Potpourri of Accessories to Give and Receive That Make Cooking Easier
Time for a new chopping board? Or feeling insecure about your wooden boards after hearing that they could be harboring a million bacteria that could cause food poisoning? There’s a new smooth and non-porous board on the block, sort of a chip off the popular Corian countertop: it’s the Rondaboard cutting board from D. F. Nickelson & Co. in Glendale. Made of 100% Dupont Corian, the solid marble-like surface will not harbor contaminating food particles, nor support the growth of fungi or mildew.
Rondaboard resists fracture, chipping and cracking better than marble or stone. Dishwasher safe, it cleans easily--stubborn stains like cigarette stains rub off with an abrasive cleanser. To preserve its appearance, light sandpapering or use of steel wool will bring back its sheen.
The Corian boards are available in pure white or with light marbling. If you have the right size serving tray to fit them, they make wonderful carving boards for roasts--something you won’t be embarrassed to serve at table. Half-inch thick, they come in various shapes and sizes, from the largest 14x11-inch oval ($30) to the smallest 7 1/2x 1/2x5 1/2-inch bar board ($13). Other forms include a 13-inch paddle board with long handle, a 12-inch handle board, a 12-inch circle and an 8-inch square.
The Rondaboards are available at Andy’s Kitchen Corner (Glendale), Cookin Stuff (Torrance), Coast Hardware (Laguna Beach), Jurgensen’s (Pasadena), Village Kitchen Shop (Glendora) and San Marino Hardware (San Marino). For more information call (818) 546-5020. In the world of china, larger buffet plates have become fashionable again with today’s lush style of entertaining. French Gardens from Villeroy & Boch sets picturesque scenes on the table with its palatial garden motif. Intricately detailed in a vibrant palette of midnight blue, opulent purples and oranges, these splashy oversized plates will go well with many dinnerware patterns. The masterpieces are produced in Luxembourg on fine porcelain. They come in four different designs and measure 12 inches each plate ($75).
The Villeroy & Boch French Gardens buffet plates are available at Villeroy & Boch Creations (Beverly Hills).
The idea of waking up to the aroma of home-baked bread (programmed the night before) is still luring people to the bread machine. Hot as they were when they first came out, the initial Japanese imports had a few limitations. Some consumer reluctance in buying was expressed due to unavailability of premixed bread ingredients. Recipes were hard to adapt and the breads produced were small one-pounders. The second generation appliances are now able to bake larger size loaves.
One of the most versatile machines in the market today is the Zojirushi Home Bakery ($325). Demonstrated in The Times Test Kitchen by Marlene Brown, a food writer and stylist, the machine can bake bread in three sizes using readily available ingredients, plus it is capable of making fresh fruit jams and some types of cakes.
Actually the best benefit is the bread, crusty on the outside and moist on the inside. Like other units, Zojirushi Home Bakery features a programmable digital timer for presetting baking time and a memory key that can be set to bake bread at the same time everyday.
Another advantage is the unit’s see-through window for watching the bread-making process of mixing, kneading, rising and baking. It also offers three choices for baking temperature as well as a clock.
The Zojirushi Home Bakery is available at Yaohan, New Meiji Market (Gardena), Coffee and Things, Topanga Plaza, Pioneer and Lucerne (Beverly Hills). For more information, call 264-6270.
Mugs and cups and saucer sets are proven popular choices for holiday gifts. This time make that mug exquisite with more meaning and value for that special someone. All designed by renowned architect Michael Graves are the new Alessi oversize coffee mug ($30), demitasse cup with stainless steel saucer ($25) and set of four demitasse spoons ($25).
Graves decided to carry on the design themes from his earlier Alessi creations--the birdie teakettle, creamer and sugar set and pepper mill. The new whimsical mug and demitasse cup feature mirror-polished 18/10 stainless steel strips that are laid in a riveted grid around solid glass. Each has a circular heat-resistant handle, constructed of blue plastic with two Graves trademark red knobs on top and bottom.
The Michael Graves mug and demitasse pieces from Alessi are available at Tesoro’s (Beverly Hills) and other fine department stores and specialty shops.
