Conal

You don't have to buy those awful frozen blocks anymore.They now sell what I guess you would call IQF bagged spinach.Nice to have on hand in a pinch when you just want to add a bit instead of defrosting a block.http://www.pictsweet.com/our-products/baby-leaf-spinach

No no no no.Any form of candy that is made of fake chocolate needs to go away.The milk "chocolatey" version the worst offender.Any true chocolate lover always scans the label for evil signs of the devil's passing.Fudgy,chocolatey or whatever pseudo BS term they can fit in there.As a side note if this product is a cake it is likely filled with "kreame" or some other sneaky variant.

You don't have to buy them in Yoshikin store, but the Global Pro line is sold there and only there.If you're going to the trouble of buying a Global in Tokyo you may as get one you cant get elsewhere. http://www.yoshikin.co.jp/w/products/global-pro/list_global-pro.html

Hey I'll bet that knife could saw through a brick and then slice a tomato wafer thin! Sorry couldn't resist.Reciprocating saw blades are designed to be very flexible so you could probably make a mean fillet or boning knife with one.Looks like a fun project;congrats on your first knife.

If you stop into your local WAWA you can pick up a small pamphlet that has pass for discounts at the terminal and many other city locations. Or if you're the printing type hit up this link and have at it. http://www.michelleafreeman.com/images/ppw.line.pdf BARS, CAFES, EATS & SWEETS Carmen's Famous Italian Hoagies* 51 N. 12th Street 215-592-7799; www.readingterminalmarket.org Hours: Monday- Saturday 8AM-6PM Description: Authentic Italian hoagies and the best Philly cheesesteaks in the Reading Terminal Market. Discount: 10% off any hoagie with purchase of a fountain drink. Must present pass before upon ordering. Famous 4th. Street Cookie Co.* 51 N. 12th Street 215-922-3535; www.famouscookies.com Hours: Monday- Saturday 9:30AM- 5PM; Sunday 9:30AM-4PM Description: Baking and serving 12 different types of cookies from chocolate chip to cinnamon raisin walnut. Discount: 10% off Metropolitan Bakery* 51 N. 12th Street 215-829-9020; www.metropolitanbakery.com Hours: Monday- Saturday 8AM-6PM; Sunday 9AM-5PM Description: Producing delicious breads and confections with a deep belief in thoughtful preparation using high quality and locally sourced ingredients. Discount: 15% off. Valid at 19th Street and Reading Terminal Market locations only Olympic Gyro* 51 N. 12th Street 215-629-9775; www.readingterminalmarket.org Hours: Monday-Saturday 9AM-6PM; Sunday 9AM-5PM Description: Specializing in homemade Greek food- gyros, souvlaki, spankopita, and baklava. Discount: Free Baklava with the purchase of a sandwich SHOPPING Herbiary* 51 N. 12th Street 215-238-9938; www.herbiary.com Hours: Monday - Saturday 8AM - 6PM; Sunday 9AM - 5PM Description: Selling bulk herbs, teas, tinctures, essential oils, flower essences, nutritional supplements, and body care products. All products are either organic, wildcrafted, or cultivated without chemicals. Discount: 10% off EDIT: Forgot to link the other locations you can use it. http://www.welcomeamerica.com/patriot-pass-discounts

D-2 Tool Steel Heat treat temperature 1600-1650 F Quench Air or Oil Hardness Rockwell 60c-62c Applications D2 has high wear resistance, good toughness, and low distortion. It is often chosen when long tool life is required. I don't know what 1980's generation kitchen steel you're talking about, but even today's European knives average about 55 Rockwell.A far cry from the 60-62 of your D2.You need to look at the high end Japanese knives for something like that.Are woodworkers settling? No. Are most people in the kitchen? Yes. Edit: looks like Dakki beat me to the punch there.

How much are you looking to really spend and be happy after? That 300mm blazen price gives you quite a few options. Six months ago the obvious choice would have been a Tadatsuna. http://itkitchenknife.com/wood.shtml These days though the new hottness everyone is lusting after is a Devin Thomas. http://www.chefknivestogo.com/dethfo270abg.html

Forschner knives are considered by most to be the best available cheap knives.Made by Victorinox,the company behind Swiss Army knives.If you read Cook's Illustrated or watch America's Test Kitchen you've probably seen them.They always give them top ratings in every knife roundup.Fibrox is the low end version and Rosewood is higher quality line. http://www.forschnerknives.net/eshop/10browse.asp?category=Rosewood%20Series

Wusthof and Tadatsuna are both stainless steel in the same way that Hershey's and Valrhona are both chocolate.

Cardboard tubes from paper towel rolls are perfect for storing spring loaded tongs that always seem to pop open in the drawer. When making stock I like to have a supply of quart size soup containers from Chinese takeout.Heatproof so you can portion the stock right away for faster cooling.The smaller ones work well for disposing of hot fat since they wont melt like most plastics and have a lid unlike an open can.

It's been a few years since I've been there but the sauce on those ravioli was good.Did it seem to you it wasn't a straight butter sauce but built with a reduced chicken stock?Things may have changed since our last visit.

Light cream and Half and half are two different products.Light cream is 18% butter fat while H&H is about 10.5. Fat free half and half is an interesting product.I guess certain people felt stirring non dairy creamer into a cup of coffee was too difficult.So some genius had the idea of pre-mixing the crap in a box with skim milk or water for the non dairy versions.mmmm.

My personal favorite is "chocolatey".Otherwise known as this product contains no actual chocolate.Nothing more delicious than chocolatey flavor coated pretzels.Though "cheese product" does get an honorable mention.

Properly sharpened that Blazen should handily out perform the Shun.Blazen are made from SG2 powdered steel and could easily take a 10 degree angle.The Shun on the other hand is VG10.I've tried it at 10 deg but the steel just wasn't up to the task.15 degrees seems to be the better option for a Shun.Wustof and Henkles are just awful with their factory edge of around 23 to 25.

I seem to recall Craig LeBan of the Philadelphia Inquirer rating an Ocean City burger as one of his top ten last year.Stay right there while I fire up Google. Yep. Here is the rest of the list if interested. http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment...te_Burgers.html