(1) Dorie Greenspan apparently likes this zany knife-sharpening system, which is exciting because I could certainly use a better way of sharpening my knives, and I just don't have the knack of using a proper stone. This version is a three-part tabletop system with an interchangeable "restorer" that gets an out of whack edge into shape, a "sharpener" that, well, sharpens, and a "honer" than smooths out the little micro-serrations left from sharpening. There's also a smaller, foldable version for much less. I might actually just buy that, although it sounds like it doesn't have three separate components -- but it takes up less space and is less of an investment. I'm wavering, though.
(2) My shipment from Le Palais des Thés arrived, after some postal screw-up that sent it back to France before its final, successful trip to me. My favorite to date is their "Fruits Rouge" Oolong (or Wu Long), but we'll see if any of the new varieties knock it off its perch. Right now we're having some of the "Thé des Enfants," which is sort of like the world's very, very nicest Red Zinger, with a bit of actual tea in the mix -- excellent, but not better than my trusty old favorite. But the "Thé des Songes" or "Songes des Nuits d'Eté" still wait in the wings. I'm excited.
(3) Stinging nettles are back! This is at the farmer's market; too bad we don't have a nearby patch of our own to plunder for free.
For years and years I've had a Chef's Choice three-stage sharpener. It is a wonderful thing.
http://www.cutleryandmore.com/details.asp?SKU=7101
Posted by: anapestic | 06/08/2007 at 08:22 PM