Food & Drink

3 Things I Bought for My Kitchen After a Trip to Italy

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I’m fortunate to have traveled to Italy a handful of occasions. I’ve hiked by way of Cinque Terre (and rewarded myself with all of the gelato); I’ve stood in awe of the Colosseum in Rome and Michelangelo’s David in Florence; I’ve thought, as everybody does, that Venice could be a lot nicer if there have been fewer pigeons; and I’ve cooked with an Italian mamma in her Tuscan kitchen. 

The final expertise on this checklist was in all probability the perfect of all of them. I realized a lot — and a few of it, I’ve even been in a position to convey residence with me. I wasn’t stunned that her workspace was easy, with none bells and whistles, fancy home equipment, or unitaskers. Her fingers, thick and gnarled and imbued with confidence, had been the principle device she relied on. She moved with unfaltering certainty as she labored the pasta dough, rolling it out to only the suitable thickness, laughing as we vacationers tried to duplicate her straightforward actions. 

I observed that her workspace was expansive, that she used a bench scraper to deal with the dough, and that her kitchen was stocked with extra picket spoons than one might probably depend with out drawing consideration. (I’m positive I attempted.) Upon my return, I purchased these three issues — and I’ve by no means, ever regretted a single one in every of them.

1. A really (very) massive picket reducing board

A cutting board is not only a reducing board: It’s your workspace, and your workspace ought to have loads of elbow room, particularly if you’re rolling out pasta dough, however even if you’re not. The one I’ve measures 18 by 24 inches and, actually, I might have gone larger if I didn’t reside in Brooklyn the place you’re fortunate to have that a lot counter area. 

A fantastic device for dealing with dough, particularly dough that has a excessive ratio of water to flour, a bench scraper can be tremendous helpful for cleansing your reducing board. ( the massive one that you just purchased, like me!). I by no means, ever use a sponge on my reducing board anymore. I take advantage of a bench scraper to scrub it off frequently after which, each every so often, I give it a superb clear with salt and lemon (and I take advantage of a dishcloth to dry it off).  

Truth: You may by no means have too many wooden spoons. They work with each pot, pan, or bowl you personal they usually’re stunning to take a look at. Additionally, they arrive in loads of completely different varieties. The one I picked up after my journey to Italy was a risotto spoon (which means: one with a gap within the center). I don’t know if it truly makes stirring risotto more practical, nevertheless it makes me consider Italy each time I take advantage of it. 

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