Review 2. The Potato Chipper

The Potato Chipper … put your local chippy out of business with this remarkable tool

After the last disappointment what can go wrong with this little smasher.

It’s small, chrome plated,  has matching white plastic handles at either side, and is actually a rather attractive specimen in a rugged sort of way … all of which makes it a complete steal at only £1.99 (I could barely stop myself buying three)

Can you remember the last time you tasted home made chips?

Again it is rather disappointing to find no detailed operating instructions – but it looks pretty simple, and should work as follows:

1. Peel Potato


2. Place Potato on to a chopping board


3. Take a firm grip of the chipper with both hands


4. Hold centrally over the Potato


5. Push down sharply


6. Stand back and admire freshly cut chips

Well I have to tell you … I am almost beside myself with excitement, so here we go!

As I push down on to the offending spud I can’t help thinking it’s more difficult than you would think – so I increase the pressure a little more, and then a little more, and end up leaning with my full body wait on to the chipper to force it through the potato.

Now … I have to say it did eventually penetrate the little veggie item, but the force I was exerting made my slip forward and I gouged a ten centimetre lump out of the kitchen worktop … oops!

I stand back and survey the scene – One chopping board with eight slightly misshapen chips on it, one damaged worktop, I wonder which will impress the wife more?

It did cut 8 new chips (I didn’t cook any of them – after extracting four of them from where the wife had shoved them, they had lost their appeal ... and shape

It did cost me £350 to have the worktop replaced, and I was astonished to find the makers of the Potato Chipper were not going to reimburse me in any way for this money

Test Result
I now see why McCain’s were invented

But don’t lose heart, when I was out last week I spotted something that stops your kitchen window misting up – now that has got to be a great idea

Review 1. The Gateaux Wedge Slicer

The Gateaux Wedge Slicer … cut a perfect slice of gateaux and impress your friends and family.

What a little beauty … brilliant in its conception, made of best quality plastic, dishwasher safe, a complete bargain at £1.99.

Just how clever do you have to be to invent something so fiendishly simple?

In honour of the first review I have purchased a rather tasty looking Raspberry Gateaux that doesn’t need defrosting … cost me £3.99 so it better be good!

Now … I have to confess the real reason for buying the Wedge Slicer was not just to put it through its paces, but it looks as though it cuts a bigger slice of gateaux than the wife normally gives me.

So on with the test

I rip the Wedge Slicer from its rather common packaging and scrabble about for the instructions (why am I surprised there are none) but not to worry, it can’t be that difficult to use … even for a lefty.

I decide to make up my own instructions, as follows:

1. Hover Plastic Wedge Shaped Slicer over gateaux


2. Push down


3. Lift up


4. Position over plate


5. Allow perfectly cut wedge to settle on plate


6. Devour immediately

Oh … the anticipation!

Get on with it you plonker I here you cry … so with the Wedge Slicer hovering above the bit with the most raspberry’s on top I strike a sharp downward blow.

Now as I watch the Gateaux disintegrate in front of my very eye’s my mind races

• Surely the prat that invented this actually tested it?


• Is this table cloth washable?


• Why doesn’t the cat like Raspberry’s?


• Will a look of scorn pass across the wife’s face?


• If I clean it up will someone buy it on Ebay?


• Is it still worth carrying out the dishwasher test?

So does the Gateaux Wedge Slicer cut the mustard, or has the cloak of disappointment been wrapped around my shoulders?

Test Result
It doesn’t work very well

Next Up
Something that is supposed to slice a potato into chips in seconds !!!!

Welcome to the Blog

Don’t you just love ‘em … kitchen gadgets?

We can’t help ourselves, one of those small little catalogues drops through the letter box and you just have to thumb through it … don’t you?

We smile as we ponder what our mates would think as we flick innocently through page after page of other peoples brainwave’s, but then the jaw drops as we discover the latest, simplest, brilliantly ingenious item that we simply must try!

Now “try” is the culprit here, because needing the item runs a poor second to actually trying it … to see if it works!

But will this little beauty (probably priced at £4.99) cut the mustard, or will it wrap the cloak of disappointment around your shoulders?

Well have no fear, I intend dedicating my life to the pursuit of kitchen gadgets that work … starting with the magnificent Gateaux Wedge Slice (but first I must go out and buy a gateaux – something with Raspberry’s and Cream I think).

See you soon with the test result.