Animal Helpers

There are lots of cute kitchen utensils, but for the most part they’re badly designed and cheaply made. Zoo Tools, however, are surprisingly practical (well, it might be a bit of trouble to clean the canary-in-the-bird-cage whisk, and don’t try lifting anything heavy with the monkey-shaped pasta tongs).

On top of that, the animal designs have even more charming detail than they need. The turkey-shaped turkey lifters have wonderfully appealing expressions; sly little bird legs stride by on the insouciant roadrunner pizza cutter as it rolls. And the heavy, solid duck potato masher is in a class by itself: tall, poised and practically, nearly, almost dignified.

Zoo Tools, $6 to $14, from Lechter’s Housewares stores, Robinsons-May and the Jungle Bazaar at the San Diego Zoo.