Oven Range Shopping

We went out last weekend and stopped by an area appliance dealer and were looking at the Viking ranges. Viking wasn't really my first choice, seems like it's such a "I'm such an awesome cook that I need pro equipment" kinda buy. Actually, they are starting to refer to these stainless steel type products as "prosumer" (it's probably been a term that's been in use for a while in industry circles but recently was the first I came across it). No one came to help us at that store so we just browsed and took notes and went home.

Yesterday we stopped at a different store of the same business and looked around again -- this time with prompt and attentive service. We looked at the Wolf and Viking ranges and learned that Viking is due to come out with a redesigned oven sometime in the near future. We got some price quotes -- like how does $10K sound to you. We thought it a little extravagent, plus the model I was jiving with was the dual oven model as this would get me the extra oven I'm wanting in the remodel without having to install wall ovens, thereby saving space. The problem is that the dual ovens models are all 48 inches wide. Still, it's better than a 36 inch stove and then wall ovens to fit into the kitchen design.

Walking around before we left we passed by the AGA display, I always walk around and look at them when we're in this store to admire them. Its a British cast-iron stove, that's energy efficient, classical looking and all about baking and roasting. A friend of mine in the UK's mother had one, the traditional kind that's always on, they call it their AGA cooker. They have a new model now though, it's dual fuel so you get the benefit of the gas range, rather than the traditional boiling and simmer plates on top.

AGA has a 4 dual fuel model that's 44 inches (hey, a savings of 4 inches and double the ovens) or, a 36" 2-door model -- the Legacy model. The AGA also comes in a host of colors and pricing is a lot less than for the Wolf and Viking -- at least from initial price shopping. This might be a real contender.

Here a site with pics of the interior and exterior of the AGA

Comments

[Lara]

Here I was thinking I was the only Knitter/Home Remodeling parent in the Seattle area and yours is the second blog today!
Beautiful site with great content!
Cheers

[Teleza]

Good words.