Thermador High Performance Cooktops Sizzle!

I spent the day in the city yesterday, always a good thing. I spent the morning at the Danish Consulate in a meeting with a New York architect regarding Hansen, where we have a showroom space for this fabulous kitchen furniture. I love going to the Consulate. Since the Danes are reportedly the happiest people on earth, who wouldn't want to spend time at the Consulate?? 

After the meeting, I went downtown to an event given by Thermador, to showcase their new line of high performance cooktops. Those Thermadorees are smart people. To arrange an event that is both entertaining and informative is the definition of capturing one's attention. To add a few celeb chefs to the mix, well, everyone was all ears and eyes. It was awesome. 

Tom Colicchio, the lead judge on Bravo's "Top Chef" was the MC, and introduced the chefs.  Michael Psilakis, executive chef and owner, Anthos, and Alexandra Guarnaschelli, executive chef, Butter, and star of "The Cooking Loft" on the Food Network were the chefs in this challenge...15 minutes to create something wonderful with a secret ingredient, chocolate! 

Cooking and commenting on the cooktops ensued, but better than TV, one could smell the fantastic aromas! Michael insisted that he had to have the Thermador induction cooktop he was cooking on, in his professional kitchen. Alexandra was fully confident and completely calm, with four different size pots at various heat settings going at once, with her Thermador electric sensor cooktop. Tom looked like he either wanted to jump in or was glad he wasn't under the gun.

A couple of new hoods hung on the wall beside the cooking station, the Pivot-Lift Glass Canopy, which can be lowered or lifted as needed, and the 36" Chimney Drawer Hood, which slides forward up to an extra 12", great for a low profile (shallow) look in its "back" position. 

The cooktops offer some very cool features. In the electric sensor models, you'll use the "Sensor Dome" technology that continually measures the heat from the cookware! It maintains the precise temperature needed, not to mention the keep warm function, always a desired feature. Induction cooktops by Thermador has a power boost function, a 10 step power micro adjustment, offering a wide range of simmering needs and a silver finish! Gas cooktops offer a larger cooking surface, the star burner design and a powerful 52,000BTU output. All of these have other features worth looking at.

Oh, and let me not forget the fabulous luncheon after the presentation! Fun and informative makes me happy, not cranky. The food and so much chocolate was a good thing too. See the pictures that follow!

Over The Range Microwave - My Love/Hate Relationship

It's funny...I looked through my project images, and I think I knew right away that I didn't have an image of a project I'd designed with an over-the-range microwave. I may have used this type of microwave a handful of times, possibly many, in builder projects I've done, but, I've always had a huge bias against them...and I bought one yesterday!

Let me just make it simple and do a pros and cons evaluation:

PROS

1. A space saving appliance. For an apartment-sized kitchen, it's no less than a God-send.

(I honestly cannot think of another "pro" to the over-the-range microwave...geez.)

CONS

1. It is typically situated at an uncomfortable height. If one is short in height, or a child, it can be difficult to reach in and out.

2. Along with #1, of course, comes the possibility of danger, first, if the container becomes hot, and one is taking it out at this uncomfortable height, but also, if there are items cooking on the stove and one reaches for the microwave. Take care!

3. If the microwave cannot be ducted out, the fan is nearly useless, as it becomes a recirculating fan.

4. Most microwaves are approximately 12" deep, which only cover the rear two burners if the ducted fan is turned on.

5.  The typical 300 cfm fan capacity is a poor performer in terms of ventilating power.

6. Due to the height of the microwave, very tall pots pose a problem in cooking comfortably, including being able to see the contents of the pot.

I mentioned the reasons that I bought one of these in this post. It's definitely a love/hate thing, I'm sure, for many of us.  Image is from GE, which has a whole lot of choices in microwaves. Kelli, in a comment from the original post mentioned, asked, "What's the alternative?"

ALTERNATIVES

1. Do you REALLY use a microwave, do you really need one? A good question to ask, in general. 

2. Can you find any other space to build in a microwave? If built in, remember, you must have a trim kit for proper ventilation around the appliance.

3. Can you simply place the microwave (perhaps a small one) on the countertop?

4. Check out GE's Trivection range...not a microwave, but a speedy oven, with microwave technology inside.

5. Perhaps a microwave drawer?

6. Are you rich? Buy a TurboChef.

Much of this discussion depends on if the kitchen is being designed from scratch, or, simply, as in my case, a space is open, and now that space will be filled again with this type of microwave. I can deal with this solution for now.

Microwave Must See

Have you seen this LG microwave, below? It came out last year. I did not cover it in this blog, and I rarely have a need for over-the-range microwaves in my design practice, until now, for myself!

You may have read about my apartment kitchen remodel.  Well, to get you up to speed, quickly, while some improvements continue to be done, we're putting the bulk of the renovation on hold for now. The basic issue is that we are undecided on what should drive certain important decisions...resale or personal wants and needs. Plus, since our son will be staying there for at least a couple of more years while in college, there is not an urgency to do the renovation.

SO...in the course of having to remove the existing over-the-range microwave this weekend, due to its extreme venting inefficiency and age, we stopped at Best Buy to pick up another one, a 400cfm model by Samsung, since we were told by our super we could duct it through the existing path in the ceiling. We found most new models were 300 cfms.

BUT, while in Best Buy, all of a sudden, we saw this LG microwave and immediately had a WOW reaction. It's very sexy, it's a few inches deeper than normal, it's taller, which we needed, and best of all, it has a 470 cfm fan, which was very impressive. Our son and his girlfriend cook up a STORM  in our NYC apartment, nearly every night, and the gunk of small airborne particles that settle all over the apartment is not a pretty sight. So, THIS appliance seems to fit what we need for now.

As I've said before, I'm not a fan of the over-the-range microwave in general, for several reasons, but, in this case, the spot is open for it, so we'll fill it. This is the most powerful over-the-range microwave cfm rating I know of, which leads to healthier living in an open kitchen!

I LOVE the lift up door, the cfm capacity, the depth to better cover the burners, and the very cool look!

Viking Range Color - What To Do?

Here's a question from Maryann:

"We are remodeling our kitchen.  The look we're going for is whitewashed custom cabinets with chocolate glaze and a large black  island.  We planned on stainless steel appliances - 42" fridge and 48" viking range.  We were considering the 48" white viking range - would that color work in this kitchen or would a white range be better suited in another style kitchen?"

Maryann

Maryann, right off the bat, it sounds to me like you will be dealing with two different whites...a bright white (if that is what you are referring to) for the Viking, and a glazed white cabinet color, which will be somewhere in the ivory/cream family.

I'd be very careful when mixing whites. Some whites have a pink cast, some a green, some, a yellow, for example. It is critical that you see the actual Viking color samples alongside of your cabinet color, preferrably in your own home during different times of the day and lighting conditions. Pay attention to the tones.

I'll tell you what you may consider. Check out the Oyster Gray. I've used it before. It's deep enough to be enough of a contrast with your cabinets, but only you will be able to tell if the tones work well or not. It's a great neutral shade.

I will also tell you that a lesser used, but beautiful combination IS using white and cream colors together. You may want to carefully think through using white and cream elsewhere in the room as well so that it is viewed as a theme of sorts, rather than one item white and one item cream. Done well, I actually really love this look.

I hope this was helpful!

GE Monogram New York City Showroom Event

I think I've just taken a totally unintended break from my blog. Wendy, a loyal reader, asked if I took a "busman's holiday." So many things have been going on that I want to share with you, large and small, plus something VERY top secret and hushhush (coming soon) but I just have not had the chance until now to sit down and put these thoughts into words.  And now I'm afraid that if I do, this could very well be my longest post in history.  That runs a huge risk, because as we know, it is not difficult for me to go on for paragraphs over a thought or a detail.  So, I think I had better be a bit cautious at this moment! 

You know, I also have to say that I feel I am so lucky.  I feel so fortunate to be in the kitchen and bath  industry.  It is an exciting industry, it is an industry that is creatively exciting, is technologically interesting, fashion oriented, for better or worse, and nearly every one I have ever met, whether fellow designers, manufacturers, whoever, are engaging and intelligent people.  I feel another post coming on, so I think I will stop here. :)

Last night, my husband and I attended the opening of GE Monogram's beautiful, new, showroom at the Architects and Designers building in New York City.  The theme of the showroom is: New York City! Whether shown on walls or floors or other surfaces, the New York theme was everywhere.  There was a glitzy media display, referred to as Times Square, there was an area called Columbus Circle, a lovely section called Central Park, and the number "59" seen repeatedly in black-and-white tiles.  This imitated the 59th street subway stop. Very clever, and very cool. What's not to like, as a typical New Yorker would say?

I had the opportunity to speak with several GE executives, and they even listened carefully to a product idea I had, and described.  We had a nice chat, and I was delighted to hear that my blog was read by at least one of the GE execs I spoke with.  The showroom was absolutely filled with people from the industry, and I enjoyed seeing several people I've known over the years, one for about 20 years. 

Here are images of the showroom.  Enjoy!  Take a look at this wonderful event that I attended.  I was given a tour around the showroom. The more I learn, the more I think that an induction cooktop is the way to go.  More power, more energy efficient, faster response, all desirable attributes. The pro-ranges were substantial looking and very sexy, and, I saw a cooktop grate that flips over and becomes a special wok grate. How about a cooktop with all burners having double burners on each element, one to simmer, one for highest output? Love it. And, just for you, I sampled the wine, hors d'oeuvres, little desserts, and I can report back to you that the food was fantastic!

The images were taken with my iphone, so excuse any loss of quality, just think artsy thoughts... So much more to tell you soon!!

Induction Cooktops - Cooking Green

Continuing this green series, let's talk about induction cooktops! I went to a cooking demonstration today at the Bosch showroom in beautiful DUMBO in Brooklyn. The showroom is just under the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges and it's a stunning area.

The event was centered around induction cooking. I know something about induction cooking. I seriously considered it when I redesigned my kitchen in the mid 80s, yes, induction cooking was around at that time!  I couldn't get past the pots I had to use, that was my issue at the time, so I went with gas.

I wish I could remember the name of the company who made the induction cooktop (tiles) I almost went with. I can see it now. It was so sexy. They were so far ahead of their time, this manufacturer, there were these wonderful separate, square, induction tiles, I can see them now. And, if I remember correctly, I believe, somehow, they fit flush within the countertop for a very sleek look. Funny how these old memories are coming back.

Fast forward to today, a beautiful October day in 2007. Induction is SO here, so NOW. I'm glad I went to this event, because I didn't realize something very cool (or hot!) about induction cooktops. What I learned, is that induction heat is more powerful, which means it also heats hotter and faster than either gas or electric. Besides all of the other positive properties, this feature really makes me pay attention!

To review, here are the good properties of induction cooktops:

• instant heat adjustment (just like gas)
• 50% more efficient than gas or electric (heat only reacts with the cooking vessel)
• the cooktop is safe to touch when the cooking vessel is removed-paper or other items will not burn
• no gas fuel risks, i.e. leaks
• anyone can install it, unlike gas, unavailable in some areas
  
• clean cooking method
• no noise
• spills do not burn on the cooktop - it's easy cleaning

Downsides? It's pricey! Another, could be electricity failures. I don't see any other compelling negative issues.

Bosch has a few cool features such as auto pot detection. The cooktop recognizes the size of the pot. The cooktops also have a power boost function, helpful to get those pots of water boiling quickly.

I also would like to mention the brand new GE induction cooktop, in 30 and 36" sizes. GE says, a 3700-watt element offers the most powerful induction element in the industry and provides heat across 19 different cooking settings.

It's time to take induction cooking seriously. I sure will be. The major cookware manufacturers have also brought out new cookware just for induction cooking. Finding great cookware is no longer an issue for induction cooking.