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Kitchen Gadgets

The best gift for the gourmet or fanatical cook? More Kitchen Gadgets!

Here in America, we have access to just about every kitchen gadget ever invented. A French friend, who emigrated to the U.S. in the early 1960s, once related to me that when he and his family came to America, one of the most memorable bits of culture shock involved the number of kitchen gadgets one could have by visiting any department store. When he later returned to France on a visit, he brought gifts of the latest in culinary gadgets to his friends and family. They went bananas. At the time, the French were somewhat obsessed with this American kitchen gadgetry. Each new device, utensil and appliance was met with welcome arms. The French are, after all, known to be divine cooks, immersed in the art of cookery. So it makes sense that they would follow such developments closely.

After hearing that story, I began paying closer attention to the array of gadgets on display. Kitchen stores were a goldmine of such tools. It seemed that there could not be a food preparation task that did not have a gadget to do that specific task. It occurred to me that kitchen gadgets made an ideal gift item for my cooking fanatic friends. My first kitchen gadget gift basket was for a German friend, who was so old school, she made everything from scratch. This practice extended way beyond food, although she was an amazing cook. This girl was just in her early 20s, married, with two children. Not only did she make her own artisan bread daily and iron her sheets, she also wove cloth and made candles. A bit over the top for my temperament, but nonetheless amazing.

I haunted the kitchen stores and specialty shops, eventually collecting a lineup of tools I'd never heard of until the clerk enlightened me. One fascinating tool was a lemon zester. I was not yet much of a cook, but knew my way around the kitchen. Up until then, I'd just used a paring knife. The pasta machine was new to home kitchen gadget stores and so became the centerpiece of my gift basket. Everything went into a nice homey square bread basket lined with a cloth bread basket cover. I knew she'd use these!

She was the most accomplished cook of her age that I knew. When she looked through the basket, she almost broke down in tears of joy at these fascinatingly new utensils with which to work her culinary magic. She invited me to dinner frequently and, over time, taught me how to use each impressive item correctly. I learned much from Hannah.

If you know an avid cook, take my word for it. A kitchen gadget gift basket is endearing and will live in that cook's memory for some years to come.

Kitchen Gadgets Article

The best gift for the gourmet or fanatical cook? More Kitchen Gadgets!

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