Friday, September 14, 2007

Sitram Catering 3.35 Chef Pan and 3.35 Saute Pan

















Showed in picture: 3.35 Saute pan at front, 3.35 Saucier in the back

Sitram Catering Line
Made in France
Stainless Steel with Copper disc bottom
NSF
No lid
Handle is welt not riveted
Drip free rim

These two restaurant grade stainless steel saute pan and saucier from Sitram are among my favorites. The stainless steel construction is solid and sturdy. The sizes of these two pans are perfect. There is a 2mm exposed copper disc sandwiched at the bottom. It looks great, but to keep it shiny requires rigid scrub with Cameo or Bar Keeper's Friend.

Another disadvantage of this disc bottom design is that it requires close regulating of heat source since the bottom doesn't go all the way to the edge of the pan, hence creating a
'hot ring' in the sides of the pan when used on gas top. Though I have heard people saying this design works better on an electric cook top better than a gas one, I can detest to that as I only have a gas stove top. To me, it works fine as long as I keep the flame within the diameter of the disc bottom.

Cleaning should not to be a big problem if you don't let the flame lick the sides of the pan. Otherwise, Cameo and Bar Keeper's Friend will get the job done easily.

The handle won't feel comfortable in your hand as they angel too much to the ceiling. As a result, I will have to stand on a kitchen step in order to wield it comfortably. I guess it's designed for those tall French chefs instead of a short home cook. Eventually, stepping on and off the bar stool became a chore, and I decided to bend the handle down with a pipe wrench. Since the handle is essentially one piece of stainless steel, it didn't cost not much hassle to angle the handle perfectly to fit my height. I will still use a kitchen towel though with the handle, it doesn't bother me.

I guess the welt handle won the cookware a NSF stamp, as you won't see any leftover food stuck in the rivets inside of the pan. I will roll my eyes over anyone who claims NSF is a mark of the quality though.

Overall, I like these two pieces for their design, construction and how they feel in the hand. The disc bottom design doesn't perform the best on on a gas burner as I can't use high heat in this
pan, but I can live with that. I will recommend Sitram to whoever likes 'commercial style' cookware.

Cost: ~$15 each

Monday, September 10, 2007

I Can Wok

Hot top beaming strong
Burning my face just walking around.

Hot top making me sweat
orders getting close, havent got me yet

I cant dance, I cant talk.
Only thing about me is the way I wok.
I cant dance, I cant sing
Im just standing here searing everything.

Oh and checking everything is in place,
You never know whos looking on.

Young punk spilling beer on my shoes,
Fat guys talking to me trying to steal my blues.

Thick smoke, see her smiling through.
I never thought so much could happen just making roux.

But I cant dance, I cant talk.
The only thing about me is the way that I wok.
I cant dance, I cant sing
Im just standing here searing

Oh and checking everything is in place
You never know whos looking on
A perfect body with a perfect face - uh-huh.

No, I cant dance, I cant talk.
The only thing about me is the way I wok
No, I cant dance, I cant sing
Im just standing here searing everything.

But I can wok.
No I cant dance.
No no no I cant dance
No I said I cant sing.
But I can wok