DINING IN

High on Form

and Function

BY PAULA ROY

A renaissance in home cooking has many people looking to spruce up their kitchens, and top-of-the-line appliances that are as functional as they are beautiful are found on many wish lists.

LG PROBAKE RANGE

LG’s ProBake electric ranges are stylish and packed with useful features including a large-capacity oven with an air fry mode plus state-of-the-art convection technology. The five-burner radiant heat ceramic glass cooktop includes dual and triple burners. Keep things spotless with the EasyClean feature—simply spray the oven interior with water and in 10 minutes, wipe away any leftover grime. The InstaView oven door lets you light up the interior with two quick knocks on the door and a range of built-in smart, WiFiready functions make for a convenient culinary experience. This appliance is available in both slide-in and freestanding versions; slide-in also includes Air Sous Vide, to lock in flavour while cooking food in vacuum-sealed bags at precise low temperatures with controlled airflow and no countertop water-based appliance needed. They’re available in black stainless steel or smudge-resistant stainless steel.

THERMADOR GAS COOKTOP

Thermador’s gas cooktops are both attractive and innovative, featuring unique star-shaped burners which provide better flame distribution and smaller intervals between levels of heat compared to round burners, resulting in a reduced cold spot and more precise control. The pedestalmounted burners and special quick-clean base make it easy to maintain. The centre burner delivers maximum power for rapid boiling or high-heat searing, while two simmer burners offer precise settings for low-temperature cooking. Continuous grates allow for easy movement of pots and pans across the entire cooktop and electronic re-ignition automatically relights any burners that go out due to drafts. The control panel’s metal knobs feature blue progressive illumination that adjusts to indicate the burner setting. The five-burner cooktops are available in both 30 and 36-inch models, so you don’t have to sacrifice functionality in a compact kitchen.

GE CAFÉ FRENCH-DOOR DOUBLE WALL OVEN

Part of GE’s design-forward collection, the Café Professional Series 30-inch convection French-door double wall oven is available in matte black, matte white, or stainless steel. With brushed-finished handle and knob options in stainless, copper, bronze, and black, it’s easy to pick the perfect look for your kitchen. Offering twice the cooking space, the accessible upper door height and design—including the ability to open both doors with one hand—makes inserting or removing food easier. Features include a temperature probe visible on the oven’s LCD screen, integrated WiFi connectivity that lets you conveniently control the temperature from anywhere plus a built-in smart system that automatically tracks progress, modifies temperatures, and adjusts cook times. It’s the only wall oven that currently delivers top-down true convection for consistent results; it also offers an air fry mode plus superior broiling options and effective self-cleaning including a steam clean option.

KITCHENAID FRENCH DOOR REFRIGERATOR

KitchenAid celebrated its centenary in 2019 and it continues to be a favourite thanks to its vast selection and reliability. Their 23.8 cubic foot, 36-inch double door refrigerator is the largest capacity, counterdepth refrigerator in its class and features a unique exterior fingerprint-resistant finish. Inside, the gorgeous platinum interior offers flexible storage options. A fullextension custom temperature-controlled pantry drawer features four pre-sets so you can customize the temperature for meat/ fish, cold drinks, deli/cheese, and wine. A slide-away shelf retracts to fit tall items, and full-extension self-close crispers let you store more and find things easily. The unique under-shelf prep zone utilizes space beneath the shelf to create a prep zone with a fridge-to-oven, dishwashersafe tray that’s ideal for proofing dough, storing desserts, or marinating meats.

FISHER & PAYKEL DISHDRAWER DISHWASHERS

Fisher & Paykel pioneered the concept of drawer-style appliances. Their current product line includes dishwashers available in both single and double drawer models, available in several finishes: stainless steel, white and black stainless plus panel-ready to match your kitchen cabinetry if you prefer. DishDrawers are as easy to open and close as kitchen drawers and can be conveniently positioned at bench height for ease of loading and minimal bending. Flexible racking in both the regular and tall-tub drawers allows you to make adjustments to fit in a variety of dishes. Best of all, you can run the wash cycle in just one drawer or both drawers independently and select different wash programs, allowing you to safely and effectively clean fine crystal and heavily soiled pots and pans at the same time. These dishwashers lend a stylish, functional edge to any kitchen.

BY PAULA ROY PHOTOGRAPHY BY TED SIMPSON