| Elements of a Gourmet Kitchen |
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Page 3 of 6 Stoves are at the heart of every high-end kitchen:Without a doubt, a high quality cook-top and oven is the number one ingredient in a true gourmet kitchen. But, what kind of stove is right for you? When shopping for a range, you're faced with several difficult choices. You can buy a freestanding range that combines a cook-top and oven, or you can buy a separate cook-top and wall oven. Increasingly, gourmet cooks and entertainers want TWO ovens. Do you want a convection feature? If you have access to a gas hookup, you need to decide whether you want gas, electricity, or a combination of the two, and unfortunately, the choices don’t end there. You also need to be cognizant of how much space you have, how much cooking you do and, of course, how much you would like to spend. If you’re shopping for the best, you’ll want to start by checking out a dealer that sells some of, or all of these highly rated manufacturers: Sub Zero, Viking, Wolf, Décor, Jenn Air, Thermador, Miele, AGA, DCS. While there are certainly more companies out there, these are usually the most readily available, easily serviced and time-tested in quality. Think about your cooking habits: If you often cook for a crowd, look for at least one really high-powered element or burner and consider 6 burners in total if you have room. High-heat burners can be useful for searing, stir-frying, or heating large quantities. Many of the better stoves offer grilling or griddle features that you might find desirable. Large ovens or dual ovens may seem overkill at first, but they come in handy at holiday time and for parties, so make sure you go as big as possible. Also be aware that ovens with convection can speed-up roasting times. If you’re a big baker, experts say to go with an electric oven over gas since electric offers more even heating. Make sure you can properly vent your range if you go high power: An often- overlooked element of buying a professional grade range is ventilation. If you are going to use really high-output gas cook-tops, you need to be sure you include a high-end hood, properly vented, to your design. Without one, searing, frying and grilling on your new gourmet stove will set off your smoke detectors - and might even be impossible. Keep high-tech in perspective: Ranges with special baking modes may not necessarily outperform conventional models. Touchpad oven controls can be more precise than knobs, but nothing beats the ability to very quickly “turn-up or turn down the gas” if you’re cooking “gourmet style” we say. In the end, tried and true designs for stoves and ovens sometimes make the best bets. How big is too big? These days, gourmet stoves come in sizes from 36 inches to the size of a small car. Identifying your needs - and the estimating the space available in your kitchen are the only ways you can decide on what size is right for you. When it comes to size, we strongly suggest you consult your cabinet company first. They will not only have accurate and reliable measurements, but often they can point out the pros and cons of any stove you’re thinking of. Custom Vents and Range Hoods: Not only are high-end hoods necessary for ventilating a high-powered stove, they can also add beauty and function to the kitchen. Many cabinet companies are offering uniquely designed hood surrounds which are actually designed to draw attention to your high-end stove and add architectural detail to the layout. Recently, copper, tile and ornate wooden hoods have been dominating kitchen designs, but if you’re looking to showcase the stainless steel look, you can find models that have useful add-ons like warming racks, halogen lights and utensil holders.
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