Press and Measure Dispenser
We’re a fan of anything that makes our time spent in the kitchen a little simpler and more efficient. That’s why we love these Press and Measure Dispensers. They work for any liquid, and get the calculations right every time.
Read More
Electric Push-Button Corkscrew
What would the holidays (or any day, really) be without an abundance of wine? if you’re anything like us, though, using a clumsy corkscrew (especially after you’ve already had a glass or two), isn’t exactly ideal.
This year, we were excited to find an electric push-button corkscrew to do all of the work for us, except for the pouring, and you know, the drinking.
Pop Out Bakeware
Bakeware isn’t exactly the last word in innovation nowadays. Think about it; when’s the last time you found a cake pan that really knocked your socks off, or a state-of-the-art cookie sheet? Everything from pie plates to muffin tins have had essentially the same design for years, and we’ve just come to accept the fact that they aren’t always easy to work with. But doesn’t it drive you crazy when, no matter how much Pam or butter you use, you can’t extract your zucchini bread from the loaf pan without it breaking into bits? That’s why we were pleasantly surprised to come across chef Curtis Stone’s line of “Pop Out” bakeware, that actually seems to break new ground. Made from durable steel and lined with flexible, heat-safe silicone, you can literally just push up the bottom of the pan...
Read More
Mini Pocket Pie Molds
From mini cheesecakes and macarons to bite-sized ice cream sandwiches and teeny-weeny tarts, the diminutive dessert trend doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. And while certain treats don’t take too much effort to downsize at home, pies definitely aren’t one of them. We once tried to make miniature pies in a cupcake tin…tried, unfortunately, being the operative term. Thankfully, these Mini Pocket Pie Molds from Williams-Sonoma have inspired us to give it another go. We love that they take all the fuss and guesswork out of shaping and crimping, easily molding and cutting the dough into individual apples, circles and stars. All you have to do is place a scrap of dough inside your desired form, fill it, and let the mold do the rest. It even punches a vent in the top of your pie, so...
Read More
Personalized Bamboo Cutting Board
From hand-woven potholders to mid-century modern gravy boats, we’re all about giving fun and eye-catching gifts for the kitchen. But what do you get for that foodie friend that already has everything? These personalized, pressed bamboo cutting boards make perfect, one-of-a-kind presents, sure to appeal to the most discerning at-home chef (even if it’s yourself). The great thing about bamboo is that it’s harder than most woods, making it an ideal surface for cutting just about anything. It also absorbs very little moisture, so you’ll never have to worry about swelling or weird smells. Simply enter the last name of the recipient when you’re ready to order, and it will be laser engraved for you. Incidentally, we’re thinking “Cucina di Restaurant Girl” has a nice ring to it (in case anyone is offering). Personalized Bamboo Cutting Board...
Read More
Three Tiered Oven Rack
No matter how many times you swear to yourself you’re going to keep holiday-related fuss to a minimum, chances are you’ll probably be baking up a few batches of sugar cookies, a pie or something else that requires a significant space in your oven this season. Of course, once you factor in holiday parties, that can quickly translate into an entire weekend slaving away in the kitchen. Not an appealing prospect when you have last-minute shopping to do. We’ve found a great gizmo for your holiday wish list, that will quickly transform your oven into an (almost) industrial-sized bakery. We’re only sort of exaggerating. Nifty’s 3-in-1 Oven Baking Rack adds three extra surfaces to your oven so you can whip up several batches of cookies, pastries, or even vegetables all at once. Simply keep the top rack in your...
Read More
BeerTender Keg
As football season gets into full swing, we start thinking of new ways to entertain for game watching at home. At just about any proper football party, you’ll find the essential eats, like nachos, chili and chicken wings. And of course, you can’t host a sporting event party without beer… lots of beer. Sure, you can fill the fridge with a collection of Corona and Heineken bottles, but it’s much more fun to experience the game like you’re right there in the action. We found the perfect way to do it. The BeerTender will convert your football party (or any other worthy occasion) into a full service brew bar. With Heineken DraughtKeg technology, it’s designed to keep your beer at a perfect 37.4 degrees, and it’ll keep it fresh for up to 30 days after it’s tapped! (How crazy...
Read More
Electric Cocktail Shaker
Give yourself a hard-earned break and pick up one of the Rabbit Electric Cocktail Shakers before you start your entertaining duties this season. Instead of getting carpal tunnel trying to shake drinks all night long, let it do all of the work for you with it’s gentle mixing blade.
Read More
Restaurant Worthy Salad Dressing At Home
Don’t you hate it when you go out for dinner and discover a great, new salad dressing only to find out that you can’t for the life of you figure out how to recreate it at home? Most of us think to ourselves, “If only we had the recipe,” but that’s just a small part of the problem. What we really need are the tools and techniques that restaurant chefs use, which is why we fell for this Chef’n Salad Dressing Emulsifier. What’s an emulsion you ask? A blend of two liquids that normally don’t blend together, like oil and water. This surprisingly inexpensive tool helps you make professional-tasting vinaigrettes, flavored oils and dressings in a flash. (Think blood orange-flavored olive oil or balsamic fig vinaigrette.) All you do is add your ingredients to the decanter, pull the trigger...
Read More
Cake Pop Maker
Dessert crazes are a never ending cycle in this city. From cupcakes to macarons, it seems as if New Yorkers love anything that’s sweet and small. Cake pops are one of the many tiny favorites and understandably so.
Read More
Mini Piecrust Cutters
The only thing that gets us through the loss of summer is the anticipation of fall foods, like sweet potatoes, apple cider, chili, and squash. And especially pies. There’s just something about Pumpkin or Apple Pie that cushions the blow of colder weather.
Read More
Macaron Baking Set
It feels like just yesterday that everyone in New York City was talking about where to get the best cupcake. Though the cupcake craze hasn’t really died down (you’ll still find a line out the door at Magnolia almost every day), there’s a new dessert in town that you can suddenly find just about anywhere in the city: Macarons.
Read More
Gizmo Girl – Aeroville’s Killer Cup of Espresso
In case you haven’t noticed, we’re obsessed with all things coffee. We know it’s hard to recreate a true barista experience at home but we’re always trying. Now, it may not look like much, but this puppy is years in the making. Aeropress Espresso Maker is founded on air pressure brewing, which shortens filtering time, and more importantly, eliminates the bitterness you often find in your garden variety espresso. How long does it take exactly? 20 seconds. That’s it and you can make four cups in just one minute. Just place the grounds in the press, add hot water, press down, and you’ve got espresso. You’d think we owned stock (we don’t), but we wish we did! It submerges all of the grounds in water, resulting in a more full-flavored, smoother brew. We have a peeve about acidic coffee,...
Read More
Home Canning Set
Fall weather may not be here yet (thankfully), but we don’t mind looking for ways to get into the spirit. Why not try a new hobby this year and master the art of canning? You can preserve all those great cucumbers in pickle form or make tomato sauce or even tomato jam while they’re still ripe on the vine for a few, more precious weeks. Unfortunately, canning can be an Olympic sport of sorts for home cooks. If you’ve ever tried to do it yourself without some quality tools, you know why. The Norpro 7-Piece Home Canning Set makes canning a breeze. It comes with all the essentials, including cheese cloth for straining, a funnel for cutting down on mess, and a magnetic lid wand to make sure you don’t burn yourself. Perhaps the best part is that it includes...
Read More
Ice Bottle Chiller Mold
We’ve still got a little summer left and that means more outdoor entertaining. If you love wine as much as we do, you know that white wine is best when properly chilled properly. Sure, the good old ice bucket will work, but in no time, you’re left with a a bucket full of water and a soaking wet bottle. Not the best way to entertain guests. This Ice Bottle Chiller Mold makes your wine the center of attention, while keeping it chilled for up to six hours. Just fill the mold with water, freeze it for 24 hours, and place the perfectly shaped ice mold into the stainless steel stand for chilled wine with a little added flair. Not only does the mold keep your wine cold at the table, but the stainless steel stand holds in all the...
Read More
Portable Ice Maker
Just imagine drinking a cold margarita on the beach, or by the pool, or even tailgating this football season. There’s only one problem. Ice. And that’s a pretty big problem unless you’re tossing a bag of ice in the truck. Still, that will melt before you know it, so we searched for a solution. Voila, the Portable Ice Maker. No drain or plumbing required. Seriously. It has an illuminated, easy touch pad for easy use and makes up to 26 1/2 pounds of ice a day. You can add ice to your drink or keep perishables, like lobster salad or tuna cold until you’re ready to eat. Bring it on a boat or throw it in the back of your car for an ice cold drink whenever you want it. That’s what we like to hear. ...
Read More
Flexible Grilling Skewers
Where barbecue is concerned, we’re big fans of skewers. They’re fun to use, easy to clean up, and they make grilling a little more personalized since everyone can build their own skewer.
Read More
Meatball Grill Basket
There’s something about meatballs that make them one of the ultimate comfort foods. Maybe it’s their moist, juicy flavor, or that we nostalgically associate them with home. Whatever it is, they’re surefire crowd pleasers and there are endless ways to make them. You can add mozzarella to your meatball mix, capers, raisins, or even bits of pineapple. The problem is we never could quite figure out how to add them to a summer menu. But if everything else can go on the grill, why not meatballs? This Meatball Grill Basket from Williams-Sonoma finally gives us an excuse to make meatballs come summer. The stainless-steel tray holds 12 perfectly shaped meatballs, and it’s perforated so excess fat drips away. What’s more, the grill infuses them with a smoky flavor and beautiful char that you just can’t get on the stove....
Read More
Grill Gadgets: Himalayan Salt Plate
Grilling is without a doubt the way to cook in summertime. The thing is we often get stuck in a rut, using the same dry-rub or marinade every time, flipping burgers or turning corn. There’s always ways to up the ante and we just found one:
Read More
Wine On The Go
We promise we won’t judge you for buying this. In fact, we won’t tell anyone because we may or may not have bought one, too. The thing is you never know when a wine-worthy occasion will present itself, so you need to be prepared. You don’t want to get stuck drinking the three-buck-chuck in the parking lot before a concert, family barbecue, or anywhere else, for that matter. Call us wine snobs, but we don’t like to drink just any old wine, so bringing our own seems like the perfect solution. There are challenges, like refrigeration and essential tools, like a corkscrew. These are the problems that the Wine Sack aims to solve. The sack holds any standard 3L bag of wine, and even has room for a couple of ice packs if you’re feeling a summery white. The...
Read MoreCheck out My Book – Try This
