http://www.faqs.org/faqs/electrical-wiring/part1/
and
http://www.selfhelpandmore.com/homewiringusa/2002/

Eigenvector wrote:
I was talking to a friend about my projects around the home and we got on
the subject of re-wiring the kitchen. Something I'll have to do one of
these days.

Anyway, when we discussed it he mentioned something about having to have
separate breakers for certain appliances in order to meet code. He
mentioned the refrigerator, the microwave, the garbage disposal, the oven
(obviously).

Something in the back of my mind is thinking, the code restrictions can't be
that inane, to the point where you'd have to have at LEAST 4 breakers just
for the kitchen alone, and one of them will be a double pull. The garbage
disposal I can see, the oven is a cinch, but the microwave? The
refrigerator? These are not huge energy consumers.

Is my buddy out there in left field with this business of needing so many
specialized breakers to meet today's code?