Impromptu

Cousin J-Yah and I always have fun together, even if we don't always do what we had planned. We were headed out to the California Palace of the Legion of Honor (don't you just love that name? So unexpected and deliciously pretentious) to see the Cartier exhibit and to have lunch at Tal-y-Tara when we diverted to Clement Street on a whim to visit Kamei - and never did make it in to drool on the jewels. Next time!

We lucked into a parking space right in front of the store facing the colorful display of plastic storage containers on the sidewalk, fed 50 minutes worth of quarters into the meter and sashayed inside for a quick look around.

Kamei is an amazing store, filled to overflowing with everything a cook could dream of. I had trouble finding the mandolines among the welter of other gadgets, cookware, china, lucky bamboo, orchids, pots, pans and housewares so I asked at the cashier's desk and was immediately told, "Aisle Four." I love stores where the cashiers are knowledgeable and helpful! Of course, I had cruised Aisle Four several times myself without finding them so I went back with doubt in my heart - and found at least five different kinds of mandolines to choose from.

Anyway, here's my latest Kamei find, a hand-held mandoline that slices and juliennes in three widths and stores with the wickedly sharp blades retracted. It has a finger protector, too, thank heavens, or I'd surely have sliced my knuckles instead of the red onion I used for practice.

Cousin J-Yah and I dithered happily over our various choices until the time ran out on our meter, so we fed it another quarter and rushed back inside to finalize the transactions. We have another Kamei convert on our hands - Cousin J-Yah is already planning a return trip! I'm going, too. And we might even get over to the Legion to see those baubles next time.