"The Guy Cooks!"

The Tool Box: For me, working in the kitchen is like working on my cars and motorcycles: There’s nothing like having the right tools for the job! A good set of pots and pans, sharp knives, colander (that stainless steel mesh bowl for draining pasta and vegetables), a couple of good, rigid tongs - the stronger the better (long and short - preferably with Teflon/nylon ends), mandolin, (Get one with angled or v-blade. It cuts cleaner than a straight-across blade. Almost looks like a long narrow washboard, really useful in fine-slicing lots tomatoes, onions, etc. in a hurry.), good knife sharpener (ceramic sticks or steel, even one of those fancy powered jobs would be ideal), a vertical domed chopper (the good ones rotate the blade assembly a few degrees every time you plunge the handle. Works like a charm, easy to clean.), and a few other odds and ends like ladles, spatulas and a couple of wooden spoons.

Sources: Almost everything you need can be found at low prices at typical membership warehouse stores like Costco or Sam’s Club. There are lots of Costco locations where I live, so they're the ones I hang out in. From sauces, spices, cookware sets, utensils, flatware, dishes, glassware, wine, fresh meat and seafood, vegetables, salad stuff and fresh flowers to tool chests and tires, it’s all there under one roof. So break down, pay the membership fee and get the card. At the very least, you’ll get back the membership fee in savings after a few trips.

I’ve also found great tools for the kitchen at Bed, Bath and Beyond, like the Zyliss rotating food chopper and mandolin mentioned above. They’re fast, easy and fun! Plus, they look really cool! Williams-Sonoma is also an excellent source. Their prices may be a bit higher, but the quality is unmistakable.

Cook Books: Get a couple. Think of ‘em as ops manuals for the kitchen. You’ll get great ideas for variations on a theme. They also help you learn that fine art of “timing”. A standard Betty Crocker version will do. If you want to get fancy, again - you can find some really nice, specialized ones at Williams Sonoma.