Kent Kitchen Works

Editorial Tuesday – Boos Block

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 21:11:49 -0400

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Editorial Tuesday – Boos Block

September 6, 2011 by Abbey | Edit

In my grandmother’s kitchen, to the right of the sink, laid a wide glass cutting board with images showing through of onions and carrots and measurement equivalents or everyday recipes (I can’t remember which). This board with its level, rubber-coated feet and easily sanitized glass surface, by all appearances makes a perfect work surface. Later, Mom inherited it and although it never left my grandmother’s countertop, it spent very little time on my mother’s. It probably wouldn’t have made an appearance at all had it not been for the sentimental value. The thing was anything but attractive (in my humble opinion. Sorry Nanny) and it made the worst possible noise as it dulled knives with a speed and efficiency that would shock you.

When glass got its 15-Minutes it replaced wood, the long-standing cutting board champion, for its ability to get disinfected after contact with raw meat. What really just knocks the socks off of me is that this thing…

{via a very funny lady}

& this round one…

{via}

… are commonly known in the food and antiques industries as butcher’s blocks.

Did you catch that?

{via}**

BUTCHER‘s block.

These immense blocks of hardwood were called “Sanitary Meat Blocks” in the 1880′s when they were used by butchers, and are still considered safe to use for food preparation. Even for meat. Even in restaurants!

Now, I’m not saying that second example in its current state would I be comfortable exposing to raw meat, but it was and, with a little TLC, could be again. Or you could buy something that isn’t a stand alone behemoth. Perhaps something more along the lines of the countertop cutting board style that made the glass version so popular…

John Boos is the company that makes this cutting board and, speaking from experience, it is wonderful to work on! Completely. Amazing. This photo is taken in our showroom, and I am really, reallyreally paranoid about damaging/staining/ruining those marble countertops so everything that one would traditionally use a countertop for (including boring ol’ landing space for condiment jars) I use the cutting board. The lip catches at the front and prevents the board from slipping, there is generous surface space, and – see that kind of backsplash thing on the back end? It stops food & utensils from sliding off & it acts as another lip – its reversible!!

** I couldn’t leave out this 13 foot long bad boy from Boos. It is the longest block manufactured in the company’s 124 year long existence. I’d love to know where it landed.

In case you are doubting me, all of these professionals/celebrity chefs think Boos Block butcher blocks and cutting boards are the only thing worth cutting on… or something to that effect. Boos was and remains to be the industry standard. Check out JohnBoos.com’s About page for a full history and current events.

{via}

Home chefs all over the U.S. use Boos Blocks for their own masterpieces. The guy below is making beef bourguignon, for heaven’s sake! ANYTHING from Boos would make a wonderful first-home or wedding gift. (I’m not in the market for either, yet, but – hint, hint!!)

{via}

And if you already own a home and are renovating your kitchen, installing Boos’ butcher block countertops would not be an ugly choice.

{via}

Boos cutting boards make no-brainer cheese boards, too. Take Rubiner’s Cheesemongers & Grocers from Great Barrington, MA, as an example. They have about half a dozen Boos Block cutting boards throughout their store. Half are behind the counter to cut wedges for customers, and the other half are out on the floor being used for display or (my favorite part) samples. I was there about a year ago and noticed this personally but completely forgot to take photos. Oops.

{via}

To recap some main ideas here:

~ with proper preparation and minimal maintenance (and even less clean-up), wood cutting boards & blocks can be used for meat preparation,

~ they are SO much easier on knives and they make cutting less hazardous,

~ besides being gorgeous in Rock Maple, Boos also offers Cherry and Walnut woods with logical features like juice grooves & reservoirs, side handles, and herb choppers,

~ did I forget to mention that all of John Boos’ products are made from American hardwoods in Effingham, Illinois, and have since 1887? Well, they are.

Made in America

Check out JohnBoos.com for more products & product information. You can also stop in to see us at Kent Kitchen Works. We would be happy to tell you how much we love them, answer any questions, and to see the ones we have available.

Do you have a Boos Block? Do you love it? Tell me all about it!

Chalkboard Bandwagon

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 11:31:17 -0400

In grade school they were black. At some point, likely when I changed schools after my family moved to a nicer part of town, blackboards changed from the self-titled black to the newer, improved, and ambiguous green or brown chalkboard. Eventually chalk was replaced with markers, chalkboards replaced with whiteboards, and white dust replaced with black, red, blue, and green dry-erase marker grime that sticks to your fingers and smells to high heaven. I’m dating myself here - its very possible many of you had nothing but blackboards all the way through school. Contrast that against today’s cold, comparatively impersonal, digital teaching tools, and the whole memory of blackboards seems romantic.

Image a lá Carte Blanche

Reality check: chalkboards are MESS-Y!! Chalk dust can really get everywhere, and colored chalk is even more invasive. And don’t even think about cleaning erasers indoors! Despite that, there has been a surge in popularity for chalkboards. More accurately, chalkboard paint. I know you’ve seen it. Everywhere. Whole walls, restaurants, whole walls in restaurants,… its everywhere!

Why? Because they are romantic. They are charming and functional and are being used in unique ways to personalize a space, decorate a powder room, or to label a wine glass or dinner place-card. Nothing is sacred from the application of chalkboard paint - but it’s okay!

While researching for this post I came across this blog written by a woman named Lisa. She believed her well “lived-in” home didn’t need the trendy chalkboard wall/framed piece/piece of furniture or the accompanying chalk dust. Well, in a moment of insanity (okay, brilliance, as it turns out) she painted her back door foyer with chalkboard paint, and fell in love. Read her post here.

Image a la The Four McGarveys

Chalkboard paint is a beautiful and functional way of personalizing your home. Plus its only paint so if you get tired of it, just paint over it! This could be the little (or big) touch of black that every room needs…

Gluckstein Design is a genius design firm out of Toronto.

Click here to visit their website.

Have you used chalkboard paint? Send us your photos and tell us what you think!

Have A Great Day :)

All images via Pinterest unless otherwise marked.

My Pilgrimage to Viking Range

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:31:09 -0400

Recently I had the opportunity to travel to the Mecca of all things Viking, The Viking Training Center in Greenwood, Mississippi (Population 15,205). Viking Range Company is the largest private employer in the State of Mississippi with factories to produce refrigeration, cooking, ventilation and dishwashers located in Greenwood.

While at the training center, I took a quick class on Viking Professional Refrigeration and the unique features that sets it apart from other appliance manufacturers. Viking stands behind all of their Professional branded appliances with a full 3 year warrantee.

ProChill™ Temperature Management

ProChill™ Temperature Management System with variable speed DC Overdrive™ compressor. Single compressor system includes the quietest, most technologically advanced compressor available.

Plasmacluster™ Ion Air Purifier

The Plasmacluster™ Ion Air Purifier uses ions to eliminate bacteria and mold spores, remove odors and enhance food preservation. Plasmacluster™ is a trademark of Sharp Corporation.

Adjustable Cold Zone™ Drawer

Keep mouth-watering filets and vegetables fresh with separate moisture-controlled Adjustable Cold Zone™ Drawer. Separate temperature control allows storage of foods 3-5 degrees colder than refrigerator.

Adjustable Humidity Zone™ Drawers

Produce the freshest leafy vegetables and fruits with moisture-adjustable drawer(s).

Electronic Temperature Control

Electronic controls maintain temperature to within one degree F.

Multi-Channel Airflow

Enjoy less humidity and less odor with our Mutli-Channel Airflow and Odor Eliminator™ Evaporator.

In addition, there is a clog resistant no maintenance condenser coil. This feature relieves you of the necessity to vacuum dust off your coils twice a year! Viking Professional Refrigeration is made in America!

You can learn more about Viking Professional here: http://www.vikingrange.com/consumer/global/content.jsp?id=cat14340043

Franke Kitchen Systems: Why Franke?

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:27:38 -0400

Franke Kitchen Systems: Why Franke?:

frankekitchensystems:

We’ve been asked a question of late, and it is one that I recognize well. What makes your sinks different? Quite frankly, it is our most common question: Honestly, it’s a very good question. Much more important than most people realize. After all, 75% of all activity in the kitchen…

frankekitchensystems: Showroom: Kent Kitchen Works; Kent, CT....

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 18:58:03 -0400

frankekitchensystems:

Showroom: Kent Kitchen Works; Kent, CT. Featuring a Franke undermount stainless steel sink, FF-1900 faucet and rail system.
Kent Kitchen Works Blog: www.kentkitchenworks.wordpress.com

Thanks to Abigail Reames for submitting - what an awesome showroom you have!

"…inspire the imagination. …create functional, distinctive and timeless environments to meet the..."

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:27:56 -0400

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- Our Mission

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