About two and a half years ago, Barry Adler, owner of Almar, showed me a new fast-heating induction stove top in his showroom. It takes a long time for the cooks of the world to adjust to new cooking techniques, but now there are at least four major appliance companies producing these extremely efficient stoves; Fagor America is a leading manufacturer http://www.fagoramerica.com , but Thermidor, Miele, Kenmore, Viking and Gagganeau have introduced them as well.

What are they? Induction is a way of cooking where electricity passes through magnetic elements under the cooktop. It produces a magnetic field in which your pot becomes part of the cooking element and your stove top does not get hot at all. The cool factor is particularly good if you have small children around. It also means that cooked food does not heat and harden on the cooktop surface. You just wipe it off with a wet cloth or paper towel when you finish cooking. In addition, the element shuts off automatically when a pot is removed from it.

For the greenies amongst you, they are very efficient in the use of heat produced. In a gas range, only 50% of the heat generated is available for cooking – the rest gets lost on the range surface or in your kitchen, whereas in induction cooking 90% of the BTU’s of heat go right into your food. A traditional electric stove’s BTU use is somewhere in between.

A negative right now is the sticker price – somewhere between $2,000 and $4,000. The other “problem” is that they require cast iron or enameled steel pots, so you probably cannot cook with the pots that you now own. If a magnet sticks to the bottom of your pots, they will work on these stoves – if not, you have to buy special set.

If that isn’t enough, your oven is about to change too. We live in a world where noone has the patience to wait for anything, so now manufacturers have come up with the speed cook oven. The secret is adding a bit of microwave cooking to get the interior of foods heating faster but still keeping the quality cooking of the traditional convection oven. Turbo Chef’s super speed oven, which has this feature, can run you $10,000, though. I’ve been using that method for eighteen years now on my Sharp microwave convection combo-cook setting, and can cook a nicely browned and juicy eleven-pound turkey in one and a half hours.

And even though statistics continually say we are not cooking at home as much anymore, the wide 36″ range and even double wall ovens are all the rage. For those of you looking for these state of the art items, try Almar. For the rest of you looking for something more modestly priced, I have three other stores to try. Just remember that expensive ranges aren’t necessarily better – they just offer you a lot of extra gadgets like: warming drawers, two ovens, split racks in the oven, five burners instead of four (one might be a warming one), expandable elements or perhaps a bridge element that connects two together to fit a large griddle.

Almar, 5400 Decarie Blvd at Isabella Ave. Phone: 514-482-0007. Hours: Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. When researching new appliances, it is important to go to a business (open since 1966) which can answer your questions, inform you on the latest innovations and help you decide exactly what you need. The choice here is North American or European standard or commercial style appliances in the middle to high end bracket (Maytag, Amana, Miele, Wolf, Sub-Zero, GE, Turbo Air, AEG, Liebherr, Gagganeau, Thermador, Frigidaire, Whirlpool, Kitchenaid, Diva, etc). Extensive help with built-in kitchens, ventilation and customized appliances is a specialty. http://www.almarappliance.com

Grand Appliances, 6244 Sherbrooke St. W. At Madison Ave. Phone: 514-486-1135. Hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This store is small and cramped, but that hasn’t stopped people from coming here for the last fifty-seven years. You can expect good prices and good service on major appliances made by Whirlpool, Hotpoint, Sharp, KitchenAid, Frigidaire, Woods, etc. You will pay only cost plus 10%, including delivery. A television and VCR repair service is also available.

Corbeil Appliances Centre de Liquidation, 5100 Des Grands Prairies Blvd at Viau Blvd., St. Leonard. Phone: 514-322-8595. Hours: Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. After fifty-seven years in the business, this company has grown quite a bit and now has this end-of-lines depot. You can find names you know: Inglis, GE, Frigidaire, Amana, Jennair, LG, Moffat, Maytag, Whirlpool, Bosch, Miele, Thermador, Sub-Zero, Fisher & Paykal. Sometimes you can find specialty items like wine coolers by Danby, Cavavin and Frigidaire.

Sears Liquidation Center, 6900 Decarie Blvd. at Vezina St. Phone: 514-731-6118. Hours: Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Finally we have a Sears clearance center again. You know their reputation for good service, and now you can buy their large appliances (fridges, stoves, dishwashers, washers, dryers) at greatly reduced prices. Then you can peruse the loungers, sofas, end tables, exercise bikes, chairs and TV’s.

Since the Bank of Montreal has its legal fair starting today, I thought that this week I would offer, besides their interesting event, a couple of other suggestions about where to find free or almost free legal advice and legal help throughout the year. The law is very complicated for the average person to understand. There are times when you will need to sit down with someone to get some legal assistance to face decisions you may have to make. It might be anything from separation or divorce to a quarrel with a neighbor over your property to the setting up of a new home business or estate planning.

I wonder how many of you know that we have a Montreal Ombudsman office. It has been open for about four years, and offers a friendly ear to help citizens with their rights involving city services, para-municipal organizations and city controlled corporations. Your own borough is the first place you should be going to for your problems, since the Ombudsman is the place of last resort.

Lawyers are very expensive, but there are social agencies that make it possible for you to have time with legally educated people at very little cost. McGill University has had, for over three decades, a legal information clinic. Organizations like the Women’s YWCA have lawyers on hand during certain hours who can help you sort out your problems. You would be surprised, if you just took the time to ask around at other community agencies in your own neighborhood, what legal advice you could find at reasonable rates.

The Bar of Montreal Salon, Grande Place of the Complexe Desjardins, 150 Ste. Catherine St. W at Jeanne Mance. Dates: Tuesday April 17 to Friday April 20. Hours: 9:30 a,m, to 4:30 p.m. Phone: 514-866-9392. Address the rest of the year: 1 Notre Dame St. East, Suite 9.80. Each April for the past ten years, the public and community organizations that work in connection with the justice system have gathered together in April to help the public better understand the legal system. Not only is the entrance Free, but the most popular activity is the Free legal consultations, where you are able to ask questions about starting a company, writing a will, recouping money owed, etc. Last year there were over eight hundred consultations during these three days. Don’t forget to bring all the documents related to your problem. During the event there are mock trials, theatrical activities, quizzes and over thirty exhibitors to check out. This year, since it is the tenth anniversary of the Salon and the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Charter of Rights, they will be serving a celebratory cake on Tuesday morning. At 11 a.m. on Tuesday there will be a mock trial comparing crime sentencing between the 18^th century and today. The same day at 12:30 p.m. there will be a debate featuring Julius Grey. www.barreaudemontreal.qc.ca

Montreal Ombudsman office, 275 Notre Dame St. E., Suite R100 at Gosford St. Phone: 514-872-8999. Hours: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., ombudsman@ville.montreal.qc.ca This office is the guardian of our Montreal Charter of Rights and Responsibilities, which has been around since January 1, 2006. The charter states in writing the principles that guide our actions in the city. If your own borough fails you in your quest to solve a problem, this office is your last resort. There are seven full time employees along with Johanne Savard, who is our very own ombudsman (or is that ombudswoman?).

McGill Legal Information Clinic, 3480 McTavish St., Room 107 at Sherbrooke St. Phone: 514-398-6792. Hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and then 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (closed from December to the second week in January, during Spring break and exam time). For the past thirty-three years, questions regarding your legal rights, ranging from leases to marriage contracts, human rights and immigration have been answered by law students. Remember – they can only give you referrals and legal information, not legal advice. Community groups can ask for a student to give a seminar on topics from tenants’ rights to family law, etc. www.mlic.mcgill.ca

Women’s Y of Montreal, 1355 Rene Levesque Blvd. West at Crescent St. Phone: 514-866-9941 ext. 293. Hours: Monday to Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., by appointment. You don’t have to be female to use this inexpensive ($5 for 30 minutes) service offering legal information. Income level is not a consideration either. There is a rotating group of about fifteen lawyers and two notaries Appointments are necessary.

These days, decorating a new baby’s room or a child’s room goes way beyond painting the walls yellow, pink or blue, buying a crib, rocking chair and changing table and putting a couple of cute pictures on the wall. This is serious business now.

The decorating shows have led us to believe that we can all do it. With glue gun, paint brush, stencils and endless trips to the arts and crafts store, we can make it a wonderland for our child. You just need to think up a theme and go for it.

There are some creative women who have been on this bandwagon for years and have made a business out of their golden hands. Kathi MacNeil-Mousoulis of Thimbelina often knows the sex of babies before the parents. Though the information is available at the time of ultrasound test, many parents still want it to be a surprise to them until the birth. So in order to keep it a secret, yet still be prepared for the baby’s arrival, the parents are handed a sealed envelope (from the test results) with the sex written inside it.

Alternative color choices for boys and girls are then made, and Kathi takes the one that coincides with the medical info. Another option is to pick a neutral shade of green, and then when the baby arrives add pinks and blues to the color scheme. These days, however, brown is the new green, so that has become the basic color with pink and blues added later.

Another long-lasting idea is to make up a patchwork quilt with many colors, and then as each child comes along, pass the blanket down from kid to kid and just select another color from the quilt to accessorize the room.

Baby’s Breath & Holly, 5122A Sherbrooke St. West at Grey Ave., Westmount. Phone: 514-744-8133. Hours: Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. When it’s time to set up the perfect nursery, come here for this creative woman’s help to coordinate and design your look using baby bedding, mink blankets and crib skirts, pillows, gingham lamps, crystal chandeliers and shabby chic frames filled with mirrors or bulletin boards. Hand-made and personalized baby gifts abound – rocking chairs, hampers, toy chests, doll’s high chairs, coat racks, Moses’ baskets and monogrammed hats, towels, bathrobes, cardigans, sun dresses, etc. A baby registry can be set up.

Thimbelina, 4937C Sherbrooke St. West at Claremont Ave., Westmount. Phone: 514-484-0954. Hours: Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday by appointment. If you like the personal touch for a child’s room (or yours), this creative shop can do personalized sewing, painting and carpentry for the room. You can select hand-painted dressers, step stools, laundry hampers, clothes hooks and growth charts. They can custom-make towels, bathrobes, curtains and bedding, and even nursing pillows for the momma. These creations can be made for the rest of the family too – just bring in a swatch of fabric from your decor and they can match up everything from shelves to mailboxes. www.thimbelina.ca

Ange Neige, 251 Rachel St. Est at Laval Ave. Phone: 514-845-2643. Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m, Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. We all know that our kids are angels (at least when they are born), so why not go with an angel theme for the room? Angels here run from scarves and photo albums to lamps and jewelry. Play with angel puzzles or learn about them with angel books and tapes. Dress up your kid’s room (or your house) with tapestries, ceramic bowls, mirrors, throws and night lights. You can even buy angel teddy bears – stuffed or made out of wood. When the angel is asleep, plan a special dinner-for-two with angel cards, and set the table with angel wine glasses and candlesticks. www.angeneige.com

If Boulevard St-Laurent just south of Jean-Talon can be called Little Italy, then Montreal North should have the moniker of Big Italy. The businesses I chose to write about today are on the arteries of what is considered the heart of this neighborhood – the Madonna de Pompeii church – located on Boulevard St. Michel near Sauve St. When many of the immigrants settled here, they wanted to live nearby so that they could walk to church. Naturally, storekeepers tried to stay within that circuit as well. And stay they did.

Just calling the stores to interview someone for this column was a challenge, since I don’t happen to speak Italian. When you get into any neighborhood that is so ethnically saturated, then you know you are in a good place to find food that will taste more like their Mommas made them at home. So that is where I am leading you today To get to the first two stores, take St. Michel Blvd. For about ten blocks North of Metropolitain Blvd. and make a left onto Charland Avenue, a little street just before the underpass at Industriel Blvd. For the last store, Les Importations Giannini, go under the underpass, make a right on Mont-Joli St. and then another right onto Lausanne St., which is one way going south.

Italians are known for their attention to freshness and home cooking, so what you look for when you shop here are your basics – bread, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, great canned tomatoes, etc. The busier cooks who won’t be rolling their pasta from scratch will only buy very, very good pasta that has either been homemade by someone else or at least hails from Italy. For the heart of an Italian meal, pasta, you can start at La Maison du Ravioli, one of the first businesses in Montreal which dared, thirty-one years ago, to try to sell noodles to an Italian community.

La Maison du Ravioli, 2479 Charland Ave. at d’Iberville St. Phone: 514-381-2481. Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 1p.m. Ask almost any Italian about pasta, and they’ll know this spot. Around since 1976, they have built up a following of more than three hundred restaurants that buy here. Their specialties include meat or cheese ravioli and tortellini, medaglioni stuffed with ricotta and veal/beef/pork, cappelletti, cannelloni, gnocchi di patate and tagliatelle, but they don’t stop there. Find your favourite, top it with their new house sauces (rose, arrabiata, bolognese, napolitana) and find out what pasta is supposed to taste like. Now you can take home their homemade lasagne too – meat or vegetarian.

Salerno, 2411 Charland Ave at De Lille St. Phone 514-384-9142. Hours: Daily, 24 hours. Why am I not surprised that at any hour of the day or night someone in this neighborhood can buy a loaf of fresh bread? Every day of the week you can pick up cold cuts and salads to stuff into crusty breads like the pagnotta or the corona with a hole or the di grano or a whole wheat and white bread combo. Make a stop for some specialties – the stuffed pizza (cold cuts inside), calzone (cold cuts with cheese, or spinach and cheese) or taralli, pretzel-like treats made with fennel. Do not leave without buying the to-die-for mezzaluna, a fried dough donut-like treat stuffed with sweetened ricotta (and buy one for me!).

Les Importations Giannini, 9821 Lausanne Ave at Industriel Blvd. Phone: 514-324-7441 Hours: Monday to Wednesday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Going wholesale is a way to catch Italian specialties before they run out of them in the shops. The first little food showroom has select items: Granoro pasta products, Pugliasena olive oil (from their home town) and Monari Federzoni balsamic vinegar, in business since 1912. They sell the Journal de Montreal’s contest-winning pannetone by Loison. With Easter coming up, you can now also score Loison’s Easter special – the dove-shaped sweet columba. The wholesale end of the business goes way beyond this showroom, so if you ask you might be able to get some by-the-pound products like rare black chick peas or ciccerci beans (funny looking white-yellow ones from the lupini family). Local restauranteurs have been beating a path to their door for their fig syrup – mixed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar it makes the yummiest salad dressing. Organic food chasers will find pasta, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and flavored oils. Upstairs the local community makes a point of stopping here to choose from lines of Alessi and Calderone kitchenware, dessert sets, serving pieces, dishes, stemware, pasta machines, pressure cookers and heavy duty stainless steel pots and pans, as well as small gifts, frames and gift baskets. They are an authorized Jura espresso machine dealer (Saeco and Spidem) too. Note that espresso machines can be repaired here.