Cooking

1. Find your meat probe for roasting. If your oven has a feature allowing you to roast by temperature rather than time, you should use it. It is much more accurate. If you don't use this feature often, chances are that the temperature probe is hidden away with your instruction manual so you'll need to conduct a search ahead of time.
2. Use the right pan for convection. The convection feature is wonderful for roasting and baking, but it's important to remember that the oven air needs to circulate around the food. If you have a roast or a bird sitting on the bottom of a roasting pan with high sides, you need to make sure that a roasting rack or trivet gets the meat above the pan sides so that convection air will encircle the food.
3. Don't forget your low simmer burner. This time of year there are lots of sauces and soups that need to sit on the stove for a long time at a very low settings. If you're having trouble getting a low enough flame on your gas burner try checking to see if you have another burner on your range with a lower simmer setting. Most ranges and cooktops today will have at least one burner capable of maintaining a very low flame, whereas the power burner probably won't be able to turn down low enough for your sauce.
4. Double check your recipe ingredients. Nothing worse than thinking you had the all spice or the basil or the you-name-it in the cupboard only to be unable to find it. While your at it, be aware that if these spices have been in the pantry for a couple of years, they've likely lost their potency. Might be a good time for a fresh supply.

Drinking

1. Store your wine at the right temperature. Most experts recommend a temperature of 52-59 degrees.

2. Drink your wine at the right temperature. The right drinking temperature for wine is not the same as the right storage temperature for wine. Too many folks seem to want to drink red wine at room temperature and white wine at a refrigerated under 40 degree temperature. In general, you should drink hearty red wines in the 60-63 degree range, while most whites will taste best just above 50 degrees. Only sparkling wines taste good at a 40 degree temperature.

3. Decant your wine if necessary. Much has been written about decanting wine and there is great disagreement among wine experts. Most experts do agree that older red wines can benefit from decanting to separate the wine from the sediment. Others go further and say that decanting wine exposes it to oxygen and lets it release flavor that would not otherwise be present. Some even like to decant white wines.

One final tip on eating and drinking.

ENJOY

See us at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center after Christmas for Year End Clearance prices.

NOW, two locations to serve you – Calabasas and Studio City:

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center

facebook twitter

1. Economy wine cooler. In this case you are just looking for something to cool a few bottles of inexpensive wine at the lowest price. You could pick up a decent countertop unit for less than $150. For a few dollars more Universal Kitchen and Appliance Center has a larger Frigidaire undercounter model (FFWC35F4LB) on sale for only $249.

2. Undercounter wine unit with dual zone temperature controls and UV protected thermal glass door. This choice will help you keep your whites cold and your reds not so cold. Expect nice rollout shelves and an interior light. For a good name brand prices are going to start over $1500 and go up from there. This KitchenAid might be a good place to start. Check Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center for the best price.

3. Full height wine cabinet with three temperature zones. In this category features might include electronic controls. Separate sealed temperature zones. Low vibration specially mounted compressor, and LED interior lighting. Depending on features and price these wine cabinets will do a good job of storing really fine wines. Expect prices to be from $6,000 up.

4. Professional wine storage by True and Perlick. True and Perlick refrigeration products are respected by culinary professionals everywhere. Their products are used in some of the most prestigious hotels and restaurants in the world. Though each brand has distinct offerings, these two companies have a heritage in commercial refrigeration that make them an ideal choice for premium wine storage.

Click on the link below for a complete list of models and prices of all brands:
WINE STORAGE

For all your holiday appliance gift giving options check with the experts at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center:

NOW, two locations to serve you – Calabasas and Studio City:

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center

facebook twitter

BREAKING NEWS!! New appliances being launched by the below brands. See what they have to say about their new products and then go to Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center for more information and the best prices.

New Miele Dishwasher

New Miele Dishwasher

Dinner parties won’t daunt you with Miele's new Futura ProfiLine dishwasher, designed to offer speed, flexibility and convenience for busy households. or those who like to entertain. Featuring a 23-minute ProSpeed wash cycle, the unit can power through dishes quickly and quietly. The dishwesher’s FlexiCare deluxe basket system can adjust to accommodate wine glasses, serving platters, chargers, terrines or other large items, while the 3D cutlery tray adds additional adjustability for silverware and serving utensils. To dry surfaces properly, Miele’s AutoOpen system will release the door as the chosen cycle concludes, allowing air to escape and circulate. Available as a fully integrated model, the ProfiLine can stay concealed behind kitchen cabinetry or be specified with a Clean Touch Steel panel. The unit retails for $3,999.

New Fagor Refrigerator

Fagor America has expanded its refrigerator line with a new larger-capacity side-by-side model. Offering almost 46 in. of additional space, the Energy Star-rated unit has the same features and benefits as the company’s slim line models, but with additional storage space. Measuring 36 in. wide, the unit maintains a constant control of humidity in order to keep the cabin in a “No Frost” environment, along with multi-fresh drawers that keep the ideal temperature to preserve meats and fish. The refrigerator also includes an internal water filter system, which reduces the presence of unhealthy particles found in drinking and ice water. Available in a stainless steel finish.

True 15 Refrigerator

Whether indoors or outdoors, the True Professional Series® Undercounter Refrigerator gives you complete cooling flexibility wherever you need it. A testament to the quality of this line, the glass door version of the True Undercounter Refrigerator is the only glass door model in the industry that is also UL rated for outdoor use. The perfect combination of powerful performance with universal styling, the True Undercounter Refrigerator is an elegant addition to any gathering space in your home.

True 15 Wine Cabinet

Crafted with extraordinary detail for those who are passionate about wine. You’ll keep your favorite vintage in pristine condition with True’s refrigerated wine cabinet. The True Wine Cabinet provides wine storage that carefully guards your wine from the elements most likely to damage them — light, fluctuating temperatures, humidity, and vibration. No other wine refrigerator matches the sophisticated and elegant look with the commercial performance of the True Wine Cabinet

Learn more about these and other new products from the experts at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center. Call or visit today:

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center

facebook twitter

Here are a few photos and comments from last week's Food and Wine extravaganza in Los Angeles. The nation's top chefs headlined the event and cooked up a storm in the Jenn-Air Demo Kitchen. In addition to the events below, other featured chefs at the show included Giada De Laurentis, Michael Chiarello, Guy Fieri, Hubert Keller, Richard Blais, Paul Prudhomme, Fabian Vivani, Roy Yamaguchi, and Andrew Zimmern.

A cooking demonstration presented by the one and only Wolfgang Puck is a unique opportunity to spend time with a genius who has long been the benchmark for culinary arts in Los Angeles. Pictured below Chefs Francois Payard and Dean Fearing join Wolfgang Puck for his Live – Love – Eat presentation.

Francois Payard, Dean Fearing, and Wolfgang Puck

• François Payard is a third-generation French Pastry Chef who cultivated his passion for the art of pastry as a child in his grandfather’s acclaimed shop, Au Nid des Friandises on the Riviera. In 1995, The James Beard Foundation named François Pastry “Chef of the Year.”
• Long known as the “Father of Southwestern Cuisine,” there is no mistake: Chef Dean Fearing has a passion for what he does. The exuberant Fearing was winner of the James Beard Foundation Restaurant Award for “Best Chef in the Southwest”.

• The name Wolfgang Puck is synonymous with the best of restaurant hospitality and the ultimate in all aspects of the culinary arts.

A Wolfgang Puck Masterpiece

VOILA!

In addition to the Wolfgang Puck demonstration, Ming Tsai, the ever popular chef with the huge personality wowed the audience with his wok skills during his demonstration.

Ming brought his James Beard Award winning talents to give Los Angeles a glimpse of what has made him a household name with his TV shows Simply Ming, East Meets West with Ming Tsai and Ming's Quest.

We're sharing the below Ming Tsai recipe from Food and Wine Magazine with you so that you can try cooking Ming Tsai style for yourself:

ENJOY!!

Ming Tsai Crab Cakes

Ingredients

• 1 pound lump crabmeat, well drained and picked over
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 3 tablespoons minced chives
• 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon honey
• 4 teaspoons Asian red chili sauce, such as sambal oelek
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 ripe mango, peeled and cut into chunks
• 1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• All purpose flour, for dredging
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 2 cups panko (Japanese bread crumbs) or other dry bread crumbs
• 1 cup packed micro greens or mesclun

Preparation

In a large bowl, combine the crabmeat with the mayonnaise, chives, lime juice, honey and 1 tablespoon of the chili sauce; season with salt and pepper. Stir well to break up some of the crabmeat. Form the mixture into 8 crab cakes, packing them firmly. Put the crab cakes on a baking sheet and refrigerate until firm, about 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a blender, puree the mango with 1 tablespoon of the oil and the remaining 1 teaspoon of chili sauce until smooth. Scrape the mango puree into a small bowl and season with salt and pepper.

Put a handful of flour into a medium, shallow bowl. Put the eggs in another shallow bowl and the panko in a third bowl. Take a crab cake in your hand and carefully dust it all over with flour, shaking off any excess. Dip the crab cake in the beaten egg and then coat it well with the panko. Repeat with the remaining crab cakes.

In a medium skillet, heat 3 tablespoons of the vegetable oil until shimmering. Add 4 of the crab cakes to the skillet and cook them over moderately high heat until they are browned and crisp, about 3 minutes per side. Drain the crab cakes on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil and 4 crab cakes.

Drizzle 4 plates with the mango puree and set 2 crab cakes on each plate. Mound the micro greens alongside and serve right away.

MAKE AHEAD The formed crab cakes and the mango puree can be refrigerated overnight. Bring the mango puree to room temperature before serving.

To learn more about the Jenn-Air appliance that these famous chefs used for their cooking demonstrations contact the experts at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center:

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center
12025 Ventura Blvd. Ste B-105
Studio City, CA 91604
PH 877 696-2987
facebook twitter

If you’d like to be able to select your wine for the evening without bending over or getting on your knees, what about a beautiful built in wine unit from the wine experts at Liebherr that installs at eye level?

These fully-integrated wine units can be installed flush with surrounding cabinets. Their handles are recessed to maintain the integrated look. Don’t mistake the small size with entry-level “faux” wine storage. These luxury units feature treated glass doors with UV protection, continuously adjustable temperature controls from 41- 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and an LED ceiling light that is dimmable to cast a cool glow across the room. The activated charcoal filter protects the wine from any interference from outside kitchen odors. Click below for complete specifications;

Leibherr HWS1800 Grand Cru

Call or visit the folks at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center for the best advice on wine storage.

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center
12025 Ventura Blvd. Ste B-105
Studio City, CA 91604
PH 877 696-2987

1. Economy wine cooler. In this case you are just looking for something to cool a few bottles of inexpensive wine at the lowest price. You could pick up a decent countertop unit for less than $150. For a few dollars more Universal Kitchen and Appliance Center has a larger Frigidaire undercounter model (FFWC35F4LB) on sale for only $224.

2. Undercounter wine unit with dual zone temperature controls and UV protected thermal glass door. This choice will help you keep your whites cold and your reds not so cold. Expect nice rollout shelves and an interior light. For a good name brand prices are going to start near $2000 and go up from there. This KitchenAid might be a good place to start. Check Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center for the best price.

3. Full height wine cabinet with three temperature zones. In this category features might include electronic controls. Separate sealed temperature zones. Low vibration specially mounted compressor, and LED interior lighting. Depending on features and price these wine cabinets will do a good job of storing really fine wines. Expect prices to be from $6,000 up.

Click on the link below for a complete list of models and prices:
WINE STORAGE

For more information contact the experts at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center:
Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center
12025 Ventura Blvd. Ste B-105
Studio City, CA 91604
PH 877 696-2987