KITCHEN GADGETS
Retro- and Techno-Kitchen Gadgets Make Timeless Gifts

By Nancy Ross Ryan
SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE

Where kitchen gadgets are concerned they do make them like they used to (and maybe even better) as the following sample of retro kitchen tools shows. In addition to this year's vogue to recreate kitchen classics of the '50s and '60s, there is trend toward culinary helpmates that incorporate the very latest, cutting-edge technology. Consult our mini-catalog of retro- and techno-kitchen tools below for the perfect holiday gift for your favorite gourmet cook (and that may mean you).

Retro Finds

Retro Ice Crusher looks like the fifties but works like lightening, crushing up to one quart of ice in two minutes. Heavy duty model with stainless steel parts, all-metal top with polished chrome finish and white plastic body, turns ice cubes into coarse or fine crushed ice. Crushed ice is indispensable for hand-shaken cocktails, filling and chilling any serving dish, large or small, that has a liner, and chilling stocks, mousses, etc., quickly after cooking. Crushed ice is de rigeur for chilling life's supreme luxury: caviar. Item #0440 available for $39.99 from Chef's Catalog stores, by phone, toll free, from the catalog, and on line. (See below.)

Cocktail Shaker arrives in time for the renaissance of mixed drinks - from Manhattans and Martinis to classic Daiquiris, Margaritas and Bacardis. This timeless shape holds a generous 20 ounces, is made of sturdy 18/10 stainless steel and has a sieve under the cap to collect fruit pulp and ice. Item #2068609 available for $35 from Williams-Sonoma stores, by phone, toll-free, from the catalog, and by fax. (See below.)

Domed Glass Cake Plate & Pedestal that doubles for a punch bowl. Used as a cake plate on its own pedestal, it looks Victorian classic - a lovely way to present a cake (bakery or your own). But just invert the base then invert the dome and put together for an equally charming punch bowl. item #SKU548073 available for $24 from Williams-Sonoma stores, by fax and by phone, toll free, through the catalog. (See below.)

Dualit Combi Toasters are hand-assembled in England and designed for commercial use. This majestic machine toasts bread and sandwiches, thanks to the removable chrome-plated baskets. Quality features include an insulated stainless steel body, variable controls, an automatic turnoff and a crumb tray that pulls out for easy cleanup. Two models are available, both in stainless steel or white, from Williams-Sonoma catalog only. #82-1299874 has two slots for toasting and one for sandwiches (with one removable chrome basket), $379.00. #8
2-1299882 has two slots for toasting and two for sandwiches (with two removable chrome baskets), $459.00. (See below.)

Professional Citrus Juicer is too hip to hide in a cabinet and too handy not to have fresh-squeezed juice daily, not to mention real lemonade and limeade. The spring-loaded handle needs just one push, and juice from oranges, lemons, limes and small grapefruit is extracted quickly and so gently that bitter pulp and seeds are left behind. 8-in. x 9-in. x 24-1/4-in. high. Chrome and white. Available for $99.00 from the Williams-Sonoma Catalog only. Item #82-2078665 chrome; Item #82-2078657 white. (See below.)

Salami Handle Meat Knife and Deluxe Baguette Handle Bread Knife both are handmade from wood in France and all the rage in Paris. The salami knife is 15-in. long with a 7-in. serrated stainless steel blade concealed in a wooden French mountain sausage. It's perfect for slicing meats of all kinds. The wooden baguette bread knife is 18-in. long with an 8-1/2-in. stainless steel blade concealed in a wooden baguette. Salami is item #BC12030, $69.95 (plus shipping/handling); Baguette is item AB12001, $69.95 (plus shipping handling). Available from Old World Product Imports, write P.O. Box 249, Jupiter, Fla. 33468; call (561) 743-3201; fax (561) 743-3260.

High Tech Treasures

Warming Tray so classic that it was selected by the Museum of Modern Art in New York for their permanent design collection. Keeps foods at perfect temperature for serving, and a "hot spot" area keeps sauces or beverages 40°F hotter than the surrounding area. Large stay-cool handles make lifting easy, black tempered glass makes surface cleanup a breeze, and an adjustable thermostat allows for precise temperature control. 400 watts. 21-1/2-in. long x 11-3/4-in. wide. Item #6668 available for $69.99 from Chef's Catalog stores, by phone, toll-free through the catalog, and on line. (See below.)

Punch Bowl with Champagne Rack will see you through the holidays and into the millennium. The 12-qt. capacity 18/10 stainless steel bowl is great for punch, and the removable three-bottle rack for holding Champagne on ice is cause for celebration. 17-in. diam. x 9-1/2-in. high. Item #0522 available for $149.00 from Chef's Catalog stores, by phone, toll-free through the catalog, and on line. (See below.)

Instant-read Thermometer and Timer by Polder sits outside the oven so you will never again wonder if the roast is really done. No more opening and closing the oven door because the stainless steel sensor goes into the cooking item and a 3-foot wire leads outside the oven to an easy-to-read digital display. And just wait for barbecue season! You can test meats without scorching your knuckles. Cook's magazine uses it in the test kitchens. Runs on one AAA battery (included). Item #6346 available for $29.99 from Chef's Catalog stores, by phone, toll-free through the catalog, and on line. (See below.)