My vegetable peeler worked great for paper-thin garlic slices

[c oliver]

I'm making a pizza tonight and one of the toppings (thanks, alkapal) will be sliced garlic. I was concerned about ovewhelming the fennel with too strong a garlic flavor and a number of slicing alternatives were suggested in another thread. I finally decided to try my vegetable peeler and it worked great --- paper-thin slices of garlic. And I didn't have to buy a new "tool" (I have an aversion to things that only serve a single purpose. Just thought I'd share this idea.

[MMRuth]

Great tip. I randomly bought a truffle shaver (years before I ever bought a truffle), and it works well for this purpose too. I use my zester to make lovely thin curls of carrots for Vietnamese dishes.

[ideabaker]

This tip is great. MMRuth, tell me, can I use my vegetable peeler (already have it) to thinly slice truffles as well?

[MMRuth]

I don't see why not!

[c oliver]

I read about your truffle shaver but knew that was too silly for me :) Never thought about my zester for carrots. Another good idea.

The garlic on the pizza was great. With it being that thin, the flavor just blended in with everything else. Actually the most dominant flavor was the red onion, but in that sweet way. Very nice dinner ------ and half is left for a lunch. Yay!

[MMRuth]

Yes, the truffle shaver started out as a v. silly purchase. My husband is a huge sucker for any stainless steel kitchen gadget, and aspired to truffles at the time!

[c oliver]

I guess I *aspire* to truffles but not sure it will happen. Especially with our retirement account the way it is now :) But we do have a house exchange planned for (hopefully) next year to the Dordogne region in France which I gather is a/the truffle capital so maybe then. An expensive taste to acquire, isn't it???

[MMRuth]

We've been buying ours from a guy in Oregon. He sells both black and white truffles. Not quite the same as French and Italian truffles, but awfully good all the same. I'll find the link that I posted on the GT board for you.

[c oliver]

Super. We're going to be in Oregon at times over the next few months but I assume they're seasonal there as well. Speaking of travel, we ARE going to be in NYC for a whole month, mid-June to mid-July. Yay. I'm looking forward to your UES shopping list. Our friends' place is CPW and 101 so easy enough to come to the other side. Yum.

[MMRuth]

Please do email me. I'm happy to help you local chow tips on the boards, and with other things via email. Would love to meet up w/ you - I'm at 92nd & Madison.

[c oliver]

Well, we'll be neighbors practically :) I'll definitely email you. Thanks, MMR.