Overall Rating: ( 35 reviews )

1. Posted: Jul 25 2008

   This Brita product is great for those of us that drink a lot of water and hate filling up a regular Brita container. The main difference is that instead of taking the container out, you put your glass up to the spigot and fill up. The only negative is the space it takes up in the frig. For me, it is worth that space. Tony

2. Posted: Jul 25 2008

   Brita Ultramax Dispenser This is a wonderful product and saves you so much money. It's easy to use, you just keep filling it with water and it slowly goes through the filter providing you with great, filtered water whenever you want it. You can fill up bottles, ice cube trays, I could go on and on and it never costs any more money than the original purchase price. No more buying and carrying gallon bottles of filtered water. I have had mine for about a month and it's paid for itself over and over. You do have to replace the filter but it's good for gallons!!! before you do. I couldn't be more pleased with this item.

3. Posted: Jul 23 2008

   I also have one of the older models and have loved it for about 10 years...even the cats won't drink tap water anymore! I have purchased several for friends and family. I put it in the dishwasher about once a month and have had only sporadic problems with mold. It will definitely get you to drink more water.

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Overall Rating: ( 5 reviews )

1. ( 2 of 2 found this review helpful ) Posted: May 19 2007

   Over the years I have used a variety of cookware--aluminum bottomed stainless Revere Ware, Magnalite Professional, Calphalon, Calphalon Professional NonStick. When I finally had to throw out the last of my tattered collection, I started to look for some stainless cookware that would stand the test of time and offer performance to boot. I decided to splurge on this All-Clad Copper Core. One of the pieces I recieved was this 1 1/2 Quart saucepan. What a workhorse this one is! Rice to soup to lentils to barely to country gravy, it gets used! The most used of all my Copper Core is this little pot! Delighted to report that I am THRILLED with this expensive splurge! All-Clad is NOT about expensive hype and status, those these pans are beautifully made, instead they do everything cookware should, and have literally changed the way I cook. Having attended CIA and worked as a professional chef for a few years, I know the golden rule for food not sticking: preheat pan, add oil, let oil heat for 5-10 seconds, then add food. Using these guidelines with the Copper Core, nothing sticks! And I mean for some things, like omelets or fried eggs in the 10" frypan, the performance is as good as my brand new Calphalon NonStick was; when you can just slide omelets and fried eggs out of the pan without ANY sticking at all, why would you ever need Nonstick or Teflon based products?! However, these pans are also superbly capable of developing a fond on the pan bottom for deglazing and subsequent sauces; in fact I have had them give every last bit of the fond up when deglazed, almost cleaning the pan for me! That's the best thing about them--they do everything right. I am not sure if it's All-Clad propriety stainless "recipe" or what, but these pans are so amazing to be able to function on all levels from eggs sliding out with ZILCH sticking to chicken [...] sticking just enough to develop rich fond for complete deglazing, to the light and glazy fond from sauteed onions and garlic for developing a richer risotto when deglazed with wine. Mind you, this is partly about knowing some basic cooking principles, and these pans might not act so obligingly in non experienced hands, because when I read about people commenting on how everything sticks in their All-Clad stainless interior, I know it isn't All-Clad's fault, believe me! I have found the copper core very responsive and quick to adjust to temperature. Perhaps not as great as true copper pot and pans, but noticeably better than aluminum cores (Stainless line) or anodized aluminum (Magnalite Pro/Calphalon). These pans heat up and boil water faster than anything I have ever used, aside from true copper cookware, and when turning the heat down, or removing from burner, they also cool incredibly quickly. It's nice to have semi-copper performance with the ease of stainless steel clean-up. And this cookware does clean-up quickly and easily, particularly when using Barkeepers Friend. I use plastic and wooden utensils (no metal) and they still look almost brand new after several months. The copper band however does tarnish and discolor just as much and just as fast as a true copper pot or pan, so if you are fanatic, you will need to polish the tarnish away fairly often (at least every other week). However this is barely noticeable for us real world users, and Barkeepers friend does a good job of semi-polishing the copper (but it won't gleam). I know, I know, they are SO expensive. But honestly, if you know how to cook or want to learn with responsive cookware, I honestly feel this is a great investment. I am wholeheartedly thrilled that I made it and cannot recommend highly enough.

2. ( 2 of 3 found this review helpful ) Posted: Oct 2 2006

   What are you talking about? The picture is the same on the amazon site, the 7pc cookware set match the description. I've been using All-clad for over 10 yrs and it's the best cookware you can buy.

3. ( 10 of 11 found this review helpful ) Posted: Apr 26 2006

   I have been using this set since September'05 and I love it. It has been a great addition to my extensive Le Creuset collection. I like the 8-qt pot from this set. It is sizable and light! I love the look of my enormously large Le Creuset pots but who can move them every day? However, the smaller Le Creuset pots are still my favorite. I do not like (=hate) the Le Creuset skillets, except for the real nonstick skillets. The regular Le Creuset skillets (black coating on the inside) are useless. But I have been happily using the All-Clad skillets. In addition to the skillets from this set, I have a 12-inch All-Clad skillet. The quality of the USA-made All-Clad is great. But who came up with this combination of pots and skillets?! There are two lids of the same size in the set. I prefer the interchangeable lids. I think that the 8-qt pot should be taller and smaller in diameter, so that its lid would fit the 10-inch skillet. Otherwise, all items in this set are practical. For cleaning, especially after high-heat frying, just soak the skillets in warm water for 5-10 min, then scrub briefly with a plastic scrub brush to loosen any large pieces of food and follow with the Bar Keepers Friend cleanser & polisher (powder, the liquid cleanser is useless). "The Friend" won't scratch the surface and the pots and skillets would look like new again except for the copper strip. Do not even bother cleaning the copper strip. It looks fine "weathered". And do not forget to towel dry to avoid the water spots!

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Overall Rating: ( 5 reviews )

1. ( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Nov 7 2006

   I recently purchased a Henckels Pro S 7 piece knife set for my wife on her birthday. It has proved to be an absolute winner! All of the reviews I read about the product has been right-on. The knives do their job the way they have been advertised to do. I am extremely happy with this purchase.

2. ( 9 of 9 found this review helpful ) Posted: Dec 18 2005

   I bought the 4-Star set, and instantly returned it and got the Pro-S instead. I was dissapointed with the handles of the 4-Star, the plastic (IMHO) diminished the aesthetics and the "feel" of the knives. I learned that the 4-Star's "full rat tail tang" is very different than a true "full tang" found in the Pro-S. The rat tail tang reduced the weight and the sense of handling that I eventually ended up getting from the Pro-S series handle style (full tang, riveted, and heavier). I like seeing the tang! The blades in both of course are superb - but if you like a heavier handle and if you like to "see" the full tang (the rat tail tang is embedded/invisible in the plastic handle of the 4-star) go for the Pro-S. Best to actually hold and compare both styles before you order. I have a friend who loves the lighter plastic handle, so I guess its a matter of personal preference. PS - the Pro-S was only $20 more (I got it on sale, but even when not on sale they are comparable). I DID like getting the Santoku with the 4-star (but it was the small 5 inch one rather than the 7 inch). The Pro-S does not come with the Santoku, so I will have to buy one............

3. ( 26 of 26 found this review helpful ) Posted: Jan 21 2005

   Got my Pro "S" 7pc. set for Christmas and haven't looked back. In the course of researching the 4- and 5-star and Pro "S" knives, I was informed that the only difference is the handle material. The Pro "S" is the same as the 4-star with a more durable material for the handle. At an additional $20 cost for the whole set, it seemed worth it. Anyhow, these knives make short, EASY work of anything. I love the paring knife...cloves of garlic submit from a mile away, slicing small things is like cutting through a cloud. The chef's knife is fantastic. I was a little miffed when I read that the 4-star set had the Santoku, but I'm not terrribly worried. For chopping "billowy" stuff like cilantro bunches, etc., the pronounced "rocking" action of the chef's knife is clearly preferable to me. The boning knife does it's job well and I prefer it for butterflying steaks, chops, cutlets, etc. The utility knife does a fine job on tomatoes, bagels, etc. The scissors I haven't used much yet...not sure what to use it for besides snipping the string off of butcher packages. They are silky smooth to use, though. All in all, I am very happy I have this set. My sisters have the $60-ish Fine Edge Henckels International set which is terrible...they HAVE been using it on a GLASS cutting board (!) but really they ought to perform better than the pulling and ripping I had to do last night with some red peppers. These knives are FAR AND AWAY in a different league than those and I couldn't be happier. Got my Polypropylene cutting board and I am off to the races.

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Overall Rating: ( 6 reviews )

1. Posted: Jan 8 2008

   Don't let some of these negative reviews get you down .. these are GREAT knives! Prior to purchasing these knives I read the various reviews .. I find Amazon Reviews very helpful! My daughter in law has the Wusthof but I wasn't sure I was willing to pay quite that price since I don't cook as much as she does with her larger family. The Consumer Report information on the Profession S being "Forged because it is very close in form and function to traditionally 'Forged' pieces .. the only difference is that it isn't physically 'forged' from one piece of metal." .. helped my decision also. I then purchased the Henckels and have been just delighted! Right out of the box they were gorgeous! Not a single defect/flaw/scratch .. each one wonderfully sharp .. I tried each knife .. slicing a piece of paper using from tip to handle .. like slicing through butter! Quite frankly I would never abuse a fine piece of china nor a good knife .. so I don't worry about warping or discoloration of the handle .. it has always been my practice to just quickly scrub and dry my knife after use .. even my old cheaper knives still look good after years of use .. I'm so happy to finally have some GOOD knives .. trust me .. I'll take REALLY good care of these knives! Have some pride folks! (And if in time they DO get a bit banged up .. mores the benefit to my family .. it created some good food in the banging up!) I also found the Customer Service Department more than helpful when I called because I wasn't quite sure about one area of registering my product online .. they couldn't have been nicer or more helpful. I do not have huge hands and these fit my hands really nicely .. AND my husband is BIG .. and he likes them also!

2. ( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Mar 10 2007

   I recently bought a Henckels Professional "S" 9-Piece Block set, and I must say that it looks and feels like the real deal. My brother is a French Chef, and he preaches the importance of good knives. So when I decided it was time to get a real set of knives, I bought the best that I could afford. It is right that these knives might not look as good as some cheaper knives, but here the money are not spend on the visual appearance, but the on the actual quality of the blade. The balance on the knives are near perfect, and they just feel so nice in the hand. When the knives comes out of the package they are only moderately sharp. So the first thing I did was to sharpen them, and yes they can hold an edge. I use a Spyderco Triangle Sharpmaker 204MF, and after 5-10 minutes with each knife it was upgraded from a utility edge to pretty close to a razor edge, and they can hold that edge. I must admit that I love these knives, and it is a pleasure to work with them.

3. ( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Jan 20 2007

   Excellent product. Sharp and beautiful. Highly recommend. Well packaged. Sold by Metrokitchen.

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Overall Rating: ( 5 reviews )

1. ( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Nov 29 2006

   Even though I preferred the look of the Pro S series, I went with the 5 star because it's so easy to hold. I love the ergonomic grip and how the knives feel perfectly balanced in your hands. I've owned the set for 3+ years and have not experienced any rusting or discoloration. IMO, it's very low-life of the Cutco rep to bring down the ratings of their competitor's products. Don't listen to their non-sense. The Henkels 5 Star is a superior and high quality set.

2. Posted: Oct 31 2004

   I registered for these as a wedding gift, and received the 9 pc set. They are really nice, but within 6 months, there were little orange spots on the blades. 2 years later, I cringe everytime I look at them, thinking how expensive they were and how I hate how they look. I thought they were supposed to be rust proof. I've NEVER put them in the dishwasher. I don't know why they are like this. Maybe we have hard water? I asked the Williams Sonoma sales person 6 months after my wedding, and he said they should not be doing that. (I noticed WS no longer carries the line now, I wonder why.) Has anyone else had this problem?

3. ( 2 of 2 found this review helpful ) Posted: Feb 4 2004

   I purchased the 5 piece set which is a nice combination. However, the handles were marred and discolored. I sent them back and got another set with the same problem. I have since visited many retail stores and seen the same problem. I contacted Henkels and they told me that they were aware of the problem and to try rubbing some oil on them. I did which darken them up but did nothing to the scratches. The blades are excellent, however the 5-star handles have issues. Just check them out carefully before you buy.

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Overall Rating: ( 8 reviews )

1. ( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Mar 25 2008

   I've been looking for a pot this big and I love it. It is HUGE and since I am a hobby cook and, Italian I can make Sunday Gravy put in containers and freeze it and have it on hand all of the time, not to mention how it retains heat. I could go on and on but I think you get my drift.

2. ( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Feb 19 2008

   This is a seriously large and heavy pot, but that's what I needed to make cassoulet and other recipes. It stays hot and is attractive. Its design allows it to fit easily on the middle shelf of the oven because it's wide and relatively short. A serious tool for the serious cook.

3. Posted: Nov 29 2007

   If you love to cook big quanities or small this is necessary in your kitchen. I use it to brown meat, make stews or soups and even bake whole meals in this dutch oven. I have 3 different sizes and wouldn't be without them.....

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Overall Rating: ( 4 reviews )

1. Posted: Feb 12 2007

   If you're serious about cooking good knives are probably the most important utensil. These knives are great. They cut through everything superbly. You have to be careful in handling them, though. I had a friend over who put one of them in a stack of other silverware where it got jostled around and the blade wasn't protected and the edge was noticeably dulled. It was easily sharpened with a few times through a standard knife sharpener (like any good blade) but you should take care to keep the knives in a block and not let the blade have too much contact with other metal. And of course use a wood or soft plastic cutting board. The balance in the handle is excellent. It is really easy to use these knives because they do not put much strain on the wrist. The handles grip well. The knives clean easily. The only problem is that it will be hard for other knives to ever satisfy you after you've used these. My biggest complaint was with the company which sells them through Amazon.com. Macy's shipped the order with a knife missing and over a month later I still do not have the knife from Macy's. Macy's has handled the problem incompetently, promising repeatedly to ship the knife "soon" and failing to do so. I may yet return the knives for that reason.

2. ( 13 of 15 found this review helpful ) Posted: Jan 20 2003

   ...the tang and handle ARE one piece, in all Wüsthof knives. They are also in a completely different category than Henckel, and the two no longer directly compete as Henckel has chosen to lean more towards quantity production rather than quality. This is not to say Henckel knives aren't good, but they aren't in the same class as Wüsthof.

3. ( 35 of 37 found this review helpful ) Posted: Mar 21 2002

   There are really two main competitors in the high-end mainstream kitchen knife market: Henckels and Wusthof. Those who have used both usually have a preference. My preference (and therefore bias you should know about) is for the Wusthofs.The Wusthof Culinar line is an all stainless steel look, rather than a black handle. Although the picture and some descriptions want you to think this is a single piece knife, be advised that the hand is a separate piece of stainless steel molded onto the tang. I personally prefer the handle of the Grand Prix and Classic, because the grip is surer for me, but this is, to some extent, a matter of personal preference. This series "looks" more professional to some (like a Viking stove).This set includes an 8 inch chef's knife, a 3 ½ inch paring knife, a 6 inch sandwich knife, 8 inch bread, a 5 inch salami, a 2 ¾ inch trimming knife, a sharpening steel, and an oak blockThe 8 inch chef's knife is a great knife. Wusthof offers four sizes of chef's knives in the Classic version, 5, 6, 8 and 10 inch. For most home cooks, I think the 8 inch knife is the best choice. The 6 inch is a bit small for bigger jobs, but the 10 inch is too big for most jobs. While the 8 inch isn't perfect for all uses, if you are only buying one size chef's knife (and most people only buy one), this is the one I would recommend. As for the 3 ½ inch paring knife, this knife falls into the category of overkill for me. Most cooks will get by just fine with the 4 ½ inch utility knife. There is really no notable difference in size for the vast majority of applications between the 3 ½ inch paring knife and the 4 ½ inch utility knife. I prefer the 4 ½ inch utility knife, but the 3 ½ inch paring knife will do the trick.I have found very few uses for the 6 inch sandwich or 5 inch salami knives. I prefer the larger size of the chef's knife or the smaller 4 ½ inch utility knife. These knives are just the wrong width and length for most tasks, and falls into the overkill department, except when part of a set.The 3 ¾ inch trimming knife, however, is a good length for small tasks, like trimming fat from cuts of meat.The bread knife, is a great knife. Many people think tomatoes are the hardest food items to clearly cut. I think bread is much more difficult; but this knife makes the task seem easy. However, I prefer the 9 inch knife over the 8 inch included in this set.When it comes to sharpening steels, I have found very little difference between Henckels and Wusthof. As long as you buy a high end steel, you really won't go wrong. Therefore, I shop for this item on price, and Henckels has a price advantage. However as the steel comes with the set, you won't go wrong with this steel.This set is a good deal as far as price. However, keep in mind you really only get 7 knives. Adding the set of steak knives (which I consider a luxury, and not a necessity), will fill the remainder of the block.

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Overall Rating: ( 5 reviews )

1. ( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Aug 15 2007

   My wife an I duked it out between Calphalon Commercial Nonstick (now called "Contemporary") which she preferred for its lighter weight and All-Clad which I prefer for its tougher build. We have a bunch of each. The All-Clad stuff is better hands down. It heats quicker and more evenly. It seems to cook requiring lower stove temperatures. The anodized exterior is smoother and of higher quality. The clad stainless interior is exquisite and easy to clean. This particular set is perfect - the most required pieces. They constitute a complete kitchen set, lacking only, perhaps, a couple of larger pans (12" fry and 5 Qt. Saute are really nice to have). The choice of stainless interior versus nonstick is personal - but I recommend the stainless interior. First of all, the stainless interior is virtually indestructible and will last a lifetime. All-Clad's nonstick interior is the best in the business, but it does wear out. I've had several LTD nonstick pieces for 9 years now. The ones that get a lot of wear are starting to wear out. Nothing is more pathetic than a battleship built All-Clad pan with a frayed nonstick interior. It's like putting fur in a truck bed. Nonstick might be easier to clean up - but the difference is trivial. Maybe you have the intention of cooking with less oil, but the difference between nonstick and LTD's excellent mirror-like stainless interior is also trivial. I find the arguments for nonstick hard to defend. That being said - the fry pan is where you'd most want non-stick and that's where you find it here. Just right. As for the review that says anodized aluminum exteriors are hard to maintain, she should read the product literature. You clean anodized aluminum with a plastic scrubby (like the 3M green ones) with bleach cleanser (like Ajax or Comet). Just make a paste with the cleanser and power away stains in moments. Anodized aluminum - like all aluminum cannot be dish washed. The phosphates and brightening agents in dishwasher soap with create a chalky powdery rot in the anodized surface. If you are determined to dishwash your cookware you must forget about aluminum and stick to stainless steel. All-Clad makes a great like of stainless cookware - but nothing is prettier than LTD's awesome black.

2. ( 3 of 3 found this review helpful ) Posted: Oct 16 2006

   I've had these pans for a number of years now. I usually cook several times a day almost everyday & although these pans cook beautifully and the interior looks beautiful, the anodized exterior looks terrible now. I wouldn't mind so much but I have them hanging on decorative pot rack. For that reason I want to replace them with the less expensive version in stainless steel but the financial loss is killing me. I don't have room in my small kitchen to put them away. We've had a stainless steel All-Clad sauce pan for a few years which still looks great and isn't embarrassing hanging from our rack. If you don't mind so much what your pots look like then these would probably be a great choice. If anyone knows any great secrets to keeping these looking great, please post them. I've contacted All-Clad several times and do exactly as they say without achieving any desired results.

3. ( 2 of 2 found this review helpful ) Posted: Oct 4 2006

   The bodies are made of 1/8" thick aluminum with a full stainless steel lining on the inside. The thick aluminum bodies make them heat evenly and the stainless interior make them non-reactive with food. My only gripes are that the rim of the pots have exposed non-anodized aluminum which become discolored with use. And the anodized aluminum exteriors become discolored if washed in a dishwasher. These are just cosmetic issues that don't affect the function, but I had higher expectations given the relatively high price of this set. I also considered the All-clad cookware that has stainless steel cladding on both the interior and exterior. In retrospect, perhaps those would have been a better choice assuming the thermal properties don't suffer too much from the exterior stainless steel coating.

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Overall Rating: ( 2 reviews )

1. ( 4 of 5 found this review helpful ) Posted: Jul 12 2005

   My husband and I researched espresso machines extensively prior to purchasing the Impressa S7 and while we noted some complaints with the Capresso machines and additional complaints about the customer service department we chose to order the S7 based on the greater consistancy of positive reviews for this model and the features that the model offers. After making the decision and ordering the machine through Amazon we were incredibly excited to receive it. We simply couldn't wait to brew our first cup of espresso. Unfortunately, we are still waiting. Our first machine arrived with a damaged frother spout and switch. After returning the machine to Capresso our second machine arrived and would not start due to a faulty electrical system. We are now waiting for our third machine to arrive - hopefully, the third time will be the charm! While we understand that these situations occur with electical appliances arriving via a delivery service my real issue is with Capresso's "customer service". Never have we been treated with such arrogance, rudeness, and disdain as we have been treated by Capresso's customer service department. This has been the most difficult and unpleasant purchasing experience we have ever endured. While we hope this is an exteme rather than a typical experience with this company both the fact that the machines have not worked and that the customer service department of the manufacturer was incapable of handling simple customer relations and questions lead me to recommend that buyers look to another manufacturer before purchasing a product by Jura-Compresso. If you do decide to purchase a Capresso product, as much as we like the convenience of Amazon, we would highly recommend purchasing their products from a bricks and mortar retailer and checking the machine in the store prior to taking it home.

2. ( 17 of 20 found this review helpful ) Posted: Apr 29 2004

   This Jura Capresso S7 was a big investment but was worth it. It makes great coffee right out of the box with the factory presets. If you find you need to tweek it, the amount of coffe, amount of water, and fineness of the grind are all programmable by the user.The unit is basically cube shaped. It has a matte black finish with silver colored accents. The coffee/hotwater spouts move up and down and raise high enough to even allow my giant morning mug underneath. The S7 can be programmed to turn on automatically in the morning (or whenever), but it heats up so quickly that turning it on after I wake up works just fine.Cleanup is amazingly simple. The fact that the brew group never has to be removed really keeps upkeep to a minimum. I like the fact that by using the Claris water filter I never have to think about the hardness of my water and decalcifying the machine.The unit comes with alot of documentation as well as a setup video and informational CD. Watch the video, then have the manual handy when you setup and getting up and running will be a cinch.Personally I ran a few more rinse cycles, and a few extra test cups of coffee than the instructions suggest but is just my own little ritual when setting up a new coffee maker.I like my coffee to be strong and hot. I was concerned that a superautomatic would not be able to come up to my standards but the S7 surely does. The machine is top notch.I'm happy to say the Capresso service department seems to be top notch too. Through a mistake that I caused, I had to call Capresso customer service and was wonderfully impressed. Not only did I get right through to a human, she was extremely helpful (proactive even!) and solved the issue on the spot.Just beware that getting this machine may really increase your coffee consumption. It is so easy and fun to use, you want a cup everytime you pass it.

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Overall Rating: ( 3 reviews )

1. ( 2 of 2 found this review helpful ) Posted: Feb 1 2006

   We used this juicer for 2 months. After one month the juicer began to vibrate and make weird noices that scared our kids and cat. Finally the blade is dead and we are ready to get rid of this machine. Machine looks very nice and I give it 2 stars for the look.

2. ( 2 of 2 found this review helpful ) Posted: Aug 2 2005

   This is the second identical juicer I have purchased. The first was sent in for warranty work and was returned to me without resolution of the problem. They are making their second attempt to fix it (now out of warranty due to my procrastination). The reports I have read say it is the best, but I am not so sure.

3. ( 20 of 22 found this review helpful ) Posted: Apr 4 2002

   I have owned this juicer for over a year now and have had to change the blade twice. It does a good job most of the times, but when you start mixing soft and hard fruits and vegetables simultaneously and in a certain order, the unit will start vibrating to the point where the blade will make contact with the metal column where vegetables/fruits are introduced. The result: the maching will grind the blade and damage the performance of it. Try the following combination: apple, carrots, and grapes. Say bye bye to your blade.... (a $40 value).

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