News from The Restaurant Store

Dexter-Russell on the Radio

Well as if I didn't have enough to do... I just started hosting a weekday radio show on the new "KONK AM 1620" radio, the new public-interest radio station in town. My show will air Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 4:00 until 5:00 in the afternoon. We hope to make it a fun time to talk about food and wine happenings around Key West. On today's shows we spent a lot of time talking about quality knives. One of my guests was Charles Kowanetz from the Dexter-Russell knife company. Charles is an old veteran in the knife business and the company he represents is one of the few knofe manufacturers still producing in the United States. Here's a clip of Charles talking about the Sani-Safe and Softgrip lines of knives that are very popular in Key West restaurant kitchens and with the serious fishing community:

(Sorry about the audio quality. This is only our second day and we are still getting the kinks worked out.)

Great Selection of William Bounds Mills Now in Stock

William Bounds Limited, is a fabulous company that has been crafting pepper and salt mills for over 40 years. Their products balance a unique style with the function of a precision tool you will use for years to come. In fact, William Bounds features a limited lifetime warranty on all of their products. We have a great selection of new items in from them as we stock up for the Christmas Season.

Here are some of the new items in this year:

True Refrigeration visits Key West

We had a visit from the fine folks at True Refrigeration last week. They like to come down and say thanks for all the business we give them.

We like to sell True because it's good stuff that really works and they have a bunch of different models to chose from. If you're somebody who wants a great keg cooler that keeps beer cold check out the True TDD-1 . If you like ice cold bottled or canned beer check out the True TD-24-7  or the TD-36-12  horizontal coolers. This is the same kind of refrigeration they use at your favorite watering hole. We've been selling it to Key West home owners for 20 years because our customers have a keen appreciation for ice cold beverage. While your at it, check out the True GDM-23W  wine cooler.

Give us a call and we will give you a delivered price on these or any number of different pieces. Pictured are Jack and Mike from True. They sold us some refrigeration and we sold them on The Big Green Egg.

Turkey Cannon is a Hit

With the number of new products trying to make their way onto our shelves, it is often difficult to decide what to carry. That wasn't the case with the Turkey Cannon from Camp Chef. As soon as we saw the Turkey Cannon we knew it would be a hit.

For folks who love to barbecue, cooking a large whole turkey (or chicken) has always been a challenge. The Turkey Cannon is a special rack that allows air to circulate around the bird; this means it cooks evenly without turning, and the meat doesn't stick to the grate.

The "barrel" of the cannon is a specially-designed reservoir which you can fill with your favorite basting liquid (beer). As the bird cooks, it is basted from the inside keeping all parts moist and juicy.

We didn't get to try the Turkey Cannon when we first brought it in around Christmas time; we sold all we had on hand to customers. Now that we have more in, Uncle Gaa tried it with a 5 pound chicken on the Big Green Egg last week and the results were perfect. Now you don't have to wait till Thanksgiving to enjoy your turkey. Gobble Gobble. Click Here to order.

My Visit To Dexter-Russell Cutlery

We are just getting back from family vacation. As part of my trip I made a stop at the Dexter-Russell Cutlery Factory in Southbridge, MA. and I took a tour of the facility. Here's what I can report.

Dexter-Russell is the world's largest manufacturer of professional cutlery. They produce over 1500 different knives, turners, spatulas and cutting tools and they've been doing it since 1818. This business combines state of the art manufacturing technology with the best traditions of New England craftsmanship.

They are continually developing new products and I got a sneak peak at their new V-LO line that combines their high carbon steel stain-free blade with a combination of Soft Grip and a solid composite material that gives the handle comfort and control.

These folks take a lot of pride in what they do and they know the importance of caring for a business that is rich in history, quality and being the best you can be.

This is why we have been doing business with Dexter-Russell for more than 20 years. They are nice people who know what they are doing. They make a great product and they don't compromise. Check them out yourself.

I would like to thank Kevin Clark, Buck Raper and Alan Peppel for their time and the tour. It was time well spent.

The Best Manual Juicer in the World

Happy 2005. One of our last customers of 2004 was this lovely couple from Indiana who had just moved to central Florida. They were looking for the best manual juicer we carried so they could enjoy the citrus bounty that was at their new home. The best manual juicer availible is the Hamilton Beach Model 932. It is the juicer that our friends at Pepe's have used for all there customers for over 30 years.  And Pepe's juices alot of juice. If you are looking for a manaul juicer that is comfortable, efficient and easy to use get yourself a Hamilton Beach 932. It is the best there is. Bye for now. RT

All-Clad Fondue Pot Special -- Packed and Ready for Christmas

We've put together the perfect last minute gift for Christmas giving. Fondue makes for great entertaining any time of the year, but somehow seems fitting in the winter season when the weather in Key West can dip down into the sixties. If it is cold where you live, warm things up with some melted cheese, or fresh steak, or maybe dip some chocolate for a delicious dessert fondue. It's all about sharing good food with friends.

Fondue is a peasant dish, so you can use whatever is on hand. A classic cheese fondue recipe would start by rubbing the fondue pot with a clove of fresh garlic and adding a little dry white wine. Simmer over the cooktop and slowly add cheese stirring occasionally. Emmenthal and Gruyere are traditional and you can combine them for a classic mix. Keep adding cheese until fully melted and bubbling. You can thicken the mixture with a couple of tablespoons of cornstarch or flour and season with fresh ground pepper or spices like nutmeg or paprika. The Swiss add a little Kirsch for tart flavor.

When you are ready to serve, have fondue forks and lots of crusty bread cut into cubes. Place the pot on the stand and use the burner to keep the mixture warm at the table.  Gather your friends and enjoy.

No one makes more beautiful cookware than All-Clad Metalcrafters. All-Clad marries a beautifully polished, stainless steel exterior with a pure aluminum core that not only covers the bottom of the pan but also extends up the sides. This allows for great heat conductivity as well as an even heat distribution so you won't have "hot spots" when cooking. Loop handles stay cool and are protected by rivets that will never corrode.

Our set includes the fondue pot, including stand, burner, splatter guard, and 6 forks. The entire set is dishwasher safe and comes with a lifetime warranty. We have them already gift-wrapped and ready to ship or pick up.

We normally sell this package for $119, but for a limited time we are offering it at a special price. We can't tell you how much you will save when we charge your credit card, but Andrew Jackson is a clue! Stop in the store, or buy online.

Induction Cooking

To people familiar with cooking on a traditional electric range or gas, induction cooking must seem a bit exotic. The truth is induction cooking was widely available in American homes in the in the early 90's and is making a comeback -- for good reason.

The induction method of cooking offers the merits of gas cooking with many additional benefits. In fact, induction ranges and cooktops enjoy a strong presence in commercial kitchens, expecially in Europe, and in many home kitchens in Japan.

Induction offers instant heat and precise temperature adjustment available in a traditional gas range without the need for a gas hookup or an open flame. Because induction operates only when the pan is on the burner, it is a very efficient way to cook, typically 80-90% efficient compared to 35-40% for gas.

Induction works by using magnetic friction to generate heat; any magnetic pan (think stainless steel, cast iron, enameled steel) will activate the cooking process. That means non-magnetic material will not work. So you can't use your pyrex or aluminum cookware on an induction range. But you also won't burn you hands by accidentally touching an open burner.

In the Keys, induction is great because it doesn't heat up the kitchen. And with some of the smallest kitchens and the hottest summers in the country, that's important! That also makes them popular with chocolatiers and candy makers who also love induction's ability for precise control at the low end of the temperature range -- great for melting chocolate.

We use countertop induction cookers for our cooking classes. They're great because ther's no flame, they don't require expensive fire-supression equipment. Their small size means they can be moved out of the way when not in use. Vollrath makes both 120 and 208 volt models. Email us for specs sheets if you would like more information.

Of course we sell induction-ready cookware. With perfectly flat bottoms and magnetic properties, this cookware is specially designed for induction ranages -- but it can also be used on any cooking surface. Vollrath's Intrigue and Tribute lines offer great induction-ready pieces. We also carry induction ready cookware from Update and All-Clad.

Choosing a Cooking Surface

When you choose restaurant grade cookware for your home, you are likely making a choice for life. Studies show that the average American changes residences every seven years.* With that in mind, you will be taking your Restaurant Store pots and pans to three, four or even five new homes before you feel like replacing them.

Pans come in so many types, sizes and finishes, the number of choices can be overwhelming, and we sell some of the best pans available. To keep this simple, I want to discuss the three basic finishes available in most standard restaurant-grade frying pans: Stainless Steel, Hardcoat Aluminum and Non-Stick. All of these pans come with an aluminum core for even heating and exceptional heat retention.

Stainless Steel is the classic surface. When used properly, stainless is easy to clean and beautiful to look at. Stainless can take a very high heat and will hold up well no matter what tools are used in the pan. many people consider stainless a more natural surface that does not impart any flavors or unwanted elements to the food being cooked. Vollrath's Tribute line is an excellent all around chef's fry pan, while their Intrigue line is both functional and beautiful to look at.

Hardcoat Aluminum is a hardened, non-pourus and non-reactive aluminum surface that does not warp, scratch or impart flavors like standard grade aluminum. Great for browning and frying, but still easy to clean. Lincoln's Hardcoat line is available in 5 sizes fron 7 to 14 inches. Lincoln also offers hardcoat in their sauce pans, stock pots and other cookware.

Non-stick surfaces have come a long way since they were introduced to cookware in 1961*. Today's professional strength non-stick coatings, like Vollrath's SteelCoat x3 and Lincoln's Wear-Guard allows excellent release properties whle cooking with little oil. For an even more durable non-stick coating we recommend, Lincoln's CeramicGuard II or Vollrath's PowerCoat2. Ceramic provides superior strength when used with metal utensils.

Another thing to consider is the handle design. All of these pans are designed with comfortable, well-balanced, ergonomic handles; think about flipping a hundred omelets a day without fatigue on the wrist. There are basically two types of handles: traditional bare metal, and soft coated handles. Vollrath's black "GatorGrip" handles are permanently bonded to the surface which means they cannot slide off and they will not trap food debris. The Lincoln "Cool Handles" are blue and are easily removed for cleaning. Both handles are designed for high heat applications, allowing chefs to finish a dish in the oven.

We choose to sell Linclon-Wearever and Vollrath fry pans because our restaurant customers demand well-made and functional pans that will hold up for years of service. While we think a well-crafted pan is a beautiful object, these pans are designed for cooking -- not for winning beauty contests like some department store cookware.

I hope you have a better understanding of the types pan surfaces available. There are many others (cast iron, carbon steel, and others). But the three mentioned above are used in most commercial kitchens and would be a useful addition to yours.

A Power Shower for your Dishes

We're into home remodeling in the Keys -- just like everyone else.

True, a "fixer-upper' in Old Town might run you $1 million plus. That hasn't put a dent in the number of projects. Walk around Old Town, and you will see at least one home on every block is in the process of being remodeled.

Kitchens and baths are still the most popular rooms chosen for a makeover, and we have helped a lot of home owners install commercial upgrades to their home kitchens.. Fixtures are always at the top if the wish list -- commercial cooktops and stoves -- maybe a restaurant-quality refrigerator.

Looking back at the kitchen remodel we did in our home four years ago, the one item that has made the biggest impact on us, is also the one that gets the most compliments when guests come over -- our T & S Brass Pre-Rinse Unit.

If you have ever worked the dish line at restaurant, you know what this is. If you've never had that joy, let me explain: a Pre-Rinse Unit is like a Power Shower for your dishes. Nothing works better for blasting away food and grease from pots, pans and dishes. Cleaning up after a large dinner party, now takes only a few minutes. Here's Alice in our kitchen with our Pre-Rinse Unit.

The T & S line is functional and attractive. They have set the quality standard in the industry for almost 50 years. Their castings are heavier commercial grade for quality and durability -- you can see and feel the difference. Every product is inspected, not just a random sampling. And they are made with pride in the United States.

Pre-Rinse Units come in a variety of configurations, with bypasses and extra faucets. They can be mounted on the wall or deck mounted to standard 8 inch openings. Unless you know exactly what you want it is best to call us at 800-469-7510 and we can work on a set that will work best for you.

So on your next remodeling project -- don't put the fancy shower in the bathroom. Think about adding one to the kitchen sink.