Jon Kallini

About six years ago, this unique spoon caught Jonathan Kallini’s eye. He was looking for a way to reduce the number of things stored in his bain-marie. This spoon "had a ruler to provide examples to my cooks of exact dimensions, could be used as tweezers in a pinch, and most importantly, was an appropriate size for most spoon tasks. Nobody ever mistook it for their own and nobody had one like it."

At the time this spoonful was plated, Kallini had just gained some menu control over the restaurant where he began his career. He was experimenting with presenting foods altered from their original form and texture, such as these "noodles" made from beet gel. While this spoon has since been retired to a place of honor on Kallini’s home office desk, it continues to symbolize his approach in the kitchen. "It shows my penchant for specificity and attention to detail. It's a tool that demonstrates my adherence to standards."