is the Capital Culinarian available in black?

Yes,yes it is.There is a $400 upcharge for paint over SS

Look at link below.

You will need to scroll down some.

The Culinarian is my first choice for an all gas range.

Here is a link that might be useful: PICS of Black

Have you considered a more mainstream range?
Perhaps a Bosch all gas stainless steel range, or something similar from Jenn-Air or Monogram or KitchenAid? Something with different burner sizes, a bunch of bells and whistles, and a more developed service network than the luxury lines.

In other words did you ever need all (4) 15K burners you had on your Viking, or would you be better serviced with a diversity of burner performances?

Here is a link that might be useful: ApplianceAdvisor.com

My wife and i were talking just this morning about the burners and did we need them, and quite honestly, no, we don't need all four.

What we do need however, is a high output burner for wok cooking.

that's what piqued my interest in the culinarian.

to have two 23k burners on the front would be more than adequate for us.

I'm really considering cutting the granite and pushing in a 60" with four burners , a french top, and griddle.

i just know whatever it is, it won't be Viking.

You might also consider a wok single burner cooktop, at least a few of which are 30K BTU. These come from most of the pro-style companies in gas and from a few companies in induction.

Here is a link that might be useful: ApplianceAdvisor.com

The only dedicated indoor gas wok burner that does not suck is the DCS. It cost $2k,requires 24" of counter space, and a dedicated 1/2-5/8 gas line.

The Viking gas wok burner is 30k but it is a sealed burner sending alot of heat up the side and away from the pan. I take it ri0t will not consider that one anyway.

The other gas wok burners are sealed underpowered ones.

The dedicated built-in induction wok burner is the Kuppersbusch EWI4571. It cost $3720,requires 18" of counter space,and requires a dedicated 240 volt line.

The Garland induction wok burner is a countertop model and cost $3500 for the 5k watt model and $2750 for the 3.5k watt model. And a 240v line as well.

Then there is the Apogee for $1k. It sucks. The end.

You might ask for a deal on the black, since dealer cost is only $200.

KC

KC- "the bane of appliance retailers everywhere" LOL

The sons and daughters of appliance retailers will not go to college but become appliance salespeople:)

In all seriousness KC,thanks for all the info.

deeageux: price does not seem to be the problem once we've started chatting about $12K 60" ranges. Had been thinking of the Thermador unit....but evidently it is out of production......though still on display on "Desperate Housewives".

A 30" range + a wok top + gas or power line. Doesn't sound like $12K....or even $6K.

I liked this $1700 commercial unit from Cooktek, and it only takes 16" of counter space:
http://www.instawares.com/magnawave-drop-induction-wok.coo-mwdg3500.0.7.htm?LID=GGLE&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=COO-MWDG3500

Here is a link that might be useful: ApplianceAdvisor.com

Deeageaux,

I try to do my part in service of the greater good! :)

KC

Thanks for the follow-ups!

I'm calling granite guys today to see what they'd charge for cutting.

Since my Viking is forcing the issue, my wife and i decided to go for broke.

i'm looking at Lacanche, le cornue, aga, etc....well not me actually, the boss is. she says they're pretty...

i'm more utilitarian.

we'll see.

i do like the looks of those french ones but btu's don't seem all that impressive.

i'm trying to convince the boss that capital has what we need.

You might consider Bluestar.

There's no upcharge for color, their burners are available up to 22,000 BTU's and you can have it custom configured with whatever burner arrangement you like.

Gaggenau EB388610 oven, with the VR 230: 12-inch Vario electric barbecue grill, VG 232: 12-inch Vario gas cooktop (two of these) and the VG 231: 12-inch Vario gas wok. This all fits above the oven perfectly. This setup looks amazing and works awesome. This setup sounds exactly like what you were looking for, just wanted to give my two cents.

I can't stop talking; my Culinarian in black was delivered today. I can't set it up, though, until they finish the tile backsplash in the next week or so. The black is gorgeous; deep jet black high gloss enamel. Makes you say 'wow'.

Mine looks like picture 3, 15 and 16 in deeageaux's link above. Six burners and a BBQ grill.

I considered the LaCanche, but I thought they were a little pricey for what you got, but man they sure are drop-dead gorgeous. Huge 'wow' factor. IMHO the Culinarian was a good combination of style and performance. I wasn't able to see a BlueStar--no dealers near me--but if there is a dealer near you I'd certainly take a look at them. As I understand it, they use the same burner configuration as the old Garland commercial ranges. That's what Julia Child cooked with all her life, and once said she wanted to be buried with it.

I'm sure you'd be happy with a Capital or a BlueStar or a Lacanche. They're all good items. BTW, the only difference between the Culinarian series and Capital's Precision series is the burner. Culinarian has open burners (max 23K BTU), Precision is sealed burners max 19K BTU).

Advisor,

Did not see ri0t posting he is considering 60".

I saw replace 30" Viking. It would not work in that situation.

Now moving on to ri0t plus Mrs ri0t.

That cooktek looks utilitarian.

But I don't think Mrs Ri0t would prefer 30" range plus wokburner vs a 60" range.

Maybe a big Culinarian? Or add a 240v outlet and get a countertop induction wok burner?

Well, i diagnosed the problem with my Viking to be the gas valve.

hooked up my ammeter to both sides of the valve, and they both are bad.

part is on the way.

i hope this doesn't fix it.

i had my wife ready to order the 60" culinarian in black.

maybe i'll rewire incorrectly.

why did i look at that service manual again?

LOL ri0t. My wife has said we can get a big screen HD TV as soon as our 32" RCA tube tv dies. Damn thing keeps on working just fine after 12 years.

riOt
Viking all gas ranges are simple machines. My 10 year old Viking is still going with gas ignitors replaced at 7 year mark by my very handy and amiable hubby. I think Viking dual fuels are more tricky.

I am surprised that the gas valve is out. They typically do not go out. It's the ignitors that go out. I think you need the voltage across a working ignitor to turn on the gas valve. My intuition tells me that the gas valve will not see any voltage unless a working iginitor sends enough amperage to the valve to turn it on. I maybe wrong, however.

I had el cheapo GE all gas range that needed to have the computer module replaced at 5 year mark. Can't turn on the oven without the working computer module. The computers are expensive to replace even if you are a DIY type.

French ranges are pretty but reviews from couple folks that I know that own them are mixed. One family has a Lacanche and they will never do French again. It's that poorly performing for them.... Another has a Morice and actually feels that the Viking that they had "simmers" better than the "expensive" French range. Other than that
Morice is a thumbs up for them.

I vote for the Bluestar for the looks. Somehow the Culinarian has details that look "cheesy", ie their ugly handle for the drip tray pulls and the "tacky" curves on the oven handle. I am sure I will offend someone with my remark. The performance of the CC seems rather impressive, however.

Thanks for the reply Kaismom.

the ignitors were replaced together with genuine viking parts and were both drawing the requisite +3.0 amps.

however, when the gas valve is checked for continuity, they should not show an open loop. both valves are showing infinite continuity which means they are blown out.

i wish it was something more permanent so i could push the thing out to the road and let some poor soul steal it.

i despise that machine.

it's been nothing but problems from about a year after purchase.

and to top it off, viking never stood behind it, well i take that back, they stood so far behind it, you couldn't see them.

i will never, ever purchase a viking product for as long as there is a viking.

they have lost my business for ever.

I hear these are customary:

Hmmm. Inline pics aren't working for me right now, but

@ mojavean

I lol'd

Update, or shall i say, downerdate.

i received the long awaited gas valve from allvikingparts after surviving a couple week backorder.

i just installed it and guess what?

unfortunately it works.

what a sad, sad, day.

Sorry to hear of your success.

"i just installed it and guess what?

unfortunately it works."

I'm not trying to make trouble. This is a purely hypothetical question. Let's say, "academic." Wouldn't a person who has the technical skills required to repair a range also have the technical skills required to destroy it?

If it works, you now have a functioning appliance to sell or donate and take a credit. Someone else would be very impressed. Just depends on what a new range and something you like to cook on is worth to you. I've camped out with old and poor quality appliances enough years that I don't ever want another one.

I cooked homemade pizzas last night for the kids.

Oven temp measured with an infrared thermo was 552 degrees on my baking stone at all four corners.

The pizzas were incredible. Wish you all could have had some.

The Viking did its job, and did it very well.

When the thing is on, it's on, no doubt about it.

I'm just tired of fixing it.

riOt,
I am sorry that the Viking works. It would be nice to replace it without guilt.

I really use our Viking alot! We use it to bake home made pizza almost every weekend, bake bread etc. We baked bread and pizza last night and they were both yum.. The crust was fab!

What I hate is the Viking range hood that I bought with the Viking range. The stupid thing is completely underpowered for the kind of cooking we do. I tried to replace the blower with the externally mounted one from another company and we flunked the noise ordinance.

Alas, I can't swap out the hood without getting a new range due to matching color issues. We all make "appliance mistakes" in life.

The replacement would cost me about $8000 to $10,000 after all is said and done with the custom made hood etc etc. (I want a custom made hood that really works!) That is a pretty large ticket item for me at this point.

Try to enjoy the range while you have a holiday from the unreliability with the latest patch job.