About Scott Bradley
I’m a professional chef with 24 years of kitchen experience, including roles as Kitchen Manager at Mellow Mushroom and line cook positions at Purple Café, Feierabend, Il Pizzaiolo, and Paragary’s. I’m also a graduate of Seattle Central College’s Culinary Arts program.
I created Chef Approved Tools because most kitchen equipment reviews come from bloggers who test products for 2-3 weeks in home kitchens. That’s not enough time to know if something truly works.
My reviews are different: Every product I recommend has survived months or years of actual use—either in professional restaurant kitchens or through intensive long-term testing at home.
The Three-Tier Review System
Not all reviews are equal. I clearly label each review based on my level of hands-on experience with the product:
Tier 1: Professional Kitchen Use (Highest Level)
What this means: I used this equipment extensively in professional restaurant kitchens during my 24-year career.
Real-world testing includes:
- Daily use during service (4-10 hours per shift)
- High-volume preparation (50-100+ covers per night)
- Commercial dishwasher exposure
- Months or years of professional kitchen abuse
Examples of Tier 1 reviews:
- Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef’s Knife (used 2+ years at Purple Café)
- OXO Bench Scraper (daily prep use at multiple restaurants)
- Professional thermometers that lived in my apron pocket for years
Why it matters: If equipment survives a professional kitchen, it’ll handle anything you throw at it at home. These are the reviews where my professional experience gives you the most value.
Tier 2: Long-Term Personal Use
What this means: I’ve personally owned and used this product regularly for 6+ months (but not in a professional kitchen setting).
Home testing includes:
- Regular use in my home kitchen (3-5 times per week minimum)
- Testing across multiple cooking techniques
- Long-term durability assessment
- Ease of maintenance and daily use
Examples of Tier 2 reviews:
- Kitchen equipment I purchased after leaving restaurant work
- Tools I use in my current home cooking routine
- Products I’ve tested extensively in home settings
Why it matters: Extended personal testing reveals real-world performance beyond the initial “new product” phase. I know how these tools age and whether they stay sharp, keep their coating, or start to fail.
Tier 3: Expert Evaluation
What this means: I haven’t personally owned this product long-term, but I’m reviewing it based on my professional expertise and knowledge of commercial kitchen standards.
Expert evaluation based on:
- Professional assessment of construction quality and materials
- Recognition of design features from equipment I’ve used in restaurants
- Brand reputation in commercial kitchen settings
- Comparison to similar tools I have extensive experience with
- Research and manufacturer specifications
Examples of Tier 3 reviews:
- New products I’m evaluating based on professional standards
- Equipment similar to commercial versions I’ve used
- Brands commonly found in restaurant supply stores
Why it matters: My 24 years of experience lets me evaluate quality and design even without years of personal testing. I can spot commercial-grade construction versus consumer marketing hype.
Why Trust Chef Approved Tools?
Real Restaurant Experience
I’ve worked in professional kitchens for 24 years, including:
- Kitchen Manager at Mellow Mushroom
- Line Cook at Purple Café, Feierabend, Il Pizzaiolo, and Paragary’s
- Culinary Education at Seattle Central College
Honest Reviews, Not Marketing
What you’ll find here:
- ✅ Real pros AND cons from actual use
- ✅ Specific stories from restaurant kitchens
- ✅ Clear tier ratings so you know my experience level
- ✅ Equipment that survives professional abuse
What you WON’T find:
- ❌ Products I’ve never used being called “best”
- ❌ Fake “testing” that’s just rewritten marketing copy
- ❌ Generic recommendations without professional context
- ❌ Equipment that looks good but fails under real use
Every Review Shows the Tier
Look for the tier badge at the top of every review:
- Tier 1 badge: Professional kitchen use (trust this the most)
- Tier 2 badge: Long-term personal use (reliable home testing)
- Tier 3 badge: Expert evaluation (professional assessment)
This transparency lets you decide which reviews carry the most weight for your needs.
Top Chef Approved Products
🔪 Chef Approved Knives
Tier 1 - Professional Kitchen Use:
- Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8” Chef’s Knife - My daily knife for 2+ years at Purple Café
- Victorinox Boning Knife - Broke down hundreds of chickens with this
Tier 2 - Long-Term Personal Use:
- Wüsthof Classic Ikon 8” Chef’s Knife - My home kitchen workhorse for 3+ years
🍳 Chef Approved Cookware
Tier 2 - Long-Term Personal Use:
- Le Creuset Dutch Oven - 5+ years of home use
- Lodge Cast Iron Skillets - Long-term testing
📏 Chef Approved Tools & Equipment
Tier 1 - Professional Kitchen Use:
- OXO Bench Scraper - Daily prep tool in multiple restaurants
Tier 2 - Long-Term Personal Use:
- Epicurean Cutting Boards - 3+ years of home use
What Makes a Product “Chef Approved”?
After 24 years in professional kitchens, here’s what I look for:
✅ Durability Under Stress
Will it survive daily restaurant use? Commercial dishwashers? Being dropped during a rush?
✅ Performance When It Matters
Does it work consistently during a 200-cover Saturday night? Does it stay sharp after prepping 50 pounds of vegetables?
✅ Value for Money
Professional kitchens have budgets. I know which expensive tools are worth it and which “budget” options perform just as well.
✅ Real-World Maintenance
How does it hold up after months of use? Is it easy to clean after service? Does it require special care that’s unrealistic for busy cooks?
✅ Honest Limitations
Every tool has drawbacks. I tell you what each product does well AND where it falls short, based on actual experience.
The Difference Between Chef Approved and Other Review Sites
| Chef Approved Tools | Typical Review Sites |
|---|---|
| 24 years professional kitchen experience | Bloggers with no professional background |
| Equipment tested for months/years | Products tested for 2-3 weeks |
| Real restaurant names and specific roles | Vague “testing” claims |
| Three-tier system shows exact experience level | All reviews treated as equal |
| Honest cons based on real failures | Marketing-friendly “pros and cons” |
| Equipment that survives professional use | Products that photograph well |
Start Here: My Most Trusted Reviews
If You Only Read Three Reviews, Make It These:
- Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8” Chef’s Knife(Tier 1)
- Used for 2+ years at Purple Café
- Survived 500+ services
- Best value in professional cutlery
- OXO Bench Scraper(Tier 1)
- Daily use in multiple restaurant kitchens
- Essential prep tool for under $10
- What every culinary school student should own
- Professional Kitchen Thermometer Guide(Tier 1)
- The ONE tool that kept me from serving undercooked chicken
- Restaurant health code compliant
- Worth 10x its price in food safety alone
Ready to Find the Right Tools?
Questions About “Chef Approved”?
How do you decide which tier a review gets?
It’s straightforward: Tier 1 means I used it professionally in restaurant kitchens. Tier 2 means I’ve owned and used it regularly for 6+ months at home. Tier 3 means I’m evaluating based on professional knowledge without extended personal testing.
Do you only recommend expensive “professional” equipment?
No. Some of my favorite Tier 1 recommendations are budget tools (like the Victorinox Fibrox Pro at $40) because they perform as well as knives costing 5x more. Professional kitchens have budgets too—I know where to save and where to splurge.
Can I trust Tier 3 reviews?
Yes, but understand what they are. Tier 3 reviews are professional assessments based on 24 years of experience, but I haven’t lived with the product long-term. I’m transparent about this so you can weigh how much to trust each recommendation.
Why aren’t all your reviews Tier 1?
Because I’m not currently working in professional kitchens (I left restaurant work to start this site). Tier 1 reviews are equipment I used during my 24-year career. Tier 2 reviews are products I’m testing now in my home kitchen. I’m building more Tier 2 reviews every month.
Do you accept free products for review?
I buy everything I review to maintain independence. If I receive a product for testing (which is rare), I clearly disclose it and it automatically becomes a Tier 3 review since it wasn’t purchased with my own money.
The Chef Approved Promise
Every review on this site comes from real experience—either from my 24 years in professional kitchens or from extensive personal testing. I clearly label which is which using my three-tier system.
I don’t recommend anything I haven’t used or wouldn’t use myself.
That’s what “Chef Approved” means.
Browse All Reviews →Last Updated: January 2025