Myths About AGA Ovens – Part Two
When making a purchase the buyer should investigate all the options available and gen up on the pros and cons. The same goes for buying an Aga cooker although an Aga should be considered more of an investment than a purchase because it’s likely to be in your possession for a lifetime. As a range cooker it is quite simply second to none and any current owner will tell you they can’t live without it.
While researching which model to buy – whether it be a heat storage gas range cooker or a a duel-fuel – you’ll find plenty of positive reviews, but also a few negative ones. The fact is, not everyone will extol the virtues of an Aga but a lot of the opinions you’ll read are based on misinformation or from poor operation of the appliance. Many myths can be dispelled by learning how to operate the cooker correctly and the best way to learn is to book yourself on an Aga demonstration.
Some of the common misconceptions about Agas are listed, and answered, below.
“They’re dangerous if you’ve got kids. The hotplates are always on and give no indication or warning so horrible burns can occur.”
It’s true they’re always on but you’re aware of that because it gives off heat. The same goes for the hotplate so if a child lifts the lid they will feel the heat from it. If your child is tall enough to lift the lid, chances are they’re at an age when they know hot things can burn.
“You’ll have to throw out all your old pots and pans. Agas need flat-bottomed, thick base cookware and will ruin anything that isn’t.”
This isn’t true. Aluminium and stainless steel pans work fine and don’t have to have a thick base. Most pans these days are flat-bottomed anyway but if yours aren’t they’ll still be okay. Of course, if you’re buying a quality oven it’s a good idea to include some quality Aga cookware.
“The hotplates are so large but you can only really get one pan on satisfactorily. What if you need to put more pans on?”
Owning an Aga does require you to learn new ways of cooking and that includes relying less on the hotplates and more on the ovens. An Aga cookery demonstration will teach you how to do this. However, if you prefer cooking with pans there are other models available that will provide up to six gas burners.
“You can’t control the temperature so all your old cookbooks become redundant. You have to buy Aga cookery books.”
Not at all. You’ll learn where to find the different temperatures of the ovens. For example, slow cooking is done in the simmering oven, pie crusts are best on the floor of the top oven and the roasting oven changes temperature from top to bottom. Once you know where to put things, you can use your old cookbooks as well as your new ones.
“There’s no timer. What if you want to have something ready for when you return home?”
That’s true about the timer, but you can slow cook your dinner so it’s ready when you get in. And don’t forget, the oven will already be up to temperature so when you come in from work there’s no pre-heat waiting times and you can start cooking immediately.
Aga Cookery Demonstrations
If you’re considering buying an Aga, or perhaps you’ve recently bought one or inherited one, then it’s a good idea to book a place at an Aga cookery demonstration.These events are run in showrooms and locations up and down the country to help prospective owners, current owners and even experienced users to gain a better understanding of how to cook with these iconic ovens.
Agas are among the easiest and most versatile cookers on the market with a range of features that will help you prepare great food for family and friends. There is a wide range of models to choose from to suit the needs of any home and lifestyle. The latest models come in a variety of fuel options including gas, oil, electric and duel-fuel. Depending on the size of your kitchen you’ll also find an oven that will fit the space available from the larger six-burner, four-oven range cookers to the compact four-burner, 2-oven cooker.
Discovering exactly what an Aga oven can do is time well spent particularly if you’ve yet to invest in one. These famous cookers are likely to last you a lifetime but the initial financial outlay is high so it’s prudent to find out what you can expect from it. Seeing one in a showroom will give you some basic operational knowledge but to a get a true indication of all the benefits it’s best to see one in action.
Clapham Restaurants – Where to Eat
Whether you live in London or find yourself visiting the capital city as a tourist or day-tripper, you’re always on the look-out for somewhere that offers good affordable food, attentive service and a great atmosphere. The great news is that transport around the city is so efficient that you’re never too far from good eating. Some of the best places to eat outside of the city centre can be found in South London so why not head to Clapham Common and grab a bite to eat at a Clapham restaurant.
Eating out in Clapham
London really is a food-lovers paradise due to more than 6,000 cafés, bistros, gastro-pubs and restaurants spread across the various boroughs of the city. You can find yourself in any part of London and be just a stone’s throw from somewhere to have a lunch-time snack or enjoy fine dining. But with so many places to eat, how can you be assured of getting good food?
If you’ve lived in London for some time you’d have had more opportunity to try out different restaurants either by exploring for yourself or getting recommendations from friends and family. However, being such a vast city you’re never going to know every single one and for those exploring London for the first time the choice can be even more mind-boggling.
To help narrow down your search for somewhere new to eat, how about taking a trip to Clapham Common where you’ll find some great small restaurants that cater for every taste. Not only that, but you’ll also be visiting one of London’s largest open spaces where you can spend a few hours relaxing away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Clapham Common – Relaxation & Restaurants
If you’re lucky enough to live in London or you’re a tourist to the nation’s capital city then a good place to visit is Clapham Common. As one of the largest open spaces in London, the Common is home to plenty of outdoor events in the summer and surrounded by some of the best restaurants in Clapham. You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to selection of eateries around the Common itself and on along the vibrant High Street.
Clapham Common
Londoners will tell you how important large open spaces are to city-dwelling especially when you have to spend so much of your time in the congested streets or fighting your way through the commuting rush hour. Clapham Common is a 220 acre parkland situated between Clapham, Battersea and Balham where cyclists, kite-flyers, joggers, picnickers and children get the chance to grab some fresh air and enjoy much needed downtime.
Clapham Common has three ponds, two of which are used for angling and one for model boat enthusiasts. The Common also has a modern paddling pond for cooling down in on a hot summer’s afternoon and outdoor courts for the sporting types. At the centre of the Common is London’s largest bandstand which has regular live music from June through to September – pull up a deckchair and unwind to some jazz, blues or big band.
During the summer there are also a number of festivals on the Common including Ben & Jerry’s Sundae Festival where free ice cream, fairground rides, a city farm and live music combine to provide a great event for big kids and little kids alike. If you happen to be around the Common on the night of November 5th, you’ll be in time for bonfire night with a huge fireworks display, processions and funfairs.
After spending time soaking up the sun, getting a bit of exercise or watching things go bang, you’ll be in need of some sustenance and you’re just a short stroll away from the great choice of Clapham restaurants.