Professional Chef Rated EXCELLENT
921717
As with any kitchen appliance... you must know how to properly operate it to give a fair evaluation.  I couldn't undertand how people reported having "chunks" that could not blend.  Sad to say...I now realize that most of the poor reviews were from people who don't know how to properly make a smoothie...

I purchased this blender for a 4th of July outdoor event where I sold smoothies to the public.... I sold 230 ea. (20 oz.) during the day.  This machine worked perfectly... blended smooth, powerful, 80 oz. capacity pitcher is a huge bonus for parties but can also blend single 20 oz portions without a problem.

BIGGEST ADVANTAGE.....
NO AIR GAP !!!  Most blenders create an "air bubble" when blending...Some Smoothie machines have a "Wand" that helps you stir while blending, to keep from the Air Gap from happening.... The Twin Blade system creates a smooth distribution of liquid and keeps the mixture moving.... This is a definite advantage over a single blade smoothie...

I love this machine... Was actually very inexpensive compared to a commercial blender I was considering for my event.  On July 5th... I purchased one for my home !!!

As a professional chef, I would highly recommend this blender...
Chef John
3276521
This cookbook is a real gem. Whether you are an accomplished cook or a true beginner, this cookbook provides recipes organized into meals that are elegant and yet healthy, sophisticated and yet easy for any cook to master. The subtelty and sophistication of French cooking with the accent on fresh, quality ingredients and healthy techniques. C'est magnifique!
899224
Given the top rating by a very good source and at a very good price, we purchased one of these 8-inch chef's knives.  It is as good in the hand and razor sharp as the review suggested.  Put our old Henckel's away, and this is now our go-to chef knife.
1411970
AWESOME! I LOVE IT! It looks so professional, as a chef myself, it looks great.
1635194
I have had an interesting time testing this new and highly efficient meat tenderizer over the past couple of weeks as my five star chef extended family member confiscated it for his use. Needless to say it must be good for him to even consider using it!  I'm reaping the benefits of his wonderful cooking as a result with his ability to turn using this tool hamburgers into steak burgers with a tender rich meaty texture. Also the free website recipes are awesome as well. Great product and a very responsive company. Highly recommended. Please note for my review I did purchase this Device at a reduced price but would not hesitate to purchase another one as it looks like I may have to anyway with my device being absconded with by a local famous chef here in Idaho!!!!
2189058
I am a culinary arts professional who works at not one, but two restaurants.  The first one being a spiffy fine-dining establishment and the other is a popular corporate chain.  I use this knife at BOTH locations because it's unique properties allow me to make cuts I wouldn't ordinarily be able to make with industry standard or boutique knife blades.  This knife has a thin blade and is very light.  It is also made of very hard steel.  Ordinary chef knives that are rented from sharpening houses that are actually similar in cost to this knife while heavier and made of thicker steel will dull in a matter of days.  I can use one of these Rada knives for a few weeks(under HEAVY professional use) before I have to send it out to be sharpened.  I really enjoy using it for jobs that don't require a heavy knife in which precision and speed matter most.

At the fine dining restaurant, these are the favored knives of choice for almost everything.  We have no rental knives and essentially a collection of each other's knife kits there and this knife is reached for way more than anything else we use.  At the corporate restaurant, we are supposed to be using only the standard-issue knives that everybody else in the company is using.  It is against rules and procedures to use other knives, however; time and time again management has made an exception for us to use these knives because they simply allow our crews to have a leg up and get certain long prep jobs done faster, easier and with much better results than if we had used the company equipment.

So basically this knife is a superb addition to any kitchen.  I keep one at home and at the homes of other people if I think I might cook at their house someday.  I need something that is not obnoxiously large that can handle any household cutting task and do a fantastic job.  Heavier knives have their purpose, but this thin blade really is a winner for doing many, many things.  It is rather laughable that people pay $$$ for chef knives for any reason.  I'll tell you that most working chefs use cheap rented Chinese knives and those fancy German ones they get when they graduate from chef school just collect in a drawer somewhere never to be used.  It's a still a good idea to buy quality if you can.  This is a quality tool, but surprisingly affordable.

I will note that the handle allows for a firm grasp.  This likely attributes to some of it's precision because it feels like an extension of your hand.  It's not a regular rounded handle that most people are used to though. This doesn't require a new learning curve.  It's just different.  And in the hands of someone who knows what they are doing with this bad boy, it is quite the extraordinary tool.  In the hands of a novice, it might just be the best knife you have. Best of all, if using this knife at home and taking care of it properly(honing it, not washing it in the dishwasher, only cutting food), you may never need to have it sharpened more than every few years if that.
2982982
I bought this as a gift for a chef in my family. She Loves it and uses it every meal. For the price, it's a fantastic deal. If it's good enough for my chef, it's definitely good enough for yours. Buy this, you'll be glad you did.:)
2519207
I was fortunate enough to be served delicious food by this up and coming cook! I found his food to be nourishing and tasty without the use of too many herbs and spices. He has a talent for making vegan food taste like your favorite home cooked meal. I highly recommend these cookbooks and look forward to more from Steven Cook.
900663
I gave this as a gift to a friend who is interested in working as a chef someday-- it was much appreciated.  It arrived in excellent condition.
212979
After using this book privately, I showed it to a professional chef - he was very excited as he "experiments" with soups at his restaurant.  I subsequently ordered one for him as a gift.
2238139
This book is totally worth adding to your collection if you are a foodie or for giving to the dedicated home chef / serious cook. Great recipes and flavours. Not a book for your average Rachel Ray home cook, unless they are adventurous with their food and flavors, if they are, then they'll be very happy.

If you are reading this review then you probably already know who Pierre Gagnaire is. You may even have his other books, which are very pretty, coffee table book like and the recipes need DEDICATION and PATIENCE to produce. Those recipes are really for inspiration in the most.

What this book does is what the title says - bring you a world class chefs tastes and flavours into a more accesible format. The recipes are simple, many of them less than ten ingredients. Some prep maybe necessary for some of his basic sauces buy it's all very approachable and doable in the home kitchen. One or two are nicely challenging and complex.

MOST IMPORTANT: The recipes are awesome. Familiar and French, yet refreshing. Unexpected and incredibly inventive.

A selection:

Crab,Green Mango, Pineapple and Green Pepper Salad
Smoked Fish Platter with Currants, Grated Cheese and Fennel and Molasses
Caramel Spread with Passion Fruit
Liegoise Waffles ( He even differentiates and provides recipes for regional variants)
Salad of Fresh Button Mushrooms with Shiso Leaves and Salmon Caviar
Beef and Sardine Gonzo
Fresh Goat Cheese Crepes with Honey and Almonds
Chilled Verbena Infusion
Orange and Cardamom Coffee
Grapefruit Zest with Yogurt and Lavender Honey
Zucchini Pesto
Cherry Tomatoes With Pastis
Fresh Raspberries with Parmesan

Note: Photography is lush but rarely of the dish at hand. Mostly of ingredients, process and the like. I kind of liked it.

I rarely leave reviews but this one so deserves a good one. It's a great tome and refreshing to one's cooking to read. You also get a great education with each recipe - the chef has educational and instructive notes for the chef about recognizing good produce, techniques and more.

September 7, 2013 - The reviews below don't do this book justice, take a look at reviews in Europe...

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Pierre-Gagnaire-Home-Recipes-Twist/dp/2080201123/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Pierre Gagnaire Home Recipes Twist</a>
2176388
This is being sent to my daughter who is a professional chef, and she enjoys out and has tried recipes.
2642012
This was rated as the "best buy" and highly recommended in Cook;s illustrated,. (Magazine for America's Test Kitchen). I can always can count on Cook's Illustrated recommendations. I have used this for several months on all my Chef, knifes as well as my  paring and chopping knifes. It works so well and is easy to use. I used to pay $5.00 per knife every few months to sharpen my knifes. Now I always have very sharp knifes. Not to mention this has done a better job sharpening than when I had them sharpened at a professional chef store.
3967158
I got this after my son highly recommended to me, and I am not disappointed. It makes me look like a professional chef, even with all my amateur cooking skills. I like the blue-tooth connection, but if it could be hooked up to WiFi it would be even better.
2491449
I bought this as a pro in the business. I have worked in 5*hotel kitchens before starting my own khife sharpening business. From a sharpening side it is important for all cooks both professional and amateur to read these books as the guide on how to maintain your knives as well as the edges. Also the description of knives and their use is important for purchasing more and different knives for your collection. I own 25 good quality cooking knives.

The cutting techniques are also inportant as there are many cooks who work in kitchens who have no idea on how to cut or even what knife is meant for what pupose. The recipes were also interesting and I have already tried a few. My personal problem is I keep repeating the same recipes over and over. The this book has helped me in opening my horizens and enlarging my repitoire of good recipes. All my "experimenting" is done im my own kitchen. I still run a catering service as one of my hobbies, and my clients love my "new" and inovative recipes. I only cater small functions of up to about 80 heads.

The guests love the presentation of salads and vegetables in different shapes and sizes. The eye is 50% of what we eat and when food is presented well it becomes more appertising. A good and sharp knife will help to achieve this.

I have made a wonderful investment by having these books in my library.

Robby Abrams
Robby's Sharp Edge Service.
Jerusalem
1762513
These are Fantastic recipes that are rated from easy for children or the beginners  to the experienced dutch oven chef. Award winning
4401975
The Triumphant Chef has been GREAT!!! He pays careful attention to the entire process.. The Silicone Oven Mits are actually a Christmas present so I don't know yet how well they work, but given their appearance, I'd say they will be just great. The basting brush wasn't with the gloves but not needed anyway. The brush was not a determining factor in my order. I plan to check out the Chef's website for other items in the future.