Utensibility Week

For Sam (of Becks & Posh)'s Utensibility Week:

As aforementioned, my kitchen is a tiny 7 by 7.5 foot box. I don't have wallspace, I have two-dimensional vertical storage. And oddly enough, all my favorite utensils are grouped together on the same piece of two-dimensional vertical storage. I know this was only supposed to be one utensil, but well, it was just too serendipitous to resist.

Going sort of clockwise from the top, we first of all have my collection of Global Knives on that wonderful invention - the magnetic strip. These are the ones I use frequently; there's also a carver, a fish boner and one huge wopping knife I'm unsure of what it's for except to make me go "meep!".

Some people don't like Globals, saying they're too small, light and unbalanced, but I could write poetry about them (don't worry, I'll spare you). I have very small hands so they're an excellent fit. I like the lightness as I have mild arthritis, and I think they balance perfectly for me. I also love the single piece manufacture - hygenic, easy to clean and stylish - and the dimple-ridged hilts. Of them all, my favorite is probably the large vegetable knife.

Next is my Juniper Wood Salt Box. I bought it at Spittlefield Market five years ago, off the guy who makes them. This was rather expensive - about £20 back then - but it's a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. The maker also told me juniper wood is mildly anti-bacterial, so an excellent choice for this type of container. I love it so much I gave one to some friends as a wedding present.

Beneath that is my Salter Scale. It's the smallest version and Sam has already given the lowdown on them, so I'll just say I couldn't live without it.

Last, but certainly not least useful, is my new Mini-magnetic Board, bought on my recent sojourn to the US. I'm terrible about losing recipes when cooking, or dropping stuff all over them (not to mention the severe dearth of bench space I suffer from). This has gone a long way to helping as I use it to hold written or printed recipes. The steel board is about 6 inches by 4 inches and is stuck to the wall. It has those super-strong little magnets that firmly attach even recipes cut out from cardboard boxes. Not only is it discreet but it's quite stylish when empty. Also, it's completely invaluable and to ice the cake, only cost US $6. I strongly recommend getting one to any cook!

Comments

[Sam]

Your knives look beautiful. I can't boast any such good-looking collection. We have one of those knife magnet boards too, but since our last move we haven't settled on the best place to mount it. We really should come to a decision - it's been 4 months! The other problem is we have a couple of ceramic knives and i don't think they work with the magnet!

I am glad you appreciate the Salter Scales too - and the little salt box is cute - what kind of salt do you have in their? Maldon or something more exotic?

Thank you for taking part, I'll try and do the round up some time next week.
-Sam

[deccanheffalump]

Hi Christina,
This is to tag you for Nicky and Oliver's ( of deliciousdays.com) meme 'The Cook Next Door'.
look forward to reading more about you.
deccanheffalump

[johanna]

hey christina, it was lovely meeting you yesterday and this is actually the first time I read you log - can't really figure out how it could escape my attention, but there you go... we all make mistakes (I think). I also swear by my global knives... I even cut the tip of my finger with one of them in November, necessitating my very first (and hopefully last) trip to the plastic surgery unit at a London hospital! But they're great, I couldn't do without them! hope to see you again soon!

[johanna]

hey christina, it was lovely meeting you yesterday and this is actually the first time I read you log - can't really figure out how it could escape my attention, but there you go... we all make mistakes (I think). I also swear by my global knives... I even cut the tip of my finger with one of them in November, necessitating my very first (and hopefully last) trip to the plastic surgery unit at a London hospital! But they're great, I couldn't do without them! hope to see you again soon!

[Barbara]

Oooh, pretties!

I have a Global santoku of which I am extremely fond, though I recently picked up a new one from Shun Classic which is so sharp that I can do paper thin slices of perfectly thawed meat without blinking an eye. Really cool.

[Christina]

Sorry I've been such a slacker at replying everyone!

Sam -
Magnetic Knige holders = Gift from God. Couldn't live without it now. And thank you! I love my Globals. I had a ceramic but wasn't happy with it but that was a decade ago.
Oh, I adore my Salter Scale. I was so thrilled when I found it - I'd never seen a scale that went down that far and it's the first electronic scale I've ever owned. [worships at it's feet]
Yep, it's my everyday use salt, which is Maldon. Best there is. I have some fancy stuff from Brittany for fancy cooking.
It was fun! thank you for holding it. :-)

deccanheffalump - Thanks! will do it soon.

Johanna - Glad you liked it! It was lovely to meet you and your family.

Barbara - ah! I can never remember the Japanese name for a vege knife. So you reccommend Shun?
Some day I have promised myself to buy myself a knife from here; http://japanesechefsknife.com/products.html
I drool whenever I scan it!