cooking implements needed for travelling

[lagatta]

"Have wok will travel", or (cooking) knife, or grater, or special (legal) spice mix?

What do you have to take when travelling? I know this depends on the kind of travel - shoving stuff in a car is not the same thing as taking a plane, or a train, or the intricate art of packing for canoeing excursions.

I do like to take one of those thin flexible cutting boards (weightless in the bottom of a bag), a sharp knife - used to be an Opinel, but I'm looking at something smallish but with a better blade, in a sheath, in some cases a little wok, a flat grater for winter salads...

Remember that Bixa became very popular with a coil for making instant coffee (Bixa, there is a Nescafé instant espresso now that is evidently quite palatable).

[bixaorellana]

Marginally related to the subject ~~ some years ago I remember reading about how several Hollywood actors so needed their hot pepper fix that they'd bring it with them with dining out. One such affected individual used a silver snuff box filled with dried chiltepines ("birdseye" peppers).

[lagatta]

That is fine for this subject. I know a law professor originally from spicy Sicily who was doing professional studies up in Germany. He had a little "pen" that actually sprayed a bit of hot red pepper on the strangely bland foods north of the Alps.

I'm sure some of his Mexican colleagues wouldn't mind having one for similar "bland-world" travels.

[imec]

Bought this kit at the Batha souq in Riyadh in 1987. I take them to the lake and to other houses when I'm expected to cook - I'll be taking them to the annual party at my neighbor's next Friday (was horrified at waht the host was carving the meat with the first time I was invited and have since take over all kitchen duties :.

[lagatta]

Not exactly carry-on luggage, though. I know chefs who have those cases - is that Henkels?

I'm always dismayed at what certain people have in the way of knives - I'm NOT referring to destitute people or in a village in some poorer country. Even if there is one sharp knife i'm ok, but there are still relatively affluent people (often people far more affluent than I am) who make do with some utterly crap knife.

One is supposed to "sell" knives if one gives them to a friend. I'm not superstitious but the ritual is fun - the knifee (!) pays a very low-value coin for the knife so it doesn't come between the friendship or have a whiff of menace. I've done this several times, if I know the knifee appreciates a decent knife.

[bixaorellana]

I observe that practice, too, with knives. You have to sell it because if it's a gift it will cut the friendship. Scissors, too.

My brother & I were cooking in my mother's kitchen once, and actually looked at the knives to see if we were holding them upside down, they were so dull. Really bizarre, as my mother is an excellent cook who loves kitchen and dining implements. My brother asked her where the good Japanese knife he'd bought her was, as he was unable to find it in the kitchen. She went and dug it out of the china closet or someplace, still in the gift box. As you can imagine, the lecture ensued about how dull knives are more dangerous.

[Deleted]

The only implement I have ever packed for a trip was a coil to boil water, a spoon, a fork and a knife in case I have to eat in my hotel room.

[lagatta]

I guess it depends on how we travel - and where. I often need a few things to prepare food.

[bixaorellana]

I pack the same things Kerouac does, except that I try to include a melmac plate and cup. The knife is a pocketknife. I guess I can't imagine taking my own things along unless I was going to stay a while and had already seen the place and knew what it needed. Even then, I think I'd be tempted to make do or buy a few things when I got there.

[Deleted]

The only time I ever rented an apartment on holiday was in NYC and the kitchen was reasonably well equipped. Once I had taken inventory, groceries were bought with what was available in mind.