By Ed Lowe
Senior Writer
The International Home and Housewares Show is history. The booths at McCormick Place have long since been dismantled and sales reps have gone back to their offices. TV coverage of different products are a distant memory. Now, it's time for some real examination of the products that were displayed there and some evaluation of specific items that are of interest to Inside's readership. We have examined five categories of items. We have looked at lighting, cookware, novelty gift items, on-the-go coffee makers and finally, appliances, and can provide these recommendations.
Home lighting is moving from traditional incandescent bulbs to a variety of halogen and fluorescent lights. Halogen lighting is difficult to handle. When skin oils get on the bulbs, they tend to burn out quickly because of the intense heat that halogen creates. Our search of the lighting availabilities at the Housewares show provided an outstanding example of a light that's cool, efficient and attractive.
We tested lamps made by Verilux Company, based in Stamford Connecticut. Their Heritage Floor lamp seems to meet the needs of home lighting. It is attractive, and the light, with the standard three-way switch, reaches the brightness you would want to read or to provide background lighting for TV watching. The light starts immediately when the switch is turned. It rotates, tilts, raises and lowers depending on your individual needs. And those angles can be easily changed providing a rare flexibility. The lamp is equipped with a patented "optix glare" filter which creates a soft white light without any harsh shadows or flickering. Lamps are expected to last for 10,000 hours — about three years of normal use and far beyond normal lighting expectations.
The brushed brass floor model which we tested has a list price of $249.95. Replacement bulbs cost $19.95 and both the lamps and bulbs are available in Chicago at Best Vacuum Sales, 2646 N. Lincoln Ave. Call (773) 348-4500. Further information is available on line at www.Verilux.net or by phoning their offices at (800) 786-6850.
The interest Americans have shown in wines has multiplied over the last few years to the point where, it seems, everyone is a wine expert. We are no longer intimidated by French labels or by fancy names and we have come a long way from the days when wine was something we used for religious sacraments and special occasions. Now, it's an everyday occurrence at dinner tables across the land. There's a new product on the market that allows you to make your own quality varietal wines at home. Produced by Vino Corporation in Rochester, NY, the unique "Barrel Kit" comes completely equipped to help you make a dozen 750-ml bottles of varietal wines at home. The kit and accessories are reusable. Different varieties of wine are available, depending on your personal taste. You might chose from merlots, chardonnays, Rieslings and four other varieties including a zinfandel blush. Concentrates are produced from the finest grapes available.
The kit comes with its own simulated oak barrel, filters, yeast, chemicals and a detailed sheet of instructions. Assembling the ingredients is not time consuming and all you have to do is wait six weeks before you can begin sipping your own homemade wine. The kit even includes some personalized labels and a pouring spigot. The cost of this novelty is $49.95. Refills for the wine concentrate are $34.95. You can get more information on the kits by using the company's Web site at www.barrelkits.com or by calling (585) 671-1979.
One of the staple products displayed at all Housewares Shows is cookware. Most of the items on display follow a familiar pattern and we were delighted to find something new and different. The difference was in the construction and the materials used. We discovered a German company that's been in business for more than 100 years but which has only appeared in the U.S. market since March of 2005. It's called BEKA. They have joined the more conventional stainless steel cookware by emphasizing copper bottoms and heavily weighted handles to provide an exceptional amount of stability to the pots.
We tested a 9.5 inch sauté pan which comes with a non-stick interior, a copper bottom and a heavy cast stainless steel handle which does not overheat. The company explains that the use of copper permits more even heating of the units. Amazingly, this pan retails for only $85. Another, 1.5 quart all copper clad sauce pan with lid is $125. At prices like these, anyone replacing cookware should investigate this line. It also makes a great item for the new bride. There are currently no retail outlets in Chicago and any information and inquiries should be directed to the company's U.S. distribution center in Minneapolis. The U.S. sales team is headed by Sam Rosen who can be reached at (877) 580-1864. Or contact him by email at sam.rosen@beka-cookware.com.
For coffee lovers on the go, we can recommend the Bodum heat retaining coffee mug. These units are both a French Press for making the brew and a thermos container for keeping it warm in the car or office. Simply add coffee and hot water, allow to steep in the water for a few minutes, and depress the plunger to make a great cup of coffee to consume on the go. The attractive stainless unit retails for about $29.95.
Our final foray into the Housewares market involved a test of a specific appliance. In years past we have checked such items as cordless vacuum cleaners, scales, toaster ovens and home medical testing appliances. This year we have decided to work with the producers of appliances for one of America's increasingly popular breakfast treats, waffles. We checked the show floor and inspected about a dozen different waffle irons. Of that group, we selected three with different features and a range of prices. The units we chose give buyers a chance to invest wisely in a long-lasting appliance.
In order to test the irons, we made a single large batch of batter so that each waffler would have the same ingredients. All three units featured non-stick surfaces on the grids. We followed the manufacturer's directions as to proper pre-heating and cooking time, and in the case of the Belgian waffle makers, turned the irons 180 degrees after pouring in the batter. The purpose of this maneuver is to allow both sides to have equal time against the heating elements. The result is a waffle that's browned equally on both sides. Belgian waffles are thicker and fluffier than the normally flat waffles. One of our experimental waffle irons produces six of the more conventional flatter versions at each baking. All the waffles can be re-heated in a wide mouth toaster, making a ready-to-serve breakfast from the freezer a handy option.
Each of the irons we tested had different features and sold in a different price range. We're able to recommend them enthusiastically since each offers something a bit different from its competitors. First, at the low end of the market, we enjoyed using the Hamilton Beach "Flip 'n Fluff" waffle baker. One of its features is the ability to make both Belgian waffles and the more common flat waffles. It makes two 4" by 4" waffles at a time, each using a half cup of batter. Preheating time is about four minutes and in four and a half minutes, a crisp waffle can be extracted. Although the flipping process caused some of the batter to leak out of the sides, we're convinced that practice can eliminate this problem. A green light signals when the iron is adequately heated and when the waffle is baked. The "Flip 'n Fluff" maker retails for $24.95, a real bargain considering its flexibility.
A little more elaborate, the VillaWare Belgian Waffle Maker audibly signals when the iron is properly heated and again when baking is finished. Different heat settings are available depending on personal taste in the brownness of the waffle desired. The finished waffle is a seven inch circle that cooked for about four minutes. Longer baking time permits a crisper product. We were particularly impressed with the fact that the unit sits firmly on the counter while the flipping motion, designed to distribute the batter evenly on both sides of the heating grid, is done with a sturdy handle and by a pivot located at the rear of the machine. We found no spillover of batter. This machine also used about a cup of batter per waffle. Retailing for $79.95, the unit is an outstanding value when you plan to make waffles as a part of your dessert menu as well as the more common breakfast variety. The instruction book provides a variety of interesting recipes.
Finally, at the high end of the market is the Cuisinart which produced six 3-1/2" by 4" flat waffles. A full pan of waffles requires about 1-1/2 cups of batter. Cooking time is consistent with other models — about four minutes for a crisp waffle. The beautifully designed stainless steel unit has an interesting latch lock on the cover allowing storage in a vertical space-saving position. We also appreciated the ability to safely self-store the cord under the unit. It beeps when heated to the proper temperature for baking the waffles and again when the waffles are finished. An on-off switch is another unusual feature and a range of timing settings allow for waffles to brown and crisp to your personal tastes. The Cuisinart retails for $120. |
