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I don't know about the Henckel knives but I do know I can't live without my Forschner Chef's knife and Serrated Bread knife. Both together set me back around 40$ with shipping. I use the Chef knife everyday. The were my more affordable alternatives to Wustoffs(sp) and I'm completely happy with them. I don't think a basic sheet pan is ever a good substitute for a good roasting pan IMO


BTW I just found this blog/site and I love it!! I've already gotten a lot of great ideas and inspirations

Terraskye

i'm all about the clearance sections of the big housewares/kitchenstuff sites. you can find some great items that way - especially crate and barrel's clearance site! dang.

i got my knife set very cheap from a cooking site (cooks/cooking.com, i can't remember), and while they have emeril's name on 'em, they are wusthof and have been great. all i need is the chef's, bread, and paring knives - but i love my santoku!

i also really like macy's tools of the trade cookware because it's hefty, cheap, and always on sale. i just bought a $20 big ole skillet w/ glass lid. happy me!

i go to the local 'amazing savings' (it's an odd lots kinda thing) where all their baking pans, roasters, cookie sheets, etc, are always $1.99 - $3.99. i am not kidding. their other cookware blows, but the nonstick bakeware is exactly what i'd get at macy's or elsewhere.

so what's that add up to? not much! bargains are addictive, though, so watch out!

I think a 12 qt. stockpot is way too big for an everyday pot. I would prefer an 8 qt. instead. There's also no cover for the saucepan. Myself, I have All-Clad and Le Creuset and I do appreciate good cookware, but all there are lower price quality alternatives like Cuisinart Multiclad for the All-Clad, and Lodge Color for the Le Creuset. The items listed are low quality and disposable. I believe in buy good, and buy it once. I think someone is better off spending more, getting good tools that they would enjoy and will have for years to come, and then adding other quality pieces a little at a time. The $100 might buy a lot, but it's things that won't hold up. They also won't be the most pleasant tools to cook with, and will discourage a starting cook.

If you have only $100 to spend on pots, pans, knives, and utensils, you're probably not in a position to worry about whether or not you're getting good quality. Start hitting garage sales, estate sales and flea markets.

My first kitchen as a college student was outfitted that way. I was ecstatic just to have the stuff and it saw me through a year of college, two years of graduate school, and a few years after that.

My friends were in the same boat.

Then, I had the pleasure of buying better quality.

Many a happy chef has found le cruset at garage sales and good will. I've had good luck finding knives on sale at specaility kitchen shops. I'm looking to upgrade my pots and pans, and i have more than i think i need and i'd like to go all-metal. ala all-clad but am hunting for my bargian.

Stores like TJ Maxx, Marshall's, and especially Tuesday Morning are where I stock up on deeply discounted home and kitchen items. I got a Bodum french press for $8 and a Le Creuset tea kettle for $25, both at Tuesday Morning.

I really liked Mark Bittman's article on this:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/09/dining/09mini.html

He doesn't get down to less that $100 but his recommendations are pretty good.

Also there's a nice similar section in his book. You can actually read that part as a preview with Amazon Reader. Hopefully this link works:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0471789186/ref=sib_fs_top?ie=UTF8&p=S00M&checkSum=7bFbsJykelntFlChxI9P6Ta%2BVVqZFpYuB2csiwLjGxg%3D#reader-link

Hey, speaking of the Bittman article (which I also love - thanks for posting it and the other link, wunami), does anyone have any experience with the plain ol' Dexter-Russell chef's knife that he recommends? I respect a good knife quite a bit, but my budget is making this option look more and more appealing...

Bed, Bath, and Beyond 20% off coupons - a little secret is that they are good beyond their expiration date! I keep a whole stack on hand. (You can only use them at the store, not online...special order it at the store to use the coupon, but you'll still pay shipping.)

Aldyth is right - $100 can get you a starter kitchen, enough to last you until you can afford something nicer.

A good buy would be a cast iron fry pan. Which could be used as a roaster, is inexpensive, and lasts forever.

What would I spend $100 on - these days, it would be oxo gadgets - I need a bigger whisk, for one.

PS - if you bought all those things online, you'd probably spend another $50 in shipping, unless you're able to find them locally for the same price! (BBB one thing, Bowery Kitchen Supply in NYC another.)