RE: OT : Ovens and Hobs

["Kenneth Watt" <kwatt@xxxxxxx>]

Dave,

I hate to burst your bubble a bit but...

> http://www.calderacorp.com/
>=20
> Pity that they don't yet have a UK model. I have been informed though
tha=
t
> they are working on it.

These touch panel designs are already available from many manufacturers in
the EU who did it first and have a lot more experience with them that the
Yanks do at present, given that they were developed here as were induction
hobs. Appliances like this have been around for donkey's years from De
Dietrech, Smeg, Kuppersbusch, AEG, Bauknecht, Gaggenau, Fagor and many,
man=
y
more. On the upside they seem reasonably reliable but beware, if the main
control panel goes you can kiss goodbye to the best part of =A3200 if
it=92=
s a
cheap panel!

If you want something funky and different look at Kuppersbusch's
"honeycomb=
"
designed hobs in this kind of line. Easily available but not cheap and you
need a bespoke kitchen fitting, but then you do for the US ones as well.

You will also find that most people that cook, myself included, say that
fo=
r
hobtop cooking gas is the way to go.

Links are available at www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk and feel free to ask in the
forums there for advice.
=20
> These Wolf, Sub Zero units are available in the UK but very pricey. I
lov=
e
> the high tech control panels with Qprox controls. Check out the second
> link.
>=20
> http://www.wolfappliance.com/wolf/ovens.asp

Again US units these *will NOT* fit in standard EU cabinets, they will have
to be specially built for you, i.e. not cheap in the least! Added to which
is the serious hassle you may have if you ever want to change the appliance
and you will be seriously limited in choices.

Apart from which, all the manufacturers mentioned are specialist products
s=
o
don't expect any spares to be readily available, cheap or even the cost of
service to be low, it won't be.

As for the funky moving panels, have you seen the effect of cooking grease
on moving parts? ;)

HTH

K.