I stumbled across this old Kenwood Chef advert – can you imagine the response this would get in today’s society! Ouch!

Popularity: 3% [?]

Here’s something that could make your food prep a little more social and comfortable. It’s called the Lap Counter and it’s designed to ergonomically fit your lap and double up as a prep surface and bowl. It beats having to stand behind the counter for ages just to peel and dice your veggies, and it means that you can go mobile and move to the sofa to watch the latest episode of Prison Break. Sounds like freedom to me!

The down side is storage – not the easiest thing in the world to fit in your plastics cupboard.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Typhoon’s Pantone Storage Jars caught our eye, particularly the one in Yuppiechef pink. We like!

We’re busy trying to track these Jars down – we’ll keep you updated.

Never heard of Pantone – read here.

Popularity: 3% [?]

The UK’s Channel Four is running a season of programmes exploring the issues around the food that the British eat.

Heston Blumenthal, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay will be celebrating the best of British food and exploring issues around animal welfare in a number of hard-hitting films.

I absolutely loved the trailer for this “campaign” – if you know these guys, which you should -  you will agree that the Ad does an excellent job in portraying their unique little quirks.

Check it out:

Popularity: 3% [?]

Need to bring in the ‘big guns’ to encourage your children to savour their peas and broccoli? The Construction Eating Kit consists of a bulldozer pusher, fork lift fork, and front loader spoon and will turn little Johnnie’s meal time into a Bob the Builder feeding frenzy.

We’re not sure if these big food movers will ever be available in SA – if you can get your hands on them, they will be a cool addition to the dinner table!

[via]

Popularity: 2% [?]

We think domestic walk in fridges are growing in popularity…

Popularity: 2% [?]

If you’re looking for some new restaurants to visit this year, here’s the list you need:

1. La Colombe, Cape Town (Chef Luke Dale-Roberts)

2. Jardine, Cape Town (Chef George Jardine)

3. Terroir, Stellenbosch (Michael Broughton)

4. Overture, Winelands (Chef Bertus Basson)

5. Restaurant Mosaic, Crocodile River Valley, Gauteng (Chef Chantel Dartnall)

6. Rust en Vrede, Winelands (Chef David Higgs)

7. The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Francais, Franschhoek (Chef Margot Janse)

8. Roots at Forum Homini, Gauteng (Chef Philippe Wagenfuhrer)

9. Bizerca, Cape Town (Chef Laurent Deslandes)

10. Hartford House, Mooi River, KwaZulu-Natal Midlands (Chef Jackie Cameron)

See full details here. (Nice to know that the Western Cape holds seven of the top ten)

[Spotted in Chef! Magazine]

Popularity: 2% [?]

Remember those Russian nested dolls that you used to play with at Grandma’s house?

These two bowl nests remind me of those dolls. From the colourful ingenious design from Joseph Joseph to the standard stainless steel…there’s something special about a bowl nest. I think it gives you that feeling of being organised when you know your plastics cupboard is not, and the reassurance that you will be able to take on that dinner party for ten -  the one that your girlfriend reminded you of just 3 minutes ago.

Joseph Joseph Bowl Nest – Multicoloured

Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls

Popularity: 2% [?]

If you’re into alpining or are related to Frodo Baggins you might find these Spudski potato mashers completely irresistible. The design is based on the old fashioned ski pole and our guess is that the designer thought mashed potato looked a lot like snow.

Available from here.

Popularity: 2% [?]

1000 Limited Edition Gordon Ramsay Kin Knives are currently being hand crafted in Japan and for *only* £145 you can get your hands on one of these extremely sharp creations .

The knife that KIN and Gordon have decided to launch is a beautiful 32 layered Damascus santoku with a blade length of 170mm. It has a black pakkawood handle and a cutting core of VG10. Mr. Takamura is making it for us in the city of Takefu. The knife with Gordon Ramsay’s Signature on the blade will come in a traditional wooden box with a black laminated sleeve. Each box will be numbered.

We would love to see a few of these knives make it onto South African shores; so if you decide to buy one, or know one who does…please let us know.

Website: Kin Knives

Popularity: 3% [?]