Hello my Foodie Friends! We hope everyone had a wonderful summer and were able to spend some quality time with family and friends. It is hard to believe we are into Labor Day weekend already and the racing season is in its final stretch. Many of our customers come in from areas all over the country and sometimes the world, coming to Saratoga Springs to visit family and friends. We always enjoy hearing everyone’s stories about the individuals they are spending time with and where they are visiting from. A very common comment I hear from individuals is that they are “downsizing” or that their children live in apartments or condominiums where their kitchen space is small – challenging them to purchase certain culinary tools. I reflect on my wife’s cousin who was born and raised in Manhattan. My wife was amazed at the size of the apartment her cousin lived in especially having herself grown up in a house. The apartment was small, with a galley kitchen. It had to have been challenging having an Italian family cook meals in a kitchen of that size. However, her Aunt and Uncle always managed. One of the things that always blew my wife away was the view from her cousin’s apartment. Although the apartment was small, they looked directly at the Empire State Building right outside of their windows. This was the view her cousin grew up with!! To this day, her cousin always looks for gadgets and culinary items that do not take up too much space. One of our favorite slicer and grater companies is Microplane which offers a new item that is a space saver that easily slices various foods. The Microplane Food Slicer is one tool that easily replaces many kitchen gadgets. It works like an egg slicer, a strawberry slicer, a mushroom slicer and so on. With serrated blades, it is built to last and is sharp enough to cut through tomatoes. The slices are about 1/4” and the container size makes it the right size for individual servings, snacks, and making salads - plus it doesn’t take up much space. The food slicer has serrated blades that can make 1/4” thick slices and has a non-slip base and soft touch grip for improved performance. The slicer includes a scraper to remove debris from blades and grinder. Saratoga Springs is growing with new apartments being built all over the city. For those who are downsizing or moving into the area, come to Saratoga Springs’ CTTC to look at Tools for Cooks. We have many items that can help you with space issues and offer you the ability to give you some space for other things that won’t “stretch” your “final” budget! Stop in to the Compliments to the Chef Plaza at 46 Marion Ave. and have a free cup of coffee or espresso with me while we make a plan to stock your kitchen with fun gadgets!