Monday, March 22, 2010

Fight Cancer with Your Wallet






1.8 qt LivestrongTM Tea Kettle
The Lance Armstrong Foundation and Chantal have teamed up to make it easy for you to help in the fight against cancer. You may already be familiar with Lance Armstrong's story, but in case you aren't here is the quick version. At age 25, after winning the Tour Du Pont, multiple Tour de France stages, and many World Championships, Lance was undeniably one of the world's best cyclists. He appeared invincible and his future was bright. Then Lance found out he had testicular cancer which is the most common cancer in men ages 15-35. If testicular cancer is detected early, there is a promising 90% cure rate. During his treatment, Lance created the Lance Armstrong Foundation which has become one of the premier cancer support and research efforts to date.


The founder of Chantal, Heida Thurlow, has been a cancer survivor for nearly two decades. She was well aware of the need for support and education before the Lance Armstrong Foundation even existed. Heida helped create the LivestrongTM collection for people like herself who believe in surviving and living life to the fullest. Each piece in the LivestrongTM collection features the signature golden yellow and LivestrongTM logo. 10% of the sales of all LivestrongTM ceramic items and 5% of the LivestrongTM tea kettle go directly to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. The LivestrongTM collection is stylish, functional and a constant reminder to all that if you experience cancer first hand, you are not alone.

Shop all Chantal LivestrongTM products

BPA-free Aluminum Water Bottle

Short & Stout Mug

Travel Mug


Click HERE to learn more about the Lance Armstrong Foundation

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Show Me What You Can Do



The history of this popular cookware cleaner and polish is quite simple. Bar Keepers Friend gained its popularity in the late 1800s by dazzling "bar keepers" with its ability to shine their brass and copper. Since then, it has been a staple in homes and restaurants across the country. No fancy slogans or commercials, just a hardworking cleaner that won't scratch your cookware. Not only do they say it's a good product, but so do All-Clad, Calphalon, Kohler, Viking and many more top brands who recommended Bar Keepers Friend. And there's a reason why. Its fast-acting formula loosens stains which means you spend less time and effort cleaning. Gentle, safe, tough and effective. What more could you want?

After learning about the alleged power of Bar Keepers Friend, we knew we were going to have to put it to the test. Most would agree that a great demonstration says a lot more than words. So we grabbed an old, very used piece of copper cookware, rolled film and started scrubbing. The results? We were pretty much speechless. After seeing Bar Keepers Friend in action, we can safely say that it does everything and more than it claims to.

Click HERE to read more about Bar Keepers Friend and watch our chefDemo

Friday, February 26, 2010

Lu Yu Brewers


Lu Yu Automatic Porcelain Tea Brewer
12.5 oz Brewer
Lu Yu Automatic Porcelain Tea Brewer Inner Chamber
Inner Brewing Chamber
If you love loose leaf tea this is the perfect tool for you. Lu Yu Porcelain Tea Brewers, available in a 12.5 oz. and 8 oz. size, feature a patented brewing chamber that steeps your tea for the perfect amount of time, every time. If you've ever over brewed your tea, you are familiar with how quickly it can go bitter. Lu Yu's precision brewing time of 2 minutes and 30 seconds ensures you always get great tasting tea. One thing to remember however, is that adding boiling or very hot water to your brewer will burn your tea. Depending on the type of tea you are brewing, your water temperature should generally be between 175 F and 195 F.


Lu Yu Automatic Tea Brewers also make great gifts for any tea lover or new tea drinker. They are easy to use, reliable, beautifully gift boxed, and make brewing loose leaf tea a breeze.


Shop all Lu Yu HERE

Thursday, February 25, 2010

An All-In-One Grill Tool

The Grill Station from Charcoal Companion
the Grill Station from Charcoal Companion
Meet your new best friend, the Grill Station from Charcoal Companion. A unique tool that does more than meets the eye, the Grill Station marinates, stores, chills and serves food. The tool caddy attachment keeps all the necessities like thermometers, tongs and spatulas close at hand while the trays keep raw and cooked foods separate to avoid cross contamination. The Grill Station's trays have ridges inside which prop meat up slightly allowing marinade to freely flow and evenly coat all your meat. One lid is included, which fits both clearly marked 'RAW' and 'COOKED' trays. Another great feature of the Grill Station's trays is their ability to be written on. You can use a dry erase pen to write dates or notes on the side of the trays, then simply wipe them off with a mild cleaning detergent or throw them in the dishwasher.


Shop all Charcoal Companion products

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

A Must Have Kitchen Tool






Microplane has been around for 20 years now and the history is pretty interesting. In 1990 brothers Richard and Jeff Grace jointly owned a manufacturing facility in Russellville, Arkansas. It was there that they invented the first Microplane as a woodworking tool. But that is only the first part of the story. In 1994 Lorraine Lee, a homemaker in Canada, became frustrated with her traditional grater while making a cake. She noticed a new tool on the counter that her husband had brought home earlier from the hardware store. She took her orange that she was trying to zest and slid it across the blades of her husband's Microplane. She was amazed at how easily zest fell from the orange like snow. It was that moment that gave birth to the modern day Microplane kitchen tool.


What makes a Microplane different that other zester/graters you ask? Microplane tools have tiny razor-like edges that are formed by a unique process called photo-etching. During this process tiny holes are dissolved with a chemical, leaving edges that finely slice foods instead of tearing or shredding them. Microplane tools are safe, easy to use and indispensable in the kitchen.


I have a Microplane Classic Zester/Grater (pictured first) and it has become the go-to tool in my kitchen. I use it most frequently for grating cheeses onto things like pasta dishes and potatoes. My Microplane gets its second most frequent workout as it easily zests lemons, limes and oranges. Its unique design allows me to easily prop it up and zest/grate right onto a cutting board, over a pot or pan, or right onto my plate. I would highly recommend a Microplane kitchen tool to anybody that grates and zests. There are plenty of colors, styles and different options to fit your exact culinary need.

Shop all Microplane Graters, Zesters and Shavers

Monday, February 22, 2010

Srping + Grill + Sliders = Fun!


Make fun and delicious sliders at home with Charcoal Companion


Make fun and delicious sliders at home with Charcoal Companion

As the crisp, cold air begins to fade and summer quickly approaches it's hard not to think about grilling. While some wait for the chill to diminish completely, others fire up their gas or charcoal grills and brace the cold. All this just for the delicious flavor, taste and comfort grilled food yields.

One of the most popular and timeless grilled food items has always been the hamburger. However, the more recent "slider" burger has been quickly gaining popularity thanks to restaurants and avid home grillers who are serving them up as appetizers or as the small main dish. The name "slider" is said to have originated due to the mini burger's size because they can easily slide down your throat in one or two bites. Whatever the history and reason for their origin, sliders are undeniably great for parties, kids and adults of all ages.

With the Deluxe Mini Burger Slider Basket & Press Set from Charcoal Companion you can easily make sliders at home. The set includes a 9 slot grilling basket for easy grilling and flipping, a triple patty burger press to create uniform sliders and a mini-bun cutter to trim full buns down to size. The Deluxe Slider Set also makes a great gift for any lover of all things grilling.

Shop all Charcoal Companion BBQ Tools, Grillware and Grill Accessories

Thursday, February 18, 2010

The story of Grill Charms(TM)



It all started with an extra hot piece of Jamaican Jerk chicken at a dinner party. Leslie Haywood, founder of Grill Charms was hosting a dinner party with her husband when he mixed up the extra hot and mild pieces of chicken, accidentally serving Leslie the wrong piece. After that moment, Leslie got her idea for a new product.


Grill Charms are a revolutionary new way to keep track of what's what on the grill. They are made of pure stainless steel and have a serrated tip that will hold firm while you flip, rotate and shift your meat on the grill. Some of the many uses for Grill Charms include (but are not limited to):

  ·distinguishing between Rare, Medium Rare, Medium Well and Medium

  ·clearly marking which meats are spicy, mild and medium

  ·allowing you to customize each different grill item

  ·identifying meats for people with health or allergy concerns

Grill Charms Steak Markers Grill Charms Spicy Collection Grill Charms Charmed Life Collection


Grill Charms come in four different packs of 6. The Steak Collection gives you two charms for Rare, two for Medium Rare, one for Medium and one for Medium Well. The Spicy Collection gives you two charms for Hot, two for Mild and two for Medium. The Charmed Life Collection gives you one palm tree charm, one sailboat, one four leaf clover, one crown, one martini glass and one dollar sign.


Grill Charms Pink Collection supports the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

The final collection is more special than the first three. The Pink Collection comes with one ribbon charm, one chef hat, one shoe, one wine glass, one ladie's hat and one swan. But, the thing that makes is special is that 10% of each sale goes directly to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Leslie became a breast cancer survivor after having a bilateral mastectomy in August of 2006. After two reconstructive procedures she says she's feeling better then ever.


Shop All Grill Charms HERE

To learn more about the Breast Cancer Research Foundation follow this link: http://www.bcrfcure.org/

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Spice it up!



We've added 10 new & exotic spices from India Tree!




Love Pho? Try making your own by adding fresh veggies, rice noodles and your preferred cooked meat to broth flavored with India Tree's Pho Mix. Don't forget the basil, lime, bean sprouts and your favorite hot pepper slices to add to your delicious pho. I can't think of any meal that's more enjoyable and hearty on a cold winter or spring day.
 


I love a delicious heap of chicken curry paired with whit basmati rice and a side of garlic naan (flatbread). And nothing helps you make curry at home easier than India Tree's Curry Powder. Combine some cooked vegetables, broth or water, your preferred cooked meat and some curry powder to a pot, heat through and you've got yourself a quick, delicious curry. Try substituting coconut milk for the broth or water to make an amazing coconut curry. You can also season your meat with curry powder to enhance its flavor.
 


The Szechuan Pepper is a very common spice in Sichuan, China, a region with a reputation for its spicy cuisine. Szechuan Peppers are not related to black peppercorns or chili peppers, they come from the outer pods of a number of different tiny fruits. They can be lightly fried and added to oil to make a spicy oil infusion. In China, Szechuan Peppers are commonly mixed with salt, roasted and browned in a wok and served as a condiment accompanying chicken, pork and duck dishes. Szechuan Peppers are also one of the traditional ingredients in the famed Chinese five spice.












Garam Masala




Panch Phoron




Ras el Hanout




Chinese Five Spice
 




Candied Thai Ginger




Tandoori Masala




Star Anise
 

Monday, January 25, 2010

Super Bowl XLIV


The countdown to Super Bowl XLIV has begun!


It's bound to be a great game to watch as the Indianapolis Colts battle the New Orleans Saints in South Florida on Sunday, February 7th. Since our Seattle Seahawks have been out of the race for many weeks now, we don't have a team to root for and have decided to just sit back and enjoy a sure to be intense game. If you're planning a party (which makes the Super Bowl even more fun) make sure to shop ChefTools.com for your supplies!


For Colts Fans


Enjoy some cupcakes or a cake featuring horseshoe and horse head dec-ons from Lucks' Western Assortment.





Top your treats with Electric Blue and Frost White Sparkling Sugars.




For Saints Fans


Wrap some Gold Shimmer Ribbons around a black cake.




Top your treats with Gold Sparkling Sugar




Display your cupcakes on a Gold Stand.




Taunt Colts fans with a Horse in Field Edible Image.



Deco Leaves and Lace








22 NEW lace doilies and parchment leaves just added!


Deco Lace doilies and Deco Leaves parchment add a quick and easy touch of elegance to your food displays. They are high-quality, made in the USA, food safe and packed in resealable plastic. Slip them under cheese, baked goods, hors d'oeuvres or just to add a splash of color and style to your table.


9 different Deco Lace doilies and 13 different Deco Leaves parchment available now.