Getting to Know Our ChefTools Foodies: Alison

I'd like to introduce you to Miss Alison.

Alison joined the ChefTools team almost 5 years ago and knows our company inside and out. She is originally from Maryland which is kinda funny because we have quite a few transplanted East Coasters who call ChefTools home. It makes for a fantastic variety of opinions, ideas and creativity - and we like it that way!

Although Alison loves food, she is not a cook herself. In fact, if she had it her way she’d eat out every night at a new restaurant until she’s “tasted everything under the sun”. One thing she cannot live without is crab cakes – but since she moved from Maryland, Alison has not found one that can compare to the cakes from back home. (Any local suggestions out there, Seattle?)

But to show that even non-culinary artists have their favorite kitchen tools and gadgets, Alison provided us with a list of her favorites. Either she has reviewed these items for our own site, bought them for friends and family, or just thinks they are pretty darn cute. This list just goes to show that even the non-cooks out there can benefit from great tools in the kitchen.

So… let’s get you cooking!

Alison’s Top 10 List

Goodbye Detergent! Original Spaghetti Scrub

Le Creuset Whistling Tea Kettle, 1.7 qt, Flame Orange

RSVP Just Ducky Floating Tea Infuser

RSVP Z-Gadgets Pizza Cutter

Plink Garbage Disposal Cleaner, Orange

Tovolo King Silicone Ice Cube Tray, Green

Tenuta Castello Rosemary Breadsticks, 6-1/3 oz Box

Vic Firth Mario Batali 7" Salt Mill, Orange

Vic Firth Mario Batali 7" Pepper Mill, Pesto Green

And of course, Miss Royal Kitty herself
Lucks Edible Image - Royal Kitten

NEW from RSVP

RSVP Java Mitt

RSVP makes some very cool and useful tools and gadgets. Take the new Tango Tongs for example. These tongs, available in black, green, blue, orange and red, are not only stylish, but they are very practical. The tips are heat resistant up to 500 degrees F and the hinge is connected by a magnet so you can easily take the tongs apart for easy cleaning. If you love the Tango design you can also pair your tongs with Tango Spatulas. Another great innovation from RSVP is the Java Mitt. Do you sometimes forget to grab one of those paper/cardboard sleeves for your coffee or tea? Or, do you want to reduce the amount of paper you are using? If you answered yes, then the Java Mitt (pictured left) is the perfect tool for you. The Java Mitt is a reusable silicone sleeve with a handle for your coffee and tea cups. It can easily be stored in a purse or in your car and if it gets dirty you can throw the Java Mitt in the dishwasher for easy cleaning. The Java Mitt fits almost any sized tumbler-style cup and for only $4.95 you can get one for you and some for your friends. See the Java Mitt, Tango Tongs, and more new gadgets from RSVP HERE

New Tools From Pourfect

Pourfect Scrape-A-Bowl Pourfect Whisk-A-Bowl

With the holidays approaching quickly you may have started thinking about what you will be baking. If you have a KitchenAid you know what a great asset it is while you're cranking out batch after batch of dough and mix for your cakes, cookies, cupcakes and other baked treats. But, one draw back of the KitchenAid is that most of the time you have to stop to scrape the bowl down to incorporate all the ingredients evenly. This is exactly why we are proud to introduce the Scrape-A-Bowl (pictured top left) and Whisk-A-Bowl (pictured bottom left) from Pourfect. They are designed to fit the most common KitchenAid models and they do all the bowl scraping for you while your KitchenAid is running. The Scrape-A-Bowl and Whisk-A-Bowl are so effective that the manufacturer recommends you cut the mixing time on your recipe in half. For instance, the Whisk-A-Bowl can whip up meringue in about 2.5 minutes instead of 8 minutes. The Scrape-A-Bowl and Whisk-A-Bowl are truly irreplaceable kitchen tools that once you use them you will wonder how you ever got along without them. Check out the chefDemo videos on each product as well as the "more info" tab where you will find a detailed list of all compatible KitchenAids. Click HERE to see all Pourfect Scrape-A-Bowl and Whisk-A-Bowl KitchenAid attachments

New from Messermeister

tan plaid knife bag knife guards

We've added over 30 new knife bags, tools and knife guards from Messermeister. Messermeister is probably best known these days for their knife bags (pictured top left), which are becoming very popular. There are all sorts of new styles including pink with white polka dots, oxford gray, lemongrass, and more. We've also added some great new colorful tools. The 3-Piece Pro-Touch Peeler Trio Set is the perfect replacement for your dull peelers. With this set you get a regular, serrated, and julienne peeler that should cover all your peeling needs. Plus, these peelers are dishwasher safe and you can replace the blades down the road when they begin to dull. The Messermeister knife guards (pictured bottom left) are the ideal way to protect your knives. They are inexpensive, safe, and durable. Not to mention, they come in a wide variety of vibrant, fun colors. Shop all Messermeister HERE

Introducing Norpro

Norpro Silicone Pie Bird Norpro Nonstick Pretzel Pan Norpro Battery Operated Flour Sifter

Whether you love practical kitchen tools or less common kitchen gadgets, you will love Norpro. We've just added 200+ new Norpro products with everything from a traditional roasting pan to a silicone pie bird (pictured top left) and everything in between. Norpro was founded in 1973 by Gunnar Lie who set out to design, manufacture and distribute the highest quality kitchen products. His daughter Kirsten runs the company now and she continues to build and grow Norpro, based on the principles established by her father. Norpro representatives travel the world to study developing trends, which in turn gives them the insight to create some of the most innovative tools and gadgets on the market. One of these innovations is the Norpro Nonstick Pretzel Pan (pictured middle left). This pan comes complete with recipes to help you get started making delicious, fresh pretzels at home and the nonstick surface makes sure your pretzels come out easily. If you like pretzels, you can't beat the fresh, homemade taste you get from using the Norpro Nonstick Pretzel Pan. Another unique product is the Norpro Battery Operated Flour Sifter (pictured bottom left). This product is ideal for people that love to bake, but are limited because of arthritis or a stroke. The Battery Operated Flour Sifter requires one AA battery (not included) and can be easily used with one hand. It features a stainless steel mesh screen, snap-on lid, and detachable handle for easy cleaning. The Norpro Battery Operated Flour Sifter also makes a great gift. If you're looking for more practical tools and gadgets, consider the Norpro Flexible Cutting Mats, Set of 3. These under $5 mats are FDA approved, dishwasher safe, and are ideal for everyday chopping and dicing. Another practical product is the Norpro Lettuce Compost Keeper. Shaped like a head of lettuce, the Compost Keeper is a stylish and effective way to store household organic waste for transfer to your garden composter. It comes with an odor preventing filter and will hold 1-3/4-quarts of waste. Click HERE to see all Norpro tools, gadgets and more.

Over 100 New Epicurean Boards, Tools and More

Epicurean Flower Trivet Epicurean BBQ Salver

Epicurean makes fantastic cutting boards. They became famous for their boards because they are extremely durable, environmentally friendly, dishwasher safe and light-weight. If you are in the market for a new cutting board Epicurean is definitely worth looking at. Something else worth looking at is Epicurean's fantastic new line of tools! Like the Trivets and Coasters. Epicurean Trivets come in three different styles, Flower (pictured top left), Curve and Star, and each style has different color combinations. Epicurean coasters come in three different colors and they may be the best surface protecting coasters on the market. Epicurean Saute Tools, Turners and Spoons are must haves if you have any nonstick cookware. They are made from renewable and natural materials and won't scratch your pots and pans. The Epicurean Food Scrapers are pretty indispensable as well. If you ever work with pastry dough or need to chop and scoop some quick veggies this is the tool for you. Lastly, I'll recommend Epicurean's BBQ Salver (pictured bottom left). All of Epicurean's boards are great, but this one is exceptional for all types of grilling enthusiasts. This board allows you to have your tools, a beverage, and some sauces or seasonings always close at hand while at the grill. It comes in Grey and Red and includes a removable 15" x 11" Kitchen Series cutting board. If you are going to eat outside, this board is great for grabbing your meat off the grill, placing it on your board and slicing it up right there. You can also remove the board inside, chop your veggies, then carry them out to the grill to be cooked or placed on things like burgers and brats. Shop all Epicurean HERE

Hottest Deals of the Year

There's only two days left (Monday and Tuesday) to shop our Summer Sale. You can save up to 80% on great tools like knives, grill baskets, cutting boards, linzer cutters, peelers, and much more. These great deals won't last long so stop by now and take advantage of our biggest markdowns of the year.

Essential Kitchen Tools

Cooking can be fun, but it can also be very stressful. We've found that simple things like a good chef's knife, a thermometer, and a pair of tongs help make cooking stress-free. We've learned that there's nothing more satisfying than the ability to dice, slice, and chop with ease. There's nothing more comforting than knowing for sure that your food is cooked to the proper temperature. And there's nothing like the feeling you get when you have the right tool for the task. That's why we've put together a list of Essential Kitchen Tools. On this list you'll find more than what has been mentioned above. You will find thorough descriptions and tool recommendations within each category. You will find quick link access to different departments and tools on our website. Most of all, we hope you find that our selection inspires you to start a collection of Essential Kitchen Tools in your own home. See our selection of Essential Kitchen Tools

Not Just Any Old Box Grater

Here's a great new tool. The Cuisipro 4-Sided Box Grater with Ginger Grater Base combines razor sharp blades with a comfort grip handle. It feels great in your hand, but it performs better than you would expect. It has surface glide technology which makes it a lot easier for the average person to grate cheese, potatoes and vegetables. The removable base doubles as a ginger grater and the corners of the Cuisipro Box Grater have calibrated dry measuring marks. It's another great innovation from a company that has been making impressive products for years, with many more to come.

New Line of Tools

Rosle Locking Tongs Rosle Canelle Channel Knife

We've added over 40 new items from the popular German brand, Rosle! Since 1888 they have been producing some of the highest quality kitchen tools for professionals and home chefs. Their tools are designed with comfort in mind, but perform extremely well and are very durable. All Rosle kitchen tools are made with 18/10 stainless steel and are guaranteed for life. Rosle offers a wide range of tools from common Kitchen Tongs (pictured left) in 9", 12" and 16" sizes to less common tools like the Canelle Channel Knife (pictured left), which is made to cut designs from carrots, cucumber, zucchini and citrus fruits. No matter which Rosle tool you choose to add to your kitchen first, we know the high quality and dependability will continue to impress you day in and day out. Shop all Rosle HERE

A Must Have Kitchen Tool

Microplane has been around for 20 years now and the history is pretty interesting. In 1990 brothers Richard and Jeff Grace jointly owned a manufacturing facility in Russellville, Arkansas. It was there that they invented the first Microplane as a woodworking tool. But that is only the first part of the story. In 1994 Lorraine Lee, a homemaker in Canada, became frustrated with her traditional grater while making a cake. She noticed a new tool on the counter that her husband had brought home earlier from the hardware store. She took her orange that she was trying to zest and slid it across the blades of her husband's Microplane. She was amazed at how easily zest fell from the orange like snow. It was that moment that gave birth to the modern day Microplane kitchen tool. What makes a Microplane different that other zester/graters you ask? Microplane tools have tiny razor-like edges that are formed by a unique process called photo-etching. During this process tiny holes are dissolved with a chemical, leaving edges that finely slice foods instead of tearing or shredding them. Microplane tools are safe, easy to use and indispensable in the kitchen. I have a Microplane Classic Zester/Grater (pictured first) and it has become the go-to tool in my kitchen. I use it most frequently for grating cheeses onto things like pasta dishes and potatoes. My Microplane gets its second most frequent workout as it easily zests lemons, limes and oranges. Its unique design allows me to easily prop it up and zest/grate right onto a cutting board, over a pot or pan, or right onto my plate. I would highly recommend a Microplane kitchen tool to anybody that grates and zests. There are plenty of colors, styles and different options to fit your exact culinary need. Shop all Microplane Graters, Zesters and Shavers