Hot stuff:I'm a bit of a Luddite when it comes to cookers, addicted to my Aga and its always-on heat. So I often wonder about high-tech ovens.
I have a feeling that people who spend serious money on kitchen equipment are among the least likely to cook very much. I quite like the sound of the KitchenAid's new Superheated Steam Oven, which seems to do everything. It pushes hot air, or steam, through 80 vents, guaranteeing the temperature to within a degree. The cooker can be programmed for anything from dehydration - drying fruit and vegetables, for example - and baking to roasting and steaming. Dough-raising and yogurt-making are also among its capabilities. A pyro function allows you to burn the interior clean. KitchenAid says the oven, which costs from €1,459, lets you produce food of "restaurant quality", but I suspect that how you cook will determine the kind of restaurant it's talking about. See www.cfquadrant.ie or call 01-6305757 for stockists. Tom Doorley
Bring your own
We might love bottles of our favourite drink, but they sure can be a nuisance to carry, keep cool or keep safe, especially when travelling. Enter Padiwrap. Like all good ideas, Padiwrap is a simple concept. Made from neoprene, the material used for wetsuits, it has two pockets for your bottles to sit snugly in. If they've come from the fridge, the bottles will stay cool under the material, which is an insulant. The Padiwrap comes with a shoulder strap, is fully washable and, at about ¤20, is not too painful for peace of mind. See www.padiwrap.ieor call 0402-91162. Joe Breen