Pots and Pans

Exclusive Global Knives

2010-08-31T11:24:00.005+01:00

Our websites are currently offering this Exclusive Global Knife 5 Piece Block Set, with the elegant Ship Shape knife block and 5 of the most popular Global Knives.

There are a variety of offers associated with the knife set across our websites...

On our Pots and Pans website, we are giving a FREE MinoSharp ceramic knife sharpener, plus FREE GB delivery, when you buy the knife set.

On Cookware Online, we are giving away a FREE set of Salter Add & Weigh scales, plus FREE GB delivery with this 5 Piece Global Knives Set.

Our Cooks Knives website is giving away a FREE Rupert Rowley chopping board with the Exclusive Global Knife Set, as well as FREE GB delivery.

Take your pick of the offers, but hurry - we've limited stocks of these sets!

TV and Cookware

2010-04-30T11:30:00.009+01:00

One thing I’ve never understood…. how do TV chefs influence the general public so much with the gadgets and pots and pans that they use? Take Delia Smith for example, our sales of the Kenwood CH180 Mini Choppers went through the roof when she used it once on a show. Simple Suppers love their Le Creuset items, as does Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, and he also has his KitchenAid Blender on hand. Raymond Blanc has his own line of cookware (even if on TV he dissed his own whisk when it wouldn’t sit across the pan, then realised it was his own brand!). Something for the Weekend have shelves filled with gadgets that I’ve never seen them use, such as the Henckels Twin Pollux knife stand, however the Great British Menu competitors seem to like (and use) their Henckels Twin Cuisine Oval Knife Blocks, and I’ve seen them using Circulon (my favorite pan by far) on the show. Jamie Oliver has his own brand of pans, tools, knives and small electricals, which sell very, very well. James Martin cannot be far behind him – his range includes collaborations with Denby, the famous tableware manufacturer. Is it the chef name that does it? The fact the chef has used it? Or the quality of the items? I’m never too sure what leads the purchase...

Le Creuset Cassis

2010-03-09T12:28:00.005Z

Pots and Pans have taken delivery of the latest cookware from our most popular brand: Le Creuset Cassis. Juicy ripe berry shades look so tempting in any recipe - it’s little wonder Le Creuset created Cassis! From vibrant plums to vivid violets, purple shades create a warm, sumptuous look and feel in the home. Le Creuset Cassis brings to the kitchen a deep delicious purple that will appeal to those wanting to make a bold style statement. The Cassis Cast Iron collection includes round casseroles, oval casseroles and shallow casseroles, plus a square grillit. The Cassis Stoneware collection features rectangular dishes, fluted flan, pie dish, a pair of ramekins, petite casserole, utensil jar and mug.

Australian’s Women’s Weekly Cookbooks prove to be a surprise success

2010-02-05T09:50:00.001Z

Last year we expanded the range of Australian’s Women’s Weekly Cookbooks that we stock on our website. Initially we had trialled selling a limited selection of their cookery titles. This was a change in direction for us, before this we had stuck to selling traditional cookware and kitchenware. We are glad that we took advantage of this opportunity, feedback from our customers has shown that this has been a popular decision.

To begin with we only stocked a limited selection of titles from Australian’s Women’s Weekly or AWW as they are sometimes referred to. The popularity of these titles led us to quickly expand the number of titles that we stocked from their extensive range. Perhaps we should not have been so surprised by the success these cookery books have enjoyed. Australian Women’s Weekly or AWW have always been among the best selling cookery books. They have been publishing recipe books now for over 30 years now. In that time they have sold over 70 million books in over 100 countries, their books have also been translated into over a dozen languages.

Every recipe that is contained in their books was originally created in their Test Kitchen. Before it is added to one of their books it has to be tested three times in the Test Kitchen. This is done so that they can ensure that the ingredients and instructions will always produce the best results. After being tested on three separate occasions a recipe receives the Australian Women’s Weekly unique triple tested logo. Every recipe that then makes into one of their recipe books also has a photograph especially commissioned to help illustrate the recipe.

The books are aimed at both people who have very little experience of cooking as well as the more confident home chef. The books have been designed so that on one level they will inspire the reluctant chef into giving the recipes a try while at the same time being of interest to more experienced chefs who can also find recipes that they want to attempt.

We currently stock a wide selection of AWW books, these includes titles such as the Beginners Cooking Class, Foods of the Mediterranean Cookbook, speciality books including Vegetarian Meals in Minutes and the Gluten Free Cooking Mini Book as well as a book dedicated to Cocktails.

Due to the success we had with the Australian Women’s Weekly recipe books we decided to expand the range of cookbook that we stock. More recently we added a wide selection of books from the Quadrille Publishing range. These include books by chefs including Anjum Anand, Gordon Ramsay, Mary Berry and James Martin. In the future when we believe that there are other suitable cookery books that our customers will be interested in we add endeavour to add to these site as well.

Krups and Magimix Coffee Machines on Special Promotion

2010-01-26T15:33:00.004Z

Pots and Pans have just launched a ’Special Promotion on Coffee Machines’, this promotion includes discounts on some of the best selling coffee machines from Magimix and Krups. Included in this promotion are several coffee machines designed for use with the Nespresso capsule system.

There are discounts on a wide selection of Magimix Nespresso Coffee Machines. As part of our Coffee Machine promotion we have taken £40 off the price of our best selling Magimix Coffee Machine, the black version of the Nespresso M190 CitiZ & Co. We are now selling this model at only £229.99. This is one of Magimix’s range of coffee makers that are built to use the Nespresso capsule system.

Nespresso is a system developed by Nestlé where the coffee comes in sealed capsules which can be used in specially built coffee machines designed to use this system. As well as being created so that they are quick and easy to use the main benefit of this system is that it delivers the perfect espresso every time. The capsules are available in a wide variety of flavours and strengths including decaffeinated. Nespresso capsules are continuing to grow in popularity, Magimix, Krups, DeLonghi and Siemens all make coffee machines designed for use with the Nespresso system.

The Magimix Nespresso M190 CitiZ & Co is unique among coffee machines in that it allows you to make two cups of coffee at the same time. If you only want to make one coffee at a time then the Nespresso M190 CitiZ is the machine that you will be interested in. We have taken £15 off the price of the black version of the M190 for the duration of our ‘Special Coffee Machine Promotion’, it is now selling at only £135. If you would prefer the cream version of the Nespresso M190 CitiZ then this has also been reduced in price, we are now selling this model £139.99 which is £10 below its normal recommended retail price.

Another version of the Magimix Nespresso M190 is the CitiZ & Milk frother machine. This variation of the M190 has a built in milk frother which is ideal for making cappuccinos and lattes. During our coffee machine promotion we have taken £30 off this machine which means that it is now only £169.99.

As well as these discounts on the various versions of the popular M190 we have also reduced the price of various models of the Magimix Nespresso M100, including £10 off the red and silver versions.

This promotion extends so that it includes Krups coffee machines, several of which have been discounted. The price for all standard Nescafé Krups Dolce Gusto coffee machines have been reduced by £40, this means that we are currently selling Dolce Gusto machines at an incredibly low price of £89.99. This includes the increasingly popular red version of the Dolce Gusto as well as the black and ivory models. Perhaps the most striking feature of the Dolce Gusto is its highly innovative and stylised design which sets it a part in appearance from all other coffee machines. Presently it is one of our best selling coffee machines not just by Krups but from any coffee machine manufacturer.

The Nescafé Krups Dolce Gusto Circulo has also had its price discounted. This is now available to buy for £129.99, this is £30 below its normal retail price. This uses the same technology as the Dolce Gusto but features as the name suggests a unique circular design which is again highly distinctive and again sets its well apart from all other coffee machines in its appearance.

Both the standard model and the Circulo Dolce Gusto have been built to use the Nescafé Dolce Gusto capsule system, this has also been designed to ensure that using one of these machines is both easy and quick to make the perfect espresso every time that you use the machine.

The various models of the Krups Nespresso CitiZ have also been reduced, including a £20 discount on the version with the built in milk frother. These machines have been built to use the Nespresso capsule system.

All of the discounts have been put in place to make it easier and more affordable than at any other time for you to buy a new coffee machine or maker. Our cookware and kitchenware Winter Sale is also still running.

Le Creuset and Global Knives Special Offers

2010-01-26T10:16:00.004Z

We have added new special offers on Le Creuset Kone Kettles and a Global Knives Knife Set to our cookware and kitchenware winter sale. Now when you buy a Black Le Creuset Kone Kettle you will also receive a free a Le Creuset Breakfast Collection Mug. If you buy the Global G-666/KB: 7 Piece Kitchen Knife Gift Case Set you will receive a free MinoSharp Knife Sharpener.

As part of our winter sale we have already discounted Le Creuset Kone Kettles by a staggering 20%. We are now selling all colours of the Kone Kettle for £39.20, this is instead of the normal recommended retail price of £49.00. Now, if you buy the Kone Kettle in black we will also give you a free Le Creuset Breakfast Collection Mug.

The second of the new Special Deals that we are now offering is to give everyone who buys a Global G-666/KB: 7 Piece Gift Case Set a free MinoSharp Knife Sharpener. We have also reduced the price of this Knife Set, it is currently available to buy on our website for £450, that is £112 below its normal recommended retail price.

The Knife set consists of seven individual Global knives, containing the following knives:

• G-2, 20cm cook's knife
• G-4, 18cm oriental cook's knife
• G-21, 16cm boning knife
• GS-5, 14cm vegetable chopper
• GS-9, 8cm tomato knife
• GS-11, 15cm flexible utility knife
• GSF-15, 8cm forged peeling knife

It also comes with a quality presentation case which features the branding specially designed to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Global Knives. The MinoSharp Knife Sharpener was designed specifically for using with Global Knives.

If you visit the Winter Sale page of our website you will find details about the other deals that are currently on offer. These include special offers on an I.O. Shen Knife Set, a Denby Dining Set and a Alessi Kettle. There is also a wide range of other items that have been reduced as part of our cookware and kitchenware winter sale. You might also be interested in our Pan Sets Special Offers or Knife Sets Special Offers pages, both of which contain some fantastic bargains.

There is still time to enter our New Year Prize Draw, you have until midday on the 1st of February to get your entry in. Remember that this month one lucky person will win a Gaggia Classic Espresso Machine, a 5 Hard Anodized Piece Pan set by Circulon 2 and a Judge Sabatier 5 Piece Wooden Knife Block Set. These three items combined are worth £568.95. If you fancy trying your luck you should visit the competition page on our website.

Additional Special Offers added to our Winter Sale

2010-01-19T09:42:00.002Z

We have added even more Special Offers, bargains and free gifts to our online cookware and kitchenware winter sale. Now if you buy a Denby China Squares 16 Piece Set we will give you a free Denby China medium Serving Dish, or if you buy an Alessi MG32 Cordless Kettle in Black we will give you a free Judge Induction 26cm frying Pan.

Denby Pottery has always been one of our best selling brands, among the different ranges that Denby produce the Denby China range is undoubtedly one of the most popular. The range of products within this range are characterised by the combination of clean, simplistic, contemporary design with an exacting attention to detail. It is china that has been designed specifically for modern life. We decided to take one of the most popular products within this range, the China Squares 16 Piece dining set, which we have already discounted by an incredible £121 and make purchasing this item even more attractive by giving away a free Denby China medium Serving Dish. The normal recommended retail price for this particular Serving Dish is £23.

Another brand that is always one of our most popular is Alessi. It is famous for the iconic designs of its products. We decided to take one of our best selling Alessi products and make purchasing it in our Winter Sale an even more attractive proposition. Now when you buy an Alessi MG32 Cordless Kettle in Black you will also receive free a Judge Induction 26cm Frying Pan which has the normal recommended retail price of £24.

These are the just latest special offers to be added to our Winter Cookware and Kitchenware Sale. We are still offering special offers on a wide variety of products including the I. O. Shen Mastergrade 5 Piece Magnetic Knife Block Set, the Gaggia Classic Coffee Machine and the Robert Welch Signature 4 Piece Knife and Sharpener Set. As well as our Special Offers we have offering some massive discounts on a wide variety of products.

Don’t forget that there is still time to enter our January Free Prize Draw. This month, in a special competition to mark the start of a new year and a new decade we are giving somebody the chance to win a Gaggia Classic Coffee Machine, a Circulon Pan Set and a Judge Knife Set. For more details of this exciting competition you should visit the Competition Page of the Pots and Pans website.

Win a Gaggia Classic Coffee Machine, Circulon Pan Set and a Judge Knife Set...

2010-01-06T09:20:00.002Z

To help get the New Year off to a good start we thought that we would go out of our way to do something extra special for our first monthly free prize draw of 2010. We have decided to give away not one but three prizes this month. The lucky person who wins this month’s competition will receive a Gaggia Classic Espresso Machine, a 5 Piece Pan Set from the best selling Circulon 2 range as well as a Judge Sabatier 5 Piece Wooden Knife Block Set. Combined these three items have a recommended retail price of £568.95.

The rules are the same as normal, all you have do is visit the competition page of our website and fill in the form contained on that page. You can also find out more information about the rules of the competition on the page, all you need to do is follow the relevant link.

You have until midday on the 1st of February to enter this month’s competition. Remember, the competition is free to enter.

If you have not visited our website recently then why not take a look at our Winter Cookware Sale while you are there? We have worked hard on this year’s sale, ensuring that it is the right mixture of exciting special offers and desirable bargains on the products that you want. You will find big discounts on top brands such as Le Creuset, Global Knives, Jamie Oliver Professional Series, Cole and Mason, Denby Pottery, I.O Shen Knives and Maxwell & Williams.

Winter Clearance Deals

2009-12-23T12:16:00.004Z

The Pots and Pans Winter Sale has started. We have put together a collection of great deals and bargains on a wide range of cookware and kitchenware, all available on our online store. When deciding what we products we would in our sale, we kept thinking we wanted to do something a little bit different this time. We've decided that not only will we discount products, but we will also put together a series of special offers designed to excite our customers. What better way of doing this than giving away free gifts or discount offers on some of our best selling items?

Now, if you buy an I.O. Shen Mastergrade 5 Piece Magnetic Knife Block Set we will also give you a FREE Swift Supreme 3 Piece Pan Set, RRP £118! If you buy a Meyer Circulon 2 Hard Anodized 5 Piece Pan Set you get the opportunity to buy a Le Creuset Kone Kettle at HALF PRICE. If you decide to buy a Gaggia Classic Coffee Machine you will get a Judge Sabatier 5 Piece Wooden Knife Block Set FREE. The Judge Knife Set has a recommended retail price of £64. If you buy a Robert Welch Signature 4 Piece Knife and Sharpener Set you will also get a FREE Le Creuset 21cm Round Dish. This Le Creuset dish has an RRP of £22.

As well as these exciting deals we are also reducing the price on numerous other products. We have collected together a wide selection of these items on the Sales page of our website. You will also find other great deals on the Pan Sets Special Offers page as well as on the Knife Sets Special Offers page of the Pots and Pans website.

We believe that there should be a bargain or a special deal to suit everybody in cookware and kitchenware winter sale.

Win a Gaggia Classic Espresso Machine in December’s Free Prize Draw

2009-12-15T16:53:00.004Z

In our December free prize draw we are giving you the chance to win a Gaggia Classic Espresso Machine. Due to the incredible response that we received to last month’s competition when we gave away two Gaggia Baby D Espresso machines, we have decided to give people another chance to win a Gaggia coffee machine.

The Gaggia Classic is the best selling of all Gaggia’s coffee machines. It normally retails on the Pots and Pans Website for £274.99, this is £24 below the normal recommended retail price of £299.95.

If you want to win the Gaggia Classic Espresso Machine you need to visit the competition page on the Pots and Pans website. When you get there all you need to do to enter the competition is complete the form on the page. The page also contains more information and details about the rules for the competition.

We are still offering a free gift for anybody who orders goods worth £100 or over on the Pots and Pans website. In keeping with the festive time of the year we are now giving a free set of Tom Smith Crackers to anybody who spends £100 or over. In 1847 Thomas J. Smith, the founder of the Tom Smith company invented the cracker. His original crackers actually contained sweets and not gifts as the present version does. Several years later in effort to differentiate their crackers from rival companies who copied their original idea his son decided to include gifts and hats as well as introducing variations on the design of the cracker.

We are still offering free delivery on all orders of £75 or over for customers in Great Britain. There is an equivalent discount for customers outside of Great Britain.

Knife Set Special Offers

2009-12-14T11:48:00.007Z

We have decided to run special offers on two of our most popular knife sets, the I.O Shen Mastergrade Magnetic 5 Piece Knife Block Set and the Robert Welch Signature 4 Piece Knife and Sharpener Set. I.O Shen Knives and Robert Welch Knives are two of our most popular brands of knives, enjoying popularity with both professional chefs and home enthusiasts. The special offers on both of these knife sets offer a fantastic opportunity to acquire professional standard kitchen knives at a discount price.

Not only are we selling the I.O Shen Mastergrade Magnetic 5 Piece Knife Block Set for £199.95, a massive £154 below the recommended retail price, but we are also including a free copy of Jamie Oliver’s Christmas DVD for a limited time. You might have noticed in his recent television series, Jamie’s American Road Trip, that Jamie Oliver uses I.O Shen knives himself.

The I.O Shen magnetic knife block can be used to hold up to 9 knives. It comes with a 105mm Paring Knife, 160mm Sahm Khom Slicer, 210mm Chef's Knife and a 270mm Bread Knife.

The second knife set that we are decided to offer a great deal on is the Robert Welch Signature 4 Piece Knife and Sharpener Set. You can now buy this on our online cookware and kitchenware shop for only £85, which is a saving of £28 on the sets normal price. This set includes an 18cm Cooks Knife, 12cm Cooks Knife, 10cm Vegetable Knife and a hand-held Knife Sharpener.

The Robert Welch company have been manufacturing knives commercially now for over 50 years, it is still a family run business. When designing knives they work closely with professional chefs to ensure that their knives are both comfortable to use as well providing optimum cutting action. The Robert Welch Signature Knife Range won the 2009 Red Dot Award for product design.

New Krups, Circulon, Raymond Blanc by Anolon, Prestige, and Joseph Joseph products now on the website

2009-12-11T16:34:00.003Z

At Pots and Pans we are continually updating and expanding the products that we sell through our online cookware and kitchenware shop, the latest additions include new products from Raymond Blanc by Anolon, Circulon, Prestige, Krups and Joseph Joseph.

The first of the new additions are two new 5 piece pan sets from Raymond Blanc by Anolon. Both of these pan sets include a milkpan, 16cm, 18cm and 20cm saucepans and a 24cm frying pan or skillet. The first of these pan sets is from the Stainless Steel range. We are currently selling this pan set for £149.99, which is a £95 saving on the recommended retail price. The second pan set is from the Raymond Blanc by Anolon Professional range. This is presently retailing for £125, this is £90 below the usual recommended retail price.

There is also a new 4 piece pan set from Circulon. The Circulon Steel Elite 4 Piece Pan Set includes 16cm, 18cm and 20cm saucepans along with a 20cm skillet or frying pan. This pan set is currently available for £149.99, this is £95 below its recommended retail price.

Other new additions to the website include several new serving dishes by Prestige. These dishes have all been made with double walled insulated stainless steel, this has been used as it enables the dishes to maintain a consistent temperature. The serving dishes are available in different shapes, there is a round serving dish as well as different sized versions of the oval shaped serving dish.

Also new on the website are seven new models of Krups coffee machines. Included among the new machines are three colour variations of the popular Dolce Gusto model, as well as the standard black model there are now Ivory and Red models which are now available on the website. We have also started to stock the Dolce Gusto Circulo model. This machine as the name suggests features an unique circular design that makes it look unlike any other coffee machine currently available. The Dolce Gusto Circulo is more than just a striking looking coffee machine though, it also makes a fantastic cup of coffee.

There has also been a major increase in the range of Joseph Joseph products that we stock. We are now stocking numerous designs of their worktop savers, including the designs based round the inside of fruit. This includes the kiwi, orange, tomato and onion designs. Other new Joseph Joseph products that have been added to the website include a stylish new salad bowl, and an ergonomically designed colander. If you are a fan of Joseph Joseph you will instantly recognise their unique design style in both of these new products. They share a chic modern aesthetic which helps give them the look and feel that is unique to Joseph Joseph products.

Even in the run up to Christmas, the busiest time of the year for an online retailer, we are continuing to expand the ranges that we stock. We are continually on the lookout for new ranges that we believe will add value to our online cookware and kitchenware store. If you believe that there is a range we should be stocking that we currently don’t have let us know and we will see what we can do about adding it.

Zeal Kitchenware now in stock

2009-12-09T11:28:00.002Z

We have now started stocking Zeal Kitchenware on our online cookware and kitchenware shop. Zeal Kitchenware specialise in producing colourful kitchen tools and bakeware made from silicone. Constructing products with silicone has several advantages. This remarkable material is resistant to high temperatures - safe to use at temperatures up to 315°C / 600°F. Unlike some other materials that are often used in the production of kitchen tools and bakeware, it does not absorb flavours. It is suitable for use in microwaves, the oven and the freezer. Perhaps best of all, it is easy to clean!

Zeal produce a wide range of kitchen utensils and bakeware ranging from tongs and spatulas to loaf trays and muffin cases. One of their more unique products is the Splatter Guard. This has been designed to prevent hot oil or sauces ‘spitting’ out of the pan during cooking. It sits on top of the pan during cooking, essentially acting like a lid. Since it has been constructed using silicone it is flexible, non-stick, easy to clean and hygienic.

Other kitchen utensils in their range include Cooks Tongs, Ladles, Cooks Spoons and a Slotted Turner, all of which are constructed using silicone which means they can be used when cooking at high temperatures. These are available in a variety of colours including red, lime and mulberry.

The bakeware products from Zeal include Cake and Muffin Cases, Mini Flan Cases and Loaf Trays. Also constructed from silicone, they are exceedingly flexible, as well as being reusable.

Other Zeal products that we expect will be popular are the Basting Brush and the Patissier Brush. Both of these brushes have silicone bristles, this ensures that they can be used at high temperatures and that the bristles are flexible. This makes both of these brushes ideal for use in their intended tasks.

New Nordic Ware Cake Pans now in stock.

2009-11-30T11:26:00.002Z

We have added several new items to the range of Nordic Ware cake pans that we sell on our online cookware shop. We have added several new cake pans, or to call them by their proper name Bundt pans, to the range of Nordic Ware products that we stock. The new designs include a Mini Butterfly Cake Pan, a Caterpillar Cakelette Pan, a Giant Cupcake Pan, the Backyard Bug Pan and the Gift Cakelette Pan.

Bundt pans are used to in order to give cakes or muffins a distinctive shape when you bake them. The new designs from Nordic Ware will certainly help you give your cakes or muffins a unique shape. Perhaps the most unusual of the new designs is the Backyard Bug Pan which can be used to make bug shaped muffins. The pan includes various bug shapes including bees, butterflies, ladybirds and dragon flies.

The Caterpillar Cakelette Pan is another cake pan that features a highly distinctive design. This cake pan allows you to make eight cakelettes which when placed together are in the shape of a large caterpillar. This fun design is ideal for children’s parties.

Another of the new designs, the Gift Cakelette Pan allows you to bake 6 mini cakes which are each in the shape of a gift or a present. The intricate detail which the cake pan enables you to achieve has to be seen to be believed. Each Gift Cake features a ribbon on the top of the gift to complete the design.

Nordic Ware started to manufacture Bundt Pans in 1946. The founder of Nordic Ware H. David Dalquist trademarked the term Bundt Pan in 1950, the trademark is still owned by Nordic Ware. Even though they have produced over 50 million cake pans it is still a family owned business.

The term Bundt originates from the German word bund which means ‘a gathering’. Bundt cakes were originally made for eating at gatherings or parties.

Nordic Ware produces several cake pans that are ideal for people who are looking to bake Christmas themed cakes. They produce one cake pan that bakes a cake in the shape of a Christmas tree, this makes the perfect centrepiece on a table set for a Christmas meal.

Jamie Oliver Electrical Appliances in stock

2009-11-27T15:53:00.003Z

The new Jamie Oliver Electrical Collection is now in stock on the Pots and Pans online cookware shop. This exciting new range is the result of a collaboration between Jamie Oliver and Tefal. This new collection includes a blender, a food processor and a grill.

The Jamie Oliver Food Processor has been designed to perform a wide variety of tasks, it can be used for grating, slicing, cutting and blending. It comes with a selection of accessories that are easily stored when not in use. When you do wish to use the accessories they can be added or removed easily and quickly.

Capable of blending all types of ingredients the Jamie Oliver Blender is another exciting new product in this range. It can be used to make smoothies, health drinks or crush ice among other uses.

The Jamie Oliver Grill has been designed to make it easy to enjoy healthy eating without having to sacrifice on the taste. It can be used to grill meat, fish or even a complete meal at the one time.

We already stock a large selection of Jamie Oliver Cookware including the Professional Series Stainless Steel pan range, the Professional Series Hard Anodized pan range, the Jamie Oliver At Home Cast Iron pan range, his collection of Kitchen Knives, his Kitchen Tools collection as well as his Flavour Shaker.

All of the different ranges that Jamie Oliver has put his name too have been very popular with our customers. There is always a great deal of demand for the highly innovative Jamie Oliver Flavour Shaker.

Jamie Oliver is obviously concerned about maintaining his good name, he only puts his name to good, quality products. The electrical appliances that will carry his name have been built to the same high standard as the other products that already carry his name. We expect that the new electrical appliances will also prove to be very popular with our customers.

Special Offers and Gift Ideas

2009-11-26T11:30:00.001Z

‘Christmas is getting earlier every year!’ At times it certainly does feel that Christmas is actually getting earlier every year. Although there are still just over four weeks to go until Christmas at Pots and Pans we have been busy preparing for it for a considerable period of time. The weeks leading up to Christmas are usually among our busiest.

Looking at people’s shopping habits it would appear that most people prefer to avoid doing their Christmas shopping at the last moment. The busiest weeks in the run up to Christmas are traditionally the last week of November and the first week of December. This would suggest that the majority of people don’t leave their Christmas shopping until the last moment. There will always be some people who sadly do leave their Christmas gift buying right up to the very last moment possible. We expect to receive some phone calls on Christmas Eve wondering if they buy something on the website will able to deliver it gift wrapped before Christmas.

We have worked hard to make sure that we offer the right special offers over this period. We have also decided to make it easier for you to find the ideal present by adding a page full of Great Gift Ideas to our website.

The Cole & Mason King Pepper Baseball Bat is currently one of our best selling items. It would appear from the feedback that we have been receiving from our customers that a lot of people are going to be getting one of these as a Christmas present this year. Alessi and Dunoon mugs are a present that we are expecting to see a lot of people receive on Christmas Day. Although popular throughout the year we have seen a significant increase in the number of orders received recently for anything by Alessi and Dunoon mugs. If the increase in sales of Miniamo is anything to go by we are expecting to see a lot a lot of children receive this for their Christmas. Miniamo has been designed to encourage children to learn cooking and baking.

Another trend that we expect to see this year is a rise in home baking over the festive period. Sales of Nordic Ware cake pans are going through the roof. Their Snowman Bundt Cake Pan and the Holiday Tree Bundt Cake Pan in particular are proving to be very popular.

There are some trends that we see every year and this year has not been any different. The Le Creuset Cast Iron range is still very popular as a Christmas gift. Knife Sets and in particular those from Global Knives and Henckels are proving to be very popular again.

We have done our best to make it as easy as possible you to find the right present at the right price. On the website we are currently selling Global Knife Sets for 50% off their recommended retail price, we have even discounted some Henckels Knife Sets by up to 58% of their recommended retail price. We hope that our efforts will help make it easier for you to find the right Christmas present for your loved ones.

If you have any ideas about what makes a great gift or want to tell us what you would like for Christmas this year feel free to email us and let us know.

Bodum – New items and new colours

2009-11-09T09:28:00.003Z

We have made some major changes to the Bodum section of our online cookware store. We have expanded the range of Bodum products that we stock as well as adding new products and new colour variations to many of the products that we already stocked.

The new products that we have started to sell include the Bodum Bistro Toaster, the Ibis Kettle, a Twin Salt and Pepper Grinder, a Canteen Porcelain Mug, a Travel Mug Vacuum, a Brazil Coffee Maker and the Bodum Bean Coffee Maker. All of these products are available in a variety of colours including black, red, purple, pink, lime green, grey and off white. Several of the new products are also available in a variety of different sizes.

Bodum have a reputation for producing products that are not only sleek and aesthetically pleasing but sold at affordable prices. The company moto is “good design doesn’t have to be expensive”. The popularity of Bodum is not just the result of its stylish design and sensible pricing policy. Bodum products have all been designed and manufactured to ensure that they incorporate the highest level of both functionality and quality.

The new Bodum Bistro Toaster is a prime example of Bodum’s philosophy about design and pricing put into practice. The toaster is a combination of both retro and modern design elements. It features perforated housing combined with bold colours. With all Bodum products, stylish design does not sacrifice performance. The products all perform their intended task to a high standard. The products are also designed to be practical, for example the case of the toaster features a removable crumb tray so that it's easy to clean.

There's another good reason to visit the Bodum pages on our website - we have discounted every product! On some products that discount is as much as 55% off the recommend retail price.

New Alessi, Le Creuset and Ready Steady Cook products added

2009-11-06T11:37:00.004Z

We are continually adding new products to the Pots and Pans online cookware shop, amongst the latest additions are new products from Le Creuset and Alessi, as well as pan sets from the new Ready Steady Cook branded cookware range.

Le Creuset has always been one of our most popular brands. It is not just their iconic cast iron cookware that is popular with our customers, other ranges such as the Toughened Non-Stick and the re-released 3 Ply Stainless Steel range are also among our best selling ranges. We have recently added several new products from the Le Creuset Toughened Non-Stick range to our online store.

Alessi, as with Le Creuset, is another brand that has achieved iconic status. Their products are famous for their unique and often playful designs. Amongst the new Alessi products we have started to sell is the new Banana King Salt, Pepper and Spice Grinder, featured in the picture. Despite appearances, it is a fully functioning grinder!

You will have seen the television programme, and now you can buy Ready Steady Cook cookware products. We have started stocking Ready Steady Cook branded pan sets on our website, ideal for rustling up a meal after inspiration from an episode of the show.

To see any of these new products you should visit the Pots and Pans website. It is definitely worth checking the website on a regular basis to keep up with all the new additions that we are continually making as well as any sales or special offers that might be available.

Win a Gaggia Baby D Espresso Machine

2009-11-06T11:25:00.003Z

We have decided to something special for our November free prize draw. This month we are going to give two people the chance to win a Gaggia Baby D Espresso Machine. If you were to buy of these on the high street you would normally expect to pay £329.95.

Gaggia are widely considered to be one of the world’s leading manufactures of coffee machines. They have earned this reputation not only from the quality of the coffee makers that they produce but also because just as importantly because of the quality of the coffee that is produced by their machines.

Achille Gaggia the founder of Gaggia, patented the first modern steamless coffee machine in 1938. He originally developed this coffee machine to be used commercially in his own coffee bar. Ten years later, in 1948, he decided to start producing coffee machines full time. He founded Gaggia, the company that bares his name for this purpose. Originally the company produced professional coffee machines for use in commercial establishments. It was only in 1977 that they started to produce machines that were intended for use in the home. The Baby models were the first home machines that Gaggia produced. Since the original machine was produced in 1977 Gaggia have continued to refine and update the Baby Espresso Machine with each new model. Manufacturing coffee machines for the home now accounts for the majority share of Gaggia’s business. They still produce all of their coffee machines in Milan.

If you want to win one of the two Gaggia Baby D Espresso Machines then you should visit the competition page on the Pots and Pans website. This page has instructions for how to enter the competition and well as more information about the competition rules.

Free gift when you buy any Magimix Nespresso or L'Expresso coffee maker

2009-10-19T15:48:00.003+01:00

Coffee, Tea and Toast, sister website to Pots and Pans, is giving away a free set of four Maxwell & Williams Demi Cups and Saucers with every Magimix Nespresso or L'Expresso coffee maker that is bought. The Maxwell & Williams Demi Cup and Saucer set normally retails for £16. All you have to claim you free set is to make sure you add them to your order when you buy your Magimix Nespresso or L’Expresso coffee maker.

Maxwell & Williams are widely regarded worldwide for producing stylish tableware. This set of cups and saucers features black and white circles, known as the Spin design. The cups are prefect for serving your espresso in.

Most Magimix products were originally designed for commercial use, this helps to explain why they often last longer and out perform other brands. Their coffee machines use the nespresso capsule system. This has been designed to ensure that they will produce a perfect espresso or cup of coffee every time you use them.

This offer is available while stocks last.

Quadrille food books now in stock

2009-10-16T09:36:00.002+01:00

If you have visited our website recently you might have noticed that we have started to sell a range of food books from Quadrille Publishing. This is an addition to the cookware and kitchenware that people usually associate with Pots and Pans. This is not the first time though that we have sold books, during the summer we started to sell Australian Women’s Weekly recipe books through our website. We expected these to be popular but have been surprised by just how successful these titles have been. As a result of this success we decided to expand the range of food books available on the website.

When we started to look for other publishers to stock we worked out a set of criteria that we would use to judge publishing companies. Ideally we wanted to stock only the best food books possible, we wanted to add the leading companies. We also thought that it was important if we were going to sell food books that they were books that we would want to purchase ourselves.

You only need to look at some of the authors who are published by Quadrille to see that they are one of the leading publishers of food books. Their current catalogue includes books by chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, James Martin, Mary Berry, Bill Granger and Anjum Anand as well as many others.

As we mentioned earlier recipe books have proved to be exceedingly popular with our customers. People are often looking for recipes for meals that are easy and quick to prepare but do not make any sacrifices when it comes to taste. They are looking to achieve the right balance between food that tastes good but involves the minimum time and effort to make. Recipe books are often the best place to find this type of recipe. Collections of recipes allow you to share in the knowledge and experience of some of the top chefs from one easy access point. Then there are people who are looking to be more adventurous with their cooking, they are perhaps looking at trying new ingredients, styles of cooking or even new cookery techniques. These are people who look to food books for inspiration or new ideas.

Over recent years there has been a growth in people’s knowledge and awareness of food and cooking. A major reason for the new found sense of adventure people have for cooking can be attributed in part to the rise of celebrity TV chefs.

The success of the television show is often mirrored by the volume of sales of the book associated with the programme. Included among the Quadrille books that we have added to our online shop are the Gordon Ramsay recipe books that accompany his critically acclaimed television show The F Word. James Martin, the chef who is rapidly becoming the ‘face of BBC Cookery programmes’ is another television chef whose books are being published by Quadrille. The collection of James Martin’s recipes for desserts is currently one of Quadrille’s best selling titles. The current catalogue also contains several books by Anjum Anand which tie in with her popular television series about Indian cookery. The current catalogue is not limited to the new generation of television chefs. Another famous name on the Quadrille rota of authors is Mary Berry, who is perhaps the most respected cookery writer in this country.

What all of these chefs share is a strong passion for food, you can feel this passion coming through the pages of their books. This is helped by the high publishing standards adhered to by Quadrille, the design and layout of their books is always exquisite. The sumptuous colour photography that is found in each book helps bring the recipes alive on the page.

Wusthof Knives benefit from appearing in Julie & Julia

2009-10-14T16:22:00.005+01:00

We have seen an increase in both the number of sales as well as the interest in Wusthof Knives over the past couple of months. Wusthof Knives are always one of our better selling brands. If you have ever owned or even used a Wusthof Knife you will understand why they are so popular, they are one of the best knives on the market. They are exceedingly well constructed which is one of the reasons that they are such a popular choice with both professional chefs and cooking enthusiasts. What we were seeing was a spike in activity on the Wusthof Knives pages of our website, though we were at a loss to explain it! We had seen this with another product recently, the reason for the increased interest in that case was a leading magazine had published a very complimentary review of that product and very kindly linked through to our website in their article. In this instance we could not find any new links or even news about Wusthof Knives on the internet...

Then we took a telephone order from a customer for a Wusthof Knife Block Set - while placing their order they asked if they were used in the film Julie & Julia? This film has already generated an incredible increase in the sales of Le Creuset products, which feature extensively throughout the film, and the same appears to be the case for Wusthof Knives - if only the marketing people from Wusthof had been as on the ball as Le Creuset! Both companies have received tremendous benefits from having their products featured in this film, and as cookware retailers, we've definitely seen an increase in sales.

Free gifts updated

2009-10-14T12:30:00.003+01:00

We have updated our free gift offer for orders of £50 or over on our website again. Now when you spend £50 or over on our online cookware shop you can receive a free Grunwerg Adagio Blue Cheese Knife and Pizza Cutter Set, all you need to do is add it your order. Both items in the set have been designed to be stylish as well as practical. The handles have been ergonomically designed so that they are comfortable to hold and at the same time easy to grip. The Grunwerg Adagio Blue Cheese Knife and Pizza Cutter Set normally retails for £6.99.

The free gift that you can receive if you spend £100 or over has not changed. You can still choose to receive a free Natural Origins Pizza Cutting Board and Pizza Cutter Set. This normally retails for £15. There is only one free gift per order and they are only available while stocks last. It is worth checking the website on a regular basis though as the free gifts are updated on a regular basis. For more information you can visit the Free Offers page on our website.

Don’t forget that we are still offering free delivery on orders over £75. This is for customers in Great Britain, customers outside of Great Britain will receive an equivalent discount.

Lastly, there is still time to enter this month’s free prize draw. This month the prize is a simplehuman soft touch bin which normally retails for £109.99. For more details of how to enter this months prize draw you can visit the competition page of our website.

60 Minute Makeover features Pots and Pans

2009-10-07T14:34:00.005+01:00

Various products from our online cookware store have been used in the new series of 60 Minute Makeover. Our products are featured in several episodes of the new series which started on ITV on the 7th of September.

The first episode of the new series that used products from Pots and Pans involved designers Colin and Justin transforming a house in Carshalton, Surrey. The details of this episode of 60 Minute Makeover as well as a list of the products that were used are available on the shows section of the ITV website. It was gratifying to see that several of the 60 Minute Makeover designers choose to use our products. In another episode Scott Waldron makes over a house in Great Moor, Stockport he used a wide selection of products that are available on our online cookware store.

It was interesting to note that the different interior designers would often choose to use the same products. Le Creuset, Denby Pottery, Raymond Blanc Cookware by Anolon and Alessi were popular with several of the designers on the show, they all feature in several episodes of the new series. Another product that was used on several different makeovers was the Voodoo Knife Block. If you watch the programme carefully you will notice this appearing in several different episodes. It has obviously proved to be popular with the interior designers who work for this programme.

You can view how our products that we supplied to 60 Minute Makeover fitted in to the overall makeover on a dedicated 60 Minute Makeover page on our website.

Excellence in Housewares Awards Ceremony Tonight

2009-10-07T11:30:00.003+01:00

It is the Excellence in Housewares 2009 Awards tonight. Pots and Pans have been nominated in two categories, Excellence in Direct Retailing and Excellence in Retail Display – Independent. These awards have been described as being the ‘Oscars’ of our industry. Last year Pots and Pans won the Excellence in Online Retailing award, the award still takes pride of place in our office. We have sent a ‘small delegation’ down to London for tonight’s ceremony, we are all keeping our fingers crossed that they will have two good reasons for celebrating later tonight. We realise though that we face some very stiff competition in both categories.

We have updated the free gift for anybody who spends £100 or over on the Pots and Pans website. Now when you spend £100 or over you can choose to receive a free Premier Natural Origins Pizza Cutting Board and Pizza Cutter. This normally retails at £15. You can get more details about this free gift on our website.

Other news is the Pots and Pans lottery syndicate had a win in the Euro Millions lottery last week. Between 10 of us we scooped just over £12, this works out at just over £1.20 per person, this almost covers the £1.50 cost that each of us put in to enter the lottery. Debate is raging over what we should do with our winnings, the general consensus is that we will be using it to buy tickets for this weeks lottery.

Win a simplehuman Soft Touch bin in this month’s free prize draw

2009-10-02T10:25:00.002+01:00

This month in the Pots and Pans free prize draw we are giving someone the chance to win a simplehuman Slim Soft Touch bin. This month’s prize the 45 litre brushed silver simplehuman Soft Touch normally retails for £109.99, if you buy it from the Pots and Pans website you can save yourself £13, we are selling it for £96.99.

The core philosophy of simplehuman products is ‘a mission to make you more efficient at home’. Their products have been designed to help make it easier to do everyday tasks. All of their products combine providing an ergonomic solution to everyday tasks with a highly stylised look and feel that makes the products easily recognisable as being produced by simplehuman.

The simplehuman Soft Touch bin features an innovative opening mechanism which makes this bin a great alternative to the standard pedal bin. To open a Soft Touch bin you press down on the lid which then pops open. The top section itself lifts out and the inner bucket has integrated handles which makes it easy to remove the contents of the bin. The lid has been constructed from durable polycarbonate which as well as making it dent proof ensures that it is easy to clean. The Soft Touch bin has been designed so that it will sit flush against a wall this stops the bin from being obtrusive.

If you are interested in winning this fantastic prize you can find the instructions for how to enter on the competition page of our website.

Still time to enter this month’s free prize draw

2009-09-24T09:48:00.001+01:00

There is still time to enter this month’s free prize draw. This month we are giving one lucky person the chance to win a Bosch Filter Coffee maker. This coffee maker retails at the recommended retail price of £45. For full details of how to enter this month’s free prize draw you can visit the competition page on the Pots and Pans website. While there you can discover more about the specifications of the Bosch Coffee maker that is this month’s prize. Besides Bosch coffee makers we sell a variety of Bosch products on our website including kettles and toasters.

Every month on the Pots and Pans website we have a free prize draw with a different prize. The competition runs from the start of the month and runs until the end of the month. If you entry is sent after the closing date for the competition we just add it to the following month’s competition. At the start of October we will let you know details about the prize draw for that month including details of what prize we will be giving away.

Le Creuset 3-Ply Stainless Steel and new Magimix Nespresso coffee machines added to the website

2009-09-23T13:55:00.002+01:00

The latest additions to our online cookware shop include the new Le Creuset 3-Ply Stainless Steel cookware range as well as the new Magimix Nespresso coffee machines.

Le Creuset has always been one of the most popular and definitely one of our top selling brands. We expect to find that the new Le Creuset 3-Ply Stainless Steel range will be as popular as the existing ranges from this world renowned cookware manufacturer. Although they are best known for their cast iron cookware range the new 3-Ply range is made from a mixture of high grade stainless steel combined with a dash of aluminium. The pans have an aluminium core which ensures that heat is spread evenly across the pan which eliminates hotspots. The pans in the new Le Creuset 3-Ply range are suitable for use on gas and electric hobs as well as induction hobs. All the stainless steel products in this new range come with a life time guarantee, the non-stick coated products in the range have a 10 year guarantee.

We have also started to sell the new range of Magimix Nespresso coffee makers. All of the new coffee machines have been produced to use Nespresso Grands Crus capsules. There are currently 16 different flavours of coffee available in the Grands Cru range. We use one of these machines in our office so we can agree that they do as they claim make the perfect espresso every time.

These are not the last of the new ranges that we will be adding to the Pots and Pans website, we will continue to keep you informed when we add new ranges or expand our existing ranges.

Get a free Stainless Steel Rolling Pin when you spend £50 or over.

2009-09-23T10:09:00.002+01:00

We have updated the free gift that we are offering for customers who spend £50 or over on our online cookware shop. Now if you spend £50 or over you can get a free Premier Stainless Steel Rolling Pin, the rolling pin has a normal recommended retail price of £6.99. All you need to do to receive your free rolling pin is add it your order as long as your order comes to £50 or over.

On orders of £100 or more we are still giving away a free Maxwell & Williams Elemental Oil Pourer which is worth £11.99. To receive your free Oil Pourer all you need to do is add to your order as long as the value of your order is £100 or over.

These free gifts are only available while stock lasts. We update the orders on a regular basis. Note that there is only one free gift per order.

We are still offering free delivery on orders of £75 or more. The free delivery offer is for Great Britain, there is an equivalent discount for other areas.

A Real Celebrity Chef Endorsement for I O Shen Knives

2009-09-10T12:23:00.002+01:00

Jamie Oliver is the UK's number one celebrity chef. He endorses and helps design great cookware including Tefal's saucepans ranges, tools and gadgets and many many other great products.

We have however spotted that Jamie prefers to use IO Shen knives - not for royalties but because he thinks they are great!

In the latest C4 series, Jamie in America, he uses IO Shen knives. Look our for their distinctive handle designs through the rest of the series.

Please let us know of any further sightings - he uses IO Shen for a good reason. They offer great value and are exceptionally sharp.

New Oxo Good Grips and Miniamo products added to the website.

2009-09-09T11:16:00.003+01:00

This week we have expanded the range of Oxo Good Grips products that we stock as well as adding the Miniamo children’s collection to the range of cookware brands that we sell on our online cookware shop.

The Oxo Good Grips range is already one of our best selling ranges. Due to numerous requests from our customers we decided to expand the range of products that we currently stock from this range. We have added an extra 24 products to the products that we already stock on our online cookware shop. New products added to our store include a garlic peeler, a Silicone pastry brush as well as a Mini Squeegee.

Oxo Good Grips produce kitchen utensils that have been designed to make them as easy to use as is possible. Although the initial idea behind their creation was to provide tools that could be used with people with limited dexterity they have been produced so that they can be used by everyone. They are all designed so that they can be used by both right and left handed people. Oxo Good Grips products have won numerous awards including one from the Arthritis Foundation.

Miniamo is the latest range that we have added to our online cookware shop. The Miniamo children’s collection features a wide range of colourful products that have been designed to encourage children to have fun as well as learn when cooking, baking or even when eating. The products have all been designed with the specific goal of helping to fire the imagination of children with regards to food. As well being designed to be fun all the products within the range are also practical. As well as apron and chef’s hat sets the range also includes mixing bowls, whisks, mixing spoons and preparation boards. Everything that a child needs to start cooking or baking has been included in the Miniamo collection.

We will over the coming weeks continue to expand the selection of brands that we sell on the website. If there are any particular ranges that you would like to see added to our online cookware shop then let us know, we always welcome your feedback.

We are now selling simplehuman bins

2009-09-09T11:11:00.005+01:00

We have now started stocking simplehuman bins as well as various other products from this brand including carrier bag and kitchen roll holders on our online cookware shop. The simplehuman range of bins is designed to combine style with strength and durability. The philosophy behind their approach to design is to create “tools for efficient living”. Despite the stylish and contemporary look and feel of simplehuman products they have all been created to provide practical solutions to problems associated with everyday tasks. The simplehuman range includes a selection of bins which have been created so that they will fit into a small space which would otherwise be hard to utilise for any other purpose. This is also true of their carrier bag holders which have been designed so that they will fit into small spaces, which enables this space to be utilised for a practical purpose.

The simplehuman butterfly bin features an innovative lid design which has been based on a butterfly’s wings. Although this is visually unusual it is at the same time a practical solution that enables this type of bins to have maximum clearance under low counter tops.

Another example of their innovative design style being used to provide practical solutions to an everyday problem can be seen in the opening mechanism on the simplehuman soft touch bin. This bin is opened by touching gently on the front of the lid. This innovative opening mechanism makes it an alternative to the classical pedal bin.

We have also started selling the simplehuman sensor soap dispenser. This soap dispenser has been designed so that it will automatically sense your hand when it is placed below the sensor, when it detects the hand it will then dispense the soap. This means that you no longer have to touch the dispenser for it to work. This should help to minimise the possibility of people coming into contact with germs when washing their hands.

Spend £50 or over on an order and get a free gift.

2009-09-04T09:32:00.001+01:00

We are still offering customers who spend over £50 on the Pots and Pans online cookware shop a free Recycling Bag Set worth £7.00. Now though if you spend over £100 we are offering customers the opportunity to claim a free Maxwell & Williams Elemental Oil Pourer (pictured) worth £11.99 as their gift. To receive your free gift all you have to do is to add one to your order. The free gifts are only available while stocks last. There is only one free gift per order.

We are also offering free delivery when you spend over £75 on an order.

Win a Bosch Coffee Maker in our free prize draw this month

2009-09-03T09:41:00.002+01:00

In this months free prize draw on our website we are giving one person the chance to win a Bosch Filter Coffee Maker. This coffee maker usually has a recommended retail price of £45. This particular coffee maker is part of Bosch’s ‘Private Collection’, the kettles and toasters from this range can be viewed on the Bosch Electricals page of our website.

This coffee maker from Bosch has a number of quality features built in. It has a 1.25 Litre capacity, this equates to between 10 and 15 cups. It also comes with integrated Brita water filter technology built in.

Details for how to enter this month’s free prize draw can be found on the competition page of the Pots and Pans website.

The winners of last month’s prize draw for the Henckels Four Star 6 Piece Knife Block Set has been notified.

New Portmeirion ranges and expanded range of Salter Scales added to our cookware shop

2009-09-02T10:15:00.003+01:00

We are continuing to expand our online cookware shop, adding new ranges to our collection as well as expanding some of our existing ranges. The latest ranges that we have added are Crazy Daisy Tableware, Juicy Lucy Mugs and Coasters and Pimpernel Placemats. All three of these new ranges are produced by Portmeirion who are renowned in the housewares industry for their high quality and innovative designs.

The first of the new ranges, Crazy Daisy Tableware features distinctive designs which are full of colour. The designs are often described in reviews as being ‘fresh, fun and funky’. The products in this range have been designed to be not only fun but also practical. This Crazy Daisy mug features a modern pastel coloured floral design, perfect for brightening up the breakfast or dining table.

Juicy Lucy are best know for their stationary designs featuring their Juicy Lucy fairy character. They have now expanded this to include mugs and coasters which now also feature the Juicy Lucy fairy designs.

The third of ranges that we have added is Pimpernel Placemats, which is also produced by Portmeirion. The Pimpernel Placemats collection includes a wide variety of designs from which there should be something to suit every table. This collection is not limited to placemats, it also includes mug and coaster sets which feature their unique designs.

As well as adding new ranges to our website we have also expanded the range of Salter Scales that we stock. Salter are without a doubt the UK’s leading brand for domestic scales, they currently have a 40% market share. They produce both mechanical and digital scales.

Raymond Blanc by Anolon

2009-08-24T13:30:00.002+01:00

Anolon have re-launched their existing cookware ranges as the Raymond Blanc by Anolon collection. This is not a new relationship between Raymond Blanc and Anolon - previously he had endorsed the Anolon Professional range.

Anolon are widely regarded as being one the industry leaders in the design and development of cookware and kitchen knives. Their cookware products combine quality and style with the overall aim of enabling the home chef to achieve professional results.

Raymond Blanc OBE is one of the most respected and honoured chefs not only in the UK but across Europe. Among his sizeable collection of awards is European Chef of the Year. He has a reputation, as the Good Hotel Guide points out, for “perfection”. The regard with which he is held within the culinary world coupled, with his attention to detail, makes him the ideal partner in the development of new ranges of cookware. Although famous for the use of the finest ingredients in his cooking, he is also fully aware of the importance of the role that equipment plays in cooking. It is for this reason that he was happy to become involved in the redevelopment of the Anolon range and also to give his name to the new ranges produced as a result of this exciting collaboration.

The new Raymond Blanc by Anolon ranges has seen the development of products that encompass all aspects of the cooking process, from pots to non-stick bakeware and from precision knives to essential kitchen tools and gadgets. The new portfolio features three new ranges of pans, Anodized Clad, Professional and Stainless Steel. All of which have been expertly created to ensure that they produce a professional cooking performance. Both sides of the partnership, Raymond Blanc and Anolon have worked hard in striving to reach perfectionism with the new products. All of the pans in the three new Raymond Blanc by Anolon ranges come with a lifetime guarantee.

How do you like your eggs cooked?

2009-08-20T14:01:00.003+01:00

We thought we would do something different with this blog posting. We have decided to highlight some of the different 'egg' related products that we sell on our website.
Progressive 5-in-1 Egg Slicer This Egg Slicer will enable you to easily slice, pierce, dice, half or wedge your eggs.
Judge Vista 4 Hole Egg Poacher Ever had problems poaching your eggs? If you have then this could be ideal for you. This gadget will enable you to poach up to 4 eggs at the same time. It has a vented glass lid to enable you to monitor the progress of the eggs during cooking. It is also dishwasher safe.
Alessi Mr Chin Egg Cup Alessi products are famous for the innovative, stylish and often quirky design. This Mr Chin egg cup fits all these criteria. It was designed by Stefano Giovannion and Rumiko Takedo.
Egg Perfect Colour Changing Egg Timer This gadget has been created so that your boiled eggs will turn out how you want every time. It changes colour so that you can see when your eggs are ready. It will let you know when your eggs are soft, medium or hard boiled. It works by sensing the heat and not by measuring time. It can take into account the number of eggs that you are cooking, the amount of eggs and even the altitude at which the eggs are being cooked.
Eddingtons Set of 2 Poach Perfect Silicone Egg Poachers This egg poacher is both fun and practical as well as being easy to use. Its silicone construction makes it exceedingly flexible, this means that all you need to do is turn the mould inside out to remove the egg. It is heat resistant up to 250C as well as being dishwater, microwave and freezer safe. It can if you want also be used for cooking desserts. This gadget was the GOLD Winner in the Cookware and Bakeware category at the 2009 Industry Awards.
Eddingtons Large Egg Spatula This novelty fried egg design spatula is perfect for flipping eggs. Don't be fooled by its fun design, it is exceedingly practical, it's use is not limited to flipping eggs, if you wish you could also use it for turning omelettes and pancakes.
Born to Shop I Love Morning Time for Breakfast Set This breakfast set is the ideal way to brighten up your mornings. As well as the scatter tray and china mug it comes with a I Love Morning Time eggcup.
Master Class Stainless Steel Egg Slicer This egg slicer from Master Class has 8 stainless steel cutting wires designed for specifically slicing eggs perfectly time after time.
Alessi Coccodandy Egg Basket Another product that is easily identifiable as being an Alessi design. Like all Alessi products behind the innovative and stylised design is a product with a practical purpose. In the case of this gadget it is a basket that enables you to boil four eggs simultaneously.
Eddingtons Double Egg Poacher Double Egg Poachers. Hang on the rim or stand on the bottom of the pan. Non-stick peel. Designed to make it easy to poach two eggs simultaneously. It has been designed so that it will either hang on the rim of a pan or sit on the bottom of a pan.
Progressive Non-Stick Triple Egg Poacher This gadget has been designed to enable you to poach three eggs simultaneously, also guarantees that your poached eggs out with a consistent neat shape.
Kitchen Craft Stainless Steel Egg Rings Set These simple stainless steel rings have been designed to ensure that your fried eggs always turn out neatly with a consistent shape.

Do you have a favourite or do you have any experience of using any of the above products? Did any of the gadgets designed for poaching an egg enable you to make the 'perfect' poached egg. Let us know what you think of them.

New ranges from Dunoon, Creative Tops and Typhoon added to our website

2009-08-20T11:08:00.001+01:00

We continually add new stock to our online shop and we like to ensure that we stock the products that people actually want. This week has seen us add a series of new ranges from three major brands to our online store.

These include a new designs from Dunoon mugs. Dunoon ceramics are without doubt one of the market leaders in the manufacture of fine bone quality china mugs and teapots. They like to ensure that their products are contemporary, often their ranges are only available for between 6 and 12 months. They have launched a new range of Signs of the Zodiac mugs. The 12 mugs in this collection each feature an individual sign of the zodiac. As well as adding the Sign of the Zodiac range we have also added two new individual mugs by Dunoon. For patriotic people there is a choice of a new Born and Bred in England or Born and Bred in Scotland mug.

We have also expanded our collection of Creative Tops placemats that we sell. We have added the new V&A Brompton Rose, V&A Brocade Placemats and the V&A Victoria Placemats ranges to the website. The designs for the three new ranges of placemats mirror the designs of the V&A fine bone mugs that were produced earlier this year by Creative Tops which proved to be a phenomenal success.

Another new collection that we have added to the website is the GreenPan range from Typhoon. These pans gave been described as a ‘revolution in cookware’. They have been manufactured with a Thermolon non-stick coating, which results in 60% less CO2 being emitted during the manufacturing process. Another added extra bonus is the non-stick coating will not be destroyed if you overheat these pans, as the ceramic construction will withstand temperatures of 450C/850F.

We expect to be able to announce several other new exciting additions to our range shortly, as soon as we have that information we will add it here.

The new Jamie Oliver series

2009-08-18T13:35:00.003+01:00

Last night I saw the trailer for the new Jamie Oliver series, Jamie’s American Road Trip. The show features as the name suggests Jamie Oliver travelling and cooking in the US. The advert for the show has him dressed up as all six characters from the Village People. If you are too young or just not familiar with the Village People it would not be an understatement to say that they did not dress conservatively. I will leave it you to Google them if you are that interested in how they looked. It is good to see that Jamie Oliver can still laugh at himself.

I don’t know if the Americans will take to Jamie’s personality. Besides filming this show he has also spent a considerable amount of time over the ‘pond’ working on building the ‘Jamie Oliver’ brand.

In this country he is almost as well known for his campaign to improve school dinners, change unhealthy diets and cooking habits as he is as a chef. To some extent he was fortunate in that his ‘rise’ corresponded with people becoming more conscious about their food, the so called rise of the ‘foodie’. This was the time when chefs became media personalities, one newspaper even making the claim that “cooking was the new rock ‘n’ roll”.

It is interesting as a cookware retailer to see the effect a chef having a new television series can have on the particular chefs own cookware ranges. Although there have only been adverts for the new show so far we have already noticed an increase in activity on the Jamie Oliver Cookware pages of our website. This has helped raise the profiles the two ranges that he launched last month, the Jamie Oliver Knife Range and the Jamie Oliver Tools Range. There has definitely been an increased interest in Jamie Oliver branded cookware, as well as an increase in sales. This proves that Jamie Oliver still has the ability to inspire people to be more adventurous in their cooking, which has got be a good thing?

Spend £50 or over on an order and you can get a FREE Recycling Bag Set

2009-08-18T11:48:00.002+01:00

At the moment on the Pots and Pans website we have decided that if you spend over £50 you can get a free Premier Recycling Bag Set (worth £7.00). All you need to do is add it your order.

The bags are colour coded, this means it easier to identify what type of recycling the bag is being used for. The bags are exceedingly durable and come with handles making them easy to carry. They are strong enough to hold paper, plastics or glass. The bags are washable so that you re-use them.

If you spend over £100 you can choose instead to get a free Natural Origins 8 Bottle Wine Rack, worth £15.00. This rubberwood and chrome wine rack will store up to 8 bottles of wine.

Hollywood gives Le Creuset free advertising

2009-08-14T11:09:00.004+01:00

In the USA the success of the film Julie & Julia has seen a dramatic increase in the sales of Le Creuset cast iron cookware. Le Creuset features extensively in the cookery sequences of the film that is based on the book Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child, written in 1961. The film tells the story of two woman, these are the Julie and Julia of the title. Meryl Streep plays the role of Julia Child, the author of Mastering the Art of French Cooking while Amy Andrews plays Julie Powell who attempts to cook all the 524 recipes that are contained in the book.

In the film both women when cooking use Le Creuset pots exclusively. This product placement has lead to a major increase in the sales of Le Creuset products in the US. The success of the film has also given the sales of both the book and French cookery classes a major lift.

Many retailers are already re-branding Le Creuset as the Julie & Julia cookware. Advertising from Le Creuset features pictures of the woman using their products in the film. Competitions offer people the opportunity to win tickets for the film or merchandise associated with the film along with the Le Creuset products that feature in the film.

Le Creuset, as a brand has always been one of our best sellers and we expect that this free advertising will make it even more popular. The film is scheduled to be released in the UK on the 11th of September. The products that feature in the film are from the new Le Creuset Stainless Steel range as well as the cerise casserole dish.

An unusual use of pots and pans

2009-08-14T10:55:00.001+01:00

Everyday we receive emails from customers and friends with either questions or advice about pots and pans. Yesterday we received one from a customer who sent us instead an unusual news story concerning pots and pans. After reading it and checking up to ensure that it was true we decided that this one was worth sharing with you on the blog.

In Mezzema, a small village of 85 people in Liguria in the north west of Italy the local priest took the unilateral decision to stop ringing the church bells after he received a complaint from a tourist about the early morning bell ringing. This infuriated the residents. One of whom complained that the bells “keep the elderly company” as well as it being a century old tradition. The villagers received no joy from their initial discussions with the priest concerning the bell ringing. They decided that they needed to take more direct action if they were to receive any satisfaction. The plan they hatched was to walk round the village in groups banging pots and pans as loudly as possibly at the times that the bells were supposed to ring. After doing this on several occasions the priest finally relented and the bells have started to chime again.

This has got to be one of the most unusual uses of pots and pans that we have come across. We have never tested our pans to see which one would be the nosiest but a quick straw poll came to the consensus that it would probably be the one of the Stellar pans that would win this competition. If you disagree with us we would love to hear your suggestions.

Spend £40 or over and get a FREE gift...

2009-08-10T11:54:00.002+01:00

At present if you spend £40 or over on an order you can claim a free Le Creuset Cerise Silicone Spatula, which is worth £4.40. If you spend £75 or over you can claim a free Natural Origins 8 Bottle Wine Rack. This normally retails at £15.

Instructions for how to claim your free gift are on the website. This offer is available while stocks last. It is limited to one free gift per order.

Don't forget that there is free delivery on orders of £50 or over.
*Equivalent discount for areas outside of Great Britain.

Pots and Pans are finalists in two categories at the Excellence in Houseware Awards

2009-07-31T10:46:00.001+01:00

We found out this week that Pots and Pans are finalists in two categories at this years Excellence in Housewares Awards. The two categories are Excellence in Direct Retailing and Excellence in Retail Display – Independent. The second of the categories is for the window displays in the St Andrews shop. In case you have you have not had the opportunity to see the shop’s window displays we decided to add pictures of some of the recent displays to our FlickR pages so you can see why they are finalists in this category. Being nominated and subsequently discovering that they are finalists in this category is some recognition for the amount of effort and creativity that goes into creating each individual window display.

The Excellence in Houseware Awards are a joint collaboration between Progressive Housewares magazine and The Cookshop and Housewares Association. They were set up with the explicit goal of recognising ‘innovation, integrity and commitment on both the retailing and supply sides of the housewares industry’. They are the only dedicated awards for the housewares industry. In this industry they are viewed as being the equivalent of the Oscars.

This year the awards are being held on Wednesday the 7th of October at The Royal Lancaster Hotel London, in the words of the invitation they are a “Black tie / Posh frocks” occasion. The funds raised from the raffle on the night will be divided between two charities, Shelter and The Rainy Day Trust.

At the 2008 Excellence in Housewares Awards Pots and Pans won the Excellence in Online Retailing Award. It would be nice to add to that award this year, but we will have to wait and see how we do on the night.

New and expanded ranges

2009-07-29T11:10:00.002+01:00

It has been a busy time for us recently, we have been expanding several of the ranges that we sell as well as adding new ranges to our online cookware store. Two of the ranges that we have expanded are Jason Placemats and the range of Australian Women’s Weekly Recipe Books. Since they went on the website we have received numerous requests from customers to expand these ranges, and now we stock more designs of placemats and a greater selection of cookbooks.

Furi Pro Knives is one of the new ranges that we have started stocking. Although these knives were designed for professional chefs they can also be fully appreciated by home chefs. They have been constructed in one piece, this ensures that they are easy to clean. Their handles are a reverse-wedge shape with additional vertical ‘microgrooves’ which prevents the knife slipping forward in your hand even when wet or oily. We expect these knives to quickly become one of our best sellers.

Another new range that we have added to the Pots and Pans website is Eddington Tools. Their White Onion Goggles raised a great deal of interest when they first came into the warehouse. Another ‘unusual’ product from their range is the Banana Guard, which is exactly what it sounds like, a protective case for bananas to prevent them becoming bruised while being transported.

The third new range that we have added is the All-Clad Stainless Steel range. All-Clad cookware has been very popular in the USA since it was introduced in the early 1970s to both professional chefs and home cooks. The stainless steel range itself is All-Clad’s best selling range. One reason for this is the exemplary cooking performance from the three-ply construction - an aluminium centre core clad with stainless steel inside and out, which means that it distributes heat evenly.

Pre order from the new Jamie Oliver ranges

2009-07-16T15:15:00.008+01:00

This August will see the launch of a new range of Jamie Oliver kitchen tools and the Jamie Oliver Kitchen Knives range. These are the result of an exciting new collaboration between Jamie Oliver himself and Diethelm Keller Brands who already produce the excellent Jamie Oliver flavour shaker.

Due to the popularity of the other products in the Jamie Oliver ranges Pots and Pans have decided to enable people to pre-order products from the new collections. We are expecting to take delivery of stock at the beginning of August at which time we will fulfil all pre-orders.

Included in the new Jamie Oliver knife range will be a five piece knife block set which we expect will quickly become a best seller. Other highlights that we have already identified in the Jamie Oliver Tools Range include mixing bowls, measuring spoons, whisks, peelers and pepper mills.

All the new products have been developed in an exciting collaboration between Jamie Oliver and Diethelm Keller Brands. Jamie Oliver pointed out that “when we started the project I wanted to be involved at every stage to make sure that this kit would be stuff I was really proud of. I didn’t just want a range with my name on it.”

You can view the products from the new Jamie Oliver Knives range, or the Jamie Oliver Tools range on our website. We also stock the full range of the existing Jamie Oliver ranges which are still available to buy through the Pots and Pans website.

Win a Swift Supreme 5 Piece Pan Set in this month's competition

2009-07-16T09:33:00.004+01:00

In this month's competition we are giving away a 5 piece set of Swift Supreme pans. To enter it all you need to do is follow the link to visit the competition page on the Pots and Pans website and then leave your email address.

This Swift Supreme 5 piece set that we are giving away usually has a recommended retail price of £187. It is a 5 piece set consisting of three non-stick saucepans, these being 16, 18 and 20cm saucepans with lids, a 14cm non-stick milk pan and a 24cm non-stick frying pan.

Swift Supreme manufacture their pans using high quality 18/10 stainless steal together with an energy efficient encapsulated base. They are suitable for use with all hob types and come complete with a 25 year guarantee.

It could not be easier to enter the monthly competition, all you need to do is visit the competition page on the Pots and Pans website and enter your email address. We will not pass your email address or any other details to any third parties. There is a frequently asked questions if you would like any more information about the prize draw. This month the draw will close at midnight on the 1st of August. The winner will be notified by email, if we do not receive a timely response then we will draw another winner. Any late entries that we receive will be entered into the following month’s prize draw.

Nordicware - My new obsession…

2009-06-25T12:46:00.003+01:00

I have always been into baking since working at Pots and Pans, and over the years I have collected a range of different brands, shapes and sizes. I’ve tried lots of different materials from the classic metal and pottery to the newer innovations such as silicone, but nothing has quite rocked my world like Nordicware!

It was Christmas 08’ and I was thinking about creating personalised gifts for my friends and family. After all nothing says ‘I love you’ like home baking! After much debate, I decided to invest in a Nordicware Holiday Tree cake pan. If im honest, I thought it would be rubbish, and wasn’t convinced that it would look remotely like the pictures but the baker in me was keen to have a go!

That night I armed myself with the necessary equipment and set to work on my masterpiece. I knew it was important to grease the tin well with butter and also decided to lightly flour the interior of the pan. I was hoping and praying that this would help the mixture get into all the nooks and crannies and help it to come out more easily after cooking. So after whipping up a quick cake mix and pouring it in, I eagerly awaited the results. So much so I kept peeking through the oven door every five minutes, probably more excited than one should be! The timer pinged and I pushed the special Nordicware cake tester into the cake, which told me it was cooked through nicely. Time to see if this stuff was as good as everyone said.

I was stunned! Lain before me were two perfectly formed Christmas tree halves, each decorated with intricate details of candles and baubles. The cake was evenly baked, with a golden brown finish and a beautifully fluffy inside.

After icing and finishing off my 3D masterpiece, I decided it was perfect to give away as presents – easy to make, but definitely providing the wow-factor! Im told it was enjoyed by all.

Now i'm itching to expand my collection with other shapes as the pans can be used not only for cakes, but for sweets, jellies and ice cubes.

My only dilemma is whether it’s to be ‘Teacakes and Candies’ or a ‘Butterfly Bundt Cake’!

Vicki

The benefits of non-stick cookware (Or why I love Circulon)

2009-06-25T09:49:00.002+01:00

Non-stick, PTFE, Teflon. You either love the stuff, or hate it. I love it unashamedly, and firmly believe it makes me a better cook. Whether I am doing caramelised balsamic onions, or just good old porridge, nothing sticks to my trusty Circulon pans.

I didn’t always love non-stick though. As a student, my knowledge of it was limited to the horrible frypan lurking in the back of the cupboard, with its non-stick all scratched and peeling off. I just ignored it and used the equally nasty stainless steel pans. The thing is everyone has seen one of these awful frypans (usually purchased from a now defunct high street store) and it makes non-stick seem a bit unappealing.

Then I started working at Pots and Pans. Sales skill being no small part of the job, I started to believe the hype about Circulon products. A sauté pan came on special offer so I bought one, to see what all the fuss was about. It was the best thing I had ever used. Nothing stuck to it, not even a bit! Better than that it cleaned up brilliantly (even though I left it until the next morning). I was a convert from that moment on.

Many years later, and though the branding has changed (the range now includes Circulon Elite, Circulon Infinite and Circulon Steel) the quality remains the same. My cooking skills have improved somewhat though, and I now appreciate the subtleties of the range. The heavy gauge aluminium body means the heat conduction is excellent, which in turn means you can cook on a lower temperature, saving power. The superb non-stick means barely any oil is required when cooking, and you will not believe how easy they are to clean until you try it. And the sauté pan I bought so many years ago? The longevity of these pans is great, so it’s still going strong.

So if you have been a bit put off by the frightening looking non-stick pan lurking in the corner, chuck it in the bin and get yourself a Circulon one, I guarantee you will love it!

Nina

Win an electric drinks cooler in this month’s competition

2009-06-23T11:22:00.002+01:00

After the large volume of entries that we had for last months prize draw, the prize was a Le Creuset Casserole Dish so I guess we should not have been surprised by the enormous response we received, we have decided to have two winners this month. This month two lucky people have the chance to win a Halifax Portable Drinks Cooler, this normally retails for £44.95.

The Halifax Cooler is capable of chilling two 75cl bottles or up to 6 cans or bottles at a time. It can chill a bottle from room temperature to 10C in just 5 minutes and only 3 minutes to do the same to cans or bottles. It is fully portable, there is no need to have it connected to the electricity supply, this means you can enjoy using it while out in the garden.

When we were discussing what we would offer as a prize this month the drinks cooler quickly established itself as the obvious choice. What better way is there to enjoy the current heat wave that with some chilled drinks? With Wimbledon fortnight starting could it be any more seasonal? While on the subject of Wimbledon in the office we were discussing if this could be the year that Andy Murray will wins the men’s title. He is a ‘local lad’ for us, coming originally from Dunblane which is not far from the Pots and Pans offices.

For more details or to enter this month prize draw you should visit the competition page on our website.

The St Andrews shop window displays nominated for award.

2009-06-22T12:14:00.005+01:00

The colourful window displays of the Pots and Pans shop in St Andrews have been nominated for an award in this years Excellence in Housewares Awards. They have been nominated in the Excellence in Retail Display - Independent category.

Anybody who has seen the window displays in the St Andrews shop will realise that the staff there always put a great deal of time and effort into creating their window displays, always ensuring that they entertain the local shoppers.

Recent displays have included themes based on National Honey Week and National Vegetarian Week. You can see from the picture of the display for National Honey week just how much work goes into each of the window displays.

This display was a promotion for the for the Le Creuset cookware range.

It would appear that shoppers have as much fun with the window displays as the staff have creating them. The feedback that the staff receives concerning the window displays is always positive, some shoppers even suggest themes for future window displays. The displays definitely help brighten up Church Street.

Being nominated for The Excellence in Housewares Awards is excellent recognition for the work that goes into each display. These awards are the most prestigious awards in the housewares industry. This year the award ceremony is being held on October 7th at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. Good luck to the St Andrews shop staff that night, we will all be keeping our fingers crossed for them.

Gaggia Coffee Machines – Back in Stock !

2009-06-19T16:36:00.001+01:00

Gaggia have a long history of producing quality coffee machines for both home and commercial use. We have been retailing their machines for many years but unfortunately their parent company SAECO has recently become a casualty of the recession.

Gaggia UK has also been hit by a very weak pound and the combined effect has been to make Gaggia products unavailable in the UK.

The GOOD NEWS is that Phillips has announced that it will be acquiring the SAECO Group and as a result Gaggia has been saved!

Gaggia UK Supply

We have been unable to get Gaggia machines or coffee for several months due the difficulties faced by the UK distributor. Several popular models such as the Classic and Cubika are manufactured in Italy exclusively for the UK market and supplies had dried up as the companies future was in doubt.

Current Position

Gaggia have just restarting supplying the UK and as one of their long standing retailers we will be the first to receive the popular Gaggia Classic and Gaggia Cubika machines.

We will also be receiving stocks of their popular coffee over the next few weeks.

Thank you to all our Gaggia customers for your patience over the last few months.

If you have any further questions about Gaggia Coffee machines please contact admin@pots-and-pans.co.uk

Red Dot Award For Product Design

2009-06-19T09:44:00.006+01:00

These days cookware manufacturers have to constantly innovate to stay ahead of the competition. As more and more production moves to low cost countries such as China well designed products give UK suppliers the edge.

At Pots and Pans we make sure our buyers spot great new ideas and then we make them available to you as quickly as possible.

We are therefore proud to show you two British winners!

The Red Dot Awards

The international jury of design experts in the Red Dot scheme examines and tests products and assesses them according to criteria such as degree of innovation, functionality, ergonomics, longevity, ecological compatibility and clarity of function.

In total 3,231 products from 49 nations faced the experts judgement this year. The award-winning products are exhibited to an international public in the Red Dot design museum in Essen, Germany.

Signature knives and knife block set by Robert Welch Designs

Robert Welch Designs “set out to design the best knife in the world”

The Signature knife block and knives were designed by Paul de Bretton Gordon and Rupert Welch. They have been found to be in the world's top 3% of all knives tested for initial sharpness and edge retention and are elegant well balanced knives.

We sell a lot of knives but the quality, design and attention to detail on this range makes them our top recommendation for a quality, reasonably priced kitchen knife.

Joseph Joseph has won a prestigious Red Dot design for its space-saving Nest8 set.

Nest8 won for its innovation, functionality and quality.

This years award follows on from their 2008 Red Dot award for their folding colander.

Nest8 was designed with urban living space restrictions in mind, and creates what Joseph Joseph describe as the ultimate food preparation and storage solution in one.

The set includes colourful non-slip mixing bowls, colander, sieve and measuring cups, all of which nest together to take up minimal space.

Another great win by a young British company!

The Perfect Poached Egg

2009-06-08T14:22:00.003+01:00

I recently had a fabulous day at one of the UK’s best cook schools – one that isn’t a million miles away from my home in Callander, Scotland!

The day covered some of the basics. What equipment you will need, how to use it and most importantly some great tips and ideas to impress in the kitchen – cooking the Perfect Poached Egg.

The Egg

You need very fresh eggs that have the maximum albumen to support the yolk. Apparently as eggs age the albumen breaks down ,so the professional advice is to use Barn Eggs (humanely but intensively reared).Free range eggs won’t cut the mustard as their age will vary a little depending on the frequency of collection.

The Technique

Assemble your equipment – you will need a deep pan, espresso cup, slotted spoon and a pair of kitchen scissors!

Bring a pan of unsalted water – we used fabulous All-Clad – to the boil

Add plenty of vinegar (clear not malt) – this acts as a setting agent on the albumen

Break your egg into a small espresso cup ready to pour into the water.

Stir the water to a vortex and add the egg from the cup – remove the pan from the heat to ensure that the water doesn’t boil too vigorously and break up the albumen as it cooks.

As soon as the albumen is cooked enough to support the yolk (about 3 minutes) remove the egg with your slotted spoon and place in a jug of cold water

You can then trim the loose, wispy albumen from your egg to show off the perfect tear drop shape of YOUR perfectly poached egg.

Finally simply reheat your egg (roughly 2-3 minutes) in slightly salted boiling water when needed for your dish. Professional chefs will prepared their eggs several hours before, store in cold water and then reheat and serve when needed.

Practice

If at first you don’t succeed ….

On our day at the Cook School we were given three eggs. My result was one decent attempt and two eggs in the bin. I suggest a couple of dozen eggs and an hours dedicated practice. Its how the professional chefs learn their trade and you can not after all make an omelette without cracking a few eggs!

Good luck !

Guy

Welcome to the Pots and Pans Blog

2009-06-05T13:56:00.006+01:00

Pots and Pans are both the largest and the best value discount online cookshop in the UK. We currently sell over 4000 products on our online shop. Our extensive range of products includes a wide selection of cookware, kitchen knives, knife sets, coffee machines, espresso makers, toasters, kettles, tableware, cutlery, dining accessories, utensils, barware, electrical kitchen appliances as well as many other household accessories.

We stock a wide selection of brands, to many to mention individually but some of the brands that we stock include Jamie Oliver, Aga Cookware, Alessi, Tefal, Le Creuset, Denby, Gaggia, Global, Dualit, Magimix, James Martin, Nigella Lawson, Peugeot, Circulon, Jura, Stellar, Dunoon, Maxwell & Williams, Guzzini, Typhoon, Bialetti and Salter.

As well as providing fast delivery and friendly service we also offer massive savings on high street savings. The products that you find our website are offered directly to you with significant savings on the recommended price. If you do happen to find any of the products available for cheaper elsewhere then let us know and we will try to match that price.

This blog will give us a chance to let you know all about our latest special offers as well as letting you know about new ranges before they are added to our online shop. We may even add the odd recipe, if we have the chance and if we remember. Some of our customers have passed on handy tips and tricks to us, the best of these we will pass on using this blog. So if you check back on a regular basis there should be something of interest to you. If there is anything that you would like to see included on the blog let us know and we will try our best to include it if at all possible.