Nestling Trivets

John Gilchrist was always the kind of guy who liked things neat, tidy, and clever. So when he noticed his kitchen drawers overflowing with mismatched trivets—some too big, some too small, and all of them clunky—he had a lightbulb moment: what if trivets could nest like bowls?

With that idea in mind, John headed to his woodshop. He picked out three beautiful types of wood—walnut, maple, and cherry—and cut them into three round trivets, each slightly smaller than the last. Then he shaped them with smooth edges so they could stack perfectly, like a cozy little puzzle.

When he was done, he couldn’t stop smiling. The trivets looked like a mini wooden sculpture when stacked, but they popped apart easily when it was time to serve hot dishes. He gave the set to his friend Zoe as a housewarming gift.

At her first dinner party, Zoe placed a steaming casserole on the biggest trivet, a hot teapot on the medium one, and a warm breadbasket on the smallest. Her guests oohed and aahed. “Where did you get these?” someone asked.

“My friend John made them,” Zoe said, grinning. “They’re nestling trivets—just like nesting dolls, but hotter.”

The whole room laughed, and from that moment on, John’s trivets weren’t just kitchen tools—they were conversation starters, little wooden wonders that made every meal a bit more delightful.

(Made by John Gilchrist for In The Kitchen Contest)