Kitchen gadgets and tools that make great Father’s Day gifts
Smooth operator
Good for smoothies and soups and whatever you want to blend in between, the Vitamix Ascent series high-performance blenders have built-in timers and your choice of containers in varying sizes. Using the blender’s self-detect function, the machine reads which container you’ve chosen and automatically adjusts its settings.
Vitamix, vitamix.com. Vitamix Ascent Series A3500 blender, $649.
Inside job
Marinating and seasoning will usually do the trick. But a meat injector can get the spices deeper into the meat, and it tenderizes, giving the finished product a flavor and moisture boost.
Lifestyle Appliances, 800 S. Clearview Parkway, Harahan, (504) 602-5990, lifestyleappliances.com. Traeger stainless steel meat injector, $29.99.
Looking sharp
Some knives belong in the knife drawer, but your best knives deserve a place of prominence. This wall-mounted magnetic knife board can fit five to eight of your favorites.
Coutelier, 8239 Oak St., New Orleans, (504) 475-5606, couteliernola.com. Spalted Maple knife board (12 inches across) handmade by Josh Kleinpeter, $180.
Home to roast
Before the daily grind, an at-home coffee roaster could be the secret to your freshest morning brew yet. New on Magazine Street, Current Crop Roasting Shop is on a mission to help local coffee lovers perfect the art of home roasting.
Current Crop Roasting Shop, 3931 Magazine St., New Orleans, (504) 571-5129, currentcroproasting.com. Gene Cafe CBR-101 coffee roaster, $650.
Hot item
Enabling you to cook right on your patio table, or on top of a stove surface with a fan and proper ventilation, Japanese-style grills are growing in popularity. Binchotan, Japanese charcoal, burns cleaner and hotter than other briquettes, making this item a grilled dinner winner.
Coutelier, 8239 Oak St., New Orleans, (504) 475-5606, couteliernola.com. Konro grills, $325-$550.
