Puntarelle Extruder

A magnificent kitchen tool: the puntarelle extruder. Yes, it's incredibly specific, and that's part of it's beauty. Puntarelle is a crunchy, pleasantly bitter Italian chicory—a shining star of Roman cuisine, especially its tender, hollow, pale-green inner shoots (sometimes called "asparagus chicory"). The traditional prep involves slicing these shoots into thin, curling ribbons, dunking them in ice water until they twist into chic spirals, then tossing them with an anchovy, garlic, and vinegar dressing that'll make you wonder why you've been eating any other salad. It's one of those dishes that always makes me happy, it brings a smile to my face every time. This handmade device is a fun conversation piece. Leave it out on your counter or hang it in the kitchen, and watch your guests go, 'Wait, what is that?' Maybe you get to be the lucky person who introduces them to puntarelle. It's a win-win.