Kitchen gadgets

The modern age has introduced us to a lot of gadgets. Gadget is defined in the dictionary as a tool, a utensil, an implement with domestic purposes. We live in an era full of gadgets – phones, television, etc. The homemaker is not devoid of things that make life in the kitchen much easier. A recent acquisition of ours is a three-in-one electric gadget that combines a can opener, a knife sharpener and a bottle opener. Our kasambahays delighted in all of these functions in one unit.

Other than that, the most practical gadgets in any home kitchen may include the following: a weighing scale, now available in digital models, which we use to check the accuracy of the weight of food stuff bought in markets or elsewhere. Meat grinder, the better to make one’s own fresh ground meat. A bread toaster which now comes in a new version, a three-in-in-one unit that combines a donut, waffle and sandwich maker. A blender, handy to liquefy or mince food. A pair of kitchen scissors for an easy way to cut. An electric mixer, if one is into baking. And a half-moon shaped two-bladed  mincer (one that is used to cut food in very small pieces like sun-dried tomatoes).

No need to buy all these in one go. Each can be acquired as budgets would allow. They are very good investments that will last for years. There are several stores selling all these. One which you can visit is any of those in the Gourdo’s chain, branches of which are spread all over the city, the latest being the one that recently opened in Uptown Mall in Bonifacio Global City. The chain is actually a homemaker’s haven. The new store provides a French-y ambiance conducive to leisurely browsing. Occasionally, they have interactive events such as beverage samplings, cocktail mixing, baking and cake decorating.

Aside from kitchen utensils, Gourdo’s has dinnerware (from which we found the difficult to source ramekins), cutlery, glassware and linens. Those  are in addition to their newest line –the Bed & Bath Section which carries the iSimple brand of natural and organic bedsheets, pillow cases, etc. On the whole, a Gourdo’s outlet is always a delight to visit.

Prices of prime commodities continue to escalate. The native (Ilocos) garlic now sells at P385 a kilo. Even the price of the imported (Taiwan) variety has gone up to more than P120 a kilo. Chicken is from P126 a kilo while various cuts of meat (pork and beef) have increased by a few pesos per kilo. Fish is no exception – jumbo prawns are now tagged from P700 per kilo, tanigue fish steak at more than P400 a kilo and squid now goes for P390 a kilo.

Unfortunately we had two disappointing experiences at ShopWise in Sta Rosa. One was when we bought a kilo of ground pork which we discovered upon reaching home was spoiled and another recently when our cook was about to season the chicken, the flesh of the fowl was falling off its bones – bulok na! We wish the chain would endeavor to have better quality control. 

One of our kasambahays is an enterprising young lady. She has converted a portion of the vacant lot beside us into a vegetable patch. She bought the seeds and planted them – sweet potatoes (kamote), tomatoes, bitter gourd (ampalaya). After about three months she harvested and we used them in our kitchen. Well done! We wish this kusang loob will encourage other people to do the same.

Here’s to an enterprising Sunday!

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