Favourite gadget

Great thread - my favorites are my Kitchen-Aide and my garlic peeler. You know, one of those rubber tube-thingies? Best $8 I ever spent!

[Chef David Simpson]

Is there really such a thing as a garlic peeler?

[shroomgirl]

It's a rubber cannoli that peels it as you roll the clove around in it. I just crush and go....though there was a chef that gave me a 5# bag of garlic to peel when I asked what I could do to help out.....BOY was that fun!!! I had tape on my fingers within an hour.

[This message has been edited by shroomgirl (edited 11-03-2000).]

[cape chef]

To a chef, The best honed chefs knife and that seasoned sautee pan are really all we need. The gadgets and such come later. Master the foundation of your skills with the best knives and cookware you can afford, then move toward gadgets that assist you. There are many! And many are a waste. A good bleander and emersion bleander are great, Also find a thick, sturdy cutting board. With these few Kitchen staples you can create almost anything

One tool I have used very often is an apple peeler corer slicer. Being a pastry chef for so many years,I have found this tool to come in handy so often (especialy here in the mid-west).Talk about a time saver! Even chefs in other departments have used it
Dont spend hundreds of dollars for one from Will Senoma or Matfer.Go to Ace Hardware and spend $15-$20. Works just as well.

ACT NOW AND RECEIVE A FREE ELEPHANT PENDANT!

Shroomgirl - put in the dough and that shooter shoots it out in perfect size and to the beat! I would've never believed it if my husband hadn't suggested it. Those little square are perfect and just right for stuffing. Honest!

my favorite kitchen appliance is my jen air grill. It is incredible to whip up some grilled peppers in a snap and grill meats.
I must go getsomeof the garlic peelers for stocking stuffers.
Thanks for the ideas and websites.
Danielle

I have an old copy of Gourmet magazine from either the late 60's early 70's and they asked the same question of several famous people at the time. People like James Beard, Marion Burros, Henry Haller and they all had answers similar to what I saw here with the exception of the great White House Chef Henry Haller. Chef Hallers response to his most important kitchen tool... "my own talented hands"! I always thought that spoke volumes about his charactor!

Palmier...just got one of those Apple Peel Corers (William Sonoma version) for my birthday...anxious to give it a whirl!

Deb

eze sharp knife sharpener. Works on just about any knife and doesn't screw up the blade finish. Easy, fast, portable and works!

[KC]

I can't believe no one has listed a good corkscrew yet. CC may make a great dinner with his limited equipment, but I'm going to enjoy it a lot more with an open bottle of wine!

Corkscrew! Of course. How could anybody be without one of those. Screwpull makes a great one. However, I ran into one that intrigued me enough that I just had to have one. It is a Monopol double spindle Bacchus model. It has two spindles one inside the other, one with right hand threads and the other with left hand threads. Thus, to open you just keep turning clockwise through the whole process. The first spindle takes the screw down through the cork and when it hits bottom the second spindle pulls it up even though you are still turning clockwise. Very cool and superbly made. Cheapest price is at intenetwines.com.

I've had the screwpull one with the cutter for years...saw the rabbit eared one recently that looks interesting.

[Kimmie]

A few weeks ago, I bought a balloon whisk - Ball & Cage, here's a picture

That's a nice find. This stainless steel whisk incorporates a round wire cage containing a ceramic ball within the “balloon.” This increases the whisk’s contact area, and thus the speed of the whipping process.

[Jock]

I have a lot of gadgets that I like but pehaps my favorite is my citrus zester. Grating lemon (or lime or orange) zest on a grater is a major pain in the tush for me. No matter what tricks I try, at least half the zest remains in the grater or is otherwise lost. A few strokes with the zester and a quick chop with the knife and, voiala!

Jock