Bacon Shaving Cream? It's Gotta Be J&D's

BaconPop, one of J&D's more edible products

On my way into work this morning, I heard on the local news station a little story about a company in Seattle that’s started making bacon-scented shaving cream. 

Before the newscaster said the company’s name, I knew it could only be J&D’s. 

J&D’s – named after the founders, Justin and Dave – have been making interesting bacon products like Bacon Salt, Baconnaise, and BaconPop here in Seattle for years. They also happen to be our neighbors. I have fond memories their full-size bacon coffin, or that time they proudly showed us their most XXX-rated product, edible bacon-flavored personal lubricant. 

So, I guess bacon shaving cream was inevitable. After all, bacon shaving cream, “is what Vikings would have used this to mow down their impenetrable forest of man-beard,” says the J&D’s website. 

J and D know how to have fun, and they know how to meld bacon with anything – obviously. 

Not game to shave with bacon? Well, then you really should look into their more edible products. Items like bacon malt salt and Baconnaise are quite delightful.  They’re also safe for vegetarians – there’s no actual bacon involved – and Kosher. 

Whether you’re shopping for a gag gift or just something to sweeten up the life of a porcine-loving friend, invest in some J&D’s. Check out their full line at Chef Tools here.  

Celebrate Small Business Saturday

Just like most all small businesses, ChefTools.com was built on a foundation of sweat, hard work, and late nights. What began as painfully small operation over a decade ago had grown into a successful small business that’s delivered cooking tools to thousands of people across the 50 states and Canada.

And we have no one to thank but you. 

November 24 is Small Business Saturday, a day that we take particular pride in because we’re a small business. We celebrate the effort and chutzpah it takes to building something on your own.  Sure, we sell products by big companies, but we also celebrate the little guy – because, at heart, that’s who we are. 

Take for instance Bag Adapter Kit. This company was started outside San Diego by a veteran cake decorator and dedicated mother who was tired of throwing away pastry bags that were cut to fit only one size pastry tip. So, Michelle Hageman created a simple device that fits in any pastry bag, allowing multiple uses with any size pastry tip. Not to mention, Hageman donates a portion of proceeds to the Autism Speaks foundation. 

The Bag Adapter Kit is the kind of product we seek out. From Bella Cupcake Couture to Raw Materials Design, ChefTools.com has a history of marketing products made by small businesses. So on this Small Business Saturday – just one day after many of us have partaken in the Black Friday shopping binge at big retailers – consider supporting a small business. Below you’ll find a list of some small businesses whose products we sell. Who knows, you might find one that’s in your own backyard.

Bella Cupcake Couture – Newcastle, Washington

USA Pans – Crescent, Pennsylvania

Stone Buhr Flour – Reardan, Washington

Bag Adapter Kit – San Marcos, California

Magic Line Bakeware – Gardena, California

Lucks Cake Decorating – Tacoma, Washington

J&D’s Bacon Products – Seattle, Washington

Range Kleen – Lima, Ohio

LamsonSharp cutlery – Shelburne Fall, Massachusetts

Raw Materials Design linens – Seattle, Washington

Architec housewares – Delray Beach, Florida

Zeroll cooking tools – Ft. Pierce, Florida

Ateco – Glenn Cove, New York

Seattle Popcorn Company – Seattle, Washington

Beater Blade – New Duncansville, Pennsylvania

Aerobie AeroPresse – Palo Alto, California

Ritrovo Italian Importers – Burien, Washington

India Tree spices – Seattle, Washington

5 Reasons to Buy a Roasting Pan

RSVP Hercules Roasting Pan Set

My grandmother used to cook our Thanksgiving turkey in a disposable tinfoil “pan” bought in a 5-pack for $2 at the local grocery store. The turkey cooked in this pan for 4 or more hours getting nice and dry while a grease and gristle pooled around it. The result was a bird with dry breasts, thighs, and drumsticks, and an backside soaked with grease and gristle. 

My family ate it and loved it, but it doesn’t have to be this way for everyone. 

Today’s roasting pans run the gamut from basic to fancy, but all generally do the same job: they cook turkey well. Here are 5 reasons you need to buy a turkey roasting pan now for this Thanksgiving:

• Air circulation. This is the secret to any perfectly browned, perfectly cooked turkey. A roasting pan allows convection air to circulate in and around every nook and cranny of your turkey. It cooks quickly, evenly, and your bird gets a perfect all-over tan. 

• Fat. Turkey is pretty lean. In fact, it’s one of the lowest fat (saturated and other) meats out there. But if your turkey is sitting in a pit of grease, you’ll be adding on unnecessary and unhealthy calories to your meal. With a roasting pan, the grease grips off and away from the turkey into the pan. Save those greasy calories for your famous turkey gravy. 

• Basting. If you’re an anti-brine kind of person, you’ll probably be doing a lot of basting. And, just like reason No. 1, you may not want your turkey just sitting in your basting sauce. A roasting pan keeps your turkey up and away from that murky bath. 

• Versatility. A roasting pan isn’t just for thanksgiving. It’s for, well, roasting. That could be lasagna, a rack of lamb, potatoes, pork ribs – anything. It’s the perfect vessel for even cooking any meal. Not only that, you can hop your roasting pan up on the range and use the drippings to make roux or gravy.

• Easy clean up. When you’re done with that turkey or that slab of oven-baked macaroni and cheese, your roasting pan cleans up with the touch of a sponge. If not nonstick, most modern roasting pans are anodized, making them a breeze to clean up. No more roasted-on grease, cheese, or whatever. 

Ditch those disposable tinfoil pans and treat you and your family to a high quality roasting pan for Thanksgiving. We recommend the RSVP Hercules Roasting & Lasagna Pan (includes rack). Shop all our roasting pans and racks here: http://www.cheftools.com/Roasting-Pans/products/99/

New: Meri Meri Holiday Partyware

Stock up now on the latest holiday party supplies from Meri Meri. We just received in stock the latest designs by the famed maker of stylish, beautifully illustrated wares. The newest from Meri Meri for the 2012 holiday season includes classic designs, like the Pilgrim place cards, and new motifs like retro palm trees (which use imagery from non-traditional tropical Christmas decorations seen in Hawaii, Florida, and other warm-weather states).

Shop all the new Meri Meri party supplies here. Don't forget to browse all the classic Meri Meri products for birthday parties, holidays, and more!

New In Clearance Cooking Tools!

We’ve added a couple of hundred cooking products to our clearance section, so I wanted to highlight some cool culinary tools you can grab at a deep discount. And always be sure to check out our clearance cooking tools section for new products. 

Luminarc Coke Glass Cans – These are super cool, durable pieces that are perfect for a lemonade on the back porch – or, you know, a glass of soda. The Coca Cola logo is raised up off the surface of the glass. 

Head Chefs Cooking Tools – These cool little cooking guys are going fast, so hurry. We have measuring cups, pastry brushes, icing spreaders, and more, all with little bendable silicone arms and legs. Perfect for young budding chefs! 

Outset Nonstick Copper Grill Topper Wok – Grilling season is not over! Not until the first snow will we put down our grill tongs and stop buying 12-packs of hamburger buns! Use this grill tool to sauté anything from mushrooms to shrimp right on your grill top. 

Soehnle Digital Kitchen Scale – A discount digital scale that will help you make baked goods better. Most of us measure dry goods by volume, but measuring by weight is far better. Does your recipe call for 12 ounces of flour? Then this is the tool for you.

Shun Ken Onion Knives – Find these throughout our clearance department, from small paring knives to big santoku knives. It’s rare to find Ken Onion knives on sale because they’re simply among the best knives on the planet. You save a ton of money and gain a knife that will be with you forever.  

Check out our entire clearance department here and find all the discount professional cooking tools you’re looking for! 

Tramontina Cookware - Versatile, Durable, Affordable

Do you know what I’m sick of? Cookware with limitations. 

Don’t get me wrong, all the pots, pans, griddles, and tagines we sell at ChefTools.com are of the highest quality – but that doesn’t mean that all the pans can do all the things you want.  I like my cookware to be very flexible. Can I throw this pan under the broiler after it’s been on the cooktop? Do I have to worry about using a lot of oil because, if not, the nonstick coating will burn off? 

Enter Tramontina cookware, what may be the most versatile – and beautiful – line of pots, Dutch ovens, fry pans and more that we’ve had around these parts. 

For example, the Tramontina Multi-Cooking System allows you to bake on the stovetop. How? The system comes with a Bundt pan or 2 loaf pans, plus a riser that suspends the molds above the pan. More importantly, the shape of the pan recirculates air from bottom to top and back down again, giving the effect of an oven. In the case of a savory meal – say, a pork loin – the Multi-Cooking System recirculates moisture, essentially basting your roast for you. 

Tramontina Lyon Multi-Cooking System

Almost every Tramontina piece is safe for the oven, induction, gas, electric, ceramic glass, and dishwasher safe. Sauté, grill, broil, and clean easily to your heart’s content. 

Even better – Tramontina cookware is reasonably priced. How about $34.94 for a 10” fry pan from the Pro 3004 Series. The Pro 3004 pans were designed by Tramontina to stand up to the rigors of a commercial kitchen, but still be practical for home use. They’re safe on induction, ceramic glass, gas, electric and in the oven (and under the broiler). They are treated with Eclipse nonstick, tested to withstand 700,000 cooking cycles (probably more than you’ll go through in your home kitchen).

My next favorite is the Prima line of tri-ply stainless steel pans. You have to love a good stainless steel pan. You can’t kill them and they cook anything, anywhere. The best part of these Tramontina Prima pans, though, is the rim. Each pan has a flared rim so you can pour out liquids with no mess. Everything from bacon grease to braising liquid pours right out with no extra drips or spills. 

Prima Tri-Ply Stainless Steel (notice the flared rim)

Check out the full line of Tramontina pots and pans here. You’ll find everything from cast iron to pasta strainers to covered saucepans. Find the Tramontina piece that’s right for you.

Remember – everything ships for just $2.79 flat in September. Just use the code SEPT279 when you check out!