A handsome carving set
You’ve gone to a lot of trouble to prepare a beautifully bronzed turkey. Don’t the tools you use to carve it deserve the same care? Yes, you could carve that turkey (or Tofurkey) with just any knife from the kitchen drawer and any fork out of your flatware set. Or .... you could up your game with this handsome carving set from Viking Professional Cutlery. This carving set comes with a 15-inch German steel-bladed knife with a very thin cutting edge designed specifically to give you long, perfectly thin slices and a 7-inch forged steel fork that will hold that turkey in place for slicing and gently lift each slice to a serving platter or dinner plate. This is not a knife to be used for everyday cooking tasks. Hand wash this set and store each piece in the plastic sleeve that comes with the set to protect both the sharp blade and points, and those who handle them. Whoever is wielding these tools will enjoy the ceremonial feel of having just the right tool for the job. It’s a hefty investment, but you’ll be using this set for years to come.
$179.99 for the 2-piece set. Available through Amazon.
An oven thermometer
Most of us know our ovens get more workout between November 15 and December 31 than any other time of the year. If you’re going to put your oven through its paces, do you ever think to check the temperature at which it’s baking? Time right now to invest in an oven thermometer. It’s an inexpensive way to make sure your pies, cakes, gratins and roasted vegetables turn out exactly as you expect. Just because you set your oven to 350 degrees doesn’t mean it will actually be holding that temperature. Stand an oven thermometer on the shelf or clip it to the rack and you’ll know if your oven runs hot or cold. Then you can adjust the setting as needed. This model from Taylor comes with a dial that’s just over three inches wide and a red pointer that makes it easy to see the temperature your oven is keeping. It measures temperatures from 100 to 600 degrees and it’s stainless steel so it will last for years.
$6.99. Available at Target.
Reusable food storage wraps
There are going to be bowls of prepped ingredients. There are going to be salads waiting in the refrigerator and platters of nibbles that need to be protected from the air. There are going to be leftovers. How are you going to cover them all? If, like many of us, you are trying to avoid waste of all sorts including the materials you use for food storage, then let us introduce you to Bee’s Wrap. In 2012, Sarah Kaeck of Vermont rediscovered an old tradition - pieces of cotton muslin dipped in beeswax and then used to cover any manner of dishes, wrap up cheese and vegetables or protect a loaf of bread. Using the warmth of your hands, you soften the wax just enough to form a lid for your bowl or a wrap for a piece of cheese. Then the Bee’s Wrap stays in that shape until you unwrap it. Wash it with cool water and a little soap, allow to dry and it’s ready for the next use. Sadly, the pleasant smell of beeswax fades with time, but the cloths themselves will keep on working. You can buy individual pieces or their “Variety Pack” that includes two small, two medium and two large wraps. Not only are they practical, they’re pretty, printed in honeycomb, botanical and other designs.
$6 to $15 per piece. $42 for the Variety Pack. Available at The Cook’s Warehouse, the Atlanta Botanical Garden Museum Shop, Alon’s Bakery and Market, and Hello Gorgeous Boutique and Cafe in Chamblee. beeswrap.com.
Check out the AJC Fall Dining Guide 2017: Burning Questions for answers to some of the biggest questions about the metro Atlanta restaurant and drink scene
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