I’m a junkie for kitchen shops.
I do not have to buy, but I can seldom pass checking out new finds that make food prep easier or better tasting.
My standard for purchasing tools has to do with function. I ask myself one question: Is there an existing piece of metal or Silpat that can do the same and take up less space in my bank of utensil drawers?
During a recent trip to the mountain communities of Silverton, Ouray, Telluride and Montrose, I took the time to browse through two kitchen shops, one with a friend. We traded stories about what we valued in our kitchen and what items we couldn’t do without.
At my recommendation, my friend purchased a wine aerator and a pastry rolling pin that holds ice water, to keep the fats solid in the flour while rolling pie crust.
I have a heavy aluminum piece of 2-inch pipe that does the same, when I remember to put it in the freezer. My husband’s cousin crafted and presented me with the treasure 15 years ago. Joe is no longer alive, but he was my go-to “inventor” when it came to kitchen tool requests. I can’t bake a pie without thinking of Joe’s resourcefulness and ingenuity. The commercial kitchen product that does the same for less than $30 got my endorsement.
I bought my red wine aerator about five years ago. It’s the best thing I know of to make a $10 bottle of wine taste like it’s worth twice the price.
We saw a Himalayan salt plate that was less than $50. It reminded me of the February oyster-fest I had four years ago at my cousin’s home on the North Carolina coast. Her husband, John, covered a cookie sheet with driveway rock salt, then nested the oysters within the crystals. Best oysters I’ve ever eaten and one of the top five dinners in a long list of memorable family dinners.
I settled for purchasing an ergonomically correct rasp. I go through citrus rind tools like others go through paper towels. This one fit my palm just right. It was around $20.
The following day, I stopped at Ouray’s Khristopher’s Culinaire, at the recommendation of the owner of the Montrose store. I found a sommelier washing kit for decanters, flutes and goblets. It’s a flexible cleaning instrument made of soft but high-tensile fibers. Looks like lamb’s wool. I’ll bet it works well.
A chili pepper grill roaster caught my eye, too. It’s ideal for stuffing a dozen Big Jim-size chili peppers and keeping them upright so the filling doesn’t spill.
A garlic twister – GT3, for Third Generation Garlic Twist – finely minces shallots, garlic and ginger. It’s glass, easily cleanable and doesn’t allow much waste. A very sharp knife can do the trick, but how often am I looking for the sharpening stone two minutes before I need ginger minced? Because a knife can do the same, it didn’t make it into my shopping basket.
There were some great Colorado food products that I sampled, too. One Honeyville product, cherry coconut honey spread, really impressed me. I couldn’t imagine those two distinct flavors combined, but I was pleasantly surprised when I sampled it.
The Sweet ‘N Saucy line of caramel products from Centennial was also quite tasty, and these would make great hostess gifts, especially given the recipe ideas I found at www.sweetandsaucy.net.
It might be too soon to shop for the holidays, but it’s never too soon to start collecting great gift ideas.
