Tool Set Reviews

How many cookies can you fit on this? Also, why are the cookie cutters metal? It would be nice if I could use them on the sheet sometimes and that would scratch the Teflon. Mmm, I wish I had not purchased it but bought a larger one.

The quality looks great for this cookie sheet - very sturdy and appears to have a good non-stick surface. I can't comment on its performance because I haven't used it. It's quite a bit smaller than a "standard" cookie sheet so I think I'm going to return it. It is 12" X 13". Our old cookie sheet is 14" X 16". If size isn't important, then I'd recommend it. Also, the cookie cutters are metal (not a big deal but they looked different in the picture).

What a deal! This is a great cookie sheet with really neat cookie cutters. I use the cookie cutters to make horsedevours, linzer stacked cookies etc. The unique nested shapes are wonderful! My cookies were the talk of the last party that I brought them to!

This is the kind of silly gadget that is harder to use and clean up than just doing the task the old fashioned way. Storage is also a problem. Waste of time and money

I made cut-out cookies this Christmas using the traditional wooden board and rolling pin with handles and spacer bands to determine height. Today I used the Dobord Set instead. What a difference! I was finished in half the time. I was skeptical about the dowel-style rolling pin as I had never used one. However, together with the Dobord, it flattened and rolled much quicker than the traditional style. It also took less effort which anyone with arthritis can appreciate. The Dobard is easy to set up and the entire process worked exactly as described by the manufacturer. I couldn't be more pleased. I didn't find clean-up any more involved than cleaning the usual wooden board or whatever surface one is using. Storage could be a problem for someone with limited space. I was concerned about this as well. However, after using the Dobord it is well worth finding a place to store it.

This is one of those "Gee, why didn't I think of that" products. I have never had so much fun baking. Everything is perfect. The adjustments are a no-brainer and it cleans up really easy.

The deceptive picture of these gifts makes it seem the two items come in a wooden box. This couldn't be farther from the truth! The case is about the cheapest thing imagineable, while the flask and cigar case are close behind. The flask is flimsy and the cigar case is very average. This is not a gift you would give to any groomsman you are fond of.

I gave it two stars because this is the same ... you find in the Tux stores, but less expensive!

This is the best flask i think i have ever owned. The reason i say this is because this flask saved my life. One time when i was standing on the curbside i bent over cause i saw this item lying on the ground and not a second later a bullet wizzed by my head lucky i turned around fast enough to punch the thug that was trying to kill me just in time before he got a second shot off! So i picked this flask up and 2 years i had no idea where it was. But i did develope a little drinking problem and my girl was about to kick me outta my house so i rummaged around in the garage for a while until i found my old flask. Now i just conceal and when i go out with the guys she's none the wiser about my little secret. Plus as a bonus its hard but flemsy surface is perfect for a bar fight! GREAT ITEM!

I knew this was a cheaper version of 'The Rabbit', but I still expected it to last a bit longer than it did. After about 25 uses, the corkscrew no longer works, although I sitll have a fantastic bottle stopper and drip ring. This product is not recommended.

I was extremely excited when I originally ordered this item, as I have had great luck with this type of opener in the past. In addition, the extras in the package make this an attractive item. However, even though the gears of the the corkscrew are made of metal, the handles and body seem to be made of a cheap, flexible plastic. The solid feel of the Rabbit is missing in this model. In addition, about one of every 5 corks is not removed properly. The bottle stopper and drip ring are nice, but the foil remover is the worst I have ever used. Do yourself a favor and spend a little more money on a better quality opener...

just as a forewarning, the red ones have faulty coloring (the handle was a different shade of red than the head of the rabbit...it was very noticable but had no time to exchange them). i purchased four black and two red houdini sets, as for the red ones..my advice is that if you are hell bent on getting them, stick with the black. the reason why i was a bit disappointed was that many of the parts were plastic, including the handles, and made it seem rather cheap. design-wise, it works okay, but you should also read the reviews in the other variations...i agree that the it becomes a bit squeaky and not quite as effective. i would only purchase it again if it was very very cheap on sale, which it was when i bought them.

I tested The Perfect Sommelier with friends and at first we thought this gadget actually worked. After testing it some more, we realized that what "worked" was leaving a wine bottle open during 30 minutes before drinking it. After researching this further on the net, we found out that there is a natural process called oxydation which works on wines and makes them age super fast once you open the bottle. Regarding the Perfect Sommelier, we could NOT witness any improvements with its use. So, my advice would be to air out your bottles of wine before drinking them and to save yourself some money on this one.

I received this as a gift for Christmas from a friend of mine who LOOOOVVVVEEEESSS Wine. I was very disappointed to receive this as my gift!!! BUT, OH MY GOODNESS, IT IS BETTER THAN DIAMONDS. Believe it or not, this thing reallllly works. It's so simple--open the bottle, put it on the base and put the top in the bottle--wait 30 minutes and BINGO. It's like magic. I'm telling you from a person who is the most skeptical women in the world--get this little hidden gem and you'll see what I mean.

I just got my Sommelier and I didn't really think it could work, but since Amazon has a great return policy, I tried it.
WOW after 30 minutes it was like a totally different wine. I tried the sommelier on a 1998 BV Cabernet Reserve which normally is pretty good, but after I opened the wine and set it on the base and put the top on it for 30 minutes WOW, it was Fruitier on the tongue, it had a nose that just came flowing out of the glass and the finish was oh so smooth. I thought my wife had poured me a glass of Merlot, right out of the CAB bottle.
Thumbs up on this product you have a winner!!!!!!!!!!

A friend of mine bought this for me as a gift, and it looks great. Unfortunately, the bottle opener isn't well designed. I found this out by trying to force open a bottle of Guinness. In spite of the fact that I had the opener in the correct position, I ended up breaking the neck of the bottle instead of taking off the lid. I have had this same problem with other bottles, although I've had the good sense not to apply that much pressure again! So while the rest of the set is useful, I just keep the bottle opener out for looks and use an ugly old one I keep in a kitchen drawer. Sigh.

This small gift is perfect for that friend that enjoys hosting the weekend get-togethers. While it doesn't have everything one might ever need to make those specialty drinks, it does offer the basic bar tools in a simple and classy stainless steel finish. I would recommend this gift for all casual occasions or as a nice addition to your own beverage accessory lineup

This six-piece stainless steel set is a must have for anyone who serves drinks or hosts parties. Not only does it include the essentials, but gives its host a bit of flair with its stainless steel finish. Each individual piece purchased together far exceeds the total value shown here. The only thing that is missing from this collection is a cocktail shaker and an ice-bucket. Whether you're looking to impress some guests or give the best in gifts, this stainless steel set is sure thing!

I bought these to impress my two boys--ages 1 and 4. What a disaster! The shapes are too small--the batter cooks in them fine but when you try to "flip" the pancake--the batter on top pours out and the cooked portion sticks. I tried a fried egg too--it stuck to the sides... I'll give them another try but the first time was really disappointing.

Kids enjoy eating pancakes and fried eggs that are cooked in different shapes. As well, these Norpro Nonstick Dinosaur Pancake/Egg Rings (in a set of two) could be used to make some fanciful additions for a special occasion children's brunch menu.

These rings have small wooden handles, which fold down for easy storage, that you can hold while you pour in a 1/4-cup of thick pancake batter (use a bit less milk in your recipe). I would use a measuring cup with a pour spout. For eggs, I would carefully break one egg at a time into the measuring cup and then pour it into the ring. Be sure to use a seasoned or nonstick griddle or frying pan, at the proper temperature. Also, use a very large nonstick spatula. You may want to lightly butter or oil the inside of each ring. After you see some bubbles rise on each pancake, you can lift off the mold and flip the pancake to finish its cooking. You can do the same with the egg in the mold, but "sunnyside-up" is quite attractive! Be sure to have enough eggs and pancake batter for "practice" if you are using these rings for the first time, as the dinosaur shape is not the easiest mold to use.

Since these rings come in a set of two, I recommend buying several sets, so that everyone can eat at the same time! These rings may be used to cut fun shapes out of dough for baking, too. Be sure to hand wash them with a mild liquid detergent.

Every other Saturday, our two grandsons, ages 4 and 2, come over to spend the day with us. Neither are great breakfast or lunch eaters but both love dinosaurs. We started out making dinosaur pancakes with the leftover dinosaurs going home with them for a late afternoon snack or next morning breakfast. Then one day, when we were using cookie cutters to make our sandwiches, the four-year-old decided to make a dinosaur peanut butter sandwich. I let him use an hors d'oeuvre knife with no sharp edges to spread his peanut butter onto the bread. We then sprinkle with cake decorations. The 2-year-old has finally maneuvered his way onto a step stool shoved against the kitchen counters so now the two of them make their sandwiches, using a cutting board and the dinosaur shape tool. They love it.

Nope, I don't have these but I'd buy them in a second if there was a 1/3 cup. Please make one.

First of all, I do not own this All-Clad scoop set, but I am in the market to buy. So why am I writing this "review?" In the hopes that All-Clad will take note and include a 1/3 cup in this scoop set (it's such a common measurement, I was amazed it is not included). That's why I gave it a "rating" of 3 stars (otherwise, I'm sure it would have deserved 5).
Secondly, if it is added to this set, I would definitely buy it. I own many All-Clad products, and they are without a doubt the best kitchen products I've ever owned!

Large measuring spoons are really nice for the baker in your family. Need to add another cup of flour, just dip the large spoon into the bag and away you go.

The finish on these spoons is top notch. Fits right in with everything else All-clad makes.

My only complaint is that I'd like a larger set of these spoons, The 1/8 cup and a 1/3 cup sizes would be really handy. Of course if you don't have a set of measuring cups, get those first. The cups will sit on the counter with their flat bottoms, unlike the spoons which tip over.

Friday, December 19, 2003

Beware of projectile objects in this grill set!

My Father, whom I purchased this for a few months ago, was simply admiring what he thought was a durable new barbecue set.

Two weeks ago, after very little use (except for hamburgers) he was cooking up some ribs on the grill. He came in the house holding the turner in his hand. He was coming inside to grab a large plate to place the ribs on after taking them off the grill.

Low and behold, my Father shook the turner (imagine the action of picking up a hammer and getting a feel for it) and the end of the turner went flying across the room at the zenith of the shaking motion.

It busted the glass and some of my Mother's trinkets/souvenirs/relics/etc. in her Curio cabinet. It was an amazing sight, I assure you. It was fit for any slap stick comedy special.

However, the laughs were short lived after examing this damage, and seeing what exactly had happened with the turner. The plastic handle had literally split open, releasing the metal portion into the air.

I assure you my Father was not swinging this device like a baseball bat. As aforementioned, the way he swung the scraper was similar to getting a feel for a new hammer someone was about to buy.

We were quite fortunate no one was standing near the Curio cabinet. I dread the thought of someone being near the Curio cabinet at that time and what could have happened.

So, beware of these utensils. They may cause harm to you or your precious fine China.

Sincerely,
S.M. Dunbar

This looked like a pretty kewl piece of gadgetry when I looked at it on line. I was going to buy this for myself but ended up putting it on my wishlist and then receiving it as a gift.

As it turns out, the case is not as swanky as it's online picture would have you think. It's not made of aluminum but has thin aluminum sheets with a prickly texture glued to it's sides(mine aren't glued very well either). The tools seem to be ok, but I don't expect that the case will hold up for very long. Maybe this is worth 20 bucks, but surely not more than that in my opinion.

Maybe my standards are set too high?

I bought this set for Tailgating with a group of friends and got pretty much the reaction I thought I would. Lots of ooohs, aaahs and a couple of wise @ss comments about the shiny case. When I told them the price everyone pretty much shut immediately up. (It's a lot lower than they expected)

The Philippe Richard 12-Piece Barbecue Set comes with everything I needed to make a nice big meal in a parking lot. The spatula is nice and broad, the tongs are well constructed and have a great edge for gripping the food. (Boneless Pork Ribs were handled easily and chicken was a breeze) The case is strong, attractive and well constructed. The straps used to hold the tools in place seemed a little light and flimsy, but for the price I can't really complain. I used the basting brush quite a lot and saw no bristle loss, something I have pretty much come to expect from tools in this price range. My one complaint is that the brush was not well seated when shipped from the factory and the bristles were all bent to a forty five degree angle at about the mid point of the brush. This actually made it easier to scoop up extra sauce, but spreading it took a little extra effort.

Quick comment to those folks who gave this set a low rating because it might damage your propane, non-stick covered grills. THIS SET IS MADE OF METAL!!!! Of course you are going to scratch the non-stick material off your little cooking stoves. Buy some plasticware and stop whining! As a charcoal purist I can say that people with real grills will love this set. I plan on getting one of those Fire and Ice or Coleman stoves either for Christmas or next year to use along with my wrought iron hibachi style charcoal grill, but I will obtain and use the right tools with it.

This product is not a chinois, as the industry understands it. It is a "china cap," or to use a more PC description "a cone strainer." I would submit that any serious chef would gawk at the price because they would find [$$$] to be a great deal, and should shop with that in mind. The point is that you could strain a stock through this thousands of times and end up with a cloudy, unsilken sauce. ... Know your lingo, what you're willing to spend on what you want, and whether or not you really need it--pay the money for the real thing instead of a misnamed product. ...

great as a china cap, but awful as a chinois. the holes are extremely big, and every little particle goes through. not recommended for serious chefs or those who want to achieve the perfect sauce

From everyone's description of this product, we in the industry call it a china cap. A chinois is the ultra fine mesh used to make sauces silken. A china cap is a very useful tool, but not for the serious straining only a chinois, or maybe a tamis, is good for.