Butcher Block Care

We sell a lot of John Boos butcher blocks and furniture with butcher block tops at 125West.com, and often we get customer questions about caring for their new butcher block. By following a few easy usage rules and maintenance steps, butcher block life is almost unlimited! Firstly, butcher blocks are made from real wood. Wood is a natural material that responds tochanges in temperature and humidity. These changes set up tremendous internal forces in the block. Their shape and dimensions will change with the seasons. If warping or edge cracking appears it is related to uneven changes in temperature or humidity. Keep your block dry, away from heat and allow it to dry evenly. Regular oiling helps to prevent these problems because it keeps water from entering the board. Sometimes this finish will give the impression that the block is wet, the topis ready to use. Wash your block by hand only using anti-bacterial dish soap and warm water. Do not submerge the block! Add a small amount of bleach or vinegar to the water for extra bacteria killing power after chopping bacteria carrying foods such as raw chicken. You can also rub the block with a half a lemon to kill bacteria. Our blocks are not dishwasher safe. Thoroughly dry the block after washing. When possible allow the block to dry standing up on edge to help the block dry properly and prevent warp. Periodically oil the block with mineral oil, Glumber Oil, or our Block Bros. All-Natural Block Oil. Letting the block dry out because of a lack of oil is the #1 cause of problems with the block. You can't oil your block too much! Oiling will help keep that beautiful sheen. Do not allow liquid to stand on the block for a long period of time, it will stain the block and cause the wood to expand, causing glue joint failure and warp. Use a steel scrapper or sandpaper as needed to keep the top smooth and free of deep cuts and food buildup, then re-oil the top. Work with different areas of the block to help it wear evenly. Both sides should be used if the design allows to extend the life of your board. Do not use a razor sharpened edge on your clever it will chip out the wood. Do not expose tops to excessive heat, cold or moisture! Never put in microwave or dishwasher. Never place on stove burners.

View John Boos Butcher Block Furniture at 125West.com

Fissler Cookware

Firstly, happy Thanksgiving. It has been a trying year in the economy and politics, but we all should still find things for which we can give thanks.

If you're considering high-performance cookware this season and do not want something made in China, you should consider Fissler. Fissler cookware has been produced in Germany since the year 1845! Today, more than 160 years later, Fissler is market leader in the European cookware market. Fissler products are recognized for outstanding quality, function, design, and high performance.

View Fissler Cookware at 125West.com

The Fissler Original Pro cookware collection features all-heavy gauge 18/10 stainless steel exterior construction combined with its Cookstar base. The Cookstar base performs on all cooktops (including induction) that encapulates with stainless steel a thick 6mm aluminum core for heat transfer and diffusion without any hot spot. Other features include tightly fitted lids for waterless cooking, easy-pour rims, large stay-cool handles (without rivets for best hygiene), and there even is a measuring scale inscribed inside the pot or pan. Original Pro may also be used in the oven, is dishwasher safe, and is backed by a lifetime warranty.

Fissler is also very well known for its pressure cookers that feature the same high-performance construction as Original Pro with stainless steel construction and the Cookstar base. The pressure cookers are simple and very safe to operate while adding a healthy and fast method to your culinary options.

AeroBed for the Holidays

As the holidays approach, you may be expecting house guests or you may be traveling out of town to visit relatives or friends. Where to sleep is usually an issue unless you have an AEROBED! A self-inflating AeroBed mattress offers the convenience and easy portability. Its patented Sleep-Align coil system provides unique firmness zones in different sections of the bed for ultimate sleeping comfort. And with its fully recessed air pump, an AeroBed is a full 9-inches thick to fit standard-sized bed frames, waterbed frames, sofa beds, or futons. And of course, you also can use it on the floor. AeroBed is perfect for overnight guests, vacation homes, dorm rooms, or anywhere you need a quick and comfortable bed. Many people use one every night!

View AeroBeds at 125West.com

An AeroBed takes 60 seconds to inflate using its motorized air pump. is constructed with heavy-gauge, non-allergenic, PCV vinyl and electronically welded seams that will provide years of sleeping comfort. The air mattress features the Aero exclusive Quadra Coil® construction for a smoother sleep surface with even cushioning that prevents pressure points and enhances circulation. The surface of the mattress has a plush, velvety surface for further comfort. Also conveniently included with the AeroBed Premier Comfort Plus is a thick, comfortable, machine washable mattress cover. When your houseguests are gone, the AeroBed Premier Comfort Plus deflates completely in 15 seconds and easily rolls up for compact storage in its convenient lightweight carry bag.

Solid Brass Door Knockers

One of the first impressions a visitor to your home may be the door knocker. At 125West.com, choose from a large assortment of handcrafted large, solid brass door knockers that will add a warm welcoming accent to your front door. Many knockers also may be personalizied by engraving! A solid brass door knocker also makes a wonderful housewarming present for family or friends.

These door knockers are made from solid cast brass. They are hand polished to a bright shiny finish with an added layer of clear lacquer to prevent tarnishing. Prices for our door knockers start around $20 and range up to $130 for very large, elaborate knockers.

Ruby Crystal 18,696 Carats

This monster natural ruby crystal is one of the world’s largest with a weight of 18,696 carats (8.2 lbs). Referred to as the "125West Ruby Crystal", it is semi-translucent to opaque and contains rutile, which may create a six-ray star if cut en cabochon. The crystal displays a strong red fluorescence when exposed to long-wave ultraviolet light. It measures 122.4mm x 112.3mm x 133.9mm. The ruby is identified in GIA Report 15171991 dated May 24, 2006.

If carved, the 125West Ruby Crystal gemstone would be the largest ruby carvature in the world. If cut en cabochon, it would be the largest cut and polished ruby gemstone in the world. This is a most unique opportunity for the serious gemstone collector or investor. For more information on the 125West Ruby Crystal, please click here or call the 125West Concierge at 1-888-921-9378 or 1-410-295-3917.


About Rubies:
The ruby belongs to the corundum group of minerals. Its name is derived from the red color (Latin Rubeus). Red corundum is always called by the name ruby, while other colors of corundum are known as sapphire. Rubies can be opaque, translucent, or transparent. The ruby coloring pigment is chrome plus some iron. The red color and tone vary with individual deposits, so it is not possible to identify the source area. Ruby is the second-hardest mineral after diamond and seven times harder than topaz. The hardness varies in direction and has no cleavage but does have certain preferred directions of parting. Care must be taken when cutting and setting a ruby. Inclusions in a ruby are common. Rutile needles produce a soft sheen known as silk. Or if cut en cabochon, the effect is six-rayed star (asterism) produced by the reflection of a light source.

Caffè Chicco d'Oro

Number One Coffee in Switzerland!

Switzerland is known for its high standards in coffee and coffee machines (home of the superautomatic coffee machine), and Chicco d'Oro is the number on coffee sold there. Caffè Chicco d'Oro is blended, roasted, and packed a very modern coffee plant located in the Switzerland's southern-most canton of Ticino, a scenic region of deep lakes, palm trees, and soaring snow-capped Alps. Blended from highest-quality 100% Arabica beans from Central America, Chicco d'Oro is roasted to a golden color, has full body, and is rich flavor and aroma. Caffè Chicco d'Oro is ideal for a superautomatic coffee machine and is equally delicious when brewed in an espresso machine or drip coffeemaker. Chicco d'Oro is available in the USA through 125West.com. Packed in 250g (8.8oz) and 1000g (2.2 lb) long-life, nitrogen-flushed bags, it ships right away to your home or office.

History of Coffee

The word "coffee" originates from the word "QAHWA" that in Arabic refers to every vegetable drink; coffee, in fact, was called "Arabia’s wine". Legends and tales lead us into the fascinating world of coffee’s origins. Among these is interesting the one that tells us about Angel Gabriel’s use of coffee to cure the prophet Mahomet. Among the numerous fables, there is a particular one: some Ethiopian monks noticed, in 850 A.D., coffee berries after their goats ate them. The monks picked the berries and obtained a decoction which kept them awake during their night-prayers. Coffee successfully spread from Ethiopia into Arabia as far as the whole zone of near Orient and of Mediterranean sea and with the drink came all the tools too, necessary for its preparation. The success of this phenomenon is proved by bas-relieves too, present in some tombs, made by bedouin families. This demonstrates the assimilation in every day life. In XVI Century coffee reached Constantinople where the first coffee shop was opened. Europeans discovered coffee many years later after already importing cacao and tea. In Vienna, around the year 1683, following the Turkish siege’s end, the first coffee house was built. But we have to wait for the years after Napoleon’s continental blockade to see the successfully diffusion of coffee in western Europe.

Steam Cleaners

Click Here to View Steam Cleaners at 125West.com

Discover the power of superheated steam to clean almost any surface in the home without any chemicals or detergents. A steam cleaner's self-contained boiler superheats the steam well over 300°F, which when dispensed from the nozzle is 221°F. The superheated steam sanitizes and dissolves dirt, grime, grease, mold, mildew, allergens, and bacteria for easy wipe-up. Uses of a steam cleaner in and around a home are immense. Steam clean and sanitize tile, flooring, glass, tubs, showers, sinks, wood, walls, baseboards, blinds, fixtures, appliances, furniture, carpets, children's toys, fireplaces, workout rooms, pet areas, automobile engines, and vehicle interiors, just to name a few. Once you start steam cleaning, you won't be able to stop! The steam cleaner is not a vacuum, extractor, or shampooing appliance. It cleans and sanitizes purely with superheated steam, and without using chemicals or detergents, the steam cleaner is an ecologically friendly product, too.