In every cook s kitchen, there is a treasured tool: a workhorse utensil, go-to gadget, or a family heirloom with its own background story and the lofty standing of being a cook s most-prized possession. These beloved items say as much about the cook as their style of cooking. They tell stories about a cook s past and about the moments that led them to where they are today. For some, it might be a spoon inherited from a grandmother s silver set, which they use to taste every sauce. Or it could be a spaetzle maker picked up during a stage in Germany that s been used during every job since....