The Right Tool For The Job

Every trade has its own tools to get the job done. Carpenters, tile layers, electricians and virtually every profession out there rely on the tools of their trade to not only complete a project, but to finish it in a timely fashion and in a professional manner.

Imagine trying to hang a picture without a hammer, or tighten a screw without a screwdriver?  Yes — you can get creative by using a shoe heel to pound in the nail, or a butter knife to tighten the screw, but if you had the right tool at your disposal, you would, no doubt, save yourself a lot of time and aggravation.

Caterers, too, have their own set of tools. Here we offer up a few of our favorites.

• “The Little White Knife.” Simply put, it’s a paring knife, but its versatility in the kitchen arena is endless. In a pinch, it can be used for everything from dicing vegetables, to trimming tenderloins — and everything in between — plus it packs easily for catering jobs. This baby is indispensable, so much so, that we often times find ourselves fighting over them when our supply runs low. The knife has a quality stain-free high-carbon steel blade whose handle and blade are fused to keep food and bacteria out. The handle is white — hence our very unoriginal name. Ours come from our distributor, but they can also be found on line at Superior Products: www.superprod.com
• And speaking of knives — sharp knives are a MUST. Ever try trimming chicken breasts with a dull knife? Any simple or mundane task can become a nightmare if the knives aren’t sharp. You can purchase a knife sharpener and take care of the task yourself, or if you have an arsenal of knives like we do, enlist the help of the professionals. Valley Home & Garden in Simsbury, for example, will do the job for you for a nominal fee.
•  The Cuisinart. Would you believe we’ve had the same one since our days on Wilcox Street in the 1980s? We’ve replaced the bowls, lids and blades on occasion, but the unit itself remains intact. A must for not only daily cooking in our “Lunch To Go” shop, but an invaluable resource when cooking in large quantities for our catering jobs.
• The Braiser. Another oldie, but goodie, this is the “go to” pot for soups, sauces, braising and much more. Invest in one of superior quality, and you’ll have it forever. 'Nuff said.
• The Instant Read Thermometer. In order to ensure your foods are cooked to the proper internal temperature, this tool is yet another must have in your kitchen tool box. We also use it to check the temperature of foods in the refrigerators to ensure they are at the proper settings.
• Chix Towels. Certainly not a necessity for the home cook, but for us, no day could exist without them. These food service dish towels are absorbent, extremely durable, and have Microban© protection that deters bacteria, yeasts, mold and fungi. This towel can withstand the bleach solution we use daily. They are not cheap, but they are worth every penny. There are many sites that offer Chix Towels. Do a search, and some like Find.com, will even offer a variety of web sites and prices, making comparison shopping a breeze.

Whatever the task at hand, the right tool for the job will ensure a job well done. Happy cooking!