My Love Affair With The Gas Range

When I was young, my Mother had an old gas stove (it seemed old, even then!) It was small, white, had four burners, an oven and a drawer underneath that held baking pans and the broiler pan. I remember whenever I opened the drawer, it always made noise.

The concoctions that she cooked on that little stove in the corner of a small, crowded kitchen seemed like magic to me. She took raw ingredients, some of which looked questionable to a young one, and made the most marvelous tasting treats!

Now, not too long ago it seems, I had my own gas range. Yes, I had had many kitchens before I owned my first home, but when I did, it was time to redo the kitchen, just the way I wanted it. The first thing was to have the kitchen plumped for gas for the soon-to-be gas range sitting in the heart of the new kitchen.

What stove - what brand - what size, were are questions running through my head as I shopped many physical places. (This was before the internet where we are now so accustomed to looking at a dozen items in just a few minutes.) I finally decided on a Viking 36 inch range with a tall back splash, warming shelf and a double lung exhaust hood.

Actually, this was rather a daring move since Viking was a brand new company and no one local had one installed. The range was so beautiful and fit every criteria that I wanted that I could not help but take the risk.

That was over 20 years ago. That range was everything I had hoped and more. When we sold the house, the range came with us. So it has been through some moves, many different kitchens. And although, I have had many other large professional looking gas ranges, that old Viking still holds my heart.