"kitchen equipment" news and stories

When I separate eggs, I do it manually in a way what most people would say is slightly risky - I crack the egg into two halves over a bowl, and pass the yolk back and forth while letting the whites drip into the bowl. The better way to do it manually, of course, is to sanitize your hands, crack the whole egg into a bowl, and lift the yolk out with your hand. To me, that's a little too messy.

I guess you could use -- uh -- technology, and give this ceramic egg separator a try. You crack the egg into the head, tilt to 45 degrees, and let the whites slip out of his nose. For some reason, if I used this thing, I don't think I'd ever eat an egg white omelet again.

The Egg Separator is $6.95 at LTD Commodities.

Goblins and ghouls have barely hit the shelves, and we haven't even started thinking about Thanksgiving, but if you want to give some good Holiday gifts at the end of the year, you'll have to start saving now. Actually, you might have to have started saving last Spring because these kitchen appliances could empty your checking account.

KWC Waterstation - For $12,000, this "rotating food preparation unit allows several cooks to wash and drain ingredients, then slice, dice and chop them, all using the same central water source." www.kwcamerica.com

TurboChef Speedcook Oven - Move over Rachael Ray, the TurboChef Speedcook Oven prepares meals 15 times faster than with conventional appliances. For $7,500. www.turbochef.com

So you dreamt about what you'd like to see in the kitchen of the future, right? Well, if it included being able to tell a machine to cook something without having to get up from in front of the tv, you don't have to wait for the future. You can do it now! I said now!

Daewoo's new microwave oven can hear me loud and clear. The countertop microwave oven has a brushed aluminum finish, and though it has a full keypad, it doesn't need it because this baby is voice-activated. It stores 40 commands and responds to anyone who speaks to it. Not only is it voice-activated, but it also has the ability to automatically determine the cooking time with 95% accuracy. Just hope that it's not popcorn in there the other 5% of the time (unless you're like me, who kind of likes the smell of burnt popcorn).

Source

Or rather, sing to your supper?

David Gu has designed the Cooking Audio Player, which is sort of misnomer since it doesn't cook anything, but is a storage container for garlic, onions, lemons, ginger, etc. However, it is audio, since it plays digital music that is streamed from any PC, home media centers, and portable media players set up with wireless transmission technology. It may seem somewhat frivolous, but let us turn to our hero and mentor Alton Brown, who pooh-poohs kitchen unitaskers. Storage and music? That's definitely a multi-tasker in my book.

[via: BornRich]

Though the news clips on their website are no longer available, it seems that Surfas, the restaurant supply store in Culver City, Ca, will be closing as of November 1 this year. The City of Culver City has declared the property on which the store is located "Eminent Domain," and will be using it for a large re-development project. According to food blog Eating LA apparently, owner "Les Surfas, whose father opened the store in 1937, has refused to accept Culver City's offer of $4.89 million to buy the Surfas warehouse." Others are speculating that the store will not close,and will simply move to another location.

• Rumours and discussion at Chowhound
• Save Our Surfas Blog
• News at Eating LA
• Les Surfas answers questions about his refusal of the offer from Culver City to buy