Ask a Chef: What Tools Do You Love?

various tools of the kitchen.

Okanagan Valley

Question:

What are the five kitchen utensils/gadgets/tools that you can’t live without?

Answer:

Executive Chef Bernard Casavant ∙ Smack Dab Restaurant at Manteo Resort. 

An offset palette knife kept in my pocket. Thousands of uses, needed by everyone.

Produce pocket knife, from Lyon France. Awesome knife.

Tasting spoon in my shoulder pocket. NEVER use your fingers to taste with.

Pocket infrared thermometer. For tempering chocolate, checking coolers, confirming meat temps. etc.

Wüsthof fish spatula for use on line, plating supreme!

Mike Wrinch ∙ General Manager ∙ Knifewear 

A Microplane box grater kicks ass.

Kuhn Rikon vase grinder with interchangeable canister for my custom spice mixes.

Larch Wood cutting board.

Best roux whisk.

And of course a good Chef’s knife.

Annina & Jörg Hoffmeister ∙ Dolci Deli Artisan Fare

Scale.

Zwilling knife.

Cast Iron Pan.

Mandolin.

Stick Blender.

Executive Chef Mark Filatow ∙ Waterfront Restaurant & Wine Bar

A sharp knife.

A 9inch cast iron pan.

Meat Grinder.

Wooden cutting Board.

Good lifter/fish Spatula.

Executive Chef Roger Sleiman ∙ Old Vines Restaurant at Quails Gate Winery

My trusted 10″ Wüsthof chef knife which I have had since the beginning of my career.

Vitamix blender.

A super fine Chinois strainer.

Japanese mandolin.

Tasting spoon.

 Jennifer Schell ∙ Cookbook Author, The Butcher, The Baker, The Wine & Cheese Maker

-An Okanagan Cookbook

Microplane Zester and Grater.

My Thermomix  which I call Klaus.

Mandoline.

Food Scale.

Mortar & Pestle.

Ben Boschman ∙ Owner of LakeHouse Home Store.

Vitaquick Pressure Cooker.

Microplane Box Grater.

Lodge Skillet.

All-Clad Stainless 8” Fry Pan.

Le Creuset 4.7L Caribbean Oval Casserole.

Silpat non-stick baking mat.

Executive Chef Jeff Van Geest ∙ Miradoro Restaurant at Tinhorn Creek Winery 
High quality sharp Santoku knife

Sausage stuffer

Vitamix blender (it could probably make a velvety smooth puree out of gravel)

Vac pac

A black permanent sharpie marker