source for high quality bargain pots/pans/cooking supplies?

Hi!,

I just moved back to Chicago from NYC (I went to college here in Chicago), and am furnishing my kitchen here becasue I didn't bring a lot of stuff from NY. I need to buy a few key pots and kitchen implements, and am wondering if there's a good place to go. In NYC there are stores (like Bowery Kitchen and Restaurant Supply for example) that used to only supply restaurants but which are now open to the public too. They tend to have great deals on excellent quality pots and other supplies. Is there something similar in Chicago?

Thanks!

Yes, there are many. Here are some previous threads to get you started. Some of these threads are old, so call ahead to be sure places are still around.

viewtopic.php?t=6402&
http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=8079
http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=189613

(Although the last thread is about BBQ'ing, it has a lot of other information.)

My two favorite places are Northwestern Cutlery and Herzog fixtures

Northwestern Cutlery
(They have a lot more than just cutlery. Excellent, cheap knife sharpening done while you wait. Excellent staff.)
http://northwesterncutlery.net
810 W Lake St
Chicago, IL 60607
312- 421-3666

Herzog Store Fixture Co.
(Larger store, mainly geared towards restaurants - so you won't find All-Clad, etc. here.)
1034 W. Madison St.
Chicago, IL
312-666-2600

And, welcome to LTH Forum!

Fortunately, somebody asked this exact same question a few years back. Here's the link.

Sorry guys, I searched but for some reason didn't find those threads. Thanks!

I find it a lot easier to seach LTHForum.com using Google:

Go to google. In the search box type "site:lthforum.com <search terms here>". For example, "site:lthforum.com restaurant supply".

Note that there is not a space between "site:" and "lthforum.com".

It's hit and miss, but I've gotten some great stuff for little cash at Marshalls and TJ Max. You'll occasionally find All Clad and Le Crueset stuff for 1/3 the regular price, and they always have the Wolfgang Puck line of pots. He may be annoying, but the stuff is a very good value. My WP covered sautee pan has lasted 5+ years and taken quite a beating.

Note that Edward Don's outlet, much talked about in that thread, is no more.

The Madison stores are fun to walk around. Hmm, would I really get enough use out of a popcorn cart?

I went to the Wal-Mart mega store on Kirk Road in Batavia.

Besides being astounded by the titanic size of the store, I needed a new probe thermometer so I went to the housewares.

Well, no probe thermometer BUT they had a line of porcelain clad cast iron pots. Very heavy and it had a nice british racing green exterior.

The 6.5 quart dutch oven was $50. (Le Crueset would be $180 I think).

Anyway, I'm a big fan of the NY Times bread, so I would recommend this for those.

I buy most of my items @ Schweppe's in Lombard. I can buy the same pots, pans, backing sheets, etc that I used in the restaurants I worked in for great prices.

Schweppes
376 W. North Avenue
Lombard, IL.

www.schweppeinc.com

that link for northwestern cutlery is wrong. it should be .net, not .com

Thanks. I fixed it in my earlier post.

northwesterncutlery.com takes you to cutleryandmore.com of Elk Grove Village. Does anyone know if these two businesses are related?

Note also that Northwestern Cutlery tends to have stuff that is not on their website. If you are looking for something in particular and don't find it on the website, call or stop by.

I've picked up a few things at Tuesday Morning like a nice French press coffee pot and an expresso machine for next to nothing but they are real hit and miss with everything they carry. Fun place to walk around in, you just never know what you will find. They do have Le Crueset from time to time at about half the normal price. The one closest to me in North Aurora closed but I know there is one in St. Charles on North Avenue. Their store hours can be quirky, they close some days for inventory restock so call ahead.

http://www.tuesdaymorning.com/indexCatalogOff.asp