Sunday, May 12, 2013

Mother's Helpers

Quite a few of you begin your emails with,
"I know you must be a fanatic Francophile like myself bla bla bla.."
 
Honestly I came to Paris because of the enchanting kitchen gadgets. It was love at first sight with the Chef's Palm Zester (which just happens to be American born and bred).
 
I can thank Chef Marthe as the Pied Piper who led me down the road to French kitchen gadget madness. I fell hard for her herb-cutting sissors.
 
In no time at all I had my own pair. Sadly I left them back in NYC.
An instant coupe de foudre/like a flash of lightening the attraction I felt for this adorb apple peeler/slicer.
 
I discovered it all on my own at the Agricultural Salon and no one pushed me to buy it (15€). I take full responsibility.
I met the French Fry potato-cutter in the Sunday marché. I never eat or make French fries but the appeal of instant carrot sticks was irresistible. What's a girl to do?
 
Here's a French gadget I had no problem passing up. Too many parts, bits and pieces.
This one selling in the street I liked a lot but fortunately my pockets were empty. Most of these run around 10€ on average so you won't break the bank if you do fall in love.
 
At the Foire de Paris this week lightening struck again. It's not like I eat pineapples daily, weekly or even monthly. But with a mere twist of this gadget you get such lovely slices. True, most of these demonstrators are strapping young men, who probably lift 50 pound barbells when not cutting up bushels of pineapples at trade shows. Somehow this fact eludes me as I stand entranced and then dig into my purse for the do-re-me.
Did I mention that you get a FREE (unripe) pineapple along with your purchase? Here's my sad attempt at duplicating the master's technique. I filmed him as a reminder. I think I need to re-watch it many times or start lifting weights. 365 Creative Dresses says there's nothing a good sharp knife can't do in the kitchen so she takes a pass on these Frenchies. But she was not along at the Fair to dissuade me.
Ahhh the 'Holy Grail' of gadgets (belonging to Chef Marthe again). I am still on the look out for this baby. Le sigh...
Y'all can dream of Mona Lisa's and Eiffel Towers.
I'm waiting for the next French gadget to come along...

26 comments:

  1. My kitchen is sadly bereft of all these gadgets - I tend to agree with 365 Creative dresses - BUT I do own the "herb cutting scissors". Have I ever used it in the kitchen? Absolument pas!~ I use it for cutting fringes on papers! That makes me think I must see what else I can re-purpose from the kitchen ...
    I would like one of those chicken timers!

    ReplyDelete
  2. OK, friends. This little timer is practically a giveaway item! Here it is in Euros:
    http://www.tmart.com/Cute-Chicken-Shape-Electronic-Kitchen-Timer_p130764.html

    and on Amazon:
    http://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Electronic-Digital-Kitchen-Cooking/dp/B008FLENXG

    The cost? Chicken feed!

    Scissors are my second favorite kitchen gadget, too. Not speciality ones, just good scissors.
    Jeannie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wha'???
      How ever did you find that Jeanne Leduc?
      Yr brill

      Delete
    2. Just a quick google---I do think I have seen the time in a store here. BHV? Monoprix? Somewhere...

      Delete
  3. Anonymous1:34 PM

    Just wanted to thank you once again for the "pb blog" you do all week long.
    It must be hard to come up with new things. I really loved your strawberries!
    Have a wonderful day.
    Melody

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous1:39 PM

    http://www.focalprice.com/HE0218W/Chicken_Magnetic_Electronic_Kitchen_Timer_white.html?utm_source=CS&utm_medium=GM_US&utm_campaign=CS_GM_US_HE0218W&gclid=CJW-oPuKkbcCFS9eQgodFG8A_g

    I found the magnetic chicken timer on line. Love your blog and would love more about your transition to living in france and the language challenges/success.
    thanks,
    Peggy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peggy,
      The language challanges will be dealt with next week

      Delete
  5. Anonymous1:42 PM

    Shredders, cutters, peelers, zesters..
    This is the love of your life?
    Don't know what to make of that !?
    Lucinda

    ReplyDelete
  6. I hate to admit to having the all..some are different..but every one of those gadgets lives here..
    Oy..No fancy shoes.. but kitchen gadgets..Mea Culpa.

    My least favorite? Those shears..I gave them away..:)Wait maybe I had 2 pairs:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahaha
      I am not alone.
      OGA - Over Gadgets Anonymous forever!

      Delete
  7. No fancy kitchen gadgets for me. Just plain sharp knives and scissors. When does an artist ever have time to cook? Back when I was Mrs. Domestic and had my own apple trees I had one of those peeler gadgets; they are pretty slick if you are doing a lot of apples.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Reminds me of late night TV. All of the Ronco kitchen gizmos for peeling potatoes, carrots, and beets! But wait! we'll throw in a egg timer to the first thousand callers! Operators are standing by!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You nailed it!
      My neighbor used to dissuade me from purchasing
      Not here when I need her!

      Delete
  9. Anonymous3:26 AM

    Here's a link to a place that sells the chicken timer! :)
    Deborah
    http://www.tmart.com/Cute-Chicken-Shape-Electronic-Kitchen-Timer_p130764.html

    ReplyDelete
  10. Haha, I'm totally with you, I love this stuff- herb scissors? Yes please! Have you got the egg-perfect that you cook at the same time as the eggs? I love this thing http://ergonomics.about.com/od/buyingguide/fr/egg_perfect.htm

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  11. The chicken timer is too cute! But I'm in love with that french fry gizmo. If you see another one, grab it for me! x Katie

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  12. I'm with you on cooking gadgets, although despite how many I get, I go back to the chef's knife, reamer and microplane! (Love that zester though, and those herb scissors look fascinating!)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love that little sketch up there. And I totally get your love of gadgets--I could live in a kitchen gadget store and never get bored. I love that you bought that pineapple slicer thingie--too funny.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I must go into a hypnotic trance when these demo guys start to speak..
      I'm their perfect customer
      "Please let me buy it!!"

      Delete
  14. ps
    A friend did once give me a timer kind of like that: it was on the fridge with a magnet-- but it had a sensor in it so that when you came near the refrigerator, a voice boomed out at you: "Back AWAY from the refrigerator." It cracked me up.

    ReplyDelete
  15. You would not be happy if I were tagging along! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Too many neat gadgets,too little time!(sigh)
    Actually my kitchen is full of stuff I really
    use and there's no more room! Not even for that adorable chicken timer!!
    Wonderful post,Carol,as always!
    Thank you!
    Natalia

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous4:21 PM

    From Lynne
    What a great idea for carrots. They are a pain to cut...love the timer.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Haha. Fabulous. You are so right about gadgets and France.

    I'm not a gadget person per se but love a good tool! Cannot live without my graters, my mexican elbow and my mandolin.

    Fab stuff!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I bought a wonderful folding trivet on my last trip to Paris, it's a great souvenir, and makes me happy whenever I use it, or just see it in the drawer.

    ReplyDelete

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