Chef's catalog

[ksmith]

I like catalogs. I like cooking/kitchen catalogs. I don't cook all that much, but I do like to eat and some of the stuff is fun.

The latest Chefs catalog arrived over the weekend, and I think the people who put this issue together must have put in a few overlong weeks.

There exists such a thing as artisan salt. Who knew? On one page, we have the Natural Maine Sea Salt, the capture of which, we are told, "is not for the faint of heart." Then there's the Black Hawaiian Sea Salt, harvested from the "mineral-rich Pacific. It is Hawaiian clay that "naturally imbues the salt" and "enriches it with iron oxide".

Iron oxide is rust. Yum.

But my favorite, I think, is the Pink Himalayan Sea Salt, which in fact comes from mines deep in the mountains. We are told that "Once a year, in the springtime, caravans led by yaks transport the salt down from the mountains to the Nepalese valleys."

Yaks, mind you. The locations of the salt mines are so secret that they don't even let the Sherpas up there.

They also offer olive oil obtained from groves "accessible only by foot along a medieval stone road."

Now, a quiz--what does this look like to you?

[Poll #751770]

Comments

[leahbobet.livejournal.com]

I have one of those. I call it The Muppet.

It's awesome. :)

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

You have one?! What color is it?

[leahbobet.livejournal.com]

A delicate powder blue.

They're seriously good oven mitts. And they are very good for puppetry. You can do the Uncomfortable Kermit Face with them! *g*

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

You learn something new every day.

[anuttermutters.livejournal.com]

Sorry to intrude, found you on the friends of friends page, and I couldn't resist.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Intrude away--thanks for stopping by!

[anuttermutters.livejournal.com]

I checked out the reviews on your books and have just put in an order for CODE OF CONDUCT, it's the US edition (did you have a UK one?)which will be groovy 'cos you spell colour funny ;)
Next time I pop by I will bring cake.

[anuttermutters.livejournal.com]

Also-
Is it wrong that, at 44, I find the whole Buffy/Spike thing HOT?

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm going to be 48, and I find Spike quite hot.

I can understand his thing for Buffy.

[anuttermutters.livejournal.com]

Spike even managed to pull off 'hot' when wearing Xander's dork clothes, that says something.
May I add you?

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Spike even managed to pull off 'hot' when wearing Xander's dork clothes, that says something.

He even looked good in that gawdawful butterscotch suit in that ep where he was dodging the loan shark.

May I add you?

Of course!

[anuttermutters.livejournal.com]

The one where he owed kittens and thought he was called Randy, yep I'm afraid I have to agree with you there. I'd have been seen out with him in that get up.
Added thank you.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Thanks--hope you enjoy CODE.

No UK editions, unfortunately. The only foreign sale was to Russia (see icon for cover). I don't know if it's still available.

[anuttermutters.livejournal.com]

S'ok I'll stick to the one I've ordered ta, I like the groovy way you misspell English words but I think Russian is a little out of my league ;)
Passes round Blueberry muffins.

[ccfinlay.livejournal.com]

It's big enough to slip your hand into. If that's not enough to scare you off, then, hey.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

But you have to read the blurb to know that.

If you just look at the thing...

[aeriedraconia.livejournal.com]

Mmm, that's lovely. Did they really think that through before marketing it. :-)

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

If you leaf through this catalog--I have the paper version--you just get the impression that someone decided to have a bit of fun.

[trolleypup.livejournal.com]

Long sleeve silicone oven mitt...I have one for messing around in hot spring sources so I don't boil my hand off. Except mine is a sort of pale blue

Sounds like the catalog is aimed at persons engaged in kitchen oneupsmanship...*gags*

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

It's not completely off the rails. They offer pots and pans and standard oven mitts and the like. As far as oneupsmanship goes, they're no worse than, say, Williams-Sonoma.

[topayz4.livejournal.com]

I've got some too. They're great :) They work much better than the old cloth ones.

However, when looking at that picture I saw the kitchen miracle in a whole new not-so-innocent light :D

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

Don't get me started on salt. Bad enough that I've got four kinds of cinnamon in my kitchen.

I haven't bought a "muppet mouth" glove. I use the kevlar knitted ones, which I adore. Only one problem -- my knuckles may outgrow them. The original ones fit me -- the new ones manufactured in China are obviously made for smaller hands.

I do have several silicon flat hot pads. They're hard for me to use taking things out of hot ovens, turns out (just like muppet mouth) but are HOW for holding bowls on the counter, or opening bottles or jars. (Just found my jar opener. My favorite decadent appliance!)