Today on the Brownstoner Backpages

I totally hear you, Denton–well said. We cook a lot, always from scratch, and regularly manage to use six burners, especially for a dinner party.

We may have a stove that takes more energy than most, but we also don’t buy crap processed food or CAFO beef that’s bad for humans and bad for the environment.

DIBS, did it bring back memories of the Broad Street Bullies circa 1976? I loved that team and hearing Kate belt out GBA before the games.

God Bless you denton. And God Bless America. I actually heard Kate Smith singing “God Bless America” when I was reading that and I’m not being facetious this time.

Let the hating begin!

It’s ironic to see the snarky comments directed at almost every HODT and COTD when they have ‘home depot kitchens’. Yet when I buy a Wolf stove, it’s a symbol of ‘spiritual emptiness!’

As far as environmental issues go, there are a lot of comments to be made ether way. Personally, I think one way to be environmentally conscious is to buy products that last. High quality products outlast lesser products, and that keeps things out of the landfills. I’ve made that a philosophy of mine. Whether it’s cameras (at least until they became like computers), tools, firearms, automobiles, or cooking equipment, buying the best and keeping them as long as possible is a legitimate way to live.

As an example, I still have the same Le Creuset pots that I bought when I was sixteen and just getting interested in cooking. I still have some of the same Sabatier knives that are no longer in fashion because they are not stainless.

I intend to keep this stove for the rest of my life, which I wouldn’t be able to with a Lowe’s special.

BG, a couple of things. I do have a Kuhn-Rikon pressure cooker, but it’s not how I cook. I occasionally use it for beans when I forgot to soak them. But I’m old school in the kitchen; I use mostly cast iron or enameled CI.

The other thing (also BH, and no I don’t take it personally)is that you are confusing these consumer stoves that look industrial with real industrial stoves. These are insulated and no more in danger of causing a fire than any Whirlpool. Years ago problems arose when people started buying Garland industrial stoves and put them in their apts. Has anyone heard of a brownstone fire caused by a Wolf stove? I haven’t.

BG, it also happens that my wife loves to bake. So the dual ovens make it simple and possible. No I will never do dinner for 75. I won’t drive at 150mph either. But I’m glad I can. There are no pilots on this stove or any other these days.

Another point; this is a beautiful piece of equipment, crafted by American workers in America, unlike many appliances these days that come from Mexico. Those who support manufacturing in Red Hook, for example, should appreciate that.

And be careful when criticizing ‘consumerism’. A 2% drop in store sales is considered a catastrophe these days. 70% of the economy is consumer-related. I’m glad my purchase of this stove (and range hood) has kept workers working in a time when many are not.

Finally, when renovating an old house and bringing it into the modern era, which is also environmentally sound, I hope you’ll agree, we all make choices. As mentioned above, some like spa baths and multi-headed showers. We don’t. This was a choice we made. It’s something we’ve desired most of our lives, and we are now fortunate enough to have it. Not so much for eye candy, but for the ability to work with an incredible tool (actually the best part of this will be that for the first time in our lives we’ll be able to cook with a vent to the outside!)