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The kitchen tools Raleigh chefs swear by.
Turns out, cheffing at home isn’t as intimidating as you may think. You might not have a chef’s skill set, but you can absolutely own the same kitchen tools. Read: affordable, easy to find and built to last. From across the city’s culinary scene, local pros share the kitchen essentials they can’t live without—both on the line and in their own homes.
SPATULA & FORK
Chef Alex Cordova, Kanki
A spatula lets you flip, mix, chop and serve with confidence, while a fork handles ingredients with precision and care.
Photo by Mouse Family/shutterstock.com
CHINOIS
Chef Daniel Schurr, Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern
Chinois (aka bouillon strainer) for an ultrasmooth finish on custards, purees, soups and sauces: “It’s the final refinement of my cuisine.”
Photo by webstaurantstore.com
KIWI KNIVES
Company Chef Bobby McFarland, Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing
KIWI Knives—from Thailand, but easy to find on Amazon. “I recommend them all the time. They’re crazy-sharp, come in fun-but-functional shapes and are ridiculously affordable.”
Photo from Amazon
FISH SPATULA
Chef Kyle Teears, Whiskey Kitchen
Wood-handle fish spatula with a little flex: easy to slide under anything searing in a pan, while the tines allow grease to drip off. “It’s a tool that always adds value to the kitchen—I use it at least five times a week at home.”
Photo from Gofoodservice
TONGS
Chef/owner Julia McGovern, Poppyseed Market
Plain no-name tongs—basically an extension of your hands for grabbing hot or cold items, placing ingredients precisely, moving hot coals or dry ice. “Anything your fingers can’t do, tongs can. I’ve even used them to get cups out of my cabinets that I can’t reach!”
Photo by Natallia Ploskaya/shutterstock.com
MICROPLANE, DIGITAL INSTANT-READ THERMOMETER & MANDOLIN
Executive Chef Devin Brunelli, HL Catering Company
A microplane for zesting garlic and Parm; a digital instant-read thermometer for perfectly cooked meat; a mandolin for veggie prep; and a butter bell to keep butter soft and spreadable.
Microplane: Photo by Knivesandtools
Thermometer: Photo by HIC Harold Import Company
Mandolin: Photo by Sohel Reza/shutterstock.com
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