Long time KitchenBoy reader Ines S. sent me an email to tell me about a great kitchen and culinary shop in Los Angeles, California, called Surfas Restaurant Supply and Gourmet Food.
To quote Ines, “It has gourmet food and all kinds of kitchen equipment, for restaurants and the home cook.”
And Yelp users have a great opinion as well, with comments like:
Rodney H. – “This is one store that I can aimlessly walk around in for hours.”
Brian U. – “If you’re serious about cooking supplies, this is the place. Forget the cutesy kitchen gadgets and the homey decorative place settings. This place delivers substance, not froth. It’s part commercial supply store and part unique epicurean food.”
Michael S. – “Surfas is like a foodie field trip, a camp for wanna-be chefs, and a getway for gourmets all rolled into one. Oh, and it’s a store … a great store … for finding all the equipment, tools, and ingredients you need for cooking … and dozens you don’t, but just want because they’re cool and maybe “someday” you’ll need them.”
Surfas photo - From Yelp user Harry H.
Surfas photo - From Yelp use Elana R.
With comments like this, who wouldn’t want to spend time here?!?
In business since 1937, Surfas does seem to be the “go to” place for everything from hard to find cooking tools and gadgets, to gourmet foods and cooking classes. From their Facebook page, “A ‘Paradise Found’ for the professional chef or food enthusiast. Spend the day shopping for olive oils, chocolate or artisanal cheeses. Surfas is also the source for quality cookware or equipment for both the professional and serious food lover”
Their online shopping experience is found at CulinaryDistrict.com.
Surfas is located at 8777 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
Their hours are: Monday – Saturday 9am to 6:00pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm
I know the next time I am in L.A., I will make a beeline to Surfas!
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Housewares Design Awards Gala 2012
I was honored to attend the 9th Annual Housewares Design Awards Gala in New York. The event was hosted by Home World Business, in partnership with the New York International Gift Fair, Whitford and International Housewares Association (IHA). The Gala luncheon honors functional innovation and creative design in various houseware categories. Over 300 products were submitted for consideration; to be eligible for the award, the products must have been introduced to the market between October 1, 2010 and September 30, 2011, and available for purchase by consumers by October 1, 2011 – no prototypes were allowed. The judges – chosen by the International Housewares Association – consisted of houseware designers, retail leaders and media members and are prevented from judging or evaluating products with which they may have some affiliation. The judges considered aesthetics, innovative materials and technology, user benefits (i.e. performance, comfort, ease of use, safety) and market response. The judges tested and graded each product over an intensive multi-day period. Five finalists in 13 categories were chosen and the winners announced at the Gala.
Nordic Ware 2012 Cookware
Nordic Ware, a family-owned American kitchenware manufacturer, is a familiar name to any avid baker. Founded in 1946, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, they have been manufacturing an extensive line of cookware, bakeware, microwave and barbecue products for the last 60-plus years.
Nordic Ware’s first products were ethnic bakeware such as Rosette Iron, Ebleskiver Pan and Krumkake Iron, but it is best known for its Bundt Pan. The company cites there are nearly 60 million Bundt pans in kitchens across America. Nordic Ware, has also become a leader in microwave cookware, first with the patented Micro-Go-Round (the automated food rotator), then expanding to include over 50 microwave accessories. So respected are their microwave products that my new GE microwave has instructions for cooking and steaming foods in the Nordic Ware Microwave Rice Cooker.
ProCast Traditions
Nordic Ware is introducing a line of cookware and bakeware called ProCast Traditions. These pans are enamel coated cast aluminum that upon first glance look like Dutch or French ovens, often called cocottes. On display at the show were also a low sided, round braiser and mini-cocottes. As I said, they look like cast iron ovens from any of the known brand name companies, but the first difference you note is how light they are – surprisingly so. When I lifted the pans, I was expecting a certain amount of weight so exerted proper force and in so doing the pan shot up in the air. I almost lost control of the pan and felt kinda stupid fumbling to maintain control.
Noridcware ProCast Traditions
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Capresso Updates 2012
I don’t know whether people are familiar with the Capresso brand, but it is a brand you should be aware of if you are a fan of coffee or tea. In 1994, Capresso was launched by Michael Kramm, former president of Krups USA, to serve a specific purpose: provide innovative coffee and espresso machines for those who want the best. After popularizing high-end coffee makers and the home espresso market for more than 20 years it was time to develop machines which cater to the sophisticated American coffee connoisseur.
In 2002, Jura AG, founded in 1931 in Switzerland, and Capresso Inc., joined forces to create Automatic Coffee Centers. These high-end machines bring cutting-edge and user friendly features to create machines capable of producing almost any type of coffee imaginable.
The Capresso brand has stayed true to its origins of being focused on American style coffee and tea. You won’t, as of this writing, find blenders or mixers or other kitchen appliances, only coffee or tea related, and the focus is evident in the quality of their products.
Froth Plus
The first item that is updated for this year is the frothPlus Automatic Milk Frother. This device has one purpose, to heat and froth milk for coffee or tea drinks. This newest version has some interesting upgrades including a sleek new design and a clear pitcher so you can more easily see what is happening as the milk froths. The pitcher, which will hold 8 ounces of liquid for frothing and 12 ounces for heating only, is made of BPA-free plastic and is dishwasher safe.
Click to buy
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Fagor New For 2012
Fagor is not a name most Americans are familiar with, but one that we will no doubt continue to hear more about. The official company – Fagor Electrodomesticos – which is based in Spain, is the fifth largest appliance manufacturer in Europe, the leading appliance manufacturer in both Spain and France, and the #1 built-in induction cooktop producer in the world. Fagor products bring together European style with a focus on Eco-friendly living.
Fagor America Inc., headquartered in Lyndhurst, NJ is the US based subsidiary of Fagor Electrodomesticos. The Fagor North American line consists of pressure cookers, small electrics, specialty cookware, canning supplies, cooking accessories and major appliances.
Healthy Squeeze Slow Juicer
The newest offering for Fagor in 2012 is the Healthy Squeeze Slow Juicer. It is a vertical masticating juicer, a style that more and more companies are calling slow juicers. The idea is that the food is slowly and gently “chewed” to squeeze juice, preserving more of the natural vitamins and anti-oxidants for a more nutritious drink.
This machine uses 150 watts of energy and runs on a lower RPM than traditional high speed or centrifugal juicers. It is quieter in comparison to its predecessors. It is a fairly light weight machine and like others of this style, doesn’t have a big foot print.
It comes apart for easy cleaning which is as easy as rinsing the parts with water between juicing. The auger and filter use an FDA approved material called ULTEM, which is food safe & BPA-free.
