One purchase I regret making is a cruddy little ‘brulee torch’ – underpowered, expensive, and just not worth it. It made its way to the trash can a long time ago.
I took Alton Brown’s advice and picked up a real torch. At the hardware store.

And it makes yummy things.
Like grapefruit brulee. No kidding.

Seriously, try it. It’s delicious! The combination of the burnt sugar and a little bit of salt completely takes away the bitterness of the grapefruit, as promised.
And if you do not have a torch in your kitchen, well, you are missing out.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
you’re so right. the culinary torches will heat up the custard on the creme brulee before you can caramelize the sugar.
’tis true!! I was happy to find that Julia Child agrees with us. ;)
Your tiles are filthy.
Heh! It’s actually linoleum, which looks like that.. ;)