The Hostess Essential: The Culinary Torch

The Art of the Host | Hostess Essentials

The Bottom Line

Baking is an exact science, but finishing a dish should always involve a touch of culinary theater. A high-quality kitchen torch is a true Hostess Essential, capable of far more than just caramelizing the top of a decadent crème brûlée. From scorching tomato skins for a robust salsa to bringing the nostalgic, smoky flavor of an outdoor campfire directly to your dining room table, this tool effortlessly elevates the visual presentation of your menu.

The Estate Lifestyle

When you host a dinner party, the food should spark conversation. Recently, while searching for a dessert that would leave an impression, I decided to tackle S’mores Cupcakes. These feature a baked graham cracker crust, a rich dark chocolate batter, and a mile-high topping of marshmallowy meringue frosting.

To make them as authentic as possible, you must toast the top of the frosting to scorch the edges. I pulled out my kitchen torch to do the job, and the results were incredible. The table immediately lit up with “oohs and aahs.” It delivered that perfect, crispy golden-brown marshmallow texture without anyone having to step off the veranda.

Once you have this little flame-thrower in your kitchen, you will find endless uses for it. Use it to quickly scorch tomato skins for a roasted tomato salsa, brown the bubbling cheese on top of your favorite gratin, or sprinkle sugar on a grapefruit half and torch it to create a hard, caramelized shell for a stunning brunch treat.