Hi!

My name is Bella and I’m really happy that you’re here.

A little about me me & my love of food…

I grew up watching my mum and grandma whip up delicious, hearty meals with nothing more than basic ingredients.

While the process from dry ingredients to appetizing food was fascinating to me, I loved nothing more than devouring the finished product. I’ve been the household taste tester for as long as I can remember.

But when I started making food myself, I found that to get great tasting food, I often had to spend quite a bit.

My love for all kinds of food (seriously, I’ll try anything) kept getting in the way and I found myself buying gadgets that I didn’t always need.

I’m largely self taught so I love experimenting in the kitchen. I soon realized that I had to find a happy medium between my food obsession and splashing cash on appliances.

Following a massive decluttering and going back-to-basics, I found that I could make delicious meals and treats without breaking the bank.

All by making smarter purchases of both ingredients and equipment.

I started this blog to catalog my finds and share my recommended products. I honestly believe some kitchen tools are indispensable, but some are not even worth the unboxing effort.

I also love the research that goes into finding those little gems, so I started APOT to put all my rambling thoughts and experiments in one place.

I’m constantly trying to become a better cook and also looking out for tools that can help me along.

But that’s enough about me.

How APOT began

I created this resource to help food lovers like you, find the right product, every time.

With stores like Amazon stocking virtually every product under the sun, buying a new appliance isn’t as simple as hopping on and choosing one.

For example, Amazon currently carries over 10,000 different toasters!

Like many of us, you probably don’t have the time to sift and sort through all that.

Rather than have you give up and buy something you don’t like or close the page because you can’t find the answers you are looking for, we’re here to help you ease that frustration.

APOT covers detailed product reviews (plus my recommendations), informational posts, my favorite recipes, a constantly updated comparison table and more.

On APOT, you’ll find:

Product Reviews

We’ve all fallen for the convenience of online shopping, but buying products online can be hit-or-miss.

I mean, how are you sure it’s the right one for your needs?

When it comes to gadgets, you have to make a number of decisions, including:

• What are the basic features it must have to suit your needs?
• Should you invest in a unitasker or a multitasker?
• Should you buy the top-of-the-range model or will a budget buy work as well?

Remember the 10,000 toasters on Amazon?

Who has the time to compare them all and find the one that’s just right?

I want you to avoid buyer’s remorse and be happy with your new appliance, that’s why I create such detailed reviews.

The reviews on APOT are designed to virtually walk you around the product so you get a better understanding of whether it will fit your requirements.

By the time you’re done reading a review, I want you to feel as if you just tested the product, from the comfort of your home.

To do this, I read the manuals from cover to cover, study user reviews and comments, and go in stores to see if I can get a demo or talk to an assistant.

All the information gathered is assembled in a review post, discussing product features, down to the tiniest details. Detailing everything from whether it does the job to its ease of use, ease of cleanup and more.

I also look at non-obvious factors like the strength of a brand and even their manufacturing practices. While you may know and trust a brand name, the truth is that not all of them are consistent with product quality. This is why digging into these factors can help unearth facts about product performance.

These can change over time and it can affect the quality of an appliance that used to be stellar.

An example is this waffle maker review from a well-known brand; however in recent years, user reviews suggest that they have compromised on their manufacturing standards.

Product Comparisons

When 2 or more products are similar in features and/or price, I do a comparison to help you decide which will suit your needs more.

For this, I use a comparison table containing the features deemed most important/must-have. This allows you to filter and narrow down the options, making it much easier to choose one.

Each entry in the table is also linked to our review of the product, allowing you to get all the information you need in only a few clicks. The table is constantly updated as new models/gadgets are reviewed.

See our table here: Compare Waffle Makers.

Shopping on a budget? A post like my 5 Belgian Waffle Makers under $50, can help lovers of the thicker waffle find a waffle maker, for cheap.

See, my goal is to find appliances that fit your specific recommendations, so you can get your shopping done faster and have time for your loved ones.

Whether you’re a first time buyer or looking to replace an older/damaged unit, our reviews are created to help you make the perfect choice.

Consumer Education

Besides reviews and recipes, we also publish content to educate consumers like you.

For example, I’m sure you’ve heard the ‘news’ that BPA in plastic is slowly killing everyone. I was so worried about this that I researched the topic to be sure (I mean, we all have that Tupperware set that just seems to be in constant rotation in our kitchens.)

Here’s what I found out about BPA.

I aim to bust myths like this so you can figure out what’s real, what’s sheer malarkey and make informed choices.

And, while I believe in eating healthy, I know food must also be wholesome and taste amazing.

So on APOT, you’ll find a mix of healthy and not-so-healthy (the key is moderation) recipes that I have tried or plan to try.

And that’s APOT in a nutshell.

Like I said, I love great tasting food and often (OK, a lot of the time), indulge my sweet tooth. So I’m always on the lookout for recipes and kitchen tools to help me make more tasty food, more efficiently.

Do come with me on my journey as I test out new meal ideas, gadgets and conquering culinary feats along the way.

I hope you’ll join other subscribers and social followers as we all learn a thing or two from APOT.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please email me at bella @ aplateoftasty dot com.

I’d love to hear from you!

bella…

xoxo