Claustrophobes and neat freaks may need a moment to compose themselves after venturing inside this quirky and cramped shop, with its folksy handwritten signs and cheerfully anarchic merchandising. The shop sells hundreds of kitchen tools of uncommon usefulness. Take, for instance, a gizmo that turns out perfect slivers of avocado, a small serrated knife for smoothly cutting tomatoes ($7.50), and even a prophylactic that prevents bruised bananas. A decorative spreader knife from Nova Scotia ($16.50), a sleek Microplane ($24) and handsome Swissmar cheese knives ($15) are popular hostess gifts. Excellent, bend-over-backwards service wins hearts.