Flame Thrower

Do you want the perfect creme bru^lee? Are you dying to flame a baked Alaska? Are you looking for a way to get the perfect tawny tone on your meringue? Messermeister’s CheFlamme (pronounced chef-FLOM, according to company owner Bernd Dressler) is a blow torch for cooking, not welding. Its tightly focused six-inch flame makes it a handy gadget for all kinds of kitchen chores.

CheFlamme, $49.99, at Let’s Get Cookin’ in Westlake Village as well as other gourmet stores and restaurant supply houses across Southern California.