Stove

Cooked food has been a part of our civilization for thousands of years. Throughout the Mediterranean, Africa and the Roman Empire, wood fires in a stone enclosure have been used to broil meat and bake bread. This was the basic premise for the oven, as it provided a different heat source for cooking compared to the open air fire used to heat water and make soup. While there have been some fantastic advancements over the centuries, this basic concept for the original oven has remained. The First Official Oven While open fires have been used for thousands of years to not only keep warm, but cook food, this cooking method was a challenge. Imagine trying to prepare one of your simple weekday meals over an open flame or in a metal cauldron. This changed with the development of the oven. The first official oven in recorded history was built in 1490. It was in France and made using brick and tile. Although there may have been other ovens before this date, the French oven is the first one recorded. The European Influence When the first European settlers arrived in modern day America, traditional stone stoves were slightly upgraded. Colonial homemakers began cooking on ventilated brick ovens to feed their families. Of course, these types of ovens still lacked the modern conveniences we take for granted today, like control knobs and thermostats. The oven user of the time needed to add or remove wood manually to stoke or cool the fire

Independence Day ThoughtsCooking, Washing, and Cooling Appliances in 1776When we think of our Founding Fathers, our thoughts go to the grand portraits of Washington and Jefferson and their mansions in Virginia. Of course, life for most people in the 18th century was as the philosopher Hobbes described, "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short".CookingCooking was still mostly done over a fire, but in the second half of the 18th century Ben Franklin invented a cast iron stove. An improved version of his invention that vented upwards became popular for decades. Nevertheless, cooking was very rudimentary when compared with the appliances we have today.Cleaning Consider the poor housewife or servant. Washing in the last half of the 1700s, was a planned event, even a community event, which took place sporadically near a stream or river where water in large vats was heated to boil the clothes. Lye and ash were the chemicals of choice, soaps didn't come along until the 1800's, along with wash tubs and washboards.CoolingRefrigerators didn't exist. There weren't even ice boxes. So food preservation consisted of various dried foods, as well as cured meats and fish. A common breakfast and supper might be little more than bread and milk. For diinner (a mid-afternoon meal), fresh chicken, pork, and some beef were staples and wild game and fish were also plentiful in the New World. Corn was common at most meals, potatoes less frequently, as well as seasonal vegetables.Well, "We've come a long way baby." It's interesting to think that

Appliance and Plumbing Fixtures in Live Showrooms Selection Makes a Difference at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center During a recent celebrity cooking event at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center (UAKC), comments from guests and others made it abundently clear that having a spacious showroom with great selection and live kitchens made ALL the difference. As UAKC President and CEO, Igor Royz said, "We have live kitchens in our showrooms. You can come to the showrooms. You can test drive the appliances that we sell." "To walk into an appliance store that actually has equipment that we would use in our Professional Kitchen is pretty cool...This is by far the best demo kitchen we've ever worked in." Michael Voltaggio, Celebrity Chef owner of Ink Restaurant, and Top Chef Winner. "The best kind of equipment you want - refrigerators, stoves, bathroom fixtures, kitchen plumbing fixtures. They've got it all right here under one roof, and top stuff - quality and selection." Ed Begley, Jr., Actor Speaking of the live Jenn-Air wall oven with a built-in culinary center, Celebrity Chef Michael Voltaggio said, "I came across that oven and it was like I'd just seen a Ferrari or something, I was all "WOW, look at this oven!" Designer Sarah Akbary, of Akbary Interiors... says "There's such beautiful selection to choose from that you never need to open up a catalogue and say, "This is the one I'm talking about". It's right here - installed for you to see." Akbary, added, "I think what's

Get this info before you go shopping Best selection and availability at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center Here are a few things you need to know before you walk into an appliance store looking for a new stove (range). Range Size (width) Fuel type Configuration Range Size 20" 24" 30" 36" 48" 60"30" wide ranges are the most common size for homes, but appliance manufacturers also make apartment-sized ranges in 20" and 24" widths. The 20" versions are getting hard to find, Danby is probably the leading brand. In 24" ranges there is a much wider selection starting with GE and Hotpoint all the way up to premium brands such as Bertazzoni and BlueStar. Look for the common 30" widths in all the major brands. 36" ranges are also widely available, some with burners on each side and a griddle in the middle. Professional style ranges are available not only in 30" and 36" widths, but also in 48" and 60" widths. These "Pro" ranges are limited mostly to the premium and luxury brands such as Monogram, Jenn-Air, Thermador, Wolf, and Viking. Fuel type Gas, Electric, Dual Fuel sub-type - InductionMost ranges run on either Electric (240v.) or Gas, but some versions are also available as Dual Fuel which means that they have an electric oven, but gas burners on top. Some people prefer this configuration because they like the responsiveness of

Customers Write (7) Everybody Loves Maida, AND the great delivery team at UAKC. Richard L. Los Angeles, CA This is a note I sent to Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center after my stove and hood were delivered today.I had the greatest experience and the salesperson (Maida) who helped me was fantastic.My stove, etc. was delivered and the stove set up. Your guys did a FABULOUS job, even taking some of the top apart in order to clean the blue film and cardboard out of areas that still had it. They also gave me a brief lesson on how to use it.Thanks so much to you and your delivery staff for the wonderful service. Your attention to somebody like me who wasn't doing an entire kitchen with high-end appliances made me feel like I was. When the day comes that I can, you'll definitely have repeat business from me. Experience the best in selection, service, and satisfaction - not to mention the GREAT PRICES you'll get when you shop at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center (UAKC). Richard L. was overjoyed that he was treated with so much attention even though he only bought a stove and hood. He says that UAKC will definitely get his repeat business. Call or visit today, Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center is your headquarters for new appliances and plumbing fixtures. Two locations to serve you - Calabasas and Studio City: Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center facebook twitter *Highlighting added  

The AGA Total Control Range Cooker is a newly designed version of the classic icon of British cooking. Three radiant-heat cast iron ovens and two hotplates give you 10 delicious ways to cook in one range. Just imagine the ability to bake, roast, boil, simmer, and warm…all at the same time! It's the perfect range for today's increasingly popular slow-cooked recipes. The ovens are controlled and programmed with a state-of-the-art touch screen panel and remote handset, for flexibility you won’t find on any other cooking appliance.It's a unique combination of modern technology and centuries old cooking methods. Best of all, the AGA Total Control makes cooking simple and the results are amazing.  To get more information on this beautiful new version of an English classic call or visit the professionals at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center today:12025 Ventura Blvd. Ste B-105Studio City, CA 91604PH 877 696-2987facebook twitter  Posted with Blogsy

I recently heard a pundit comment that most major appliance purchases these days are "duress" purchases. That means that the old clunker quit working and you need to go get a new one NOW. Of course, the old one only quits when you're trying to scrape together the cash for junior's tuition, you just found out you owe the IRS thousands in taxes, and your insurance company rejected the claim for your facelift. I hate it when that happens! So here are three ways you can avoid appliance duress, and live the life that you've always wanted. 1. Don't wait! Shoot your tired old refrigerator now and put it out its misery. Seriously, waiting for disaster to strike when you're least able to handle it makes no sense. 2. Calculate how much you'll save (versus how much you'll spend) by acting now. You know that if your old washing machine is more than just a few years old it's gobbling up gas and/or electricity to heat the water and make all that noise. Don't forget to consider the money you're spending on clothes that are wearing out too soon because that rattle trap you call a washing machine is beating the heck out of your delicates. The point is that these savings are real and will help pay for your new appliance. 3. Set up a Christmas Club for your new purchase. It's a monthly deposit into a separate savings account to build a nest egg for your dream kitchen.