Smoking Gun

As part of Road Trip 2010, CNET reporter Daniel Terdiman realized that he had a great opportunity to tell a two-part story about how Thomas Keller, regarded by many as the best chef in America, uses tools and the latest culinary equipment to turn out Michelin three-star meals at his famous restaurants, The French Laundry, in Yountville, Calif.; and Per Se, in New York City.

First, Terdiman visited The French Laundry, and got a tour of the facilities from Chef de Cuisine Timothy Hollingsworth, who demonstrated many of the restaurant's tools, including this Smoking Gun from PolyScience. Used to infuse many ingredients with flavored smoke created by heating special sawdust, the Smoking Gun is a favorite and efficient way to give dishes more flavor.

Keller uses many of the same tools and technologies at both restaurants, as well as at others he owns.

A behind-the-scenes story on the technology and gear of The French Laundry and Per Se can be found here.

Click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

July 9, 2010 4:00 AM PDT

Photo by: Daniel Terdiman/CNET

| Caption by: Daniel Terdiman