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From: shipman@nmtvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.cooks
Subject: Electric wok alternatives
Message-ID: <833@nmtvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 25-Oct-85 14:16:30 EDT
Article-I.D.: nmtvax.833
Posted: Fri Oct 25 14:16:30 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 27-Oct-85 00:56:56 EDT
Distribution: na
Organization: Zoological Data Processing
Lines: 38
Summary: flat-bottom wok or Williams-Sonoma's "Cassette Feu" (review)

In response to Trevor Flory's posting asking about electric woks,
I'd like to suggest two alternatives.  (By the way, Trevor, electric
woks are not too bad--you can swing the temperature pretty fast).

Assuming that you have an electric stove, consider buying a
flat-bottom wok.  I have a Taylor & Ng model that works fine.
If you let the burner get red hot, then put the wok on it,
you will have plenty of heat.  If you need to lower the heat
fast, you can move it to a lower burner or just take it off
for a minute.

For camping, I got a "Cassette Feu" from Williams-Sonoma (mail-order
for cooks; 415-652-9007 or write PO Box 7456, Sam Francisco,
CA 94120-7456).  This is a single-burner portable gas stove
that uses canned propane fuel.  It has a piezolectric igniter 
so you don't have to worry about lighting it.  It's light
and compact, about 12" x 9" x 4".

I first saw an appliance like this after ordering Shabu Shabu at
a Japanese restaurant: they brought out the broth (boiling) and
the meat (raw) and let us cook it on on our table.

The first dish I cooked on it was a Szechwan potato dish (read
my review of "Mrs. Chiang's Szechwan Cookbook" if you don't
believe there is such a dish).  It had quite a bit of thermal
mass--six large spuds and a pound of pork--but cooked in the
regulation time.  I can't speak yet for the economics of this
system--fuel canisters are $10.50 for three but I don't know
how long they last.  I forget the price of the unit but it
is moderate, around $50.

Disclaimers:
  (1) I have no financial interest in any products mentioned.
  (2) "I will not only retract any statement anyone finds
       offensive, I will also deny under oath having said it."
       [Tom Lehrer]
-- 
John Shipman/Zoological Data Processing/ucbvax!unmvax!nmtvax!shipman