For the cook with ailing feet and good taste

Standing on a crocodile or a rattlesnake typically would not be considered the pinnacle of comfort.

But GelPro Mats now come in crocodile and rattlesnake patterns to keep your kitchen looking chic, and Neiman Marcus has given the Austin-based company its stamp of approval.

Neiman Marcus will carry GelPro Mats ExoticLine; the crocodile design is available in the Neiman Marcus Direct fall catalog, with the rattlesnake version available in early 2009.

GelPro Mats were created for chefs who are on their feet all day in front of the stove or the prep table. The mats' soft polymer gel interior absorbs shock and provides relief for tired feet, legs and backs while a bacteria-killing additive eliminates mold and mildew caused by drips and slops. Bonus: A nonslip bottom keeps the mat from sliding around the floor.