Wüsthof has been producing fine cutlery since 1814, and we're all better off for their dedication and commitment. They produce knives of extremely fine quality high-carbon stainless steel, forged with a full tang for proper balance and rigidity. They fit well in your hand and have a natural, well-balanced feeling. There are two complete lines of Wüsthof cutlery: the Classic has more heft and a traditional shape, and the Ikon, which is more sculpted and refined, has a lighter, thinner blade for more precise cutting. They both hold a cutting edge for a long time and are genuine pleasures to use.

Global is a relatively new manufacturer in the highly competitive cutlery market. Since 1985, they have offered a line of unique and distinctive forged knives with integrated form-fitting handles. The steel is CROMOVA 18 Stainless Steel, tempered to extreme hardness, so the edge stays sharp longer than other metal blades. Because of the strength and resilience of the steel, the kerf can be made thinner, making slicing easier and keeping the weight low. The balance is perfect and the single-piece construction makes them easy to keep clean. These knives are not only functional - they have a sensual beauty beyond compare.

Epicurean cutting boards have been our favorites for years. Made of extremely durable food-safe composite material, they hold up to the rigors of use better than wood or plastic, and they are dishwasher safe! We have many sizes to choose from including our favorite pizza peal, small bar boards, and large carving boards with a juice groove. All Epicurean boards are non-porous and NSF certified for safe food handling and sanitizing, and are very gentle on your knives, so the blades won't get dulled prematurely. They also have the added benefit of being maintenance-free, so there's no need to oil them. They will not check, split, or stain, and are heat-resistant enough to be used as a trivet.

All-Clad is one of our all-time favorites because it cooks so well, and the industrial grade construction helps keep it in great condition year after year. The three-ply lamination of metals (stainless-aluminum-stainless) provides the best of all worlds with the amazing thermal properties of aluminum married to durable, easy to cook on, easy-to-clean stainless steel. They can also be used on induction ranges due to the magnetic properties of the inner thermal layer. All-Clad is professional-grade and extremely versatile cookware which can cook on high heat on the stovetop then finish off in the broiler, over and over again. And it cleans up to a mirror-finish luster after years of solid use. The finest American metallurgy and craftsmanship goes into this remarkable cookware.

Swiss Diamond cookware is truly an amazing innovation - industrial diamond crystals are bonded to a solid aluminum base to make the best non-stick cookware ever! No more scratching off a layer of coating from an ordinary non-stick pan, because nothing sticks to Swiss Diamond and there is no coating to scratch. Oven-safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, it is almost indestructible, and the thermal properties of diamonds and aluminum allow for uniform heat transfer. Perfect for low-fat cooking, because almost no oil is necessary for cooking, and it's probably the best pan we've even seen for omelets and frittatas.

Cusinart is widely regarded as one of the finest producers of electric appliances for the kitchen, but the cookware and cooking tools are also exceptionally well designed and crafted. Our best-selling coffee maker is terrific at brewing coffee, and our favorite Cusinart food processors has saved so much of our time shredding and chopping vegetables, cheese, and herbs, that we owe them a debt of gratitude. We carry Cuisinart food processors, coffee makers, coffee grinders, blenders and immersible hand blenders, Tri-ply cookware, and bakeware. Well designed and reliable, Cuisinart products will delight and inspire you to make great things in the kitchen.

Lodge is famous for classic cast-iron cookware. It's not just for the wild west chuck wagons - a well-seasoned cast iron pan is essential to any kitchen. Cast iron does take a little special care, for example, you shouldn't immerse the pan in soapy water, and for Heaven's sake don't put it in the dishwasher! That would remove the wonderful "seasoning", the patina that builds up over time from cooking heat. The natural oil from food becomes bonded to the metal for an unbeatable non-stick surface. Lodge makes the old-fashioned cast iron cookware, but they "pre-season" it - actually bake oil onto the metal in an industrial process. The gives you a couple of years head start on your own seasoned pan, and once you cook with well-seasoned cast iron, you'll understand completely why chefs rave about it!

Chicago Metallic has been making bakeware for over 11o years. They provide custom baking equipment for large-scale commercial and industrial bakeries, and they keep innovating their retail line for smaller companies and the home baker. The quality is obvious - they use thick, high-grade aluminized steel for their pans, and there is some heft to each piece of bakeware. The pans need a little seasoning for the first few times in the oven, and then they need very little oil or cooking spray for the baked goods to just pop out. One classic and incredibly useful cooking item is a half-baking sheet with a dedicated silicone liner. Keep the two together and oven-cook just about anything on it: breads, roasted vegetables, hummus, a roast chicken - not much sticks to the silicone mat, the Chicago Metallic pan browns perfectly, and the combo is tough and easy to keep clean.

Mundial is company with roots in Germany, and headquarters in Brazil, where today, some of the finest steel in the world is supplied for manufacture. Mundial's 5100 line of classic cutlery has the styling of a fully forged German knife, and a price point that offers amazing value. They offer a complete line of really good knives, but our favorite is the 8" serrated bread knife, which seems to simply glide through the crustiest loaves.

Nordic Ware is very well known and highly regarded for its enormous selection of baking supplies. Everyone with an oven knows the Bundt brand of baking pans, with the traditional shape from Scandinavian kitchens.

Peugeot of France has been making grinding mechanisms since 1842, and the basic design for the pepper mill grinder has remained largely unchanged because it functions so well. They have modified the design somewhat to accomodate sea salt crystals and various spices, and the styles range from classic forms to new lines with contemporary finishes. Regardless of the price, the "burr" grinder functions as it should, flawlessly, bringing that singularly piquant fresh pepper flavor to your fine cuisine. Always turn a grinder in a clockwise direction (when viewed from the top of the mill), and you'll never need Peugeot's lifetime warranty on the grinding mechanism.

Kyocera manufactures fine cutlery and cooking tools with a big difference from the others: all of their cutting edges are made of ceramic material for a longer lasting hone. They have a range of gadgets that we enjoy, such as the Perfect Peeler, with a cutting head that rotates in four directions to accomodate different peeling tasks, like rotating an apple towards the cutting blade, or stripping a carrot away from you. They have a mandoline-style slicer that makes short work of thin-slicing vegetables, like cutting cucumbers into discs. And their professional slicing and chef's knives combine the characteristics of Japanese precision and functional design, deftly with simple elegance. The ceramic edge does hold its hone longer than a metal blade, but it must be sent back to Kyocera for regrinding. This makes the knife just like new again.

Vic Firth Gourmet products are handcrafted in Maine from the most perfect natural wood. They offer a lifetime guarantee against defects in workmanship, but you probably won't need that because of the exceptional quality of their line. There is something uniquely sensual about their georgeous pepper and sea-salt mills. Holding the smooth curved surfaces gives a delightful sense of tactile pleasure, then the fresh aroma of pungent spicey pepper as you turn the mill, and the final burst of flavor on your prepared food completes the experience.

Kaiser invented the classic spring-form pans, and if you bake at all, you really should have at least one size. Spring-form pans have a removable bottom plate surrounded by an expandable side piece which is bound by a clasp. Traditionally, they are used for chesecakes, but are also useful for other cakes and tortes. When the side form is removed after baking, the cake maintains a perfect shape. We have various sizes in two surfaces: traditional tinned-steel, and steel with 2-layers of non-stick coating. Both are heavy guage and solid, and bake perfectly.

Caldrea make the very best cleaning products with the nicest aromas, and they clean very well. The dish soap, hand lotion, hand soap, and gift sets are exquisitely packaged, and we love the variety of refreshing fragrances: Sea Salt Neroli, Ginger Pomelo, Lavender Pine, and Basil Blue Sage. Caldrea products are lovingly crafted by people who delight in the sensual pleasures of fragrance, color, and the deeply-felt satisfaction of cleansing the home.

Zyliss is well known in Switzerland for their high value kitchen gadgets, like their garlic presses and Julianne cutter tool. Zyliss makes terrific salad spinners with a pull-cord handle - just rinse your salad veggies in the spinner basket and pull the cord. All the water drains away and you can store the whole thing in the fridge for the next day. We like Zyliss for their serrated peeler, cheese grater, and bottle-stopper, but our favorite is their ice cream scoop which is just the perfect size and has a steel edge for cutting into hard-packed ice cream.

Bodum is famous for the Chambord, the original French-press coffee pot, designed in Normandy. French-press coffee is a little different from automatic-drip coffee. It uses a coarser grind and "steeps" the brew for about 4 minutes before the built-in filter press separates the grounds from the liquid. The taste is distinctive - a slightly thicker, richer brew with more of the oils of the coffee bean remaining for added depth.

Thermos, has been a trusted name for generations. Yet they've also been keeping up to date with current technology, like the stainless steel-lined carafe pictured, which keeps beverages piping hot for hours. The air-tight containers keep the liquids from oxidizing and spoiling the flavors, and the designs have clean lines for simple elegance. Thermos also makes a variety of storage containers for lunches and soups, perfect for when you want to bring your best cooking along with you.