14 out of 14 people found this review helpful.
7 years and 5 kids, still going strong!
Date of Review: Sep 13, 2008
The Bottom Line: What's not to love- good looking, great abilities, easy to operate, and sturdy restaurant construction. Worth every penny.
I was just about skinned alive 7 years ago when I brought this home after spending a small fortune. After our third "garbage toaster" in 2 years I decided to bite the bullet and get what I was hoping would be our last toaster. Yes, it is sleek, in an Art Deco sort of way. Yes, it is heavy weight and heavy duty. Yes, you have to retrain your family on how to toast bread. BUT, "Oh my gawd!" the toast comes out still moist in the center! Crispy lovely toasty exterior and steamy moist in the center.... I've never had that before. This, *THIS*, is what toast is supposed to be!!
As you can see by the title, our house is Grand Central Station, with food being made or reheated, at all times of day or night. I appreciate appliances that can perform their functions without fail with a quiet, solid, presence on the countertop. Yes, there is no bell. Yes, there is no auto "pop-up" feature. Yes, again, you have to retrain yourselves on how to make toast. But if a 5 year old can learn it, it is fairly simple.
First step in realigning your toaster prowess- Choose how many slots you are going to use (to conserve energy). Truely a nice feature, but almost always in this zoo, we use all available slots every time.
Second more important, and more difficult, point- PREHEAT the unit. Remember, this is a restaurant unit. It was designed to be used with high frequency. And to have every piece come out exactly perfect, the unit must start from warm. Turn the timer knob to 2 and let 'er go while you throw the sausages in the pan or mix the pancake batter- when you hear the timer "click!", you're good to throw the 1st batch of bread in. And every batch of toast thereafter will be as good as the 1st, and each in about a minute's time!
Third- the "click!" is the only notice you'll be given that the toast is done. No bell. No pop. Just a loud "click!", which given that there are some midnight snackers in my midst, this feature has saved some hides given my light sleeping habits. Also a benefit, the "no pop" allows the bread to stay warm if you happen to be sidetracked by a "little-one" needing some milk, or the eggs sticking to the pan when you try and turn them. Hmmm! The toast is still warm!
Fourth- As a functional piece of art, you'll want it on the counter. My counter space is truely a premium, so only the most important items are given space, and it was "demanded" of me that this be given front and center placement- and because of that, the kids are more likely to make toast when they feel like a snack, rather than chips or cookies! It's within easy reach, and yum! cinnamon toast! and they feel all grown-up making it. *A covert kitchen organization ;)
So, in the final analysis- despite the high cost, it has done better than our wildest dreams. Who would have thought that this would turn our mad hoard of trampling feet from rushing for the expensive "fatty snacks" to simple, healthy toast! I have been forgiven the initial expense because it has already paid for itself in the number of lesser quality toaster we would have gone thru in the past 7 years. All I can say is "SCORE!"
