Rigorously Tested,
Professionally Vetted,
Chef Approved
24 years cooking professionally at Mellow Mushroom, Purple Café, and more. Now sharing what actually works in your kitchen. Honest reviews. Zero pressure. Just results.

24 Years
Professional Kitchens
These Tools Create This Food
Real equipment, real cooking, real results. No stock photos, no staged shots—just what happens when you use the right tools.

Perfect Cast Iron Sear
Restaurant-quality crust at home. The right pan makes all the difference.
See the Lodge cast iron skillet →
The Perfect Smash Burger
Cast iron heat retention creates that crispy, caramelized edge every time.
See the Lodge cast iron skillet →
Knife-Friendly, Dishwasher-Safe
After 20 years with wood boards, I switched. This changed everything.
See the board →
Sunday Pot Roast Perfection
Dutch oven cooking: low, slow, and foolproof. This is comfort food done right.
See the Instant Pot →
Eggs That Don't Stick
The secret to restaurant breakfast? The right skillet, properly heated.
See the skillet →
Fall-Off-The-Bone Ribs
Perfect ribs every time. The right equipment makes all the difference.
See the pan →The 11 Tools I Use Most in My Home Kitchen
My daily workhorse tools from 24 years in professional kitchens
What You'll Get (FREE Guide):
- 5 Victorinox knives: Chef's (8" & 10"), paring, boning, and bread knife
- Essential prep tools: Peeler, bench scraper, tongs, and mandoline
- Restaurant towels: The exact bar mops I've used for decades
- Professional cutting board: Epicurean board built to last
- Why I chose each one: Real stories from 24 years of professional cooking
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Why Listen to Me?
Because I've actually worked the line—not just tested products for affiliate commissions.
24 Years in Professional Kitchens
From high-volume pizza operations to Purple Café (6 years), Il Pizzaiolo, Feierabend, and Paragary's. I know what holds up under restaurant abuse.
🎓 Formal Culinary Training
A.A.S. in Culinary Arts from Seattle Central College (2005-2007). Learned the foundations, then spent two decades refining them.
⚖️ Honest Reviews, Transparent System
I only recommend what I've actually used—often for years. Every product has pros AND cons. Perfect reviews are fake reviews.
My Three-Tier System: Every review uses my transparent three-tier system—from professional kitchen use (Tier 1) to long-term personal testing (Tier 2) to expert evaluation (Tier 3). You always know my level of hands-on experience.




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Professional equipment recommendations for home cooks
The Tools That Started It All
These are the essentials I packed for my first day at culinary school in 2005. Twenty years later, I still reach for them first.
See the Essential ToolkitTop Professional Picks
Equipment that survived restaurant abuse and earned a place in my home kitchen

Vitamix 5200 Professional Blender
Commercial power. Exceptional control. 5+ years daily use.
Read full review →
Lodge Cast Iron Skillet
Sear like a chef. Eat like a king. Lasts forever.
Read full review →
Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef's Knife
20 years. Daily use. Dishwasher friendly.
Read full review →Stop Guessing. Start Cooking Like a Chef.
Get my free guide to the 11 tools that handle 99% of home cooking—tested through 24 years of professional kitchen abuse.
Get The Free Guide