A chef's choices for the home

By SCOTT CHERRY - 10/29/2009


Eli Huff , chef-proprietor at Oscar's Gastropub, spends his days in a professional kitchen, but he also is familiar with the needs of the home cook.

"My family and friends are always asking me about things they need or want in the kitchen," Huff said, "so I answer those kinds of questions a lot."

Huff came up with what he considers essentials for the home kitchen, whether for a young cook just starting out or for a veteran cook who might be missing out on something good. And with Christmas coming up, one of these items might make a perfect gift for your favorite cook.

1. Utility knife (chef's knife), 6 or 8 inches. "The chef's knife is a versatile blade that is not too short and not too long, which allows it to be useful in almost every task." Recommended: Wusthof, Henckels, Global or Shun brands. Prices $50 to $200. Available at Williams-Sonoma and Savory Chef.

2. Kuhn-Rikon vegetable peelers (Switzerland). "These little guys are extremely user friendly and quite ergonomic." Set of three $15. Williams-Sonoma.

3. Bamix immersion blender. "Also known as a stick blender, or in the professional kitchen we often refer to it as the boat motor. It's a must. This little gadget allows you to blend oils and vinegar for your favorite dressings and blend tortillas into a rich stock to thicken tortilla soup." $130. Williams-Sonoma. Other brands available at Target, $20 to $30.

4. Taylor Elite digital thermometer. "A necessity for anyone who is trying not to poison their families or in-laws this holiday." $15 to $20. Savory Chef.

5. Kitchen Aid stand mixer. "Probably the second-most important tool in my kitchen and guarded with my life. Cake mixing, potato mashing wunderkind." $250 to $400. Kitchenaid.com.

6. "Cooking Ingredients," a book by Christine Ingram (Herman House Publishing). "Every ingredient imaginable is covered with pictures and the educational text to help understand what you are cooking with and why." Amazon.com.

7. Nonstick fry/saute pan. "This is what will make the difference between a beautiful sauteed piece of halibut and an ugly, scraped-up unrecognizable whitefish." $60 to $150. Williams-Sonoma and Savory Chef.

8. Mandoline slicer. "The mandoline slicer comes with different blade attachments and allows you to cut vegetables like the pros without having the knife skills they do." $40 to $80. Williams-Sonoma.





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