Phil Marlowe wrote in a message to Charles Angelich:

> You may want to expand on this for me. I only know of the musical 
> instrument "mandolin" and know of no 'holding device' for it?

PM> It's a kitchen gadget used for slicing. Has a fixed blade slightly 
PM> raised on a smooth surface along which you slide the food item to 
PM> be sliced, the slices coming out of the bottom. Works along
PM> the lines of a grater. For safety's sake, it's better to use the 
PM> device that comes with it for holding the food item than just using 
PM> your fingers. The blades on these things are usually -very- sharp. 
PM> Why it's called a mandolin I have no idea. I'm not even sure I 
PM> spelled it correctly.

I'd forgotten about those things.  Saw it on some cooking show or other...

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