss.
Just a few thoughts.
Also, if I recall correctly, MD had a coffee and tea section at one point. I'm sure there would be demand for a culinary arts section, especially if it included coffee, tea, brewing, tools for the artisanal crafter and general enthusiast.
As usual, I hope this helps.
Cheers.
Fine print: typos will be fixed when not trying to edit my post through the mobile website.
This allows the motor to be in the base as well instead of the upper locking arm, and makes it easier to pour things into the bowl when cooking. It also has a super high powered motor, and all sorts of optional crazy attachments like blenders, fruit juicers, and meat grinders. Some of these are duplicated in KitchenAid, others aren't, it would be fun to actually learn the reason why.
I think I may get one of these.