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Beelzebib

I love the colors and the design.  There are plenty of pockets and in all the in the right places.  The long strings around the waist are much appreciated. I bought one of each.  The best part - they're made here in the USA.  I try to buy products made in the US - I don't recall seeing this detail when ordering (I may have missed it), so I was pleasantly surprised - made the higher price completely worth it.  

Pink

Black

Goldilocks

NanoBond Titanium Skillet

D3 10" Fry Pan

Premier 10" Space Saving Fry Pan

10-Inch Skillet

Deep Cut

10" Stainless Steel Frying Pan

Fry Pan

Titanium Series Fry Pan

Eater Series Frying Pan

I've been harping on the old school brands and their price gouging for months, but here comes Goldilocks to make my argument for me.

There is zero practical difference between this level of quality and All-Clad for 99% of home cooks. There just isn't. There's a thick, visible layer of aluminum in the middle that smooths out heat distribution while being super responsive to heating changes.

In fact, while these handles aren't perfect — they're definitely not as comfy as Made In or as pretty as Great Jones — they're far more comfortable than All-Clad's pseudo-professional design.

It's just a damn good classic fully-clad stainless steel skillet. Everyone should have one and, at this price, they can probably afford one.

The pan is comfortable to hold and feels sturdy when I’m using it. Overall I’ve enjoyed using it a lot and I feel like it’s a great introduction to stainless steel because of the price point.

Asaya

Canvas Knife Roll Bag

I picked up this cheap knife roll on a whim to compare it against some more expensive models for a quick knife roll primer.

Immediately it became my favorite due to its focus on convenience. I love how flexible yet strong the fabric is. I love the shoulder strap. I love the zipper pocket.

I wish it were a little prettier, but functionality-wise, this is my favorite knife roll I've ever had by a mile — beating out plenty of $100+ models that are too serious for their own good.

Hestan

Amazon

This is the smaller version of my favorite skillet on earth and for those who need a small skillet for things like eggs... I think this is the best all-around performance money can buy.

While it's definitely not fully nonstick, it does react less-strongly with protein which offers home cooks a little bit more wiggle room on initial temperature. That means more control to cook the way you want to cook rather than the pan forcing you to cook a certain way. 

On that note, it's also extremely responsive to heat changes due to its super thick internal layer of aluminum. That's something I value very highly and I think gets overlooked by many home cooks.

8.5"

Hitohira

Bernal Cutlery

210mm Heavy Cleaver

220mm Chukka Bocho

210mm Gyuto

8" Chef's Knife

180mm Santoku

If you have the money, go buy one of these today. This thing is a hidden gem and more people should have them.

Feels like a fucking razor and holds an edge like nothing I've used before.

I love the shape. I love the size. I love the feel. It's not the prettiest knife, but it sure ain't bad. It's simple, useful, and probably a great first carbon steel knife if that's something you're interested in.

Update: The problem is — as with many Japanese knives — they're unique and so they sell out quickly. The link is already dead and it's sold out the manufacturer's site too. Looks like a couple other knife shops have stock and they'll probably change over time. Good luck!

This little baddie is my carbon steel go-to for daily use. 

I love how light this knife is, and the shorter blade and razor edge  gives me the extra confidence I need when tackling a new knife skill.

The only down side is how brittle this knife is, and being that it's carbon steel it does need dried off immediately.

Calphalon

When I saw this pan kicking around on an end cap at the Bed, Bath & Beyond just down the street from our little apartment in San Francisco, I thought "that's a weird design" and thus began a love affair with an unexpected form factor.

Not only was it thoughtfully designed, but it was also cheaper than every other tri-ply unit in the store.

Here in 2023, we're stuck mourning the passing of this line of pans that were far too pure for this world. 

Dammit, Calphalon. Get it together.

Tilit

The best chest pocket in the game. I love the way it separates from the main apron to prevent neck stress when you overstuff it.

Some really thoughtful details overall and I love the contrasting highlights. If the ties were Tilit's amazing shoelace-style (which they already make in the same neon green), I'd be all over this apron.

The chest pocket is the reason to buy this apron, but as a home cook I would never actually use the towel holder.

Honestly, that extra chest pocket gap makes a good arm sling since there's only one hand pocket.

Thai Red Curry Paste

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