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Bret's Table
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FOR BAKING
Essentials
  • 8 x 8 inch pan
  • 9 x 13 inch pan
  • 10 inch pie pans, heavy aluminum or glass
  • Cooling racks
  • Cookie sheets
  • Jelly-roll pan or (half -sheet pan)
  • Loaf pans
  • Muffin tins
  • Bundt pan
  • Stainless bowls, various sizes

For the serious Baker
  • Ramekins in various sizes
  • Gratin dishes in various sizes
  • Cake Pans in various sizes 6, 8, 10 inch round and square
  • Cake Plate(s)
  • Silpat (one for each half sheet pan)
  • Silicone mini muffin cups (Le Creuset)
  • Copper sugar pot
  • Spring form pans
  • Popover pans
  • Tart pans with removable bottoms, various sizes

FOR COOKING
Essentials
(All-Clad, Mauviel, Le Creuset)
  • Stainless steel saucepans in various sizes
  • Stainless steel fry pan
  • Stainless steel saute pan
  • Cast Iron Skillet (Lodge)
  • Heavy roasting pan
  • Heavy enameled Dutch oven or coccote
  • Enameled or stainless stock pots for stock, tomato sauces and soups

For the serious Cook
  • Non-stick frying pans, 6” and 10”
  • Wok
  • Copper, stainless steel sauté pans and bowls for crepes and soufflés

DINNERWARE & SERVE WARE
Essentials
  • Serving platters in various shapes and sizes
  • 8 - 3 piece place settings (bowl, salad/tapas plate, dinner)
  • Flatware
  • Glassware, including wine glasses such as Riedel

For Serious Entertaining
  • 3-Section serving dish
  • Handled soup tureen with ladle
  • Large serving bowls

ELECTRICS
Essentials
  • Electric hand mixer (Kitchen Aid is the only way to go)

Great to Have
  • Food processor (Cuisinart or Kitchen Aid)
  • Blender (Vitamix is the Rolls-Royce of blenders)
  • Electric stand mixer (Kitchen Aid is the only way to go)
  • Coffee grinder for grinding spices

KNIVES
Essentials
(Wüsthof-Trident)
  • Paring knife
  • 8 or 10-inch chef's knife
  • Boning knife
  • Serrated bread knife
  • Slicing knife
  • Diamond steel for knife sharpening

Great to Have
  • 4-inch paring/utility knife
  • Tomato knife
  • Tapered paring knife
  • Santoku
  • Sausage/brunch knife


EVERY KITCHEN MUST-HAVE
Essentials
  • Rolling pin
  • Measuring spoons
  • Measuring cups, dry and wet
  • Bowls of various sizes
  • Parchment paper
  • Wooden spoons
  • Vegetable peelers
  • Scissors
  • Cotton kitchen string or twine
  • Pastry brushes
  • Strainer
  • Fine mesh sieves of various sizes
  • Colander
  • Metal spoons with and without holes
  • Ladle
  • Whisks of various sizes
  • Spatulas
  • Box grater for hard and soft cheese
  • Corkscrew
  • Mandoline

Great to Have
  • Soufflé dishes of various sizes
  • Food mill
  • Pasta machine
  • Baking stone for pizza-making
  • Pizza peel
  • Mortar and pestle
  • Salad spinner
  • Skewers
  • Small Asian sauce bowls
  • Batter Bowls


FAVORITE COOK'S TOOLS I COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT!
  • Microplane zester
  • Digital instant-read thermometer
  • Spoonula (cup-shaped , heat resistant rubber spatula), different colors
  • Pastry or bench scraper
  • Citrus juicer
  • Tongs (more than one pair)
  • Vegetable peeler (doubles as a cheese shaver)
  • Olive/cherry pitter
People often ask me what they need to stock their kitchen.  I tell them to purchase the best you can
afford, take care of it and your never have to purchase another one again... well almost never --
some things do wear out.  Purchase knives that feel good in your hand, cookware that is substantial
and heats evenly and utensils that are sturdy and well designed.

Here is what I recommend when anyone ask what they need to equip their kitchen.
Kitchen Essentials
Sojourns
On the Table
Kitchen Table
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