Inventor: From Haute Cuisine to the Dogs!

Through the vehicle of her business Alma Lach, Inc., Alma developed an ingenious kitchen tool that brought delight to many adults and children. In a letter to a friend in the 1990s Alma wrote, “I’ve gone from ‘Haute Cuisine’ to the Dogs!” She was speaking of her invention, the Curly Dog Cutting Board. The multi-purpose cutting board was patented in 1995, and was sold through department stores, kitchen catalogs, and friends. Alma even sent a Curly Dog Cutting Board to the David Letterman Show. Alma also developed additional products that she marketed under the Alma Lach, Inc. name, including a type of soured cream and Steak Char, which was a seasoning that tasted as if your food had been cooked on a grill. Steak Char was originally developed while Alma was the food consultant at The Pump Room, for Rich Melman.

Although not on display, one of Alma’s last inventions was known as the Walker Tray. After an accident involving an attempt to hang a piece of her floral artwork, Alma ended up with a broken leg that required the use of a walker until she recovered. Having never needed assistance before, Alma became thoroughly frustrated with the inability to carry one’s dinner and drink easily to the table. Once again the light bulb went off, a design was created, and the Walker Tray was marketed. As her daughter Sandy has pointed out, this invention was created at the tender age of 90.