La Pavoni Professional PBB-16 Espresso Machine Black Base Review

This is my fourth espresso machine. I bought it after the La Pavoni "Carina" (that I bought from Zabars) started to get unreliable, and I decided I'd rather replace it than to put more money into the Carina ... and still face a week or two of drip coffee.

While it is amusing how very little different the Professional and the 'Toy' models look, there is a big difference in performance. The Carina takes a very long time to heat up; this Carina Grande (which is what La Pavoni calls this black-base Professional model) takes five minutes. The Carina generates more steam pressure than a cheap automatic espresso machine, but the Carina Grande generates more steam pressure than the Carina. The result is that I get a better cup of espresso, with less need to plan ahead.

The machine is a little quirky. When you turn it on, it vents a bit of steam from the over-pressure valve before it makes a thtip sound and the pressure starts mounting. It's not very consistent about how long it will vent. If the water level is much below half-full, it may keep venting and not start building pressure.

I think the bottom line with La Pavoni is you get a really gorgeous Chrome Peacock that makes truly great espresso, but the workmanship is a bit uneven and you certainly shouldn't expect Japanese-car levels of reliability.

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Product Description:
Europiccola Italian made espresso maker features are many, including a 38 ounce boiler capacity.Makes 16, 2 ounce cups of espresso.It has a dual frothing cappuccino system andinternal thermostat to control pressure.It also has a mounted pressure g

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Lekue Silicone 9-Inch Cake Pan Review

I don't know why, but I held out from buying silicone pans until recently. Then I purchased a specialty pan and was hooked! The cake pan fits nicely in my GE Advantium oven so I don't need to heat up the entire kitchen. The baked goods come out extra moist and the clean-up is a breeze.

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Product Description:
Throw out your old tin pans! The future of bakeware has arrived!
The Lekue Silicone Layer Cake Pan helps you bake the cake of your dreams! Made from Lekue?s patented silicone material, this 9" diameter Layer Cake Pan is ultra-durable, flexible, dishwasher and freezer safe, and can withstand oven temperatures up to 500?F (260?C)! Simply fill the pan with batter and place it in the oven! The Lekue pan cooks just like any conventional metal baking pan, only better! Your cakes will cook more evenly, and cleanup is a breeze! Made in Spain and used by chefs around the world, Leuke bakeware is leading the silicone cookware revolution. This 9" Layer Cake Pan will make an excellent addition to any modern kitchen and a great gift for your favorite chef!

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Stainless Steel Wide Mouth Funnel - 5" Review

Great funnel. I use it for packaging fine powders and it works extremely well. I really like the polished interior surface.

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Product Description:
Funnel, 5', wide mouth, stainless steel, Funnel by Winco. WINCO is a manufacturer and worldwide importer of kitchenware and tableware. From cookware to flatware, we are dedicated to provide professional chefs and restaurateurs with quality products and superb services.

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Global 5-Inch Cook's Knife Review

For many people it probably is.
I've had this knife for nine years now, and I also have a full set of Global knives, but this little beauty is the one I reach for most often.
Why?
Because it is superbly sharp,lightweight in the hand and well balanced.Unlike those huge kitchen knives you see on tv cooking programmes,this knife is small enough to be easily manipulated, but large enough to tackle all routine kitchen duties. The 5" blade is long enough for almost all kitchen tasks, but short emough to give the user complete control.
Like all Global knives the GS 3 is SHARP !!!.Try chopping up vegetables, or slicing tomatoes or potatoes.The knife just glides through as if the veges were cooked.
This superb Japanese knife is streets ahead of European knives.
To maintain the blade, I recommend using a ceramic sharpening rod, made by Global (or Kyocera, which is cheaper). Every few months the blade will need resharpening.You can do thisyourself, using Japanese waterstones (King, or Shapton,or Norton in grit sizes 1000 up to 8000) and cheap Mino Sharp guides to maintain the edge angle (check my other reviews for more details).
If you can't be bothered doing this yourself,take it to a competent expert knife sharpener and tell him you need a 12 to 15 degree angle on the edge.

addendum:- since writing this review I have purchased other Japanese kitchen knives from japanesechefsknivesdotcom, and the Hiromoto AS carbon steel knives are even better.

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Product Description:
This 5.25-in. Utility Knife is hardworking.Excellent for preparing snack, sandwiches or salads.Great all purpose knife for those with small hands or those that feel more confident working with shorter blades.Loved by professional chefs around the world, Global knives are an excellent choice for the serious home cook.The thin and razor sharp Global blade allows the cook to cleanly slice through foods, preserving the integrity of the ingredient and maximizing its flavor.The majority of Global knives are ground to a straight point rather than the western style of beveling the edge. To balance their knives Global uses a hollow handle that is filled with just the right amount of sand to create the correct balance. The handle has its own unique darkened dimples for a non-slip grip.Because the knives are very light weight they reduce hand fatigue.Global knives have a smooth contour and seamless, all stainless construction that eliminates food and dirt traps.Global knifes are forged in Japan from CROMOVA 18 Stainless Steel, a blend of 18 percent chromium for good stain resistance plus molybdenum and vanadium which gives excellent edge retention.

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Corelle Coordinates Thymeless Herbs Melamine Tidbit Tray Review

I am highly pleased with this Corelle product.When I first saw this pattern a few years ago, I was inspired to embrace the "herbal" design and look for my dream kitchen. The soft sage green, ivory/cream along with the lavender and yellow add "punch" to the color scheme.Corelle lives up to its durability and I highly recommend its products for either that everyday or special occasion use.

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Product Description:
Like dining in the midst of a beautifully fragrant herb garden, the Thymeless Herbs collection soothes and inspires

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Calphalon One Nonstick 12-Inch Glass Lid Review

While the Calphalon lids are rugged, they can be broken.This lid was purchased to replace one which shattered from thermal shock.Amazon offered the best price and the lid was delivered in 2 days.I couldn't ask for better service.

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Product Description:
Add a glass lid to your 12-inch Calphalon One Nonstick series pots and pans so you can easily tell with one glance when a soup is coming to a boil or braised meat has been browned. It's made of tempered glass, which has undergone a special heat-treating and cooling process to strengthen the glass. It features a domed construction, which helps moisture from cooking return to the food below more evenly. This glass lid will fit the Calphalon One 5-quart saute pan the 12-inch omelette pan. It will also fit the model numbers 5005 and 1392 in the following Calphalon lines: Commercial Nonstick, Commercial Hard Anodized, Professional Hard Anodized, Professional Nonstick and Professional Nonstick II.

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MIU 3-Piece Stainless-Steel Bowl Set with Lids, Red Review

I picked these out for my birthday and hubby purchased them for me. The lids do not fit well. So poorly, in fact, that the lids just come off by picking up the bowls and moving them. I filled one bowl with water, put the lid on, and held the lid on with both hands. I turned it upside down over the sink and the water just poured out, even with me trying to hold the lid on. They just don't fit at all. I do really like the look and sizes of the bowls. The rubber bottoms work well to keep the bowls from sliding around.

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Product Description:
Set of three 18/10 stainless steel bowls have a blue silicone base that grips countertop or table for easier mixing. Includes blue snap-on lids for convenient storage. Includes 2.5, 3.5 and 6-quart bowls, each with a red lid.

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