King of the Grill: Evo flattop appliance

I recently stopped by the Ferguson’s showroom on NW 18th in Portland (which is awsome you should totally check it out) and saw a cooking demonstration of the Evo cooktop.  With summer upon us this would be a great alternative to the traditional outdoor grill for outdoor living spaces.  Plus, they have indoor and tabletop versions so the good times can last all year long.  Read the excerpt below then jump over to their website or walk into Ferguson, BASCO or the NW Natural Appliance Center to learn more.

From Evo Website:

Certain cooking styles (more than others) reveal the wonderful flavor potential of foods- particularly steak, seafood, and vegetables. With Evo’s circular flattop cooking surface you have the ability to sear, sauté, braise, boil, roast, steam, stir-fry, bake, poach, toast, fry and grill. Similar to traditional cast-iron pan cooking techniques, Evo’s large and versatile cooking surface lets you cook foods while highlighting the natural wonderful caramelized flavors of food.

Evo’s cook surface gives you ample room to cook whole pieces of meat or fish. Professional chefs know that sear cooking with high heat caramelizes the natural carbohydrates of food, turning them into flavorful, natural sugars. The contrast in taste between the seared outside crust and the interior makes food more interesting and fun to eat.

Evo’s cook surface also protects food from the negative effects of charring, which is a familiar problem with open-flame barbeque grills. Burning and charring of food is not the same as searing and caramelization. With an open-flame grill, the leaping flames and pulsating heat cause proteins to repetitively contract and relax, expelling natural, flavorful juices. Cooking foods on Evo’s solid plate cooking surface eliminates any chance of food coming into contact with a direct open flame, so you can cook moist, tender meats and poultry without the burn and char.

Additionally, the design of Evo’s cooking surface has a slightly crowned shape that allows cooking juices and liquids to flow from the center to the outside edge and into the drip tray below. This allows you to keep foods separated across the cook surface, and if you’re cooking several things at one time, it also allows you maintain the distinct flavor of each item being cooked. Unlike open-flame grated grills that allow cooking juices to smolder and smoke everything with a universal charred taste, Evo lets food cook in its own juices and provides wonderful natural aroma that enhances the taste experience.

20 Questions With Angela Todd

Angela Todd’s vibrant red hair, impeccable taste in clothing, Midwestern drawl and perky personality make her as unique and memorable as the rooms she styles.

This professional designer has deep roots in all things artistic and has a passion for life and beautiful spaces. Consequently, in 2006 she started Angela Todd Designs, a full-service design firm dedicated to incorporating clients’ personal style and treasures into their spaces.

While relatively new to the HBA, Todd’s made the most of her year with the association by joining the Professional Remodelers Organization, PRO Marketing Committee, PRO Steering Committee and the Communications Committee and helping out at the Ultimate Open House by staging and styling homes with the Interior Design Society of Portland, where she serves as Vice President Elect. She’s a consistent fixture at HBA events and is quick to flash a smile, tell a joke and leave you feeling more upbeat about the world in no time flat, making her a welcome addition to any group she joins.

A regular contributor on KXL’s Around the House with Handyman Bob during her segment, “The Design Angle,” Angela is also a regular blogger on her site and guest blogger for the Interior Design Society of Portland, Home Gain, and The Society of Decorating Professionals.

In her free time, Todd enjoys weekends in wine country and on Oregon coast, spending time on the water and in her garden, and relaxing with those she loves. Her pride and joy are her two darling dogs, a golden retriever named Kashmir and a sheltie named Sadie Sue.

Business Basics

Education: I got my bachelor’s from the University of Minnesota and then attended a private design school.

How’d You Get Started: I started my career in marketing and sales. It was a great foundation for running a successful business. When I stopped liking what I did for a living, I knew it was time to follow my dream of designing interiors.

Secrets to Success: As a designer, I listen first and then speak. As a business partner, I work to connect people and share opportunities.

Measuring Success: I measure success by my personal happiness.  To me, being happy is the secret to success in all of life.

Business Mentors or Heroes: I love my mentors – so many have influenced me! My father is a great entrepreneur and taught me the value of building strong relationships with people and business partners. I also have great respect for successful business women like Brandy Marsh from Area Floors who is a great partner and coach for me.  Additionally, I have learned tons from the remodelers and builders I work with, including Mitch and Arlene Stanley from Stanley Home Renovation and Design.

Making the Call

Business Decision You’re Most Proud Of: Giving up my “golden handcuffs” and finding the courage to go back to school and start my own design business.

One You’d Like to Have Back:  When I first started my business, I spent most of my time in leads groups. After about a year of weekly meetings and passing many referrals, I realized nothing was back coming to me. After that I started focusing my networking to homogeneous groups like the HBA. It has made a huge difference in growing my business.

Principals I Use For Big Decisions: Do what feels right.  Be honest and direct when you need to but always with kindness. And I always talk through big decisions with mentors. They keep me grounded and focused.

The Best Business Advice You’ve Received:  Do what you are most passionate about and the money will follow.

Where I’ve Been, Where I am Going

What I Learned From My First Job: I worked for my Dad and knew I had a burning desire to grow and run my own business someday. Dad said, “There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make things happen, those who let things happen, and those that wonder what happened. Decide who you are Angela.”

First “Career” Job: I worked in marketing and branding at a hearing health care start up.  It relocated me to Portland.

As a Kid, I Wanted to Be: A designer, a business owner, a writer or a professional singer.  I am fortunate to have done all four.

If I Weren’t Doing This, I’d Be: Living a life I didn’t intend.

Insider Information

People Would Be Surprised to Know:  I was a lead singer for a wedding and event band in Portland for eight years.

If I Could Work For Free For Any Cause/Charity, It Would Be: I would create special spaces for children and families who are dealing with tough times, poverty or illness.

Famous Words I wished I’d Said:  “If you help enough people get what they want, you will get what you want.” – Zig Ziglar

I Need More Time on Weekends For: Hiking, boating, spending time with family and friends and taking the occasional afternoon nap.

Associates Corner: Coulee Concrete

Article below from guest blogger Janet Creasy of Coulee Concrete Designs.

Ever considered pre-cast concrete? As you may know, concrete is the medium of choice for many architects and remodelers through the country, both inside and out of dwellings. A quick look into pre-cast concrete will tell you that the possibilities are limitless.

The number one benefit to pre-cast concrete is all about the engineering of the mold. Most people think, “oh yeah, I can do that”. But in fact the molds are the key to entire process. Not only to they have to be formed properly, they should be perfect before the liquid conglomeration of aggregate, cement, and sand (and reclaimed fly ash for eco conscious businesses) hit them. Since concrete starts in liquid form, the ability to produce custom and standard products is far beyond the ordinary. A recent project at Coulee Concrete Designs of Lake Oswego involved making a custom shower curb that met with the glass of the shower just so. Another involved putting an outlet in the side panel of the concrete to allow for a switch that was much more convenient for the homeowner. How about a soaking tub? Or a fireplace surround that doesn’t look puzzle pieced together but has harmonious clean lines that flow together?

In addition, open the flood gates and let the creative juices go! Because of its liquidity, designs are almost without limits and it is very cool to pop the art pieces out of the molds to see what has been created. Using concrete is truly unique as no two pieces can be alike, even when we apply the same standards to each. Tap into your customers that can grasp the concept of “functional art”. How about sea shells that are mementos of a beach trip? Or a reclaimed shelf bracket positioned just so into a corner of a countertop? Mitch Stanley of Stanley Home Design and Renovation has a unit on display in his showroom that has a “hand cut copper latch” around the rounded edge of a kitchen display piece.

One other tidbit is that because concrete is more porous than stone, it can be an excellent temperature modulation (enter ICF technology).

There are many examples of pre cast decorative concrete work to view on the web. One local source is www.couleeconcrete.com. Check it out, broaden your remodeling edge, get creative and have fun!

Contact Janet Creasy of Coulee Concrete Designs at 503-914-5985 or 503-895-2621.