williams-sonoma

J.A. Henckels' Damascus Knives For Williams-Sonoma

by Michael B. Dougherty (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Creating true statement pieces, which will also serve you very well in the kitchen, J.A. Henckels has just released a line of Damascus steel knives, under its Zwilling brand, available exclusively at Williams-Sonoma.

The high-end of a new three-tiered collection, which includes Zwilling Pure and Zwilling Cronidur (made from the same steel NASA uses for Space Shuttle ball bearings), Zwilling Damascus is 160 layers of razor-sharp beauty. Designed by architect Matteo Thun, and hand-forged by a top German blacksmith, each knife receives an acid bath after its creation to reveal the undulating patterns distinctive of Damascus steel. The blade is then mounted to a handle of untreated, oiled grenadill wood. Perfectly balanced, the thumb instantly gravitates towards the generous bolster, which provides an unusual amount of comfort and precise control. At 61 on the Rockwell scale, the knife is incredibly hard (meaning edge retention is excellent) but the blade also possesses the proper amount of limber flexibility.

Currently offering a chef's, bread, pairing and Santoku knife, the line is the first German-made Damascus steel on the market. And since each blade's pattern is unique, the Zwilling Damascus isn't just the one you'll want to reach for, it's the one you'll want everyone to see you reaching for.

Tags: cooking, DamascusSteel, germany, J. A. Henckels, knives, williams-sonoma

Fizz With Flair, SodaStream's Penguin

by Michael B. Dougherty (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

The recent crop of home soda makers appeal on several levels: environmentally (no plastic bottles to discard), economically (no plastic bottles to buy) and practically (fizzy water for everyone, anytime). But one shortcoming has been aesthetics, since most models look like a Nalgene bottle jacked into a piece of lab equipment. Thankfully SodaStream has corrected this oversight with their Penguin.

Available through SodaStream's website and at Williams-Sonoma, this avian-themed carbonation factory is something you'll actually want to display at home. Operating without batteries or an electrical connection, the Penguin carbonates beverages with a few quick pumps of the beak (I prefer to add my own penguin sound effects when doing this). Simply rotate the stainless steel flask and insert one of the two glass carafes provided, which are attractive enough to pass for vases or decanters. Close and lock, depress the beak to activate (2-4 times, depending on how much fizz you're after), and push the pressure release valve before opening again. Once carbonated, you can seal the carafes with the provided hermetic stopper for freshness. The CO2 canisters that power the Penguin are easy to install and SodaStream estimates you'll get about 45 carafes-worth of fizz out of each.

SodaStream also offers various soda mixes and recently released a line of all-natural flavor syrups, from apple mango to pink grapefruit, but I've found that a few well-placed lime wedges work just as well. I haven't yet experimented with the Penguin and alcoholic beverages, but something tells me a Collins night is in order soon.

Tags: carbonation, kitchen gadgets, penguin, soda, sodastream, water, williams-sonoma

Cuisinart Supreme Ice Cream Maker

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Gadgets

Summertime is ice cream time. But for some of us, all year long is ice cream time. So naturally I was excited when I saw this handsome Cuisinart Supreme Commercial Quality Ice Cream Maker on Williams-Sonoma. For not much money and in just a few steps, you can whip up homemade ice cream, gelato, sorbet, frozen yogurt or even a frozen drink. This fully automatic machine can prepare up to 1.5 quarts in less than an hour. It features a built-in compressor freezer, so no prefreezing is required -- just add the ingredients and set the timer. Adding mix-ins is easy, thanks to an ingredient spout in the lid. The lid, paddle and bowl are removable for hand-washing. The brushed stainless steel housing means it's nice enough to match today's renovated kitchens. 150W; 15 1/2" x 10 3/4" x 10 1/2"; $299 on Cuisinart or Williams-Sonoma.

Tags: Cuisinart, ice cream, ice cream maker, ice cream makers, IceCream, IceCreamMaker, IceCreamMakers, williams sonoma, Williams-Sonoma, WilliamsSonoma

Pink Santoku Knife For Breast Cancer

by Sandy Maple (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Charity

The latest company going pink to help fight breast cancer is Kyocera Advanced Ceramics. Known for their light-weight, balanced ceramic knives, Kyocera has created a Special Edition 5.5" Santoku Ceramic Knife to support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. For each of the ergonomically designed, pink-handled knives sold, Kyocera will donate $5.00 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. So far, the company has donated over $90,000.

Available at Williams Sonoma and other specialty kitchen retailers for about $70, the knife is perfect for cutting fruits, vegetables and boneless meats. The ceramic blade will never rust or alter the flavor of foods and the pink handle is just plain cute.

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Tags: breast-cancer, ceramic-knife, Kyocera, pink-knife, Pink-Santoku-Knife, susan-g-komen, williams-sonoma