Going to a Sub-Zero/Wolf Cooking Demonstration

7 years ago

Tonight my BF and I are going to the Bakke Center, near Madison, WI, for the Sub-Zero and Wolf cooking demonstration dinner. I'm so excited, like ridiculously excited.

I can't wait to see what they can do with a steam oven. I've never seen one in action. Already I feel that it is going to be swoon-worthy, but my BF doesn't see the value/point of a steam oven, so I'm hoping he'll be won over.

We already jumped on the Sub-Zero wagon last week when we bought a Sub-Zero refrigerator. We got a heck of a deal, 20% off, because it was last year's display model and the store wanted it off their floor. It's a 36" built-in over-under refrigerator, panel-ready.

Initially we were planning on an all-refrigerator and an all-freezer, because we need so much refrigerator space, but still need to have some freezer space in the kitchen. But then we decided if we had some freezer space in the kitchen (BF pointed out and suggested the freezer drawers) for ice and frequently used items we'd be fine, because we could put our upright freezer in the garage or the basement. This would mean we could move the convection oven from the second island into a column on the wall and we could go from one convection and one speed oven/mw in the island to two ovens in the wall and the speed/mw Advantium in the island. More better good! :)

We were about to buy a Sub-Zero 36" integrated over-and-under all-refrigerator - panel ready and 30" dual freezer drawers when the BF realized that we'd get more cubic feet in both refrigerator and freezer space if we bought the36" built-in over-under refrigerator panel ready (that was on sale) and a set of 36" refrigerator drawers instead. For some reason the freezer in the over-under is larger than in the freezer drawers and the refrigerator drawers (36") have more space than the freezer drawers (30").

Now we'll have a beverage center in the second island instead of the convection oven.

Added bonus: the compressors are in the top of the built-in models instead of the bottom like they are in the integrated which means I won't have to tippy-toe to reach things at the back of the top shelf.

Additional bonus: Sub-Zero is manufactured locally, which means there are many service technicians in our area should we need service.

I feel like we may be going about this backwards, buying an appliance before hiring a remodeler, but we needed to make decisions about the appliances before we could finalize layout decisions so that's the order we chose to do things.

So, now I'm ready to be dazzled by ridiculously expensive appliances and a fancy-smanchy gourmet dinner. As if they didn't already have me with their big, red knobs.

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romy718

7 years ago

We went to TWO of those demonstrations, one before install & one after install. The food was delicious. Enjoy!

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Comments (13)

ILoveRed
7 years ago
@ Cheryl

"We were about to buy a Sub-Zero 36" integrated over-and-under all-refrigerator - panel ready and 30" dual freezer drawers when the BF realized that we'd get more cubic feet in both refrigerator and freezer space if we bought the36" built-in over-under refrigerator panel ready (that was on sale) and a set of 36" refrigerator drawers instead. For some reason the freezer in the over-under is larger than in the freezer drawers and the refrigerator drawers (36") have more space than the freezer drawers (30")."

It sounds to me like you saved enough money there to justify the steam oven!

Have fun. Color me jealous.
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Cheryl Hewitt
Original Author
7 years ago
Romy, you got to go to two?! That's so cool. I didn't know they allowed that.

ILoveRed, I know, right? I'm so stoked.
jaimeeap
7 years ago
They cooked halibut in the steam oven at the demo I went to. Best halibut I've ever had! Enjoy!!
cat_mom
7 years ago
We went to a Wolf-SZ demo, too (I think we went to two of them as well). Learned about the appliances and had a yummy meal!
Cheryl Hewitt
Original Author
7 years ago
It was fun and educational, although now we're torn about whether we want an induction cooktop or a gas rangetop. We want all the things. Gak.

BF likes that the induction uses less energy, would heat the house up less than a gas range, and would be less intimidating for the kids. However, we both agree that we like flame, want the griddle and the charbroiler, and like the aesthetics of the gas range.

I think I should query to see if people like their induction cooktops, if they feel they are large enough for their needs (max size is 36"/5 elements), if they feel they are missing out on having an infrared griddle or infrared charbroiler.
smm5525
7 years ago
Enjoy! We did a demonstration at Pirch and the food came out delicious.

re: induction, we opted for a 30" induction and a 15" gas power burner. Can't wait!
Cheryl Hewitt
Original Author
7 years ago
smm5525, that combination, 30" induction and 15" gas power burner, is what I'm tumbling around in my head. Actually, if we were to do this, I think we'd go for a 36" induction with the 15" gas power burner module, but pretty much the same configuration that you're doing.

We have a Cuisinart griddler that we use every weekend morning, and a quesadilla maker that is used daily. The griddler looks kind of cool and we put it away after use, but the quesadilla maker is ugly and it's always on my countertop. I am actually planning an appliance garage simply to hide it from view because I cannot bear the thought of my beautiful new kitchen having that blasted red appliance sitting out on the counter - all.the.time. Last night I learned that it's possible to make quesadillas on the griddle on the gas rangetop and I hatched an evil plan to banish the quesadilla maker from the kitchen. But if we go with the induction it'll get a reprieve. Sigh.

So, gas rangetop with griddle and charbroiler = two less appliances.
smm5525
7 years ago
You can use a griddle on top of the bridge burner of a 30" or 36" miele. I've read the built in grills and griddles are a pain to clean.

The issue with 36 and 15 is needing a huge hood.

Miele also makes a 12" burner.
smm5525
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Did you test the Wolf induction? Was it loud? I haven't been able to test it yet but I don't like the burner config of the Wolf on the 30". So we are going with Miele.

Oh and I make quesadillas all the time with our portable griddle.
Cheryl Hewitt
Original Author
7 years ago
"You can use a griddle on top of the bridge burner of a 30" or 36" miele."

I need to investigate this! :)

"I've read the built in grills and griddles are a pain to clean."

I didn't ask anyone about cleaning the grill, but I did ask a couple about cleaning the griddle and they said that it's super easy and that's one of the reasons she loves it. They use theirs all the time. She thought the newer ones would be even easier, because of the drip/catch pan is easier to access. She said that only issue they ever have with it is when a babysitter will scrub it and they'll have to reseason it again.

"Did you test the Wolf induction? Was it loud? "

The chef used the Wolf induction multiple times. It wasn't loud that I'm aware of. I can't even imagine how an induction could be loud to tell you the truth. Am I missing something? The rangehood fan wasn't even all that loud. The noise I was aware of was chatter of the people attending and the chef trying to speak over them.
ILoveRed
7 years ago
I have the Wolf griddle. It's just ok. I wouldn't do it again. It's honestly easier to take out my small griddle if I'm making pancakes or grilled cheese and wash the griddle. But my son in law loves his griddle and he is a much better cook than I am.

i had a grill years ago on a Jennaire. It was a Royal PIA to clean up. DH thinks he is the grill master on our Weber and he actually is pretty good. So I dunno about the indoor.
Cheryl Hewitt
Original Author
7 years ago
I have the Wolf griddle. It's just ok. I wouldn't do it again.

Good to know.

i had a grill years ago on a Jennaire. It was a Royal PIA to clean up.

I wish there would have been someone with a grill to ask them how it was to clean.

Going to a Sub-Zero/Wolf Cooking Demonstration

romy718

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