The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Got my new Ankarsrum (Assistent, DLX, Magic Mill, Electrolux, etc) and here are pics :)

Theresse's picture
Theresse

Got my new Ankarsrum (Assistent, DLX, Magic Mill, Electrolux, etc) and here are pics :)

I'd borrowed a friend's early '80s/late '70s mixer before deciding on this mixer and I thought THAT was a great machine.  This one blows it out of the water, frankly.  So fast, so smooth, so powerful, so quiet.  And newer features that are really handy like detachable cord and extra hole for dough scraper to also be able to be used with the dough hook (not to mention other bonuses like the whisks and second bowl, better looks overall, etc). 

I originally assumed I'd want some fun color but in the end - after really imagining it in my small, easily cluttered, period kitchen - I decided to go with something with more appropriate (I use towels, rugs and vases, etc. to add splashes of color).  So I got the color called "light creme" which isn't offered in the U.S. yet but is in Europe and Canada (and not sure where else).  I got it from the Canadian distributor which is jalyns.ca/ .  Lovely woman named Lynn was extremely helpful and kind (owns the business I believe).

Have yet to make anything other than whisking eggs this morning which of course turned out great, but hope to get around to making something tonight!

This light creme color is a tad less yellow than the regular cream one already out there, and I think it looks great with a kitchen that has lots of gray, cream and white in it as mine does. :)  The white accessories help you see the cream vs. white...

Theresse's picture
Theresse

Late somewhere so will post more pics when I get back...

Floydm's picture
Floydm

Fun fun!  Enjoy!

barryvabeach's picture
barryvabeach

Theresse,  great looking counter and mixer.  Make sure you post some detailed reviews once you put it through its paces, in a few weeks or months, someone will be struggling with the same decision and will appreciate your input.  

Theresse's picture
Theresse

Thanks Floyd!  Yes fun fun indeed.  I keep touching it and saying "my precccious" and turning it and and slowly up then slowly down and off again.  It's ridiculous - I'm definitely like a kid with a new toy.

Barry - thanks for the counter compliments! :)  I still can't believe I chose stainless for a somewhat period kitchen (was imitating zinc in an old butlers pantry I think) but it does work somehow and it does look pretty great with that mixer!  I will definitely post a more detailed review later.

Here's another pic giving more of a sense of its size from a distance.  Note that my hundred year-old upper cabinets come down lower than modern ones and the mixer still mostly fits due to the roller pulling the arm forward enough to allow my cupboard door to open fully.  The space beneath most people's cabinets is significantly higher.

Theresse's picture
Theresse

Another pic...

Hey Barry - are you the same Barry over at Gardenweb where I'm also showing these pictures and we're discussing under-cab lighting on the side?!  If so, hi, and hi again! :)

 

barryvabeach's picture
barryvabeach

Theresse,  same Barry. Here you see more posts focused on baking and bread kneading, over on Garden it is a different focus, but some great people on both forums.  As a new convert to the Assistent, I think it should dominate on this board since it is head and shoulders above the KA in kneading. The KA has taken some negative hits, but for a general purpose mixer - cakes, cookies, and small amounts of dough it is pretty good  and so you would expect to see more positive posts on the Gardenweb board on the KA then here. That is why I check both.

Theresse's picture
Theresse

Barry - I luuuuv gardenweb.  It has helped me in so many ways, particularly when I did a partial remodel of my kitchen.  I knew this machine wouldn't be as known there but I originally thought I'd get more feedback there than here just cause the amount of people and responses there are huge.  Plus, so many people there are so knowledgable about so many things, don't you agree?  You being one of them of course! ;)  I often check two forums regardless of topic re. my other hobbies too.  The more info the better!

shoshanna673's picture
shoshanna673

Theresse I envy you.  I lust after one of these but unfortunately they are not available in Australia.  Pleasant Hill Grain will ship one to me in 230V (our power requirements are different here), but I am concerned about lack of service and parts if ever required.  Hope one day they will be available here .. until that time I can only dream and envy those folk who can access them.  Enjoy your new toy!

Sondra

Theresse's picture
Theresse

No longer true, according to their facebook page comments! :)

http://www.blackwoodlane.com/assistent.html

In fact you guys can get the "creme light" color which we in the U.S. can't!  That's why I ordered mine from Canada - cause I really loved that color (much to my own surprise)!

barryvabeach's picture
barryvabeach

Theresse,  agree on all points - except, one thing it  is really hard to find info on the best ovens for home baking.  On both GardenWeb and here, there are very few posts on using a combi steam oven, or a steam assist oven for baking.

Theresse's picture
Theresse

Huh - I wonder - there should be more of a general baking forum somewhere that would have more info for you about such stoves?  I wouldn't know - I hate to say it but I have a cheap GE electric stove!!  I would love to have a vintage but restored stove actually, like one of these:

http://gawain.membrane.com/antique-gas-stoves/okeefe-and-merritt-antique-stove-for-sale.html

However, I wouldn't want to clean them, and I'm sure they're not as efficient as anything modern!

Anyway it surprises me that gardenweb hasn't pointed you in the right direction considering the wealth of information typically within! : - /

shoshanna673's picture
shoshanna673

Thanks Theresse for that info and link.   I checked the website and have emailed them for info.  Will have to sell my KA, Kenwood and Breville mixers, none of which are worth squat for bread making!!!

Thanks for the heads up.

Sondra

Theresse's picture
Theresse

Happy to help!  Wow - think of all that cupboard space you'll free up! ;)  What color would you want?  I wanted pink, and blue, and black, and light green.  How the heck did I end up with light creme?!!  Lol.

gary.turner's picture
gary.turner

There's no rule that says you can't have all five colors. You'd be able to match colors against your mood on baking day. What's another $2800 or so among friends?

cheers,

gary