Mandoline This all-metal French food slicer allows you to shave vegetables (asparagus, zucchini, carrots) into paper-thin slices that are a better showcase for a lovely vinaigrette than thicker pieces would be. A plastic-and-metal Japanese mandoline is less expensive and also works well.

Cheesecloth For intensely flavored, extremely fresh sauces, cheesecloth is invaluable. After pureeing fresh summer berries, strain them through a few layers of dampened cheesecloth to make a sauce for ice cream. Or puree summer tomatoes and strain them to make a delicate broth.

Blender The versatility of the blender is famous: Use it for smoothies, shakes, cocktails, dressings, dips, chilled soups and creamy desserts. It can also be used to add oil to vinaigrettes;for the best results, slowly drizzle the oil into the blender while the machine is on its lowest speed.