When I travel, I don’t just want to sample new foods, I want to see how they’re made. I love peeking into kitchens and observing the daily habits and techniques of local cooks, which always include some new-to-me gadgets or implements less common in the United States. After my first trip to France, for example, I convinced myself I needed a Nespresso machine and a breadboard for morning tartines and coffee. The habit stuck.
Nowadays, if I am shopping for souvenirs, I’m likely browsing the shelves at a local culinary store to see what I can tuck into my luggage, or I am taking mental notes for what to search for when I get back home. But you don’t need to leave the country to find inspiration or get your hands on some genius culinary tools that many Americans haven’t yet embraced. Here are some of my favorites and why chefs around the world find them indispensable.
