Prefinished hardwood flooring is a great idea for the kitchen. Maybe you can find a manufacturer that first thermally treats the wood — this will make it more durable from scratches and dents. You can take a look at...

I prefer bamboo boards myself. I’ve had problems with bacteria and mold in hardwood before, but not in bamboo. Here’s a link to pretty boards I’ve found, and run down on bamboo boards in general. Basically they...

If you look at TJMaxx, Marshalls or Ross or a similar discounter, you should be able to pick up a decent board at a reasonable price. I have wooden boards, a bamboo board and a few that I can throw into the dishwasher. A...

Totally Bamboo has begun a custom countertop business. You might want to check out their website. With use, any true butcher block will become marred and scratched over time. This can, however, be an attractive centerpiece to a...

REALLY like the handle on these, and they are incredibly sharp. Unfortunately they’re not cheap by any means. If you’re in a position to purchase “GOOD” steak knives, I’d strongly suggest you look...

flooring – tile or other hard surfaces look great but are really hard on your back, feet and legs when you stand for long periods. Look at hardwood, bamboo or other resiliant solutions. Or be prepared to use rugs or...

problem. I even have some wooden things that were my grandmother’s and they must me more than 60 or 70 years old. They’re still fine and are in use. The only spoon that is suspect – and will probably get pitched...

Unless the wood has been treated for preservation (pressure treated) it should be fine as far as chemicals go. Most hardwood planks (maple, oak, etc.) would not be pressure treated, so this should not be an issue. The bigger...

to care for and won’t slide around while I’m cutting, and doesn’t cost the earth. Easy on the knives would be nice too. Aesthetically I’m a nut for anything Japanese, so the new bamboos are visually...

For grilling, I find the best way if to butterfly the chicken (I think the technical term is something like “spatchocking” or something like that; the site just had a story on it recently), and flatten it out. I take...

, but they are sharp, Western-styled Japanese knives and keep their edge for a long time if you use a wood or bamboo board. 3 – Ken Onion is for larger hands, it seems, and I don’t like they way they feel in my hands....

is marinated for two weeks in spices then smoked over hardwood. It is available in various sizes and in degrees of fattiness (lean, medium, or fatty). It also notes that organic briskets are available. When we finished boiling the...

the wood much as you would a butcher block: with several coats of oil. You’d want a fine-grained hardwood so it doesn’t splinter easily. You’ll probably want to sand it down and refini periodically, but it...

cutting board. Stick with hardwood or these pretty new bamboo models. (clean with 10% bleach solution and scrubby after cutting meat and once a week otherwise). Other knives you need: paring knife, steak knives (full tang wood...

House II has lovely lanterns, but has these beautiful carved wood booths and wall coverings, bright green bamboo stands, and the same red/orange walls. Ngon Bistro is completely different. Bright and airy with lemon-yellow walls,...