Cookstuff

Affordable luxury

Lovely little knives in the Laguiole style add an elegant touch to cheese courses. These knives from French manufacturer Jean Dubost feature the stylized bee on their shafts, have black or ivory acrylic handles and come in a wooden box for storage. And best of all, this set looks more expensive than it is. Who says your guests need to know that these knives aren’t handcrafted but machine-made? Just say Laguiole (“la-yull”) and pass the cheese tray.

Set of three Laguiole cheese knives, $24.95, at Maison Midi, the housewares store adjacent to American Rag, 148 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 935-3157.

-- Valli Herman

Funnel face

At a children’s shop in Studio City, I fell in love with a toddler’s raspberry organdy skirt, a monster doll wearing a bikini, a fat knitted octopus ... and this elephant funnel for my kitchen. It has a goofily winsome smile and comes in seven color schemes. And its big ears are perfect for balancing on a bowl. When it’s not on funnel duty, hang it by its hook from your wall -- its sweet funny face is good company in the kitchen.

Elephant funnel, $12, at Entertaining Elephants, 2053 1/2 Ventura Place, Studio City; (818) 766-9177; www.entertainingelephants.com.

-- S. Irene Virbila