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It’s the Bimby, and it does everything
July 11, 2007
People. Have you ever heard of this thing, the Bimby?
My first encounter with the Bimby was about four years ago, at a friend’s house in the north of Italy (Biella). It was this little, unsuspecting, utilitarian blender-looking gadget taking up minimal counter space in the kitchen. Little did I know that it “fa tutto” that is, “does everything.”
The Bimby, an appliance of German origin, seems to be a gadget that’s popular with northern Italian households. I haven’t ever seen one in a Roman house. That is, until one recently turned up on the kitchen counter at the house of two of our best friends here in Rome, who just had a baby a few months ago. Both of our friends come from towns in the north of Italy, though, so that might have a little something to do with the Bimby’s appearance.
Our friends had purchased the Bimby in order to make baby food. But we inaugurated it at their house with an incredible pineapple sorbet. Apparently, the only things the Bimby cannot do are fry food and iron clothes. Other than that, it can make everything from mayonnaise to juice, yogurt to bread, cakes, and pies, soup to cocktails, mashed potatoes to pie crust, pork roast to risotto, broth cubes to marmellade. And the best part of all? It requires the kitchen finesse of a chimpanzee. You just dump in the measured amounts of ingredients according to the Bimby Bible Cookbook, push some buttons, and whiz bang, it’s ready. Love.
So, needless to say, I want. Yes, wanting is one thing, but having is quite another. These gadgets are distributed in that nebulous category occupied by vaccuum-cleaner salespeople and Amway representatives. You have to know someone, have a home demonstration, and it costs a pretty centesimo. To the tune of like €900 *I think* although I haven’t been able to pin anyone down on the exact price new. Yikes, people. That’s steep. Even eBay might not save you.
Outside of Italy, this device is also known as the Vorwerk Thermomix. This article talks about “Europe’s do-it-all appliance” and how the ex-chef director of distribution in Spain calls it a “magic pot” and claims that they sell one every five minutes. One Spanish chef quoted in the article has six of these doo-dads in his restaurant kitchen.
Folks, this is a mysterious and intriguing little machine. It claims to save time in the kitchen, which makes me think: hey Finny, this could be the solution to your meal assembly dilemma.
Here I’ll show you how it made us some really delish pineapple sorbet.
This is the inside of the Bimby. It doesn’t look like much, I know. The first step in the pineapple sorbet recipe was to make powdered sugar. So, we added regular granulated sugar, pushed the required buttons and programmed the required amount of time on the control panel…
…and the next thing we knew, poof! We had real, honest-to-goodness powdered sugar.
Next, we added some chunks of frozen pineapple, some lemon juice, and again programmed the buttons/time. It’s kind of fun, like a science experiment. Before long, we had a delicious sorbet:
The idea that I could make an entire meal, from aperitivo to appetizer to first, second, side dishes and dessert, with just this one little machine? Well folks, it just boggles the mind. If the stuff that came out of it was crap, that would be one thing … but it’s not. It’s really good. Look at the sheer quantity of things you can create with this list of Italian recipes.
Do any of you have one of these or have you ever seen one? If you have one, I’m jealous. If you decide to sell it, let me know!
Topics: See What's Cooking |
July 11th, 2007 at 10:44 am
OMG- looove it! Must have it!
July 11th, 2007 at 11:10 am
Finally the mysterious Bimby makes an appearance!!! I would be interested in any black-market info hehe.
July 11th, 2007 at 11:15 am
My friend has one of these. Don’t know if it’s an actual Bimby but it’s a very expensive kitchen appliance that looks just like this and does all of the things you mentioned. We went over to her house for dinner and everything from aperativo to the contorno came out of this thing and it kind of freaked me out. She was a little TOO into it (kept giving us infomercial-style product demonstrations) - as if she had been inducted into the Bimby cult.
July 11th, 2007 at 11:28 am
that looks easy! like I might be able to cook with its help…
July 11th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
A friend who owned a bakery/food counter in Lecco had two and raved about them to me - they can cook hot food as well as cold. I’ll try to ask him how one can actually be acquired.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Yes, people, it is a kind of “Bimby” cult. I know two households that own one and both are extremely enthusiastic about it. At first I wasn’t convinced, but once I saw the cookbook, I thought… this is cool. Even “I” could do this. And the dishes that come from it are fresh food with authentic ingredients, not fake, processed food, which is a plus. I know it doesn’t fly with traditionalists but for people like me it would be fun to have. Luckily my hubby is a great chef and cooks for stress relief so he’s my personal Bimby for the moment. !!
Michelle: What did you think of the meal your friends cooked? I haven’t tried much beyond the sorbet and some rice dishes, but I’ve been told it does a good job on the other dishes as well.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
Shelley,
I remember everything as being pretty good. Aside from the aperativo cocktail and like a cannellini bean puree, I think she made an asparagus risotto in there and it was good though this person is kind of a “bland” cook (doesn’t use ANY salt or seasonings; I’m the exact opposite - the queen of hand chopping 20 herbs for just one dish) in general. I was impressed with the consistency of the risotto because that’s not easy to pull off in a “robot.” But for 900 Euros, it better work. She’s had it for a couple of years and I know she still uses it. Cristiano does not cook, unfortunately, though I am kind of the self-appointed jefe of the kitchen and when he begins touching things, I shoo him out. But if I had to wait for him to get home from work and cook dinner, I’d be eating at midnight. As it is I cook and reheat while waiting, waiting, waiting…
Michelle
July 11th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
What I liked most about the Bimby was that it made thickened “Ciobar”-style cioccolata in a snap, with no lumps or whisking–better than the mix. I love that stuff.
July 11th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
This thing is amazing. Must see if I can get one in the States. when I looked it up the only distributor close to here was Florida. Hmmmm….
July 11th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
It seems like every Kitchenaid appliance rolled into one — which would actually be cheaper than buying all of the others. Wow! So cool. So, it bakes?
July 11th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
I see it available on eBay. But I loathe shopping eBay. However, I *might* be willing to assuage my loathing long enough to get my hands on a real fa tutti machine.
Does it make julianne fries? That is the real test of its tutti-ness.
Shelley - If you get your hands on this gem, I will gladly spend some time alone with it next time I’m visiting.
July 12th, 2007 at 9:45 am
Well it has lots of buttons so that’s good sign but I don’t see random flashing lights. My fight for a technologically perfect life says I must have it but…when they make one that cleans itself!!!
July 12th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
Pizzocalabro: Sounds good. My husband loves Ciobar, but I’m still partial to American-style hot chocolate, which he refers to as water.
Sherry: I know, isn’t it tempting? I’m actually kind of surprised this hasn’t taken off in the States, given our American tendency to latch on to new gadgets. Perhaps it’s the price, and like the article says, the lack of a decently-translated cookbook and electric conversion problems.
Kel: I haven’t really figured out if it actually bakes or just makes the dough. The recipes for bread that I’ve seen so far will make the dough, but then you have to put it in the oven.
Fin: Ale started looking on eBay too, but so far it keeps selling pretty high. I’m not sure how high we’d be willing to go to get one of these, but if we ever do get a good deal, at least with your Italian you’ll be able to read the cookbook too!
Jeff: Agreed! And random flashing lights are always an added bonus as well.
July 12th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Shelley–
I have a stack of these cards–found in my mailbox. Vorwerk Folletto, Agente di Zona, (Parioli) Cristiano Petrassi, cell. 338.9644956 or 393.7920083. Dimonstrazone Gratuita “senza impegno” They seem to be in my neighborhood all the time–give them a call and get your free demonstration
July 12th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Beth: Don’t tempt me like that! I just might call! “Senza impegno” is great, of course they probably pester you anyways. But I most likely won’t actually call until I know I’m in the market to purchase one. So roughly speaking, that’s more or less once I win the lottery… sad.
Thanks for the tip though, I’ll keep it on file in case I come into some soldi…fingers crossed!
July 24th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
how much does this machine cost
July 24th, 2007 at 11:05 pm
how much does this machine bimby cost U.S. currency
August 8th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
My best friend and family are from Rome and visiting here in Galveston for the week. Bitte was telling us all about her Bimby and we could not figure out what it was she was talking about. No machine on this planet could do all the things she was describing. I had to see if you could even Google this thing. Obviously I found the right site! This is awesome. I want the American distributorship. I can’t cook (AT ALL) and my mishaps in the kitchen are legendary. If I can get one thing to come out of this appliance that looks and tastes like it should, I AM SOLD!! Does anyone know where to get one of these in the US? Thanks! Marcy
August 18th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
Hi! I live in Portugal and I recently purchased a Bimby from a trusted friend. It costs €905 and truly is a wonder machine. You can pay by instalments, up to 4 years. I chose to pay €300 3 times. I have saved so much money since buying it, because I can make lots of stuff at home that I would otherwise have to buy in the shops. As my husband and I and our daughter ate in restaurants a lot, we save even more! Example: bread crumbs, ice-cream, bread (this is mega fantastic), cakes, pizza (dough, sauce, everything), powdered sugar, soups, stews, juices, milkshakes, mayonnaise, risotto, and so on. It has a fabulous steamer device called a Varoma that you place on top of the “jug” and you can steam veggies, fish, chicken, couscous, you name it. I am TOTALLY satisfied and highly recommend it. Not sure about the US, though. Teresa
August 18th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Hi again,
It costs 1,217 US dollars. Seems like a fortune, but you really save A LOT of money. Pizza, for instance, costs a fraction of the ready bought variety. Also, it doesn’t do “oven” cooking or baking, or deep frying. For bread, you make the dough in the Bimby, let it rise and then pop it in the oven.
Also, after use, you pour some water in it, put it on a medium setting (like 5) for about 60 seconds and the water swishes around and pretty much cleans it. Of course you still need to rinse it out and make sure the blades are properly clean, but it loosens most of the dirt.
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Other things your Bimby can make/do: jams, yoghurt, whipped cream, sauces, chops onions and any other vegetables, pulverizes dried chick peas to make flour, pie crust and fillings, etc.
December 13th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
My husband and I spent a few months in Florence last year. We were lucky enough to have our landlord invite us to dinner a few times. She made a meat ragu with the Bimby and I’ve been looking for one ever since. It was delicious. It makes a lot of sense now why it was impossible to find in the stores there either.
I’ve checked ebay, no luck so far! Thanks for the post.
February 11th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
I live in Canada, I read that one person living in Portugal has bought Bimby, we are now in Albufeira and would very much like to know who sells it in Portugal and how to contact the vendor. If it sells in Canada or the states please let me know.
Thanks
February 11th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Its amazing but I would like to know where can I buy it in Canada
February 27th, 2008 at 2:13 am
Fuck Bimby…
March 25th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Hello, I live in New York and I would like to know if there is a place here where I can buy it,. thanks a lot.
March 30th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Hello,
I live in Connecticut USA and would like to know where I can purchase the Bimby machine
Thank you
March 31st, 2008 at 9:13 am
My niece and family are from Portugal and visiting us here in South Africa for the week. Fawzia was telling us all about her Bimby and we could not figure out what it was she was talking about. No machine on this planet could do all the things she was describing. I had to see if you could even Google this thing. Obviously I found the right site! This is awesome. I want the South African distributorship. I can cook fairly well, but spend a lot of time travelling, and If I can get one thing to come out of this appliance without making a huge fuss, then I AM SOLD!! Does anyone know where to get one of these in the South Africa Johannesburg? Thanks! Feroza
May 13th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
We received a Bimby as a wedding gift - my wife is Italian, and her sister had one on her wedding day too. Of course, Mama has one, but one of the earlier models. Thinking of the cost (£750 ish) - we’d have been really hesitant if we’d seen one on the shelf, but having owned one, we’d replace it like a shot. We use it pretty much every day for all manner of purposes; and recently started using it to make dough - which is ridiculously easy to do!!! We also have a 10 month old, and it has been invaluable for weaning!
May 20th, 2008 at 9:31 am
I live in Portugal where this machine sells like hot potatoes. I’ve had my Bimby for 4 years and can honestly say it changed my life for the better. I can’t wait to use every day! The first day we got it my husband cooked me a 3 course meal all by himself!
June 4th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Hi I have just come back from Italy and yes this machine is great live in the USA in Florida and would like to know where we can buy One. thanks Joe
July 9th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
CAN I USE IT IN THE USA? WHERE CAN I BUY IT?
August 4th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Please let me know if there is a DVD how to use Bimby! Many thanks Celestino
August 31st, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Just discovered a new forum for Bimby Recipes. People share recipes and ask questions. Seems interesting…
http://www.forumthermomix.com
September 1st, 2008 at 7:03 pm
I was just in Portugal and fell in love with the Bimby. I would like to find a place in the United States where I could buy one.
Thanks Isabel
September 5th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
CAN I USE IT IN THE USA?
WHERE CAN I BUY IT?
How much does it cost?
Why is it a secret?
September 26th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I can sell you Bimby in the US. The scale is in grams and the temp. in Celcius and the voltage is US compatible 110V.
It costs about 1900 US dollar, 1300 euros.
If you are interested just email me.
Thanks Andre
October 7th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Avez vous un distributeur pour le canada ?
Le Bimby est il adapté pour notre pays
Merci à l’avance
Alyne Carmeline Russo