I do use my Breville full size all the time and my food processor not so much- but that's how my husband and I cook.

Williams Sonoma is carrying Picardie again according to their latest catalog!

The prices are already lower than retail, and for now they're offering an additional 20%. I'm not sure where you got the impression of a second 20%. I've ordered several pieces over the years, just ordered a couple more. I always wait for the 20% off sale, and have always been pleased with what I received.

Cook's Illustrator's Technivorm review from 9/2008: "The Technivorm’s price tag is high, but its consistently full-flavored, smooth brew—made with all the convenience of that old Mr. Coffee—will pay for itself when you start skipping a few trips to Starbucks." “Fast, very simple to operate. Tasters described coffee as a dynamic and clean cup, flavorful and expressive,” “very good; robust but smooth.” Achieved perfect temperatures for brewing and serving and was the closest of all the coffee makers to reaching the ideal brewing time. Pieces disassemble easily for cleaning. Though not programmable, this machine was so fast and easy to use, we didn’t mind.'
We like it a lot, though we would like a removable water reservoir.

Yup. Exquisite. Thanks for the recommendation!

http://www.homeclick.com/web/catalog/product_detail.aspx?pid=193666&cid=HC:EM:0154- nice looking but expensive electric grill.
http://www.homeclick.com/web/catalog/... another one less expensive but still expensive.

The Villaware grill stone works very well!

I've been wanting that one with the lid, too, and stop myself because of the cost and fear of cleaning it. Anyone have any experience with it yet?

We have had a Dacor for 1 1/2 years now of heavy use, and like it very much. It's attractive, I like the little blue lights on the knobs that let you know when a burner is lit (especially when the burner is on simmer- you can't see the flame), and it's easy to keep clean, though the area around the knobs scratches easily. The layout of the burners is good.

I love mine- 2 long and 1 short on a hardwood floor. At fist I was worried about durability or them getting cut, but they have held up perfectly in 1 1/2 years hard use. Very easy to clean and very nice for the feet, plus nice looking. No smell, either.

We have had the Vita-Mix Super 5000 for 2+ years, and use it at least twice daily. We got the 32oz compact container, which is ample for us. Love it- much more powerful than our old blenders.

Penzey's is opening soon on LaSalle road in West Hartford!

jfood, man (or dog, whichever) of good taste, have faith that you bake a lot of humor and wisdom into your posts, hence your readers. Thanks!

We just came home from Applebrook Farms, and are most pleased. Wonderful cider, and the donuts are super, even if they aren't made on the premises. Tom said they are made to their specifications, and he also spoke with us about how he makes their cider. Worth the trip!

The Harvest in Simsbury is very, very good- we went there for the first time today thanks to the recommendation here, and were so pleased. Thanks for the suggestion!

Yup, they are expensive, but I guess for the most part you get what you pay for. For me, aesthetics, sturdiness, and ease of care are highly important, and the gel mats have all.

Thanks for the info! They are out of the 17 oz size. Link- http://www.worldmarket.com/kitchen-ta...

I'm another vote for the "terrific" camp- we have had them in our kitchen for over a year now with three dogs and a cat. They are so comfortable, clean in a snap, and show no signs of wear. No discoloring of the hardwood floor underneath, either. They are very durable- a concern I had when we first got them, but then we haven't dropped any knives on them, either.

Please keep topics appetizing, as this is a foodie site. I do not need Daniel Duane's musings about travails over Peru, especially splashed (no pun intended) on each and every page.
Thank you.

http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/ has a new subscription for their website, $9.95 for magazine subscribers. I've been a subscriber to the magazine for years and like it a lot, in addition to Cook's Illustrated. I also like Epicurious, and, of course, CH!

jfood, you are something else, you are. I love your thinking process behind as well as your writing. Thanks for your contributions...

http://www.popcornlovers.com - very good popcorn and lots of varieties. What a neat idea for your dad!

Trader Joe's has a good frozen dough that I add chopped nuts to (pressed into the top of the dough round), but from scratch just are the best. I make the dough into logs and freeze them, then thaw, slice and bake.

Thank you!

So why can't you just turn your kitchen ;-)? We use our spatter screens (large and small) and wouldn't be without them. CI recommends the Amco Splatter Screen 13", which was the one we had before the rating so I didn't have to trot out and get a new one (gotta have the best, after all).

Hello, liu! I think our Amana is identical to your Kitchenaid, just different labels on the front. What we did was remove one of the inside shelves to provide more tall storage. We also like the door bins.

http://www.chow.com/topics/313460 is a recent thread regarding french door refrigerators. We have had an Amana regular depth for a year now, and love its convenience and ease of use. Ours has the inside ice tray and water dispenser, which is fine for the two of us and looks nicer on the outside IMO. Side-by-sides seem so awkward to me now.

The VitaMix has a smaller 32oz container container, which makes the whole unit short enough to fit under kitchen cabinets, so ours is permanently out on the counter. Talk about light smooth smoothies, and it's the first unit we've had that stands up to the use we give a blender. Yup, it does sound like a plane taking off, but oh well. Results are worth it.

Can't do lobster if she keeps kosher. Some other possibilities- cheese graters, salt and pepper mills, good quality cooking utensils.

Here's another link for recipes- it's on the commercial side of the Vitamix site- http://www.vitamix.com/foodservice/recipes/beverage.asp . There's also a Yahoo group- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vitamix... that I find helpful. I do like how it bangs seeds and skins so smooth- I need the fiber.