Anyone who would pay $166.25 for a couple Luger steaks, and then "slather" the (otherwise-lovely-on-sliced-tomatoes) sauce over top, should be dropped out a window.

By big o on August 11, 2008 07:14 AM

Cool. The only word that comes to mind.

By takiuzbek on August 1, 2008 03:41 PM

The Paulette macarons look wonderful, but why list them in an online gift guide when they can only be purchased in the shop (in Beverly Hills)? Yes, you can order them online - for pickup in the shop. Not much use to most of us, Chow editors!

By Allstonian on July 20, 2008 05:42 AM

The Jeni's Ice Cream is a MUST! I live in Columbus where they are based and I love to stop in for a scoop any chance I get. I would recommend anything in the signature nine flavors but be sure to look over her awesome seasonal flavors as well. Especially enjoy: Passion Fruit Yogurt, Grapefruit and Hibiscus Yogurt, Riesling Poached Pear Sorbet, also, if they have the Lemon Yogurt with Blueberry...+READ

The Jeni's Ice Cream is a MUST! I live in Columbus where they are based and I love to stop in for a scoop any chance I get. I would recommend anything in the signature nine flavors but be sure to look over her awesome seasonal flavors as well. Especially enjoy: Passion Fruit Yogurt, Grapefruit and Hibiscus Yogurt, Riesling Poached Pear Sorbet, also, if they have the Lemon Yogurt with Blueberry Sauce, or the Sweet Corn with Black Berry Sauce, amazing! Enjoy!-COLLAPSE

By emi683 on July 9, 2008 08:11 AM

hi , any one would kindly help me?
I live in Maryland (move from Indonesia) since March 2006.
I need info where could I find or shop via online/internet and ship to me Indonesian spice/cooking/rempah?
Thanks

By ayupowell on July 6, 2008 05:49 PM

I really want to buy the 2 Peter Luger steaks and sauce for $166.25. How do you spell s-u-c-k-e-r.

By foodie2424 on June 23, 2008 02:29 PM

I feel compelled to step in here and say that while danieljdwyer's wording was a little harsher than I'd say is fair, there's nothing wrong with holding a business accountable for proving their product. You're right that application is everything dongwan, and Lotus doesn't seem to do anything on their website to defend this application of what can be a dangerous substance. It doesn't help that...+READ

I feel compelled to step in here and say that while danieljdwyer's wording was a little harsher than I'd say is fair, there's nothing wrong with holding a business accountable for proving their product. You're right that application is everything dongwan, and Lotus doesn't seem to do anything on their website to defend this application of what can be a dangerous substance. It doesn't help that they've decided on a Ronco like marketing approach. If ozone is so trustworthy, why call it "super-oxygen". Sounds like you're trying to convince 5th graders to take their medicine.-COLLAPSE

By sandwichguy on June 13, 2008 11:34 AM

Daniel,

Prior to flaming on someones product, you might want to be a bit more thorough in your research. Ozone (while dangerous to the lungs in high concentrations) also protects you and I from excessive sunburn; it is one of the strongest oxidation agents available and is very commonly used (in closely monitored doses) for groundwater, drinking water, process water, and HVAC applications;...+READ

Daniel,

Prior to flaming on someones product, you might want to be a bit more thorough in your research. Ozone (while dangerous to the lungs in high concentrations) also protects you and I from excessive sunburn; it is one of the strongest oxidation agents available and is very commonly used (in closely monitored doses) for groundwater, drinking water, process water, and HVAC applications; Ozone has been used for the better part of the last century in Europe for the sterilization of their water supplies (with a great safety record), as it creates less byproducts than our current methods of sterilization via chlorine or chloramine; Ozone and UV light which generates ozone, are used everyday in food production to sterilize food products prior to market, and when they're not -- we have E coli outbreaks in tomatoes or spinach that come from from poorly sterilized products. Wouldn't really want to have your organic vegetables bathed in chlorinated water before they were shipped to you, would you? So, application is everything. Ask questions. Don't just assume that its bad for you because your chemistry teacher taught you so, and/or the EPA or FDA told you so -- they've served us so well to date, right? And with regards to chlorine, are you aware that it was used to poison millions of jews during WWII? Great stuff. And you inhale a fair amount of it every time you take a shower -- so maybe you shouldn't do that any more?-COLLAPSE

By donqwan on June 13, 2008 09:51 AM

micheleanne, or Steve Hengsperger - You might want to consider putting an explanation at least that thorough (preferably a bit more thorough) more prominently on your website. While it may be innocuous in this application, ozone can be a dangerous substance. A near complete lack of detail or scientific explanation isn't going to do much to dispel the doubts of the inquisitive. Given that ozone is...+READ

micheleanne, or Steve Hengsperger - You might want to consider putting an explanation at least that thorough (preferably a bit more thorough) more prominently on your website. While it may be innocuous in this application, ozone can be a dangerous substance. A near complete lack of detail or scientific explanation isn't going to do much to dispel the doubts of the inquisitive. Given that ozone is dangerous to the respiratory and not the digestive system, stating that you'd drink it doesn't really say much. Rattlesnake venom is safe to drink too, but I wouldn't call it harmless. Saying you can swim in it doesn't prove much either, as hypochlorous acid is a fairly dangerous substance yet far more commonly used to disinfect swimming pools.
I'm confident that your product is as safe and effective as you claim. However, the explanation currently appearing prominently on your site is lacking and, frankly, lame. It just comes across as if there's something you're not telling us, and, given that it took all of five minutes to find a handful of EPA and FDA studies raising some doubts about both the safety and efficacy of ozone (even in an aqueous solution) as a disinfectant in consumer applications, your website did not inspire confidence. A little more information might get you a few more sales from those of us who learned in college chemistry, biology, or environmental science that ozone is a dangerous substance, and like to hear about the science behind things before dropping that much cash.-COLLAPSE

By danieljdwyer on June 12, 2008 12:25 PM

The Chemex coffee maker (listed in the under $50 section) is an old favorite. I bought mine a few years back (it was $39. at the time) and it's never let me down. The best coffee, and the most simple to use. If you buy one, select the blown model.

By JPerry on June 12, 2008 09:45 AM

If anyone is wondering if the Field Guide to Produce is anygood I just want to say that I've had it for the last 9 months and it's very useful regardless of if the fruit/veg your looking for in something you've never cooked before or if it's one you use every day.

By mippy on June 11, 2008 09:00 PM

From Steve Hengsperger, the inventor of the Lotus Sanitizing System:

First and foremost, I wouldn't drink water and bleach, but I would safely drink charged lotus water.

danieljdwyer is correct in saying that we are creating ozone in our system but when ozone is put in water, it doesn't have to be at very high concentrations to be effective. Ozone in water is far more effective, and perfectly...+READ

From Steve Hengsperger, the inventor of the Lotus Sanitizing System:

First and foremost, I wouldn't drink water and bleach, but I would safely drink charged lotus water.

danieljdwyer is correct in saying that we are creating ozone in our system but when ozone is put in water, it doesn't have to be at very high concentrations to be effective. Ozone in water is far more effective, and perfectly safe, when compared to ozone in air. Our system is EPA registered, which means we do kill 99.9%, or more, of bacteria and viruses on household surfaces, as well as on produce. (Bleach and water only removes 60%
of germs on an apple.)

This technology is used in hot tubs and swimming pools worldwide, and even Walt Disney World, Sea World and countless other water parks use this technology to eliminate chlorine from their pools. If Olympic athletes can swim in ozonated water (and if our kids can bath in it) for hours, you can only imagine how safe it is.

Also, you are incorrect on the solubility of ozone in water vs. oxygen. Your aerator on your tap pretty much puts as much oxygen as possible into the water whereas (in commercial systems) we can put up to 10ppm of ozone into the water. This amount is very rarely required and hence why the lotus infuses about 2 to 3ppm of ozone into the water, safely and effectively, without any residual leaking out to the environment, as testing to UL standards.-COLLAPSE

By micheleanne on June 11, 2008 04:25 PM

I too have a Sorapot, and while it takes a little getting used to, it's definitely not "crazy difficult" to use. That's to say nothing of its gorgeous design and construction- head and shoulders above your standard Bodum or Alessi. Teamuse is right that it's more of a beautiful vessel to serve guests than an everyday teapot. Whenever we have company, they always want to touch it and see what it...+READ

I too have a Sorapot, and while it takes a little getting used to, it's definitely not "crazy difficult" to use. That's to say nothing of its gorgeous design and construction- head and shoulders above your standard Bodum or Alessi. Teamuse is right that it's more of a beautiful vessel to serve guests than an everyday teapot. Whenever we have company, they always want to touch it and see what it is, and usually end up wanting one for themselves!-COLLAPSE

By MrTaz on June 11, 2008 02:53 PM

the sorapot is crazy difficult to manuever...it is a handsome pot, but should be left to the art collector it's definitely made to be used for very, very special occasions. definitely not practical! we have one in our office, and i've made the mistake of clamping my fingers in the hinge in the handle several times. my coworker has dropped the metal part on his foot as well. we're clumsy people!...+READ

the sorapot is crazy difficult to manuever...it is a handsome pot, but should be left to the art collector it's definitely made to be used for very, very special occasions. definitely not practical! we have one in our office, and i've made the mistake of clamping my fingers in the hinge in the handle several times. my coworker has dropped the metal part on his foot as well. we're clumsy people! ouchies!

Thank you for this gift guide! i'm updating my wish list today!-COLLAPSE

By teamuse on June 11, 2008 09:55 AM

I want to be a permanent member of the "Cowgirl Creamery Cheese Club". Oh my goodness!!

By bosun on June 10, 2008 01:24 PM

Though it's expensive, the KitchenAid mixer is awesome. My boyfriend's parents got me one for Christmas and I use it at least once a week for everything from whipping cream to kneading bread. It's the best gift I ever got.

By emgroff on June 10, 2008 07:44 AM

The explanation for the Lotus is pretty sketchy. The description here makes it sound as if it's turning the water into hydrogen peroxide, a rather nasty chemical.
The Lotus website's explanation, however, makes it sound more as if the system is converting the dissolved O2 molecules in the water into O3 molecules, better known as ozone, also a fairly nasty chemical.
The energy input listed on the...+READ

The explanation for the Lotus is pretty sketchy. The description here makes it sound as if it's turning the water into hydrogen peroxide, a rather nasty chemical.
The Lotus website's explanation, however, makes it sound more as if the system is converting the dissolved O2 molecules in the water into O3 molecules, better known as ozone, also a fairly nasty chemical.
The energy input listed on the website is fairly low for an O2 to O3 conversion. On top of that, O3 is considerably less water soluble than is O2, so it doesn't seem that this system could actually be infusing the water with a substantial enough level of ozone for effective sanitizing to occur.
Worse still, a high enough level of ozone to effectively santize would be no more innocuous than those "nasty chemical" cleaners you are probably using now. The major difference is that the ozone won't stick around long, hence its industrial applications such as food sanitizing (the ozone will disperse or break down in the time it takes for the food to go to market and be consumed).
High enough levels of ozone also smell really bad and cause an awful burning sensation in the nostrils (a prelude to the damage its doing to your lungs). Levels lower than that aren't going to kill nasty bacteria, viruses, or fungus.
It's kind of a neat idea, just keep in mind that water + ozone is no more "ordinary tap water" than is water + bleach.-COLLAPSE

By danieljdwyer on June 10, 2008 12:46 AM

By "this," I mean the Lotus Sanitizing System. I've told three other people about it already.

By reneeskiSF on June 9, 2008 01:07 PM