Duikelman – A chef’s playground

I have soft spot for kitchen utensils. If there’s one thing I don’t mind splurging my money on it’s a shiny new sushi knife – coin on top if it’s a gift -, or a disgustingly cute Le Creuset snail pot. In fact, the more you’re likely to only use certain kitchen tools once or twice in your non-professional cooking career, the more I enjoy collecting them. I’ve been the proud owner of a nifty little peeler that peels only soft fruits and vegetables for years now – but the fact that I’ve only felt the urge to skin a bunch of grapes once still doesn’t make its existence less enjoyable.

Duikelman – which spans the length of two huge opposite storefronts in De Pijp – is the place to go if you want to stock up on Microplane graters, cast iron sausage presses or poffertjespannen. The experience of getting lost between the rows of piping bag tips and wine drip stoppers is pretty awesome. You’ll be able to  smoke, sauté, blend, batter, baste and beat pretty much anything when you get home.