This week on Food For Thought, my annual round-up of great gifts for the ‘kitchen elf’ in your family. To listen to this item as an MP3, click here . Thanks as always to Fontaine Wong at Ming Wo Cookware in Vancouver’s Chinatown for putting together a fascinating array of suggestions once again this year.
Now, here is the summary of items we discussed in the program, and others we didn’t have time for, but are also good suggestions. All prices are suggested retail, or special prices at Ming Wo Chinatown.
Top of the list for ‘hot’ is this Jamie Oliver “Flavor Shaker: (pictured above) It crushes, grinds, blends, mixes and more. An alternative to a mortar and pestle. Made of high grade polycarbonate. Non slip grip and a ceramic ball for crushing
Crush, grind, mix, puree and blend and release flavor from whole spices, (including cinnamon stick and star anise) herbs, garlic, nuts, citrus peels, lime and bay leaves. Secret is its little ceramic ball which crushes, grinds, bruises and mixes the contents, releasing all sorts of amazing flavors and smells. Great for rubs, marinades, oil dressings and more.
Place ingredients into bottom of container ( shape reminds you of those wooden Russian Dolls ) drop in the ceramic ball, screw the 2 halves together SECURELY, give it a good shake, look to see how you’re doing. Open up and pour, scoop out. Promotional price $ 29.95
Epicurean Cutting Boards
The cutting surfaces are made from environmentally friendly natural wood fibre composite. Non-porous surface safeguards against bacteria and staining and odours. Won’t dull knives, easy to clean, dishwasher-safe. They’re ideal for food preparation. At a quarter-inch thick the boards are easy to use and clean up in the dishwasher. You can store them in your cupboard or hang it from a hook. New item to their line is the grooved carving board, groove catches juices from Roasts, Melons, etc… less mess, no spill.
Available in a natural or Black Slate colour. Pricing ranges from $11.98 – $ 75.98. Various sizes.
Palm Peeler – Peeler that fits right in your palm Just slip on the finger and peel. Stainless blade $7.50 Spec $5.99
Palm Brush
Palm held vegetable scrubbing brush. Slide on a finger , fits snuggly into your palm and scrub. Soft rubber top provides safe grip. Nylon bristle clean and prep veggies with ease. Top Rack dishwasher safe. Reg $7.95 Spec $6.49
Silicone Pop up Measuring Cups From Chefn Sleekstor.
Expands for use, collapses for storage. Made from heat/stain resistant silicone and nylon. Cups marked with measurements. 4 pc set with storage clip. Assorted colours, Top shelf dishwasher safe. Reg $29.95
*** Garlic Pro E-Zee-Dice
Most garlic presses squeeze out a lot of the flavorful juices
And puree the garlic to a mush but the garlic pro lets you control
The texture of your garlic. Innovative device with twenty stainless steel blades.
Just drop peeled garlic cloves into container, insert the cover.
Rotate in one direction to slice and rotate in opposite direction to dice
garlic to desired texture. Dices up to 4 cloves at a time.
Reg $19.98
Cuisipro Batter Dispenser A simple squeeze of the handle the batter dispenser accurately measures consistent portions of batter every time. Has a 3 – size selector that does small, medium, large pancakes as well as madeleines and muffins.
The drip resistant valve will dispense batters and mixes of varying thickness and even small berries and chocolate chips. Chamber holds 2 1/2 cups (625ml) of batter to fill a 6 cup muffin tin or a 9 mold Madeleine. $39.95
Good Grip Stainless Measuring Cups
Angled measuring cup makes liquid measuring easier. Patented angled surface lets you read measurement markings by looking straight down into the cup. Santoprene handle grip and dishwasher-safe. Available in 1 cup, 2 cup, 4 cup. $19.95 – $ 39.95 Spec $15.99 – $31.99
Khun Rikon Paring Knives:
4” Carbon Steel Blades, In a non-stick colour coating.
Edge is left uncoated for accessible sharpening , sliced food
just slides off the blade. Plastic sheath protects the blade for
storage. $11.98 Asstd colours, even pink.
Kuhn Rikon Heart Spring Whisk
Ingenious hinged design makes the whisk easy to maneuver. Made of high quality coils. The shape of its head allows it to reach into corners and along edges. Use it to deglaze and make gravy right in your roasting pan. Works well for roux, white sauce , custards and milk. Stainless steel, dishwasher safe. Reg $19.98
Zyliss Dial-n-slice Cheese Slicer Adjustable wheel lets you slice cheese from extra thin to thick.
The stainless steel edge can be used for cutting bite size or larger pieces.
Reg $16.98
BREWT
Brewt infuser is a revolutionary method of making hot tea through proper steeping of quality tea leaves of coarse ground coffee beans with hot water.
The infuser is equipped with a unique shut-off valve that controls the flow of liquid from the BREWT to the cup through a specially designed filtration screen. With the placement of the brewer on the cup, the weight of the unit will open the valve and allow the infused liquid to flow into the cup. Once lifted from the cup, the plates falls and forces the shut –off valve to close the infuser opening thus preventing further flow. Made of impact resistant high grade polymer.
Rinse after each use and take out filter when desired, clean replace firmly in unit. Reg $29.95 Promo $24.99
And a couple of splurges!
Breville Juice Fountain Elite
Professional juicer featuring a powerful 1000 watt motor.
Designed to Commercial standards. Extra large Stainless feed chute, so you can insert whole fruits and vegetables. Heavy duty die cast metal base, 2 speed electronic control, lets you juice hard and soft foods, micro-mesh stainless steel filter basket catches the pulp. Comes with 1 litre jug for juice and a large pulp container.
One Year limited Warranty
Three Year warranty on the motor
Reg $349.99 Spec $299.99
Breville Espresso Machine
15 bar thermoblock pump system
Advanced dual wall crema system
Pre brew function
Auto purge function
Commercial die cast design
2.2 Litre easy front removable water tank
Additional hot water function
Commercial Swivel steam wand
Extra large cup warming plate
1 L capacity drip tray
Storage Drawer
Accessories – stainless steel frothing jug, tamping spoon and cleaning tool
Reg $449.99 Spec $399.99
