Crazy food and crazy kitchen contraptions

Hello,

I'm am doing research for a potential new television show. I'm looking for unusual food combinations being served at restaurants or exotic foods and desserts. I'm also interested in restaurants using unusual cooking gadgets or serving food using unusual serving gadgets. Rube Goldberg-like contraptions would be ideal. Any and all suggestions are appreciated!

Moto. Last week, the ever-inventive Homaro Cantu introduced me to his centrifuge, cell disrupter, and Branson 550 sonic bath. I don't think you'll find more unusual cooking devices in Chicago.

I believe it's no secret that Alinea is very well known for serving many of its courses on custom-designed gadgets.

Hi,

Kendall College in Chicago has a number of museum displays in their building highlighting antique food production equipment. The curator is Victoria Matranga who would be happy to show you what she has.

There is a display of antique candy making equipment. For example, there is a heavy brass device with all sorts of gears and rollers. It is used to make ribbon candy. According to Matranga, another device just like it is still in use making ribbon candy. Instead of being hand driven, they adapted a small motor to drive it.

The collection is a donation from Mr. Mel Mickevic, a retired food scientist, who inherited antique food preparation equipment from his parents and from Janet's father, a candy technologist and researcher. After World War II he began acquiring tools from many cultures. His collecting was inspired by "a love of antique mechanical devices as examples of human ingenuity and problem-solving ability," according to Dean Christopher Koetke.

This may be worthy of some time spent checking it out. I can provide Matranga's e-mail address, if you want it.

Kendall College
900 North Branch Street,(West of Halsted Street, North of Chicago Avenue)
Chicago, IL

Cathy2,

That would be most helpful and I will be in Chicago next weekend so it would be great to meet her.

Thank you everyone for your responses. Hopefully more suggestions will keep rolling in!

Lehman's Hardware store in Holmes County, Ohio caters primarily to Amish and Mennonite communities and aging hippies everywhere. The store carries gadgets, appliances, cookware, etc that can be described as "self sustainable," that is, they do not require electricity, are eco-friendly and so on. The website is www.lehmans.com I mention this because in a world of modern technology, gadgets, etc., there are still people making exceptional food from traditional hand powered tools. This might provide an interesting contrast to your study. Plus its just plain cool to look at all of the stuff.



First, we eat.