Create the Ideal Kitchen at Halfvalue.com

It all starts off with a good knife
If there is one thing every chef is most proud of, it will almost inevitably be his or her favorite knife. There are a lot of options out there, and because everyone's hand is a little different, and chops, slices, and dices a little differently, there's no perfect knife for everyone. Find one that fits your style best. My personal favorite is the 'Shun Classic 10-Inch Chefs Knife'. The incredibly sharp and thin 10 inch blade glides through any material for effortless slicing. You may want to consider a shorter blade for finess and accuracy. The 'Shun Classic 4-Inch Paring Knife' is a great choice.

While a 10 piece set looks nice on the counter, if you can hone your skills with two or three knives, you will be greatly rewarded in both efficiency and result.

A few other options to consider are the 'Wüsthof Classic 10-Inch Wide Cook's Knife' if you prefer the German style knives, which tend to be heavier and have a little more shape to 'rock' with. The 'Wüsthof Classic 5-Inch Serrated Utility Knife' is good for slicing through delicate skins of tomatoes and other vegetables, although a sharp chef's will do the job. An expensive bread knife is a waste of money.

Keep your knives sharp and treat them with respect and they will be treasures in your kitchen for decades. Store them on a magnetic strip or in a block for the safety of others and the wellbeing of the knives. Always get a steel at least the length of your longest blade (usually 10"), and be sure to 'sharpen' your knives often, for your safety and ease of cutting as well.

For those who desire a slightly lighter set of knives, but still want top quality, the 'Wüsthof Classic Le Cordon Bleu 3-Piece Chef's Set' is a nice compromise. The new line from Wusthof brings a sharper, lighter blade without the bolster, allowing full use of the knife and easier sharpening. For the fans of the Asian knives, the 'Global 3-Piece Kitchen Knife Set' is a solid choice.

One of the best kept secrets in the knife world comes from one of the most popular brand of knives in the world! The 'Victorinox 8-Piece Knife Block Set' is probably the best deal on the market if you're on a limited budget, and the knives are of superb quality.

Finding the perfect cookware
Finding the right cookware for your style, needs, desires, and budget is perhaps the most difficult part about outfitting your ideal kitchen. The most important thing to keep in mind is that whatever you choose, get the best you can afford. If you handle your cookware properly, it should last you a lifetime. It is quite possibly one of the best investments you'll ever make, and one that should not be taken lightly.

Although I try to stay clear from the non-stick coating as much as possible, it does come in handy for a few things, most notably for omlettes. The 'Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 10-Inch Omelet Pan' is a great addition to any kitchen set, and should last you a long time at a very reasonable price. For all my other cookware, I prefer Stainless multiply or cast iron. A wok is always a nice addition to any kitchen (see suggestion below).

Here are my suggestions:
The 'Le Creuset 4-1/4-Quart Soup Pot with Cover, Blue' for making beautifully crafted soups and slow-cooked sauces for your favorite dishes (a must for a proper Italian ragu). Any Le Creuset pot will make a stunning addition to your collection, and the wonders of low-heat, slow cooking will surely delight your tastes.

The real battle in cookware has for a long time been between Calphalon and All-Clad, each with their devoutees at home and in high-class restaurants. The reality is that home cooking has very different needs than professional cooking, and, naturally, requires different equipment. If you have the budget for it, I highly suggest the All-Clad Cop-R-Core line. Copper is without a doubt the best conducting material, and All-Clad makes this series both beautiful and incredibly functional. My own favorite is the All-Clad original Stainless collection (with a full core of aluminum running up the sides for even and quick heating). The 'All-Clad Stainless 9-Piece Cookware Set' is a great introductory set. Just make sure you clean it following its directions and you'll never have a problem.

Some other additions include:
'All-Clad Stainless 3-Quart Saucier Pan'
'Joyce Chen 14-Inch Carbon Steel Wok Set'
'Lodge Logic 12-Inch Pre-Seasoned Skillet'
'Lodge Pro-Logic Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron 12-Inch Square Grill Pan'

And for some great deals while they last:
'Calphalon Commercial Hard-Anodized 2-1/2-Quart Shallow Saucepan with Lid'
'Calphalon Commercial Hard-Anodized 12-Inch Everyday Pan with Lid'
'Calphalon Commercial Hard-Anodized 9-Inch, 2-Quart Chef's Skillet with Lid'

Beware of overkill
You'll most likely spend the bulk of your money on cookware, but hopefully for good reason. If you buy it well, and take care of it, it will last forever and raise your cooking abilities and agility to limits you might not have imagined. It truly makes a difference, so be prepared to spend a fair sum to get high quality material. However, where many people go wrong when furnishing their kitchens is in the arena of appliances and gadgets. The Americanization of the cooking culture has led people to substitute 'mechanical choppers' for the swift blade of a chef's knife. Not only will you get inferior results, but if you can hone your knife skills, you will be able to minimize costs.

First, what you should buy:
A balance and a thermometer are both great items to have in the kitchen. Why not put them together? The 'Polder 3-in-1 Kitchen Tool' does just that, although less expensive versions can often do the trick if you're looking for just one or the other.

For a quick fix for many of your cooking needs, the 'OXO Good Grips 76781 6-Piece Kitchen Essentials Set' is a great addition to any kitchen.

The 'Oneida 7-Piece Contempo Tool Set, Brushed/Polished' is a nice way to ornament your Stainless cookware set for a fair price. (note: don't use metal whisks on non-stick surfaces! This should be obvious)

Also, if you're a coffee nut, the 'Capresso 302.01 Mini-S 4-Cup Safety Espresso/Cappuccino Machine' is a fairly good product for espresso drinks (although the simpler, and cheaper Italian stove models work just as well, if not better)

If you must:
The 'KitchenAid K45WSSWH Classic Series 4-1/2-Quart Stand Mixer with Spatula, White' is a necessary addition for the bakers out there, although never use this or any other machine to make your pasta. Learn the basics of kneading and cutting your own pasta and you will be a proud part of a long heritage of Italian grandmothers (nonne) who perfected the art centuries ago.

The 'Cuisinart DLC-10S Pro Classic 7 Cup Food Processor' seems to have become a staple in recipe books these days, although the manual approach will almost inevitably lead to better results, and without the nit-picky cleaning.

Books Galore
While some of the best meals you'll probably create will come from inspiration, an idea borrowed from a great meal you had at a restaurant, or the suggestion of a friend, cookbooks can be your friends as well.

Some great titles include, 'Molto Italiano : 327 Simple Italian Recipes to Cook at Home', 'Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking', 'Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles Cookbook: Strategies, Recipes, and Techniques of Classic Bistro Cooking', 'Simply Ming : Easy Techniques for East-Meets-West Meals', and lastly, 'The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook'

Mangia, Mangia!