County foodies dish about favorite kitchen accessories

[Huligar]

by Todd Guild
Sentinel Correspondent

When it comes to cooking, Santa Cruz County residents are an adventurous bunch. They seek out new recipes, buy the latest cookbooks and practice innovative cooking techniques. And they use both new and tried-and-true kitchen gadgets, some of which would look at home on the Starship Enterprise.

This is according to a cadre of proprietors and sales clerks from specialty kitchen supply stores around the county.

"What's neat about this community is that they're open to following new trends. They're really open to trying new things," said Jerri Hammond, co-owner of Outside-In Kitchen in Aptos.

Hammond was strolling among the aisles of her store, sipping a steaming cup of coffee and speaking almost affectionately about some of her recent acquisitions and some things that she considers kitchen essentials.

The first thing she pulled from the shelf was a Microplane Grater.

Originally used as a woodworking tool, this long, flat grater is perfect for zesting lemons, limes and oranges, and is capable of removing only the most delectable part of the skin. Parmesan cheese becomes "fluffy" when grated with the Microplane.

Without exception, it was the kitchen tool most recommended by county chefs and kitchen professionals.

"This is a must-have in any kitchen," Hammond said.

Her next stop was the silicone section.

Silicone cookware has become a kitchen essential over the past few years. It can withstand temperatures of up to 600 degrees, is easy to clean, doesn't absorb flavors and has a non-stick surface.

Tucked away in the display was the new Lekue oven mitt. It looks vaguely like a lobster claw, and the sturdy ridged grip makes it difficult to drop anything. Hammond said that the mitt allows absolutely no heat through.

Next to the oven mitts was the new "Food Loop," by Hot Spot. These silicone ties are designed to replace the toothpicks and string traditionally used in roasting and baking. They are washable, reusable and easy to untie.

"When it comes to popular kitchen items, the hottest thing is anything that's silicone," said Anita Couchman, a sales associate at Chefworks in Santa Cruz.

Glancing along the aisles at Chefworks, one can find silicone bowls, bread pans, muffin pans, ice trays, pot holders, baking mats and spatulas of all types and sizes, to name a few.

Anyone who has ever wrestled with an unwieldy roasting rack should check out the Sili Sling, one of the newest products in the silicone market. The sling is a large round pad with handles on either side. It can be used to carry meat from the countertop to the roasting pan, and can stay in the oven during roasting. It can then be easily transferred to the serving tray.

"People who cook need things that are the most efficient, and things that will last," said Dee Dee Lee, co-owner of Le Chef in Aptos. A perfect example, said Lee, is the remarkable soapstone pots, pans and griddles, made by Brazil on My Mind.

"The properties are similar to cast iron," said Lee. "But soapstone lasts longer, and holds heat longer"

As the cookware is used, the surface becomes nonstick. She added that the cookware is actually stronger than many kinds of cast iron. According to the company's Web site, the products are harder than granite once cured.

The Brazil on My Mind cookware is beautifully crafted. The stone is light green, and mottled with blue and black. Each piece is ringed with polished copper.

Keang Lee, Dee Dee's husband, has his own favorite cookware. He walked quickly to a prominent display at the back of the store to show off a collection of Swiss Diamond pots and pans.

He held a frying pan reverently, talking about it with a gleam in his eye, the way some men discuss expensive sports cars. According to Lee, this product is unique because of the diamond-crystal coating that forms the hardened, nonstick surface.

"I use these at home all the time," he said.

Unlike Teflon-coated nonstick cookware, the hardened surface of the Swiss Diamond pots and pans allows metal utensils to be used while cooking, according to Lee. He added that the cookware can safely be placed in the oven.

"As far as gadgets go, my favorite thing is the Genius garlic press," said Dee Dee Lee. She was holding what looked like a sleek, stainless-steel bullet. The body unscrews to expose a chamber, into which several cloves of garlic can be inserted. The press screws back together, and with a few turns of the wrist, the garlic is chopped and scraped into a waiting chamber.

"I do a lot of stir-frys, so this is one of the essentials for my kitchen," she said. She also listed among her kitchen essentials a good set of pots and pans, and a wok.

According to Tim Lieb, a sales associate at Chefworks, one of the best new woks on the market is the sturdy 14-inch cast-iron model made by Lodge Logic. It's a massive, sturdy thing, and the flat bottom allows it to sit squarely on the stove, which lets it come into full contact with the heat.

"Cast-iron stuff lasts forever," he added.

Jennifer Jones, the owner of the gourmet food store Jones & Bones in Capitola, agrees that county residents are intrepid cooks. She said that can make her business challenging.

"It's hard to stay ahead of the pack, because people are always looking for something new," she said. "People are always pushing the envelope as far as new and different"

Since she opened her doors in 1984, Jones has noticed that the palates of county residents have matured.

"Some of the restaurants here speak volumes for the culinary habits of the county," she said. "We're very blessed with the opportunities we have"