This last Friday Big D and myself headed out to Oakland to East Bay Restaurant Supply. It was an impromptu adventure born from the sheer need to leave the company compound. I have some other photographs that I took and up until yesterday evening, I would have used them. I believe however, this really ties it all in together.

The place is cavern like, yet really large with shelves and floor space filled with ‘stuff’. If you need a 900 dollar weber grill, they have it. If you need an aluminum pot large enough to simmer a 4 year old child, they have it. If you need a wisk, they have it. But what they don’t have is a chinois (what I needed) and quality control.
On my way out I saw a box that held one of those cheese grater things. A person would install the cheese particle in to the hopper and turn the handle. One of three graters would turn your cheese in to all kinds of really useful pieces. You’d think.
We had one for years but it finally wore out. Spiffy beast that provided all kinds of accurate service.
The one at EB Supply was about 8 dollars at best, why the hell not?
I’ll tell you why. The shit don’t flippin’ work worth a pinch of moon poo. The damned thing couldn’t even hold a piece of cheese and grate it. The manufacture was so sloppy you were more likely to shave steel in to your food than cheese. As I turned the handle I truly felt metal shavings was what I was producing.
The moral of this story is, pay attention. I’m all for saving a buck or 90, but dammit. Pay the HELL attention and get good equipment when you need it.
Xo Xo
p.s. Here are a few of the many photographs I took that day.
This is just a small corner of what was available.

Below you’ll find those huge aluminum pots you’ll certainly need some day.