Your Smoky Secret

A smoking gun like this one from Mitbak is a handheld device that adds a smoky flavor to just about anything, from meats and nuts to cheeses and cocktails.

ADD A HICKORY BARBECUE FLAVOR TO FOOD AND COCKTAILS AT HOME WITH A NIMBLE KITCHEN DEVICE YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU NEEDED. By Haley Longman

Since it’s probably not every night these days that you get to enjoy a meal or cocktail whipped up by a professional, here’s an idea you can apply at home. Achieve a top-notch, Michelin-star-worthy presentation and flavor by finishing off your dish or drink with a portable “smoking gun.” The idea behind this compact yet powerful kitchen tool (this one’s from Mitbak) is to inject a new dimension of flavor into your food without having to fire up the grill. It’s low-maintenance, yet delivers top flavor, and will have your guests convinced you were slaving over the firepit for hours.

A natural choice would be to smoke your meat: Poultry, fish, pork and steak all work well with the deepened flavor and softened texture this handheld device will help you produce. But a smoker can also add a woodsiness to cheese, nuts, vegetables, desserts and even soups and dips prepared in a blender. Or, if you really want to get fancy, you can smoke your cocktail to give that Manhattan or Old Fashioned a serious punch—and a seriously cool mist your guests would think only a pro bartender with swanky equipment could create.

So how does it work? You simply put wood chips (that come with the device) in the burn chamber, light it up, plug in the detachable hose and watch the magic happen. The smoker comes equipped with a clear dome, with which you cover the food to help the smoke penetrate it deeply. Choose from three speed settings for light, medium or heavy levels of smokiness. And this bad boy is cordless, so you can take it and spritz smoke on dish to dish as you move around your kitchen.

Here’s one kind of smoking you need never give up. That special smokiness factor can give an enchanting flavor boost to your latest concoction for the plate or the glass. And it’s great for igniting conversation—should you choose, that is, to reveal your secret.