Cooking Ingredients and Hardware
High Quality Ingredients
Obviously there is no subsitute for high quality fresh organic ingredients. Places that have proven themselves over time for certain things include the following:
Farmers To You
provides fresh sustainably grown product, meat, and grains to Boston area residents who are seeking locally grown, organic food - excellent leafy greens, carrots, chicken, goat kefir, etc.
Hutchins Farm - Concord, MA
fresh produce
Debra's Natural Gourmet - Concord, MA
noted for organic whole grains selection & Bariani Olive Oil
The Reluctant Trading Experiment
noted for Organic Tellicherry Black Whole Peppercorns
Maine Grains
noted for organic oat groats
North Bay Trading Co.
Canadian Organic Wild Rice
"naturally grown and wild harvested in Canada's pristine northern lakes"
ThriveMarket.com
noted for organic whole grains selection
Nuts.com
noted for a good array of organic nuts
Bariani Olive Oil
Early Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar
(NOTE: This balsamic vinegar is good for everyday use. However for the ultimate there is 75 year old balsamic vinegar, though if you can find it from a trust source it would be quite expensive. Alternatively for something presumably easier to find and a bit less dear there is also 50 year old balsamic vinegar.)
Bella VadoOrganic California Avocado Oil
Whole Foods
noted for organic fresh fruits & vegetables
bulk organic mushrooms
organic asparagus
organic avacados
Wegman's noted for fresh wild fish organic asparagus
Wegman's noted for fresh wild fish organic asparagus
High Quality Kitchen Hardware Clad Stainless Steel
Unlike Copper with Stainless Steel lining or Cast Iron pans, Clad Stainless Steel pans are easier to use and care for. Also unlike nonstick pans, these pans will last a lifetime.
Note: For high heat use, a Cast Iron pan or a Carbon Steel Wok are better suited. Other than that a high quality Clad Stainless Steel pan pretty much does it all with the least amount of maintenance.
Demeyere - (works with gas, electric & induction)Proline 5 Frying Pan/Skillet
7-Ply Material construction with aluminium/aluminum alloy core w/TriplInduc base for use on induction - 18/10 Stainless Steel, 4.8 mm/0.19” thick - revised design with sealed edge - with no rivets protruding thru to Silvinox cooking surface7.9" 20 cm9.4" 24 cm11" / 28 cm12.6" / 32 cm - (cooking surface diameter: 26 cm / 10.2'')Though they are heavy, these are excellent pans with a bit better heat distribution than Multi-Line.
Apollo MultiLine 5 Frying Pans 7-Ply construction. sealed edge, 3.3 mm / 0.12'' thick12.6" / 32 cm - (cooking surface diameter: 26 cm / 10.2'')Not as heavy as Proline 5 for better, easier handling. In practice not really much different than Proline 5 in terms of cooking.
Demeyere glass lids to fit the above Demeyere Fry Pans are available from Berondi.com9.4" 24 cm - Part No# 652411" / 28 cm - Part No# 652812.6" / 32 cm - Part No# 6532
Apollo MultiLine 5 Frying Pans 7-Ply construction. sealed edge, 3.3 mm / 0.12'' thick12.6" / 32 cm - (cooking surface diameter: 26 cm / 10.2'')Not as heavy as Proline 5 for better, easier handling. In practice not really much different than Proline 5 in terms of cooking.
Demeyere glass lids to fit the above Demeyere Fry Pans are available from Berondi.com9.4" 24 cm - Part No# 652411" / 28 cm - Part No# 652812.6" / 32 cm - Part No# 6532
High Quality Kitchen Hardware
Copper with Stainless Steel interior lining
Matfer Bourgeat
Frying Pan - 2.5mm thick copper lined with 0.1mm thick stainless steel - (works with gas & electric)
9.5"
11"
Flared Saute Pan w/Lid - 2.5mm thick copper lined with stainless steel - (works with gas & electric)
6 1/4"
7 7/8"
9.5"
11"
Stainless Steel Roasting Pan with handles - three sizes
17" x 13 3/4 x 3 1/2"
20 7/8 x 17" x 3 1/2"
24 3/4 x 20 1/8" x 4 7/8""
Mauviel Copper Pans w/stainless steel liner (works with gas & electric)
saute/fry pans - 2.5mm thick copper lined with 18/10 stainless steel - (works with gas & electric)
saute/fry pans - 1.5mm thick copper lined with 18/10 stainless steel - (works with gas & electric)
Falk Copper Pans w/stainless steel liner (works with gas & electric)
Classical saute/fry pans - 2.3mm copper with 0.2mm 18/8 stainless steel
Signature saute/fry pans - 2.3mm copper with 0.2mm 18/8 stainless steel
High Quality Kitchen Hardware
Copper Core with Stainless Steel exterior & interior lining
Falk Copper Coeur - (works with gas, electric, and induction)
Three layer pans: 0.2mm stainless steel interior lining with a 1.9mm thick copper core. The exterior has a 0.4mm ferritic stainless steel exterior that makes it compatible with induction ranges. The handles are tainelss steel. However a theoretical potential drawback is the edge is not sealed with stainless steel as the revised Demeyere Clad Stainless pans now are, as you can see the copper sandwich construction exposed. That being said, this may or may not be a drawback in actual use.
Kitchen Knives
Japanese Chefs KnifeThis site offers an incredible array of Stainless Steel, Carbon Steel, and Powdered Tool Steel kitchen knives. Indeed the site states that there are over 2000 different models available in both Japanese and Western styles.
LamsonThis site features a variety of kitchen knives made in the US utilizing high-carbon forged stainless steel from Solingen, Germany.
Slotted Spatula
Also known as a Fish Spatula, this is a well-balanced lightweight turner with an angled curved edge. Depending on what you are turning, it can be used right side up or upside down.
Wüsthof Item# 4433 - (In use this has proven to be excellent.)
Wüsthof Item# 9035092117 - (This appears to be a new model replacing the # 4433)
Pressure Cooker
Instant Pot (programmable pressure cooker/multi-cooker)Duo Evo Plus - 6 quart & 8 quart - (recommended model as of 2021)excellent for brown rice, oat groats, quinoa and other grains, etc.