Colored Viking Ranges

Increasing my skepticism toward Pantone’s choice of orangish hue Tangerine Tango for color of the year is Viking’s choice to replace Pumpkin and other less-popular choices for  colored appliances with finishes that sound like they were plucked straight from the pantry.

Viking nearly doubled its colored appliance choices in 2008 to 24, including Metallic Silver, Oyster Gray and Golden Mist. But Dijon, Wasabi, Cinnamon and Kettle Black — as called by Viking, not the pot (couldn’t resist) — will overtake those four come March.

Coincidentally, I featured Pumpkin and Golden Mist in a previous roundup of kitchen appliance colors because I thought them so…distinctive. (Turns out I wasn’t alone.)

If you’ve always dreamed of a Cinnamon kitchen, Viking appliances such as microwaves, ovens, refrigerators and ranges can be paneled in the colored finishes.

BBQ Expo: Taste and compare this Saturday and Sunday

bbq-grills

A delicious view from last year’s BBQ Grill Expo

Hey Grillmeisters (or wannabe grillers), this Saturday and Sunday marks Warners’ Stellian’s tastiest event…our BBQ Grill Expo.

Experts on top grill brands such as Weber, Holland, Big Green Egg, Vermont Castings, Viking and DCS, will be out demonstrating so you can compare the latest features in gas grills, charcoal grills and smoker grills. Grills demos will going on at all our 7 locations (St. Paul, Minneapolis, Edina, Woodbury, Maple Grove, Apple Valley and Rochester).

Plus, delivery and assembly are free on grills $499 and up. AND those who buy a grill $599 and up will score a $50 gift card good at any of the 9 Twin Cities Kowalski’s Markets.

>>See more pictures of last year’s event

Grilling doughnuts on ‘Twin Cities Live’

Carla Warner and I got to spend some time grilling outside with the awesome people at KSTP’s “Twin Cities Live” yesterday.

>> See the video

A rare picture of me, left, posing with TCL's Emily Engberg and Carla Warner in front of the Grilled Doughnuts on the Viking gas grill.

I love to cook, so I volunteered to whip up 3 unconventional recipes on 3 of our favorite grills.

On the Big Green Egg, we made Bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers

Hollow jalapenos and completely fill with cream cheese. Wrap with raw bacon and secure with toothpick. Grill on the Big Green Egg or other grill using indirect heat at 350-375 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

On the Vermont Castings, we made Margherita pizza

Heat grill to medium heat. Sprinkle with cornmeal and roll out fresh, refrigerated pizza dough ball to no more than 1/4-inch thickness. Either oil grill grates or place pizza stone on grill. Grill dough covered for 5 minutes. Top with Kowalski’s Signature Pizza Sauce, slices of Kowalski’s fresh mozzarella and sliced Roma tomato. Grill for another 3-5 minutes or until cheese is golden brown. Top with fresh basil and serve.

And on the Viking Grill, we made — you’ll never guess — Grilled doughnuts

Grill Pillsbury Grands refrigerated biscuits on a cookie sheet (or well-oiled grill grate) using indirect heat at about 375 degrees for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Meanwhile, melt a stick of butter in a grill-safe bowl away from direct heat. Dip warm biscuits in the melted butter and roll in cinnamon sugar.

What’s you’ll see at the Warners Stellian Warehouse Sale

So, we have some pretty sweet deals on hand for this weekend’s Extreme Warehouse Sale.

While quantities last, we have three pairs of laundry that have been priced to move:

extreme1
(gas dryer extra on first and third pictured pair)

extremefridgeAnd those looking for a new refrigerator have the chance to get a LG French-door refrigerator at rock-bottom prices.

But, quantities are limited, so deals can only last as long as your fellow customers allow them to.

We’re getting A LOT of calls from people with specific model numbers in mind, wanting to know what products would be included in our sale.

He was very understanding when I explained to him that we have more than 2,000 products on display for this sale.

And truly don’t know what’s down there until we see it all Saturday morning!

But with more than 2,000 products, we generally have something for everyone, or at least for the majority of the nearly 2,400 groups of customers that came out for our last warehouse sale.

Other big discounts include an Energy Star Maytag dishwasher in stainless steel for $349 and a stainless steel Frigidaire self-clean gas range for $499, while quantities last (both pictured below).

dishrange

A selection of brands that “never go on sale” will be available (again, while quantities last), including Sub-Zero, Wolf, Viking, Liebherr and Electrolux. Customers can save up to 80% on professional-style built-in models. Jenn-Air wall ovens, for example, will start at $599 and you can save $1,000 off Electrolux French-door ice & water refrigerators.

We’ll have some of my personal favorite, steam laundry, at the sale for $1499 for a washer/dryer pair.

Maybe your kitchen and laundry room is all set, but you’ve got your eye on a grill or wine refrigerator. We’ll have those, along with Miele vacuums starting at $329.

Make sure to study my tips on HOW TO: Shop the Warners’ Stellian Warehouse Sale like a pro.