One man’s rubbish can be a gentleman’s prize. We at G@H practice a unique tradition: every three months or so, we hit thrift store alley. We’re always on the lookout for some items, such as table lamps, ceramic pots, sport coats, and apothecary jars.  Limiting one’s self at the resale shop, though, is akin to ordering off the menu at the Bellagio Buffet.  It’s unadventurous. It’s uninspired. You might miss out on the most amazing bite-sized pecan pies. (That last sentence is metaphoric. Eat desserts from Goodwill at your own peril.)

We walk each aisle with scouring eyes and an open mind.  And, given our unabashed love of kitchen appliances, we never skip that section. Discretion and moderation are key. We have struck fool’s gold. We bought a vacuum sealer that didn’t seal.  We bought a pressure cooker with a defective weight valve.  We bought a juicer. Well, it might work. Who knows? But, we’ve also hit the jackpot and hit it we did last week.

Fact: sandwiches taste better grilled. Fact: Panini presses, done right, are awesome. They toast bread, warm meat and melt cheese without burning.  They have a floating hinge, so they do not squish the sandwich at one end and undercook the other. Fact: Panini presses, done right, are also pricey. So, while we’ve yearned for a Panini press, we’ve prudentially abstained for buying one. But, the culinary gods are smiling upon us. We discovered this Breville 1500-watt stainless steel Panini press buried in a pile of cast-off Foreman grills. We bought it for $4.99. It sells new for $69.95 on Amazon.com.

Victory for the good guys! Or, at least, the frugal gentlemen.