Go To Kitchen Gadgets

Would you like to set your kitchen up with professional chef caliber gear without spending and arm and a leg?
Imagine going into a restaurant supply store like Smart and Final, Restaurant Depot, Sur le Table or whatever store you like to frequent and going down the isles and wondering, what would the pros use on a budget? What gadgets can I afford to do all of those things seen on the myriad of cooking shows but on MY budget?
Stay tuned....here are some ideas that won't cost you those precious appendages.

I am reminded that when I was much younger and just starting out in the business of learning the ropes of what it was going to entail being a chef, what the tools of the trade would require. I remember one particular day when we newbies were going through the first instructions of butchery. I should explain that this part of the education was more breaking down large cuts of meat (like hind quarters of beef, sides of lamb or pork, etc.), not really the messy stuff from the farm, but still learning deft knife skills. These skills are still necessary in the household kitchen when breaking down whole chickens, fish or larger cuts of meat. Anyway, we student chefs-to-be were mesmerized by our chef instructor's skill with the knife and to our satisfy our curiosity, we asked what knife or knives he relied on, being the master of the trade that we witnessed unfolding in front of our very eyes. We all expected to hear that he was using the best of the best, the most expensive German forged knives known to man. To our amazement he thoughtfully gazed at the blade in hand and said, "hmm, I got this one at Safeway three or four years ago for about $15 dollars. I guess it was well worth it, no?"