For the past few weeks we have both been dreaming and daydreaming. It’s been a while since we acquired any new kitchen appliance and we are getting really ansty to try a few of the products that have made it to the top of our combined wish list. Yes, Chef you are right. I am the one who has been really ultra eager. No I won’t mention the countless times you have hissed your teeth at our domestic juicer and blender, grunting that they were not up to standard and ruining your recipes.
Our last appliance acquisitions were the Bamix of Switzerland hand blender, our Kitchen Aid Mixer with the Ice Cream Maker Attachment and our extra large capacity Magimix Food Processor. Our Bamix is our most used appliance, our Kitchen Aid is a very handy tool for baking and food prep alongside our Magimix Food Processor for everyday meals, demonstrations, entertaining and catering. We want to develop some exciting recipes for these appliances as well because you know how we feel about giving you options for superbly tasting food that doesn’t take you all day.
These appliances make food preparation fun and practical not only for the assigned cook of the household, but even for otherwise reluctant cooks. Here are some of the things we would love to have in our kitchen right about now. Two of our appliances need replacement and the others are necessary kitchen resources for improving our workflow in our home kitchen. Of course, since we are Chef and Steward, we have selected the best products in their categories that would suit the kitchen of culinary professionals and keen home cooks. If only we had a fairy godparent to turn our wishes into reality!
Vitmaix Vita-Prep 3 Blender
Vitamix is the mother of all blenders worth housing in the kitchen of persons serious about food and beverage. The image used here depicts the professional CIA edition of the Vitmaix, used at Chef Lij’s esteemed alma mater in New York. The equivalent sold on this side of the world is the Vita Prep 3, which is made for a commercial kitchen. It comes with a 3 year warranty but for a longer warranty, we would recommend the Vitamix 5200 which has a 7 year warranty and was developed for household use and has a 2 horsepower motor.
Huron Slow Juicer
We have been juicing for years. Our current centrifugal juicer is only wasting our food and money, especially on the leafy vegetables. Now that The Apprentice is a little older and almost ready for solids, we are making the long journey to buy organic food from the farm. Organic produce is healthy and comes at a premium and we cannot afford to continue wasting precious juice and scarce nutrients in our outdated juicer. The Hurom Slow Juicer is a masticating juice extractor that is excellent with leaves and grasses and soft fruit. It gets the juices out without the oxidation that occurs in high speed centrifugal juicers. The things we would do with this baby.
Crock-Pot 6.5QT Programmable Touchscreen Slow Cooker
I always thought that slow cookers were for moms. Guess what? I became one. And now as dishes burn as I rush to attend to my baby, the idea of a CorckPot is as sexy as playing Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago. We have so many recipes that can be reworked for a crockpot as well and this 6.5qt capacity allows me a few portions for leftovers – the other sexy play in a new mom’s arsenal. Plus this baby turns itself off. Simply set it and forget it! Even Chef is keen on the idea. It means we can cook and sleep or go run errands and are not held to being in the house or awake for every meal we make at home, which is a huge positive when we are both constantly suffering from sleep deprivation and the general malaise of too little time, which is the reality of working parents.
Cusinart Ice Cream & Gelato Maker
We LOVE making homemade ice cream. So much so that store bought versions do not come close to those we make at home. We use great ingredients and follow superb recipes for exacting results. We have put our Kitchen Aid Ice Cream Attachment to good use but not its time to move on up. Furthermore, we are on a mission to be the favourite aunt and uncle to all our nieces and nephews and children of our friends. Who doesn’t love an aunty bearing delicious (and wholesome) ice cream? Cuisinart went back and did their homework to improve on the previous model which had quite a few faults. The result? This machine which makes icy treats a charm. Built with its own compressor, there is no need for a freeze bowl attachment which is a huge relief for us because who has freezer space for them in these small fridges that are popular in the UAE? Even if you do have a bigger freezer, having to freeze an insert overnight usually zaps any jollification out of making ice-cream or frozen treats at our whim and fancy. This solves that. We are sold.
Imperia Pasta Machine (with all the attachments)
If you have ever had fresh homemade pasta, you will understand why Italians make the extra effort daily for their pasta course at the traditional Italian tavola. The Chef usually makes and rolls and cuts completely by hand but in the era of parenthood and additional responsibilities at work, time is preciously limited. So now we want a fully loaded Imperia Pasta hand cranked machine with all the attachments for a variety of pastas and including pasta hangers to dry the pasta for optimal results.
Waring Pro Professional Belgian Double Waffle Maker
Waffles scream breakfast decadence. Having your own machine means experimentation beyond the ordinary. How sublime would that be? This Waring Pro Professional Belgian Double Waffle Maker makes not one but TWO waffles waffles at a time. The waffles are baked to perfection- crispy on the outsife and nice and fluffy on the inside. You may have seen a version of this waffle machine on the breakfast line at the last hotel you stayed. We are particular for round waffle makers because of the even heat distribution and spreading of the waffle batter. Imagine topping these waffles with fresh organic berries and fruit or delicious compotes and syrupy Grade B maple syrup.
We want to hear from you. Do you long for any of these items as well? What’s on your wish list and why?
imagesbytdashfield says
I LOVE my Kitchenaid!! That crock pot and waffle maker are going on my wish list 🙂
Chef and Steward says
Yes… my kitchen life is better with my Kitchen Aid. I would love to hear that you got the Crock-Pot and the Waring waffle maker as well!
simondaniel27 says
Yesss I WANT!
Chef and Steward says
Get them!
simondaniel27 says
Not in my budget right now… soon though!
Chef and Steward says
And that’s why we wish! Thoughts become realities 🙂
simondaniel27 says
Exactly.
Claudia Pryce says
I so want that crock pot!! I wonder if someone could drop a hint on aunty C behalf?? Lol
Chef and Steward says
We can see to it that certain people get this link emailed to them and we’ll provide that service free of charge 🙂
Savoury Image says
I just bought myself a new Kitchen Aid Mixer but I have a new blender and food processor on my wish list. That Vita mix looks sensational!
Chef and Steward says
You are going to have lots of practical fun with your Kitchen Aid. These suggestions for the blender and food processor are solid. You have 7 years warranty on the Vitamix 5200 and 12 years on the Magimix.
Saloni Banga says
Vitamix and Kitchen Aid top my wish list! Hubby promised me a Kitchen Aid for our anniversary next month, time I forward him this post and remind him of the promise 😛
Chef and Steward says
That man is a keeper!
rebekahlawrence says
That crock pot and blender!!!! Will definitely look into these. Thanks for the insights.
Chef and Steward says
Happy to help!
krywald says
I have only had the vitamix for a few months and am such a fan, also couldn’t live without my sousvide supreme.
Chef and Steward says
Great that you can testify to the Vitamix. Sousvide hasn’t caught on domestically here yet, though chef has used the technique professionally in the restaurant kitchen.
Jehancancook says
With the exception of the waffle maker and pasta maker, that’s pretty much what my wish list looks like, I’m in need of a good slow cooker, juicer and blender!
Chef and Steward says
Something tells me you could be ticking some off this year. We certainly hope!
I'm Gonna Cook That says
I need a Kitchen Aid stand mixer so badly! Definitely at the top of my list.
Chef and Steward says
And you are going to love it!
duodishes says
Of all these things…the Vitamix is the one! It would be amazing to have an all-in-one juice, smoothie and soup machine.
Chef and Steward says
Would love to see all the creative concoctions you come up with in a Vitamix too!
sara says
Love it … these are on my wish list too… wish I had a fairy god-mother.
Chef and Steward says
You and me!!! Maybe if we close our eyes hard enough…
Fay Eshleman says
Kari, I do not use my Vitamix 5000 a lot but when I do, a favorite is piña colada using Wray & Nephew white rum, coconut milk, fresh pineapple blended with ice cubes. For real decadence add some condensed milk.
Anni Q says
I definitely want a slow cooker. As a working Mom with no nanny, its perfect for still preparing yummy healthy meals for my family without the stress…It’s a must buy for me… maybe an early Christmas gift… 🙂
Chef and Steward says
That’s the spirit! And kudos to you for doing it all and still making meals at home for your family!
Minna says
Nice “army” you have there 🙂 If only I could get bigger kitchen first. So that is No. 1 Huge Kitchen. Then comes Vitamix, Ice-cream maker, pressure cooker (really good and safe one), Cordless hand blender.
My very first fancy kitchen helper was Bamix. I invested all my money for that back at the time, my breaking point was when the sales lady swirld foamy cream out of skimmed milk. Deal was done. Well I learned some other usage for it as I went with it 🙂
Chef and Steward says
Huge Kitchen…. now THAT’s something!
soyerproductss says
Thank you for providing such great information on kitchen appliances for chefs and home cooks
emulsifiedfamily says
Oh Vitamix . . . I “need” one of these as a chef’s wife, right? Christmas is coming . . .
Chef and Steward says
For all we have to deal with? A resounding ‘Heck yeah!!!”
Queen Gem says
Are you taking orders? I am ready to order.
Chef and Steward says
Lol One day soon 🙂