Forum Thermomix

Welcoming Center, Management and General Chat => Chit Chat => Topic started by: meganjane on March 12, 2010, 02:51:04 pm

Title: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: meganjane on March 12, 2010, 02:51:04 pm
I do a lot of online shopping as I'm a loooong way from any good shops! I've found a great site (http://www.kitchendiscounts.com.au) that has kitchen gadgets. I've finally succumbed and bought a kitchen blowtorch there solely for creme brulee! It was only $40, so I though, 'What the heck, I love creme brulee, I don't go to restaurants to be able to order it...so I have to make it myself. Therefore, I need a blowtorch!'


Speaking of creme brulee, I made the most divine one tonight and have posted the recipe here (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=3212.0)
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: faffa_70 on March 12, 2010, 03:37:08 pm
 :-* :-* Thank you have forwarded it to DH - that should see some nice things for Mothers Day and Birthday coming my way hopefully lol
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: Very Happy Jan on March 13, 2010, 12:30:16 am
Thanks meaganjane. Always good to have these sites to see whats available. Glad you got the blowtorch :D :D :D
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: Amanda on March 13, 2010, 02:15:35 am
Oh dear, now I'll be in trouble. :o
I love kitchenware shops! :-))
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: judydawn on March 13, 2010, 07:24:15 am
Glad you finally talked yourself into getting the blow torch MJ - pretty impressive to whip that out when you have visitors. No chance of setting fire to the kitchen with one of those is there  :-)) :-)) :-))
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: trudy on March 13, 2010, 10:21:32 am
Book shops and kitchenware shops are my favourites!!
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: I Love Bimby! on March 13, 2010, 11:48:42 am
Thanks MJ. All I can say is my bank balance is very lucky that my pc is broken! 
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: meganjane on March 14, 2010, 04:41:45 pm
The bad news is, that I came down with a stomach bug the night I ate my delicious creme brulee. I wasn't able to get the toffee coating on it as I my blowtorch had only just been ordered online.
That damn brulee churned in my stomach for 6 hours before it finally came up and what didn't come up found it's way out in another way, if you know what I mean.
I've been ill for two days and I don't think I can ever face a creme brulee again!! :-[

Maybe, I'll make a chocolate one and see if I can manage that OK..... ;)
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: Thermomixer on March 14, 2010, 11:32:45 pm
Thanks for being suh a sharing person MJ  ;D ;D ;D ;D - no I meant about the kitchenware site .

As if I need any excouragemnet - now I don't even have to leave home  :o :o :o
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: Deeau on April 21, 2010, 01:46:23 am
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but this site doesn't have many of the goods you order in stock ( even though they say they do online) There has been discussion on other forums about them taking orderes not delivering or refunding, I just yesterday got a refund ( not from them but through my credit card company ) for an order placed on Feb 2nd, they don't return calls and I got one email from them saying they are in "discussions with the QLD dept of fair trading " I think they would be best avoided.
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: meganjane on April 21, 2010, 04:11:39 am
Oh dear, thanks for that. I'm still waiting for that kitchen blowtorch! They did send an email saying that it would be posted in two weeks. They've had my money for well over a month.
This (http://www.kitchenwaredirect.com.au/) is a much better site!
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: stacelee on April 21, 2010, 07:24:27 am
Hi Guys,

Its worth doing a bit of homework on some of the more "commercial" items that appear on some of the kitchenware websites.  I recently was in the market for a preserving kit and the identical one on the previously referred to website is considerably more expensive than the $179 I paid for it at Mitre 10.   You may be better making a couple of phone calls to catering equipment supply companies that sell "smallwares" or "tabletop" or "kitcheware"......they may be able to give you a better price.  I speak from experience as I work for one of those types of companies and my friends constantly sit on me when we go shopping in DJ's, Myers,  Robins etc and I see the prices they are charging.  There are some companies that will not sell to the public but there are others that are quite happy to.  It really can be worth shopping around.

Have a great afternoon
Stacey
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: andiesenji on April 21, 2010, 07:47:35 pm
Those "micro-flame" torches are not very efficient nor are they particularly safe.  It takes three times the amount of time needed to caramelize just one portion of creme brulee and is not very practical for other kitchen and/or household uses.

I tried one several years ago and another more recently but found them totally unacceptable and went back to using my Bernzomatic which is 20+ years old and the only change has been that I went to the compact propane canister when they became available a few years back.
All the professional chefs I know use these, which are found in hardware and home improvement stores, but also in restaurant supply stores.   

I know Bernzomatic torches are available in Australia because friends have them and use them constantly.  They don't cost much more than that little one and are much safer to use because there is no plastic close enough to the flame to melt with prolonged use.   They are larger and heavier but once you get used to holding one, you will not even have to think about it. 
I'm sure there are other brands available there but I know about these.

I use mine for a lot of different kitchen tasks (as well as a few household tasks)  singing off the remaining pinfeathers on turkeys or game birds is much easier and far faster than plucking them one by one.   When I roast a whole ham in the big electric roaster, rather than brown it in the oven, I sprinkle the (diamond patterned) fat cap with brown sugar and use the torch to caramelize it. 
It takes perhaps three or four minutes but would take an hour with the little one. 

Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: meganjane on April 22, 2010, 03:00:17 am
Thanks andie, I may just cancel my order with them.
I found this site (http://www.justtools.com.au/prod389.htm) which sells the torches you're describing. I may enquire with them about one of the Bernzomatic Micro Torches instead.
Great for doing the skin on duck too!
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: Thermomixer on April 23, 2010, 01:28:19 am
Thanks Deeau and andie - much appreciated advice.  :-* :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: andiesenji on April 23, 2010, 01:48:13 am
Thanks andie, I may just cancel my order with them.
I found this site (http://www.justtools.com.au/prod389.htm) which sells the torches you're describing. I may enquire with them about one of the Bernzomatic Micro Torches instead.
Great for doing the skin on duck too!

I don't have the micro torch - mine is the standard size.  It is much easier to adjust the flame on the regular one.
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: meganjane on April 24, 2010, 01:49:44 pm
OK, will check out the regular sized ones. Do you have a link to a website that sells them where you are? Then I can see what sort of torch you're talking about.
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: andiesenji on April 24, 2010, 09:17:47 pm
This is the one I have:
trigger start torch with FatBoy canister (http://www.lowes.com/pd_299446-717-2880088_4294822048_4294937087?productId=3133747)
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: chocdoc on April 24, 2010, 11:18:22 pm
I too have a proper hardware store blowtorch - trigger start is a treat.  I wouldn't go back to one of those little ones for anything.  They take too long and make my hands sore holding the little button in all that time.
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: andiesenji on April 25, 2010, 02:10:36 am
Just so you know how versatile the torch is - this morning I was doing some work in the garden and found the on/off valve on one of the water supply lines was "frozen" couldn't open it, even with a heavy wrench.  Firing up the torch and applying the flame to the valve housing, then allowing it to cool a bit, made short work of releasing the valve.  Worked easily without the need of a wrench.
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: Thermomixer on April 25, 2010, 01:56:50 pm
Hope that wasn't plastic piping  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: Ceejay on April 25, 2010, 02:22:56 pm
Hope that wasn't plastic piping  ;D ;D ;D
Oh Thermomixer!!  :-))
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: meganjane on April 25, 2010, 02:36:51 pm
The same torch in Australia is $119!!
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: andiesenji on April 25, 2010, 07:56:22 pm
Hope that wasn't plastic piping  ;D ;D ;D

Nope, solid brass.
Title: Re: Great Kitchenware Site
Post by: andiesenji on April 25, 2010, 08:34:27 pm
The same torch in Australia is $119!!

good Lord!  That is an incredible price for the 3000 -  The 4000 model here is $46.00 and the 6000 model is $85.00  and with a 6-ft pressure hose is $105.00.  Hard to believe that it is that much more expensive in OZ. 
I think the one you are referencing is the 8000 which produces a much hotter flame and is used for welding. 

I would suggest you call a local restaurant and ask them if the chef uses a torch and where you can buy one.  Otherwise ask at a DIY store and tell them how much you want to spend.