Guest Picks: Elegant Kitchen and Entertaining Essentials
You probably have seen these Weck jars before. They are the latest craze in canning. They are also fantastic for storage. I specifically recommend the small jar for jellies and jams. I also find them perfect for parfaits. Make one the night before, and you have a healthy, handy snack at work.
Honestly, this is one of my favorite pieces of bakeware. White is eternally classic, and it goes easily from oven to table. It is also the perfect size for family meals or for roasting a couple of chickens for a bigger meal. This is a must-have.
I own these knives, and they are fantastic. The steel edges are incredibly sharp and make the cleanest cuts. The blade is also strong enough to not splinter when cutting tough root vegetables or soft fish bones.
Wine bottle stoppers in different colors can be used to label wines with comments like, "This one is better off in a ragout than a glass." Little reminders make it easier to arrange them the day after the hangover.
Kettles are a must for any kitchen, whether you want to brew a pot of calming tea or some funky infusion. These colorful kettles add punch of vibrance to any kitchen at a great price.
If you have to get one frying pan for the kitchen, get this one. Steel is one of the best media for cooking, even heating and perfect searing. This is a great piece to start your cookware set.
I absolutely love this cutlery rack. It's so rustic and elegant and just simply stunning. I am also partial to it given the initials of my blog.
No matter how diligent you think your fish monger is, there are likely to be a few scales left. This a cool-looking scaler, and given the design, it would be hard to mistake for a nail file.
Being something of a coffee enthusiast, I have realized that buying pre-ground beans is just not fair to the coffee. I can't really roast my own beans, but just short of that, this grinder allows me to brew the closest thing to a perfect cup of coffee as possible.
I love these measuring cups from Anthropologie. They are classic and stack up to look like a milk bottle. No more hanging from hooks or finding space in the drawers, as they can stand up on the counter and will look quite becoming there.
There is something to say about unprocessed salt, or rock salt. Salt mills are not as common as pepper mills, but they work the same way with flavor. This one is beautifully rustic, and I want it.
From the kitchen to the bar, this is one tool that you always need. I find it very useful for crushing cardamom seeds for my morning tea or for quickly crushing spices for curry. It will even crush down the mint for my mojitos.
The most frustrating thing about working with garlic, for me, is peeling it — especially when I want whole cloves. This gadget works perfectly. I get gorgeous whole cloves that I can make into a luxurious confit or infuse into olive oil.
Retro chic vegetable peelers are a necessity in every kitchen. They'll display some attitude too.
I absolutely love these retro-looking canning jars. They're perfect for making your own infused oils and vinegars and look perfectly poised in the pantry or on the table.
Never drink watery whiskey, and never date a man who can't handle his alcohol. Well, at least the former can be easily fixed with these soapstone cubes. You'll be able to sip luxuriously for at least half an hour.
The Chemex is a must-have for coffee enthusiasts. It is designed to brew the perfect cup of aromatic coffee, and its style lends an elegant contemporary touch to any kitchen. Because I'm a budding coffee snob, and have seen this in action, I have it on my wish list.
I love the masculine look of these openers. They make perfect gifts for DIY enthusiasts. There's no better way to pop a beer open than with a tool that makes you feel empowered.
These multilayered traditional food carriers are perfect for school lunches. I would also use them as creative stackable food storage. They are air tight and lend themselves well to storing whole spices or nuts and dried fruits. You can easily create a theme of foods to store in each container set.
One never tires of apothecary jars. I would not use them to hold lemons (they last longer when they can breathe), but these jars are fantastic for storing cookies, candies and even your own special whole spice mix.Next: How to Set Up a Kitchen Work Triangle
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