Have the Bertazzoni Heritage 6-burner all-gas and love it.

The convection oven speeds up cooking times rather dramatically, so I keep a close eye on things in there when I'm using it. I have a thermometer that sits on the rack so I can get precise oven temps when needed.

I really enjoy having the the 6 burners with different BTU options, as I frequently have at least four of them going at once. The Berta comes with a simmer ring, although I don't use it often because there is a tiny simmer flame which works very well.

All the parts and knobs feel heavy and sturdy. I did the touch and feel test on several ranges and this was my favorite. (Really, really didn't like plastic knobs.)

Both ranges have many fans on GW--I don't think either could be a bad choice. The Bluestar has higher BTU capabilities, and "serious" cooks love it. You'll find many, many threads over on the appliances forum if you want to read up for a few days. (-8

If you can find a demo for them in a store, that would be the best way to make the decision. I went and saw a BS demo couple of weeks ago. When the rep put blocks of chocolate in a pot, set it over the simmer burner and had to turn it up after about a 1/2 hour to get it melting I was sold.

I found the demos listed on bluestar's website.

I have not seen a Bertazzzoni "live" so I can't comment. They do look good though!

I never want to do this ever again (renovate my kitchen!!) and so I guess I would go for the one with the higher BTU's and the simmer demo sounds amazing.

For an amusing pictorial answer to your question, see this thread on Appliances.

Here is a link that might be useful: BS vs. Berta

I have a Blue Star 30 RNB and love it. Love the simmer (melted chocolate the other night and can confirm what beekeepers wife said), love the star burners, love the clever design of the grates that let you sit the wok right into the bowl of the grate, and the high heat that lets you do a good stir fry, love the looks of the stove and the fact that it is a color, love the infrared broiler and the rolling racks. Go see one live. If you order a color be sure to get samples first.

Thanks, Angie DIY for the link--very funny

Maybe I'm crazy but the Berta doesn't seem to look that much different than the BS, and I'm still loving both beekeepers wife and sayde's description of the simmer.

sayde--do you find that you can put large pots on the 30" and is the oven big enough? I was thinking of going for the 36"

I can't speak for the Berta but I attended a BS demo last week. Spent 4 hours cooking everything from stir fry, steaks (seared on burner, finished under broiler), rice, melting butter and chocolate and there was no question that BS was the right range for us. I am making a few configuration changes to add two additional 22K burners. I like that I can customize more than just the color...we are doing a 60" with 24" griddle.

I loved the range and I got free color by attending the demo!

M

Yes you can put large pots on the 30. There is a 6 inch spacer in the center between the two sets of burners so there is plenty of room.

I have found the oven to be plenty big. It takes a full sheet -- it is bigger than most of the other brands of ranges.

thanks, everyone!!! I love this forum!!

I have the 48" Professional Series Berta. Mine came with a host of problems. The repair guy (who Bertazzoni basically trained while he was at my house) came at least 10 times. It all got fixed in the end but took months to get all the kinks worked out. That said - I really like it but don't know that I would choose it again (Bluestar was other choice)if I knew I was getting the same scenario. My other
small complaint is the convection fan does make quite a bit of noise and probably just bothers me because my dining room and kitchen are open to each other...