Finishing up an interview with Jean-Georges Vongerichten at his restaurant day before Thanksgiving, I asked if his long-time right hand man Greg Brianin and his ace executive chef Mark Lapico were around. I wanted to give them one of my offset spoons (middle of the top three, and my favorite all time spoon). I showed Jean-Georges and he said, "This is yours?" Yes. "I love it!" And then "Can I have one?"
Bien sur.
When we found Mark, buried in Thanksgiving prep, I gave a spoon to him he said, "You have your own spoon? Oh my god. Every time I would go on the meat station, I would take their Kunz spoon and bend it. they would say, 'Why are you fucking up my tools.' I'd say, 'I'm telling you, it's going to make it easier to baste. If you want a million dollar idea, go ahead and make one.' And they'd laugh!" And then he said, "Hey, Camilla," to executive sous chef Camilla Avendano. "Remember when I used to bend your spoon? Yours and a hundred others?"
Jean-Georges said, "I love it! The Ruhlman spoon. Ha-ha-ha!"
Then he gave me a pint deli of crosnes to serve at Thanksgiving and off I was. How incredibly gratifying that was.
So, that intro aside, and in keeping with Cyber Monday, happily, we're discounting all kitchen tools for this day.
All of them are my favorites? (Though always looking for new ideas! A wood spoon angled for lefties?)
And always remember during this stress-filled season, it will all work out in the end. So don't stress. Next year will come soon enough.
Wishing you a peaceful and happy holiday.
--Michael
A few of our favorite items are:
Tool Bundle — Features my go-to flat-edged wood spoons, invaluable.
Egg Spoon — Badass egg spoon actually. A great all purpose perforated spoon, that also creates perfect poached eggs. Here's the post and here's Mac in the video.
Offset serving spoon set —speaks for itself.
Bottom Line:
35% off all orders
Promo code: cheer
Offer ends Saturday, December 3rd at 12am EST.
Use promo code at checkout.
© 2016 Michael Ruhlman. Photo © 2016 Donna Turner-Ruhlman. All rights reserved.
Shannon
I wanted to buy $15 worth of spoons but couldn't get past the $17 shipping cost to California. You could probably really increase circulation via Amazon Prime shipping... hope better shipping options are available in the future!
Michael Ruhlman
Yes, this has always been an issue. Very sorry about this. Thanks for commenting.
Nico
Sadly I'm in exactly the same spot as Shannon. Bummer, I was really excited to add the medium offset spoons to the collection I have loved in the last couple of years.
Tyler
Michael why do you love the flat edged wooden spoons so much? I am really partial to a firm(ish) silicone spatula as my go-to tool for what I assume are the same collection of tasks, can you make a good case for me to switch?
p.s. Ruhlman's Twenty might be my favourite book (let alone cookbooks), I consider it a philosophical/spiritual text!
Michael Ruhlman
spatula not strong enough to lift fond from the pan. though I love rubber spatch for so many other things.
and thank you!
Michael Ruhlman
esp about the philo/spiritual remark. that was my hope, bec that's what it is, so thanks.
Rose
Same issue w/shipping costs almost as much as product! I love my offset spoons and was going to gift them for Xmas, but sadly, cannot.
Tim Abel
Hi Michael,
Maybe I shouldn't ask but what did you do for the Thanksgiving Holiday? Did you cook?
You'll hate me but we went out - LOL - I admit it .. was a good time though... everyone showed up but my brother and our grand daughter... she went to her mom's.. we had a great time though...
Michael Ruhlman
dear friends in nyc invited me to dinner. glad you had fun!
Rachele
Hello Michael,
I ordered the tool bundle and the tenderizer...I am in love. I have the day off today and am planning some kitchen adventures that will enable me to use every single tool!
Many people I encounter (especially the one I look at in the mirror) are constantly on a soapbox about buying local and/or small.
I always find myself complaining about big corporations ruining "the special". I can walk into any big store and find exactly the same thing as I did in the other big store and at the big online retailers. Nothing special. Nothing that someone put time and thought in an effort to solve a problem. But there is free shipping.
( And then I'm left with a layer of fat atop my stock as I stare at my spoon (that was shipped free!!) and try to figure out a way to bend it just at the right angle. )
It is of the utmost importance, IMHO, to remember that smaller operations don't have the same perks and economies of scale as larger ones. Sometimes, to get something special, we must pay for shipping.
So I took advantage of the sale and stocked up. Merry Christmas to me. It was the same price to ship the set plus the heavy duty tenderizer as it was to ship without it...
I also think it is fantastic that you utilize Vocational Guidance Services, and encourage you to highlight this more so that folks can consider this. (I am a clevelander, and appreciate when people give opportunities to the people of our fantastic little city)
Thank you for thinking, and thank you for authoring the curriculum that I study as I continue to learn to think in the kitchen. You have empowered me, and brought me joy. Merry Christmas and Happy New year!
Tim Abel
Good for you Rachele
Enjoy!
Michael Ruhlman
thanks!!!
Donna Jessee
Hello Michael,
I live in Canada. (Calgary, Alberta) Heard you on a local talk show a while back (QR77)
Always check your excellent posts.
How can I purchase your Poached Egg Spoon without paying high shipping costs? ( it's not Free Trade, just "freer trade"!
Thanks,
Donna
Michael Ruhlman
been working on this. sorry it's not easier
Michael Trippe
I own all of these - and love them all - thank you Michael...
Michael Ruhlman
as eer, thanks, michael.
Carrie Wright
Love my spoons-got them when you first marketed them. I now gift them to relatives when they expect me to cook....
Michael Ruhlman
Thank you!