The Hot Man

The buyers at Sur La Table must have been beside themselves when this little guy walked in the door. Let me explain.

My wife went to a surprise birthday party (not for her) on Saturday with a few girlfriends of hers. One of her close friends, not the birthday girl, decided to give them each the newest in kitchen potholder technology design: the Hot Man.

Get it? Potholder? Hot, man. It works on so many levels.

Anyway, this little guy is as fun to look at as he is functional. And really, how many men can you say that about?

A cut piece of metal, glazed fire-engine red and shaped like a man - knees up, arms open, just waiting to have a scalding pot of hot something placed on top of him.

As so many men are.

The beauty of it is he's really a one-size-fits-all kind of guy. And really, how many men can you say that about?

Metal pots, aluminum pots, small pots, big pots, medium pots. Bring 'em on. He's there to hold them. In fact, look at him. He's just asking for it.

Another thing about the Hot Man that makes him the perfect kitchen companion isn't so much what he does as what he doesn't do.

He doesn't judge. He doesn't care what her hair looks like. He isn't concerned with what she's wearing. He's not hogging the remote. He never sits waiting anxiously until she's done speaking so he can say what he wants to say. And the reason he doesn't? Because he's such an excellent listener.

And really, how many men can you say that about?

My wife is many wonderful things, not the least of which is a professionally trained chef (we eat very, very well here). She's always on the lookout for new and fun cooking utensils and equipment.

So you can imagine how delighted she is that the Hot Man has made his way to her kitchen.

Apparently, the Hot Man is pretty happy about it himself.