here's a story about my grill pan
This weekend, the purchase of a grill pan made me extremely giddy. Tired of my tiny foreman grill, with its small surface area, scuffed Teflon and cumbersome cleaning techniques (why did they not make they grill plates removable to begin with?) I sought a new alternative. Also, I realized the slope of the Foreman was unnecessary for my purposes -- I already start with low fat cuts of meat -- why would I want to lose the precious few grams of grease with which I originally start? Senseless.
So I went in search of a grill pan at a local mall, visiting two anchor department stores, of the mid-range variety, and one Williams-Sonoma. Grill pans generally hovered around the $50 or $100 price marks, for the most part. Apparently they often come free with full sets of cookware, making feel a little bit nutty for trying to find this item which was merely a bonus throw-in for most folks. This was just like the time I tried to find a foil cutter as a gift to replace my friend's well-love, much-used, but alas, broken, one. It is not easy to find a foil cutter unpaired with a bottle opener.
Of all places, W-S had one cast iron one for 22$... Joy! I've never owned cast iron before, and it's a little weird, this seasoning and no-soap cleaning business. But it works lovely.
The grill pan can not simultaneously grill both sides of your food like the foreman and foreman-spin-offs can. However, I found, of all things, a cast-iron Anolon panini press for only $7! Heat, squish, and presto! Lines on the top and bottom of your chicken, sandwich, etc. all at once.
Which is what it's all about really. Making lines on your food. Because that's what really helps it taste better in the end. Even Boca Burgers, the non-burger, the natura-burger! - now have grill lines painted on one side. A disturbing observation made when cooking one in a flat bottom pan and wondering where in hell the stripes came from.
So I went in search of a grill pan at a local mall, visiting two anchor department stores, of the mid-range variety, and one Williams-Sonoma. Grill pans generally hovered around the $50 or $100 price marks, for the most part. Apparently they often come free with full sets of cookware, making feel a little bit nutty for trying to find this item which was merely a bonus throw-in for most folks. This was just like the time I tried to find a foil cutter as a gift to replace my friend's well-love, much-used, but alas, broken, one. It is not easy to find a foil cutter unpaired with a bottle opener.
Of all places, W-S had one cast iron one for 22$... Joy! I've never owned cast iron before, and it's a little weird, this seasoning and no-soap cleaning business. But it works lovely.
The grill pan can not simultaneously grill both sides of your food like the foreman and foreman-spin-offs can. However, I found, of all things, a cast-iron Anolon panini press for only $7! Heat, squish, and presto! Lines on the top and bottom of your chicken, sandwich, etc. all at once.
Which is what it's all about really. Making lines on your food. Because that's what really helps it taste better in the end. Even Boca Burgers, the non-burger, the natura-burger! - now have grill lines painted on one side. A disturbing observation made when cooking one in a flat bottom pan and wondering where in hell the stripes came from.
posted by Nicole at Wednesday, October 26, 2005
3 Comments:
We have a broken foil cutter we would like to replace. Having same problem--they always come as a set. URGH!
Congrats on the grill pan and press.
I finally found one a dept. store here (Dillard's) -- the two bladed-wishbone kind... she had the nice rolly-wheel one, which worked well until one of the wheels went off track. The bladed one is probably hardier.
I'm just so glad you can relate. Yay.
I know not of what you speak!
"Flat bottom pan?" "Cast iron?" "Dillards!?"
All things culinary are strange and terrifying to one such as I.
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