Introduction
In one of his standups Carlos Mencia once remarked that the movie 'Superman Returns' should have been titled 'Superman returns gay'. I agree. Look at the Spiderman series where the protagonist whines about his gift being his curse, while on the other hand, The Dark Knight and The Incredible Hulk gave the audience a movie worth remembering with plenty of action and stunts leaving out scenes that focused on the struggle and depressing thought processes (ufff boring!) that the superhero's alter ego goes through, mostly falling in the 'oh poor me' category.
With the current demands in relationships requiring men to be more sensitive and nurturing, it isn't surprising that more and more men are embracing their feminine side. But at least leave the damn superheroes and these comics that we loved as boys out of it, please!
Metaphorically speaking, this touchy-feely business feels like 'krytonite' to most healthy red-blooded males, and if one reads Daniel Goleman's Emotional Intelligence, most men aren't necessarily gifted with sensitivity, a nurturing desire and a range of emotions that we men would feel very uncomfortable experiencing let alone dealing with people who regularly experience these emotions.
This krytonite-like aversion also extends into the kitchen as well where we begin to get all fuzzy and lose focus until we're able to maintain our equilibrium with a beer or two (far away from the kitchen, of course).
However, there comes a time when all these qualities do play an important role in survival, especially if you don't like starving, and for that one must at least be aware of the basic cutlery tools that are needed for the kitchen if that day when you need to use them ever comes (and it does, believe you me!).
Essential tools for the kitchen
Most professional cooks might have no use for this article and nor will people who aren't professional chefs but have been cooking for an extended period of time. So, the obvious ones who need a virtual tour around the kitchen are the amateurs or the ones who don't know where to start.
Apart from the bowls, spatulas, frying pans, sauce and stock pots, wooden spoons, turners and flippers that are absolutely essential for the helpless bachelor and sometime helpless spinster, is choosing cutlery (silverware) for the kitchen that is used in preparing, serving and eating food.
Essential Cutlery Tools
Cutlery was originally only used in the Western world, while today, the knife, fork and the spoon are commonly used all over the world. Now since these are used while eating, one must buy at least two sizes of forks (the longer pair for the main course and the shorter one for salads and desserts) while also purchasing a variety of teaspoons, tablespoons, soup spoons and butter knives.
When it comes to the preparation and serving part, here's a checklist of utensils (that might or might not be classified as strictly cutlery utensils) in random order that can help you get more than started:
1. Chef's and paring knife
2. Locking tongs
3. Whisk
4. Slotted spoon
5. Kitchen shears
6. Serrated bread knife
7. Potato masher
8. Grater & microplane grater
9. Garlic & Lemon Press
10. Y-shaped vegetable peeler
Apart from these, other utensils like the corkscrew, can opener, measuring cups & spoons, peppermill, salad spinner, timer and the instant-read thermometer will most likely come in handy as well.
In Closing
And so while we take our first steps into getting our kitchen together, Hollywood has awarded Christopher Nolan (the Director of 'The Dark Knight') the next Superman project that he is extremely enthusiastic in taking. And one hopes that this time despite the absence of Christopher Reeves (R.I.P), this acclaimed director will turn the excellent script into cinematic gold, and save us the kryptonite experience (and Hollywood's jinx in regards to 'The Man of Steel') yet again. Yes, we hope Superman really returns again…
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