The culinary industry has been evolving since centuries. From the ancient coastal population to the table of kings, and to the early modern era, forks, spoons and knives have formed the holy culinary equivalent of the trinity. Though they are still relevant as ever, some outrageous tools are definitely clamoring for a seat on table!
Here is a list of some weird yet ingenious utensils that have, in part, reinvented the whole epicurean experience:
Cookie dipper (Dipr)
Three cheers to cleaner fingers!
The cookie dipper, invented by Robert and Julie Haleluk, allows the user to dip the cookie without fear of it crumbling while being dunked and at the same time, keeps the fingers clean while ensuring that any germs on them do not contaminate the milk.
Trong
As Dan Ferrara’s cell phone rang late one night, the time it took for him to wipe his fingers clean and reach for the cell phone that had inevitably stopped ringing, made him realize that in the era of sous vide and smartphones, savoring edibles with fingers did not make sense. Viola! Hence birthed the idea of the trong, a gripping tool with space for users to plug in two fingers while clamping down on said food item with teeth-like plastic projections at the end of the utensil. Designed for all types of finger foods like barbecue, potato chips and sushi, the trong is definitely something to watch out for!
Cake breaker
This is an old fashioned table accessory by Schneider that consists of extended tines instead of a blade that breaks the cake in even, beautiful portions, free from crumbs, leaving the delicate frostings and fillings intact. Just push the tongs gently into the cake at one end and then another. By gently wiggling the cake breaker you can then lift the slice out perfectly intact every time – even the first slice – without leaving even a single crumb. The tines, which are usually cylindrical, are typically at least 3 inches long.
Spork
Spoons and forks have been stapled onto tables for generations but Spork conflates the two! An interesting utensil with the scooping and liquid holding capacity of a spoon, juxtaposed with the food-stabbing feature of forks, the Spork is perfect for eating soup and spearing solid food. It’s also much practical for office workers, prisoners, left handed diners and toddlers due to the tool’s adaptive handles and tines.
Marrow scoop
Marrow scoops were introduced and designed in the early 1980s in London. This shovel like spoon is used to eat large meat bones and crave out marrow from the bones. Though falling from grace in Europe, it is still being used in some parts of America.
Chork
Say hello to the love child of forks and chopsticks! An exciting utensil comprising of an elongated fork on one end and the chopstick on the other, Chorks are the ultimate chopstick hack for those slacking on technique!
Contributed by Hifza Imtiaz, a freelancer and newbie writer with a degree in MSc.Economics for Kluchit.com
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