When we moved here, we brought our toaster oven with us, but we haven’t used it at all. Before we retired, we liked the convection oven function, which allowed us to have a simple dinner of salmon or barbequed chicken on the table within minutes. Now, I have the time to cook, and I disdain the notion of popping our dinner in the toaster oven every night. I’m strictly a stovetop cook these days.
Because there isn’t enough room on the kitchen counter for that behemoth,
we stashed the old toaster-oven under the counter, in what used to be the wood-burning stove, and forgot about it. Lately, I’ve had a twinge or two, thinking about what’s happening in that cubbyhole. My guess is that it’s either overrun with a myriad of insects, or it’s a mold-covered glowing green. I’m not looking in there ever again.
We missed having a toaster, so I went to a local appliance store and bought a Tostadora, by Black and Decker. All I wanted was a no-nonsense toaster, something that didn’t take up much space in the already crowded kitchen.
That was in December. The Tostadora lasted for nine months. About a month ago, the filaments on one side of the toaster went dark. Jack tried to fix it- he’s mechanically inclined- but he couldn’t. So we decided to find a new one. We looked in our favorite store in the Multiplaza- the fabulous mall in Escazu- the wealthy suburb in the Central Valley.
At Cemaco, I zeroed in on a two-slice KitchenAid model in red.
The 120 dollar red toaster
The food processor
Sister mixer
“Let’s think about it,” I replied.
I’ve accepted the idea that imported items here cost about twice as much as in the States. And though I can order things online, between the shipping charges, the taxes, and the hassle of driving into San Jose to pay customs duties, I usually opt for spending the money here. I’m having a hard time parting with the 120 dollars for a toaster.
I love having beautiful things, especially in the kitchen. I know people who have kitchens stuffed with top-of-the line Sub Zero refrigerators, and 10,000-dollar Viking gas ranges, and never cook. I can’t imagine having such a kitchen, but I buy the best appliances that I can afford. Still, the red toaster seemed an extravagance.
I decided on a little online research. According to several consumer search sites, the KitchenAid toaster is a good one, and Amazon sells it for 50 dollars. Think I’ll wait till I get home.
Toaster? That close to the equator? Can’t you just, like, put the bread outside on a rock or something?
That’s funny. It’s seventy degrees up here in the mountains, and raining.
That bread would get awfully soggy, if Buddha didn’t eat it first.