177657 Thu May 04 15:11:01 -0700 2006 9 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 956095 I am not a professional but want the best equipment. Thu May 04 15:11:01 -0700 2006 0 student 1 956100 There's a used professional cooking equipment store off New York Avenue NW, just before you get to Bladensburg Road. Mostly big-ticket items from folded restaurants (deep fryers, waffle irons, large mixers). I believe there's a new equipment store off Eisenhower Avenue near the Van Dorn STreet Metro. Thu May 04 15:38:15 -0700 2006 956095 0 wg 2 956110 Restaurant Depot (Eisenhower Ave near Van Dorn) has some restaurant grade pots, tools, and equipment, but it's mostly a feed store (restaurant quantities). Kind of a neat place, but I've been in the kind of place that Student is looking for and they have much more stock and variety than Restaurant Depot. You need a membership card to buy at Restaurant Depot. It's free, but you need to show them a business license. There used to be a restaurant supply place place in Old Town Alexandria, but I don't think they're there any more. There used to be a place out near Merrifield, but it's not there any more. And there used to be a place on Four Mile Run Drive near Shirling that isn't there any more either. I've never been to the place at the City Market (Best Equipment 202-544-2525) but it did catch my eye in the Post article. Thu May 04 18:29:42 -0700 2006 956100 0 Mike 3 956166 There is still a culinary supply shop in Old Town. It's called La Cuisine and is located on Cameron Street...a must stop for all manner of high end stuff. Commercial weight copper pots galore, as well as a lot of pastry and baking gear. Fri May 05 14:46:54 -0700 2006 956110 0 Geezer Gourmet 4 956169 They do have some nice stuff there, and the people at the store seem to know what to do with it. But that's what's categorized as a "yuppie" cooking supply store. They sell the sort of things that a chef might have in his home kitchen if he enjoys his craft, but not what he'd use in his restaurant, with the exception perhaps of some useful little gizmos. It isn't a real restaurnat supply store until they sell mixers that you can sit in. Fri May 05 15:04:34 -0700 2006 956166 0 Mike 1 956109 The wash. post had an article in this Wednesday food section on FL. Ave. Market. In it, it list a restaurant supply store which is located in the FL. Ave. market. I hadn't been at the market in over 15 years but the article definitely peaked my interest. The area around it used to be a bit on the rough side. I guess it has been changing. Thu May 04 18:18:02 -0700 2006 956095 0 Soup 2 956112 I shop fairly regularly (once every month or two) at both Restaurant Depot and Best Equipment. In fact, I was at Best today. RD is as the earlier poster describes. You need to establish your bona fides before you can shop there, but basically a tax id # and a story is enough. They then send you your card in the mail and then you can shop there. They are mostly oriented to food supplies but have a decent selection of restaurant equipment, but mostly smallwares--they are not really strong on pots and pans if that's what you had in mind. Best is all equipment, no food, but is somewhat downscale. If you're looking for gleaming pots and pans such as on display in kitchens such as Laboratorio de Galileo, this is not your place. Also they are Asian owned and are somewhat heavy on woks etc. Understand that most real professional (ie commercial) equipment is not fancy heavy stuff, but is light and comparatively cheap. That's what is used in 95% or actual kitchens I suppose. Today I bought a 12" professional bread knife for $7. The only defining characteristic that makes anything "professional" that I know of is the NSF label. If its the "best" you are looking for, your best bet is probably mail order such as Bridge Co. and Prince, etc. Thu May 04 20:05:51 -0700 2006 956109 0 johnb 3 956119 "Understand that most real professional (ie commercial) equipment is not fancy heavy stuff, but is light and comparatively cheap. " I'm not sure I'd make that sweeping a statement - compare pro cookware to the foil-thin pots and pand you find at the grocery store (guaranteed to scorch rather than cook), or the "pretty" junk you find at Bed Bath & More (guaranteed not to work well at all) and you find hard-duty, heavy, plain cookware that lasts forever. The pro's don't use the "yuppie" Calphalon (etc) either. I get most everything at Restaurant Depot or (slightly cheaper, broader range of stock) at Superior Products 5701 General Washington Drive Alexandria (just off 395). Superior will sell to anyone and the staff is nice, Restaurant Depot (Eisenhower Avenue) just requires a tax resale ID (really not even much of a story - there are a jillion lunchwagons and home-kitchen caterers) and only accepts cash, charge or BUSINESS checks, and they will answer questions but don't really want customers who need their hands held. BTW, check out the "sale rack" along the freezer aisle at Restaurant Depot, get someone IN THAT ROOM to price anything you want off that rack, and you can go home with half a cow for a pittance. Thu May 04 23:02:31 -0700 2006 956112 0 Wayne Keyser 4 956122 Wayne Thanks for the tip about Superior Products--I need to check that out. Which exit off 395 is it? Also the sale rack at RD. I've rummaged thru there, but never heard about special pricing. Anyway I'm usually too frozen by then myself. My comment about the nature of commercial cookware didn't mean to suggest it was grocery store thin. But it's not normally heavy like the stuff sold as "professional" at fancy stores either. I suppose the basic point is that what is sold to yuppies as "professional" and what the majority of professionals really use are two different things. Fri May 05 07:07:58 -0700 2006 956119 0 johnb 1 956191 best equipment located in the farmers mkt. in d.c. it's where restaurants go to purchase small wares. no membership required. Fri May 05 20:11:28 -0700 2006 956095 0 cheffy