MetroKitchen Blog » New Products

New! Mauviel French Cookware is Non-Stick, Dishwasher-Safe & Great Looking

Lynn — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 21:00:10 +0000

Mauviel has been making world class copper cookware in France since 1830! Copper cookware isn’t for everyone. While I appreciate Mauviel’s beauty and great heat control, copper is just too much work for me. Frankly, if it doesn’t go into the dishwasher, it doesn’t go into my kitchen!

Finally …there’s beautiful Mauviel cookware that’s right for me. M’Stone non-stick cookware can go in the dishwasher! Yay! It’s also induction compatible. It’s also induction compatible. That’s important since cooking with a portable induction cooktop is my first choice when I need to heat, boil, braise, fry. Mauviel M’stone cookware has a non-stick cooking surface made from virtually indestructible ceramic. This ceramic, non-stick cooking surface is so hard, its nickname is “rocks!” Thanks to Mauviel’s “green” commitment, M’stone non-stick cookware is environmentally friendly, made without both PFOA and PTFE!

You ask…what’s it like when you use it every day? M’stone is wonderful and durable. It heats quick and clean up is very simple. Even when I’ve purposely burned eggs, it was easy to remove the charred remains.

I also love the great-looking, practical glass lids. M’stone non-stick cookware heats quickly, cleans up easily and looks wonderful just sitting on your cooktop.

Since it’s non-stick, M’stone is great for making egg dishes of any type. But, I also like how M’stone cookware sears meat and reduces sauces. French-made M’stone cookware also works well for oven roasting.

In my view, this is high quality, beautifully-made non-stick cookware at a phenomenal price. A Mauviel M’stone fry pan is $89.95 and Mauviel M’stone 5 piece cookware set goes for $399.95.

MetroKitchen Welcomes Wellness Mats

Lynn — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:36:23 +0000

Called an anti-fatigue mat, the Wellness Mat lives up to its name.

A friend who does lots of catering says that her feet and back used to kill her after 4 or 5 hours of standing. And she’s only 30! Now, with a Wellness mat, she’s happy (and her husband is very happy because she complains less) I was also amazed to learn that this made in the USA kitchen product actually helps with posture. A variety of medical professionals recommend the Wellness Mat to help minimize the stress we put on our bodies when standing for long periods of time.

Who invented these wonderful back savers? A family-owned company in Michigan led by a chemist/engineer-type saw an opportunity to adjust the molecular structure of a polyurethane foam. Essentially, Daniel Bouzide, identified a way to compress molecules so when you step on them, they push back against the pressure and “spring” back to their original position. Daniel first started selling these incredibly helpful mat to Homeland Security and other businesses where employees stand for long periods of time. Imagine how much happier you’d be if your legs and back didn’t kill you after 8 hours of standing. With some adjustments in color and style to look less industrial, Wellness Mat became a great addition to kitchens, garages, near the bbq grill (they do work outside too), bars, anywhere in a home where you find yourself on your feet for extended periods of time.

While the back and leg benefits are substantial, some may think the price of Wellness Mats is expensive for a kitchen accessory. Not so much when you know that they’re guaranteed to last 7 years. Just think about the numbers: how many kitchen mats do you use in a year? I trash 1 or 2 of them every year (or should) because they get dirty, quickly wear out (and look ugly). So, if I spend $20 or $30 a year on cheapo mats, in 7 years that’s $140 to $210. That’s more than the $119.95 price of a Wellness kitchen mat. And cleaning a Wellness anti-fatigue mat is easy too as they don’t stain or require lots of scrubbing to look like new.

Winner: Wellness Mats on money, on looking good, and on helping my back and legs be less sore.

We’re happy to welcome Wellness anti-fatigue kitchen mats to the MetroKitchen family of top brands for your kitchen!

And we’re back!

And we’re back!

Lynn — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:10:10 +0000

Sorry it’s been so long since we’ve posted to our blog! We’ve been working to improve our online kitchen store so it’s easier for you to use. It looks nicer (we think). as the previous look was rather dated, harking back to when we first came online 11 years ago. Our new site also has lots of the information you’ve told us you wanted. Like what? We’ve added the country where each item we sell is made. If it’s made in the USA or somewhere else — you’ll find that info in the More Information tab. If you want to know how long a knife is, including the handle, that’s now on MetroKitchen.com We’ve also added a complete sale page, so you can more easily find our bargains. Great as the gift buying season gets into full swing! Other sale items include:

All-Clad d5 LTD2 Sale – For a limited time, save up to 20% on All-Clad LTD2!

Wusthof Chef’s Knives on Sale – All Wusthof 6″ chefs knives are on sale. Save almost 50%!

We’ve added a few new brands:

Wellness Anti-Fatigue Kitchen Mats These anti-fatigue maps are used by the TSA and really help keep your legs and back from getting tired. Especially after hours of Christmas cookie baking!

Wenger Forged Knives These amazingly sharp and high quality kitchen knives are made in Switzerland, by the same people who brought you the iconic Swiss Army knife

And so many more.

Look for new blog posts in the coming weeks including some great information on kitchen knives! In the meantime, come visit MetroKitchen for a great selection of high-quality kitchen products.

Form and Function Meet in Zwilling JA Henckels Twin Profection Knives

Ron — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:17:08 +0000

The brand new Zwilling JA Henckels Twin Profection knives is more than just another line of kitchen cutlery. They are certainly great looking thanks to renowned Italian architect and designer Matteo Thun who designed Profection cutlery. My first impression of these knives had me referring to them as the “Orient Express” of knife lines — a matter of east meeting west in cutlery. Upon closer inspection I have to admit there is more to the story. This is the story of form meeting function in a warm embrace!

What are the elements that truly make Henckels Twin Profection an outstanding new creation? Your eye is drawn to the half bolster with its progressive angle. This is a key element in design as it accomplishes a number of tasks. First, it makes it more comfortable to hold properly with your index finger and thumb on the blade just in front of the half bolster. Secondly, the half bolster makes the blade a cutting edge for the entire length of the blade,
unlike other German designed knives. This also makes it well balanced and perfect for that rocking motion that allows the chef in you to really chop up the veggies post-haste!

The blade itself is a major element in this new design. It is precision forged from a single blank of steel, which is a special formulation that makes it rust resistant and hard at 57 degrees Rockwell. This hard steel is necessary because this blade is sharpened to a 15 degree angle on each side. For comparison purposes, German knives are sharpened to a 20 degree angle on each side. The narrower angle results in a much thinner blade at the cutting edge which is what sharpness is all about.

Henckels Profection knives feature a full tang, so the single piece of metal that is your knife runs from the tip of the blade to the end of the 3-rivet handle. The pieces that are riveted to the handle are perfectly matched to the steel of the knife leaving no gaps to trap and collect food. This ergonomic handle has no sharp corners or edges maximizing comfort and helping to make the Twin Profection knife balanced for easy handling.

My first impression of this knife was that it was an east meets west kind of hybrid. In actuality it is more than elements of Asian knives merged with western style knives. The truth is the progressive angled half bolster simply is not to be found in either camp. Stylistically this is a knife that would look good in an Asian setting or a western setting. It would look good in a traditional home as well as a modern home which makes it fairly unique in the cutlery world. It is well suited for any kind of food preparation so this will be a successful and desirable line of cutlery.

While somewhat expensive, Henckles Twin 1731 knives also designed by Matteo Thun which look nearly identical to the Profection line, but significantly less. For example, one Twin 1731 8 inch chefs knife is $450.00. For the same price, you can get a 7 piece block set of JA Henckels Profection knives with money left over for dinner for two at home.

Zwilling JA Henckels Twin Profection is the case of a completely new creation, one based on form and function coming together on very amicable terms.

Henckels Miyabi Knives Review

Ron — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:56:34 +0000

Lamborghini, Maserati, Miyabi. While most will agree that they roll off the tongue easily, most would then sing the Sesame Street tune, “one of these things is not like the others, one of these things does not belong”. Well, two are Italian sports cars and recently introduced Henckels Miyabi is a line of Japanese knives. I will agree that they have some striking differences but they all are items that stand for extreme performance! Miyabi is a line of cutlery that is second to none when it comes to performance. These are the sharpest knives I’ve ever encountered and I’d venture to say you’ll feel the same way. The Miyabi 7000 series comes in 3 distinct categories: The 7000D, the 7000 Pro and the 7000MC. These knives are made in Japan under the supervision of German knife maker, Zwilling J.A. Henckels.

Henckels Miyabi 7000D

The Miyabi 7000D knives have a core of CMV60 steel that is hardened to 60 Rockwell. I mention hardness as it has everything to do with how long a knife will hold its razor sharp edge. These knives have extraordinarily hard steel, Rockwell 60 (the higher the number, the harder the steel). This exceptionally hard steel makes for the final ingredient to the extreme cutting edge. Miyabi is made with extraordinarily hard steel because it allows the manufacturers in Seki, Japan to create an angle of the cutting edge that is much more narrow than other cutlery made in Germany or even other parts of Japan. The marriage of hard steel and this narrow blade angle makes for unparalleled sharpness.

The very hard core of this knife has an additional 16 layers of softer steel rolled onto each side, so you have an extraordinarily strong core plus 32 layers of softer steel that makes it easier for the items you’re slicing to not stick to the knife. These layers give the knife its exotic Damascus look and serve to protect the core steel from corrosion. No two look exactly the same, each one is unique as those layers never roll on with the same pattern. The blade is honed to a “Honbazuke” cutting edge that is razor sharp.

Henckels Miyabi 7000MC

The Miyabi 7000 MC knives have a 3 layer design. The core is made of MC66 steel. This is a powder steel that is made into a core that has an extreme hardness of Rockwell 66. The core has 2 softer layers of stainless steel added to each side to protect the core steel. The cutting edge sports the finest “Honbazuke” edge which makes for an unforgettable culinary experience! Nothing cuts like 7000MC!

Henckels Miyabi 7000Pro

The Miyabi 7000 Pro knives are markedly heavier than the other 7000 series lines, which makes it easier for you to cut through more firm foods, such as meats and thick-skinned veggies, like eggplant. They are made of a thicker blade that is all CMV60 steel. These blades are sharpened to an asymmetrical angle with the “Honbazuke” cutting edge for extreme sharpness. These blades have a concave back to them which keeps food from sticking to the blade. These knives are specifically designed for Japanese food preparation such as sushi.

The 7000 series features Micarta handles. Micarta is a process that bonds layers of material together with a resin. In this case linen is bound together with a resin to create an elegant handle that shows a grain much like wood. They are also well balanced making them a delight to work with. Unbalanced knives can lead to accidents in the kitchen as they can be more clumsy in use. All of the handles have signature end caps that tell you the maker is proud of their creation.

Once you experience this wonderful new line you will see why Lamborghini, Maserati, and Miyabi belong together! The Miyabi knife line is truly unforgettable.

Have you used this new line from Zwilling JA Henckels? Please let us know what you think in the comments below!

Age Wine in Seconds with the Clef du Vin Wine Aging Tool

roger — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:27:00 +0000

The Clef du Vin wine aging tool really does age wine! I was a bit skeptical (well, actually, VERY skeptical) when I saw it demonstrated at a show. It’s supposed to “age” a glass of wine by one year for every second you leave the key in the wine. I thought, “Yeah, right, like that’s going to happen”. But, stunningly, in 5 seconds the young red wine tasted like it had 5 more years of age on it!

You’re probably thinking what I did -– how can this little key with a tiny metal circle really age a glass or even a bottle of wine—must be a gimmick. After trying it at home, I can report that the Clef du Vin is NOT a gimmick. It really works.

The first time we tried the Clef du Vin was with a mid-priced, two year-old Italian red that we should have waited another three to five years to drink. Amazing. In 5 seconds the wine was great. We drank it all – no need to find a cooking use for it.

We even tried it on cheap wines, (yes, even a box wine). While the wine tasted a little better, even the Clef du Vin could not improve it much. As the Clef du Vin’s manufacturer says, it’s not a magic wand. If the wine is going to age well, you are going to get to experience the future flavor and smoothness of the wine today. If it is not going to age well, like with the box wine we tried, you will know that right away too. Thus, I am still not a convert to box wines, but it did smooth the wine out a bit! We’ve taken the Clef du Vin to restaurants, while traveling and even at some wine tastings. It performs every time, as long as we use it on wines that have the ability to improve with age.

One thing I did wonder about was …what was the little bronze colored metal circle on the key adding to the wine? Nothing. The metals in this little circle just create a reaction that’s similar to what naturally happens when wine is aged in the bottle. No chemicals or additives are going into the wine.

One thing to remember, if you leave the Clef du Vin in the glass too long, the wine starts to lose its character, just like wine that is left to age too long. You can experiment with how many seconds it takes to get the taste that is pleasing. Want to try a little more age, just put the Clef back in for another second – you don’t have to start fresh with a new glass of wine. So it’s really simple and quick to get the taste you want from every new wine you try.

It’s easy to use. It’s easy to clean with a little hot water (no detergent, cleansers or dishwasher). And, the Peugeot Clef du Vin has made our 2009 holiday shopping a breeze. Every wine lover on the list gets a Clef du Vine wine aging key! They will love this wonderful thing every time they use it.

The weekend of wine tasting and testing

All-Clad LTD2 – The Sequel

Danielle — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:53:26 +0000

All-Clad, the most popular brand of cookware around the globe, has introduced a new line of cookware called All-Clad LTD2. This new cookware collection is based on the original LTD line, but with new additional features including new d5 technology and dishwasher safe.

Featuring All-Clad d5 Technology

All-Clad LTD2 is the first All-Clad style to feature their revolutionary d5 technology. This patented technology incorporates alternating layers of metal (5 in total) for superior heat conductivity, eliminating hot-spots. All pieces feature 18/10 stainless steel core is sandwiched between aluminum and an 18/10 stainless steel cooking surface with a hard anodized exterior. The core is not just on the bottom of the pan but all the way up the sides for optimum heating.

Now Dishwasher Safe!

Another exciting new feature is that LTD2 is now dishwasher safe. Dishwasher safe cookware saves a lot of time when it comes to clean up in the kitchen, something every cook and chef look for. As with the other All-Clad lines, pots and pans with a non-stick surface should never be washed in the dishwasher.

All-Clad LTD2 is sure to please the cook in you. MetroKitchen offers open stock and LTD2 cookware sets of this wonderful new addition.

Made in the USA: Marcus cookware

Danielle — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:02:10 +0000

Update: As of 2010, Marcus Cookware manufacturer Regal Ware USA, has been re-named it American Kitchen Try-ply Cookware. The new line features the same tri-ply construction and continues to be made in the USA.

Marcus Cookware has arrived and is only sold at select retailers, including MetroKitchen.com. Designed by Chef Marcus Samuelson, Marcus cookware offers all the attributes and features you would expect to find in a professional’s chef kitchen. And above all else, it is proudly made in the USA, unlike many of its celebrity chef competitors. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal (June 20th edition), declared Marcus Cookware as “the clear winner” of a recent celebrity chef cookware equipment test. In the article Samuelson states,”his stainless steel line is for the passionate cook who reads one of the great food magazines and cooks for their families…my pots and pans make it possible for home cooks to recreate restaurant flavors.” In the equipment test, the judges at the Journal “praised the classic design, constructed with aluminum sandwiched between stainless steel on the walls and the base.”

Everyone at MetroKitchen received a sample Marcus Stainless 8″ fry pan from Regalware and to try at home, and received rave reviews! One MetroKitchen employee said, “I tried it. I thought it was great. Heating was even and seemed to work as well as the other high end brands.” I was lucky enough to try the 6 quart covered stock pot, creating sauce and the performance was superior. My sauce heated evenly and quickly and never burned. I found the handles extremely comfortable and transported the pot right to my table.

This made in the USA cookware was designed to meet the needs of today’s professional chef. Marcus stainless steel cookware is safe for any cooktop surface, including induction. Additionally, it is oven and broiler safe too!

Made in the USA, Marcus Samuelsson cookware can be bought in sets or open stock.

Special Offer: MetroKitchen.com is currently selling the Marcus 8-inch fry pan at special “try me” price of $29.95!

The weekend of wine tasting and testing

Lynn — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:06:58 +0000

It was exciting to get to use some new MetroKitchen.com wine brands. First are the Riedel wine glasses in the new Riedel Tyrol style. We looked at and tried the “O” stemless glasses but didn’t think they felt special enough for wine. Plus, given my gracefulness, I was concerned I would too easily dump wine on my dining partner, not to mention shatter the glass.

Riedel’s Tyrol is a totally different experience. We love their look! The base of each glass is solid with a heavy but nicely weighted feel. It’s just what clumsy people like me need to feel secure. What’s more, they

are appealing because they’re a bit taller.

We like to feel like having a glass of wine is special, even if we’re not celebrating anything and the bottle was under $10!

The other great MetroKitchen.com brand that we used this weekend was the Pek Wine Preservation system. The Preservino will preserve the remains of your bottle of wine for up to 2 weeks! That’s because this system uses the same type of gas that California vintners use to preserve their top quality wine. It uses argon gas, which does not change the flavor of the wine because it is inert. We used the “starter” kit with 1 argon cartridge and dispenser and two stoppers. The Pek Preservation products also include units that chill and preserve.