My garlic press died. I guess it was time…I’ve had it since my first year out of college, and I had used it a lot. I decided to ask Nancy Pollard, the owner of La Cuisine, for a recommendation. In case you’ve never been to this shop in Old Town, it’s worth a trip.
Here's some info from their website:
For 29 years La Cuisine—The Cooks Resource has offered the finest cookware, carbon and stainless cutlery and top quality kitchen gear for the amateur and professional chef. Nancy chooses brands that offer exceptional quality as well as classic design. However, there is another ingredient to La Cuisine’s impressive inventory. Nancy calls it “innovative traditionalism”—the ability to balance the timeless and proven with the best that technology has to offer. La Cuisine’s selection of hard-to-find brands includes superior American and European manufacturers. They test the products that they sell, on the premises!
Located on one of the prettiest and quietest blocks in Old Town (behind City Hall) and housed in an old grain warehouse that dates to 1810, La Cuisine has become a destination in the Washington area. Food and Wine magazine recommends La Cuisine in their December 1999 edition. It is a beautiful store that gleams with copper, stainless and good taste.
La Cuisine is not the prototypical kitchen/ cookware/ appliance store. This is a high end cookware experience. It is focused on quality cookware and interesting cookbooks. You won’t find a lot of knickknacks that you don’t need.
You will find a extensive selection of the finest dry goods such as Cassoulet’s Beans and Fortnum and Mason teas. Panel Chocolates are a specialty at La Cuisine. If you haven’t tried these chocolates, you simply don’t know what you are missing. Ask about the chocolate war, it’s an interesting little competition that you can get in on yourself, if you have the talent. Visit them on-line at http://www.lacuisineus.com/.
But I digress. Nancy recommended the Zyliss Susi Garlic Press. There are two sizes. The smaller one, Susi 2, is the one I bought. It holds 2–3 garlic cloves, and the best part: you can mince the garlic without peeling the cloves! It does not come with a separate cleaning device, but I have had no problem cleaning it up after use. It is also much easier to squeeze than my old one!
This garlic press is available elsewhere, but if you're in Old Town, La Cuisine would be a fun place to visit. 323 Cameron Street.
