Get the Right Tools for the Job

It never ceases to amaze me how each and every holiday season another celebrity comes out with the next great culinary cooking tool that's "guaranteed to shave hours off your cooking time" or "make dinner in minutes." Then there is the ever-growing list of celebrity chefs that slap their name and smiling face on a set of pots or knives in order to collect millions in royalty cheques. Let me share a really big secret with you. Chefs don't buy their knives at the department store, and they don't fill their restaurant kitchens with tools in a set of 25, found on the shopping channel for the low low price of $19.95. If they do, you shouldn't be eating in their establishments.

Having said that, I'm embarrassed to say that a few of these gimmicks have made their way into our home. That's right, if you peaked into my pantry, you may find an oversized griddle, an "instant" sushi master kit, the world renowned Slap Chop, and there may even be a Sham Wow somewhere.

These are collectibles, and I use the term loosely, that have come our way through hand me downs from my wife's family, gag gifts from fellow chefs, or my mom, who's gifting with the best of intentions, sometimes misses the mark. My wife insists that one day we'll make breakfast using the griddle, it will be so easy that I'll be glad we had it. The sad reality is by the time she pulled the thing out of the pantry, found the cord, dusted it off, and heated the monstrosity up, I would have breakfast made, eaten, the dishes done, and be back in bed for a mid-morning nap.

The truth is, if you spend a little bit of money and some time, you can fill your kitchen with a few basic kitchen tools that are truly made to withstand the wear and tear of a commercial kitchen.

Chefs buy all supplies at wholesale restaurant suppliers and here's the real secret. You can shop there too, and you don't even need to buy a membership, or pretend to own a restaurant.

"My personal favourite is Hotel & Equipment Supply Company (HESCO for short)"

This city is blessed with several great restaurant suppliers, but my personal favourite is Hotel & Equipment Supply Company (HESCO for short), 13421 St. Albert Trail, 780 429 2727. This family-run, locally owned business, has been taking care of Edmonton chefs for more than 90 years. They have a beautiful showroom that has everything from plateware & cutlery, to pots & pans, and more. They would even help you to build your very own commercial-quality kitchen if you wanted to. Their staff is friendly, helpful, and always willing to accommodate your needs.

So, now that you know where to shop, let's talk a little bit about what you need. Let's start simple and focus on some basic pots and pans. When you shop at the retail stores the prices are steep and the quality isn't high. It wasn't until my wife and I started searching for a worthwhile set for our home that I realized just how expensive most retail sets are, and how poorly they are made. Flimsy plastic handles that couldn't go in the oven, held together with cheap welds that will surely fail in a matter of time.

Now I understand that heading into a commercial restaurant supply store can be intimidating. So, to simplify things, I have worked with Adam, and his team, to prepare a starter package that has most of the basic kitchen tools that an aspiring chef should require to start a budding career. It includes a non-stick frying pan, made with Thermolon, a new healthier alternative to Teflon, which has since been considered to be of questionable health and safety. This frying pan is for omelette making, crepe making, roasting a delicate piece of fish, and any other cooking that may require a non-stick surface. We have also included two classic saut pans, one small, and one larger, for your more rigorous saut eing and searing. This set also includes four stainless steel thick bottom pots, ranging from 2 lt. to 9.6 lt., for everything from heating up a delicate sauce, to simmering a kettle of bones to make a hearty stock. We have also included a whisk, a pair of tongs, a heat proof rubber spatula, and a slotted spoon. I have asked Adam to have this package in stock for the holiday season, and he has agreed to do so, and sell it as a package for only $329.This package has all of the basic needs that you would require to prepare most any stovetop meal at home. I know that may seem like a lot, but I use these tools in my kitchens, where we feed nearly 8,000 customers a week, and they withstand the brutal beating of being used several times each and every day. If you treat these tools with care, you will have them for a long time. You certainly aren't forced into this particular set either. You can build your own, to your personal liking and budget. Maybe you'd rather build a set one pot and pan at a time. By all means, go ahead. Maybe you want to have a real showpiece set that are great to cook with, but also look incredible. If that's the case, ask the team about the 7 pc. 3 ply copper clad set. It's absolutely beautiful, and of supreme quality, if not a little over the top!

No one's giving me a royalty cheque, and my ugly mug won't appear on the side of the box they pack it up in either. There's nothing in this for me, other than knowing that more home cooks will realize how much easier it is to create magic in the kitchen when you have a few basic tools required to do the job.

So this holiday season, stop getting sucked into buying tools, gadgets and gizmos that you don't need, clear out some room in your cupboards and pantries, shop where the chefs shop, and start truly enjoying the tools you're working with.