where do you buy supplies?

[polyhymnia]

On Good Eats, Alton Brown is always recommending going to your local restaurant supply store to purchase kitchenware. In Manhattan of course the problem is not that there isn't one but that there are so many, and many of those are probably not really appropriate for the home chef. Where would you go to buy standard restaurant quality kitchen ware without all the fluff of a place like Sur la Table?

[thew]

not mentioned is kalustyans which has some hard to find items

[superfinespot]

they're great for spices and the selection of dried fruits (from strawberries to 10 types of raisins) but i find their pantry items are way overpriced.

i'll check out zabars. thanks!

[financialdistrictresident]

Dual on First Avenue and 5th is where I buy cinnamon sticks, madagascar peppercorns, etc.

Wasn't there a thread on cooking stores/spices last year? I'm sure this has all been said before . . .

[superfinespot]

where can i find the best prices on basic aluminum commercial grade bakeware (i.e., loaf pan, 8x8 square pan, etc)? zabars, bowery, chef supply, chelsea market or somewhere else? i want to avoid the dark, nonstick stuff at all costs.

[MMRuth]

I just bought three 7" cake pans at Zabars last weekend and I think it was about $15 for the three of them. They have a pretty big selection of aluminium bakeware - I don't know if it is considered commercial grade or not, but the pans are pretty heavy duty, so to speak.

[egit]

Panhandler's okay. But you'll get much less expensive (and less retail) stuff at places like Paraon on Bowery. I havent' been there in several years (how many pots and pans do you really need?). If you're looking for all-clad or Chef Endorsed stuff, go to a retail outlet. If you're looking to buy 20 ramekins for your mise, go to the Bowery. It probably won't even cost you $20.

[Stuffed Monkey]

Zabar's, Broadway Panhandler and Bridge Kitchenware are all great places, but really more consumer stores than restaurant supply places. For that go to Bowery Restaurant Supply nd check that little place with no name outside just west of Union Square. Look at Mark Bittman's aritcle from the times to see what to get:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/399810

[financialdistrictresident]

egit, so true. I use the same few all the time (Le Creuset saucier & dutch oven, roasting pan, non-stick pans, paella pan from latienda.com). I don't use my two Sitram pans very often. The Sitram is nice because it can go from stove top to broiler.

[RGR]

fdr,

You do realize that egit's post dates back to early '08? :-)

I love all my Sitram. Bought it at Bridge more than 10 years ago. Steve Bridge was very helpful in guiding me as to which pieces to buy. He also told me not to disgard my Farberware because their pots and pans made in more recent years do not compare in quality to those made 1968 when I bought mine.

[financialdistrictresident]

Thanks, RGR. Didn't notice the date. There have been some old 2005 threads popping up on the Tristate Board :)

Bridge guided me on which 2 Sitram pans to buy also. Got them well over 4+ years ago. I bought a large fry pan and a saucier. I find I use my Le Creuset saucier more (or at least my SO does :)

[MMRuth]

And Fred Bridge guided me to mine about 18 years ago - they are still work horses in my kitchen and I love them. I have a large saute pan, and a couple of sauce pans. Wish they were still in the city. I didn't realize that Broadway Panhandler carried Sitram as well. Bridge often has good sales on the line though.

[meldrom]

Broadway panhandler and Bowery Kitchen Supply in Chelsea Market are good for the home cook. It's less frilly than Crate and Barrel but less intimidating than all of the super restauranty supply stores in the Bowery.

[misschopsticks]

Speaking of those stores on Bowery... how are they in terms of quality?

[JoanN]

I can only speak to Chef Restaurant Supply, but it's good, sturdy stuff, meant to be knocked around in professional kitchens. But you're not going to find AllClad or Sitram there, if that's what you mean. Although I think you can find Sitram at the Bowery Kitchen Supply, now that they've relocated and are catering to a more upscale market (at higher prices than when they were on the Bowery, I might add).

[financialdistrictresident]

I have Sitram and bought it at Bridge (used to be the only place in the city that had it) and Broadway Panhandler.

For Le Creuset there is an outlet at Woodbury. I think there's a Williams Sonoma outlet there too. Or maybe I'm thinking of that great place in NJ (can't remember the name, hopefully someone else will). The place in NJ even had Rosle tongs which are hard to find.

I live by Chinatown and go to chef store (have to look up the name) there for NSF rated non-stick pans, strainers, etc.

[JoanN]

Are you by any chance thinking of Liberty Village in Flemington, NJ? There's a Le Creuset outlet there, but not a Williams Sonoma--at least, not that I'm aware of.

[RGR]

Of course, Bridge moved to E. Hanover, NJ. But acc. to their website, they are moving again on July 1st, to Roseland, NJ.

As for Flemington, there was a very good kitchen supply store there (not in Liberty Village), but it has closed.

https://www.bridgekitchenware.com

[JoanN]

I think you may be referring to the Dansk outlet store that used to be in Flemington. When I first moved to NYC many moons ago nearly all of my kitchen equipment came from that store--and I'm still using most of it. I was brokenhearted when Lenox closed the Dansk outlet stores several years ago.

[financialdistrictresident]

Maybe Kitchen Kapers? It's on the opposite side from Trader Joe's (not sure how close it is to Trader Joe's).

[NYCkaren]

For sturdy dishes and stemware I like Fish's Eddy. And Ikea has really low prices _ worth the bus ride to New Jersey, in my opinion.

[280 Ninth]

The places already mentioned are good, and I've shopped at them all. I've learned of an online site for cookware through CH, and I'll include the link below. It's for All-Clad cookware, which inspires fear and loathing among some CHs, but which I've used and loved for years...if this is what you're looking for, it's a good resource to know about, if not to use.

http://www.cookwarenmore.com/

[JoanN]

I, too, buy most of my supplies at Zabar's; good prices, and good advice. But I've also had luck at Chef Restaurant Supplies on the Bowery. I buy stemmed glasses there by the case, but they also have pots, pans, and utensils at excellent prices.

-----
Chef Restaurant Supply
294 Bowery, New York, NY 10012

[MMRuth]

I was impressed by the knowledge of the staff at Zabar's - though I think it was an iron that I bought there.

[LNG212]

Upstairs at Zabar's is pretty amazing, and good prices too. Or Bowery Kitchen (inside Chelsea Market).

[JungMann]

Is Zabar's any cheaper than Bowery? I go down to Bowery Kitchen whenever I need something because of the competetive price, but it'd be so much easier to just walk over to Zabar's if I can.

[LNG212]

I guess I haven't bought the same type of things at the two places. At Zabar's I usually check out appliances, and tools, and such. I have always found the staff to be really helpful (and they don't necessarily push the most expensive things either). At Bowery I like the more unusual things -- tea bag dishes, bbq skewers, various serving dishes, mason jars. Sorry I'm not being really helpful; but I've never directly compared the two.

[polyhymnia]

Thanks guys, I'll check these out.

[TheVerzhinTheory]

Broadway Panhandler (8th st right off Bway)

[RGR]

Bridge Kitchenware

[MMRuth]

I'm also a big fan of Bridge - pretty much buy everything there, unless I have an AMEX William Sonoma gift card.