Useful, beautiful, and tasty finds for the kitchen and table.
• $2.99
• IKEA
I was at IKEA over the weekend and picked up a little jar of this vegetarian caviar look-alike, intrigued by its little black pearls. It turned out to be unexpectedly delicious - a refreshing topping for toast or eggs. I've been eating it with yogurt and lemon zest on (what else?) rye crispbread.
• $9.99 for set of 4
• Prepara
A good cocktail often requires a good hunk of ice. I keep these ice balls in the freezer year-round, because they are an easy, inexpensive way to turn out perfectly round, solid ice balls for cocktails. These come 4 to a pack, and you fill up each ball with water then seal it with a silicone cap. To unmold, carefully open and release the ball of ice.
They are not the sturdiest things ever; you have to carefully run water over them in order to get the ice balls out without cracking the plastic hinges. But they are convenient and can be tucked into smaller unused corners of the freezer - unlike an ice tray which often seems to take up an entire rack.
• $1,769
• A. J. Madison
Meet my new crush: The 36" Bertazzoni Professional 5-burner gas range top. I've been searching for a reasonably-priced gas cooktop for my kitchen renovation, and this Italian-made stove has serious style at a much lower price than the luxury brands of Wolf, Viking, and BlueStar. I've read nothing but good things about these stoves so far, and I like the sleek look - more suited to a home, in my opinion, than the faux-restaurant styling of more "professional" stoves.
It's still a splurge, of course, compared to less expensive drop-in cooktops, but I'm really in love.
• $55
• Leif
I have always loved the ridged, branching shape of ginger. It reminds me of coral. I also appreciate how ginger's inside is bright yellow, a surprise when you cut through its drab beige skin. This porcelain ginger sculpture represents both of these lovely aspects well. Not a practical, functional tool, of course - but something beautiful and unexpected for your kitchen.
• $20.99 to $22.99
• Acme Party Box
Pretty trays are so useful. I use little trays like these for serving drinks, appetizers, cheese, and desserts. The colors and patterns of this trays from Sweden seem particularly sweet and right this July.
• $140
• Etsy
A good picnic blanket forms the foundation, quite literally, of every picnic in the grass. I'm partial to blankets that have at least a little waterproofing on the bottom. I also love the stylish fabrics that these oversized, homemade blankets come in. Very bright and pretty!
• $11.95
• Opinel
Headed to a picnic in the park on July 4th? Take an Opinel knife with you. This came up high on the list when Sara Kate reviewed picnic knives a couple years back. It's a classic for a reason: pack one away for every picnic.
• $25
• Etsy
We've talked frequently about getting rid of the branded dish soap and using a refillable bottle instead. It looks prettier! Well, here's our current favorite countertop soap bottle, one with thick glass and a great spout top.
• $45
• Acme Party Box
Cute idea! These jars are just right for party sipping - dress up lemonade, cocktails, or punch by pouring it into these covered jars, which have lids punched in a decorative pattern. A snazzy striped straw is included. Picnic-ware in the best way - reusable!
• $559
• Eva Solo
This kettle grill from Eva Solo solves the lid problem in an elegant, really enviable way. Instead of lifting a hot grill lid up and back, where it can be in the way, or taking it off entirely and finding a place to set it (this is how my grill works), the lid slides back and into the grill itself. Rather pricey, for a charcoal grill. But oh-so lovely.
• $24
• Etsy
As many spoons and stirring utensils as I accumulate, I always go back to the basic, slim-profile wooden spoon. I never seem to have enough. These simple wooden spoons are each dipped in a different color of soft, rubbery plastic to make them comfortable to grip and to distinguish between the different lengths. Very pretty, but keeps the basic shape just as it should be.
• $58
• Anthropologie
I have such a push-pull relationship with Anthropologie. On the one hand, $58 for an ice bucket? YOWZA. On the other hand, oh dear. Isn't this the perfect, perfect color for a summer ice bucket? Hot tangerine, cold ice. Doesn't get better than that.
• $79
• Unica Home
This playful cruet depends on (and showcases) the different properties of oil and vinegar. Pour in vinegar, pour in oil, and the oil will always sit on top. It's kind of a modern classic, and every time I see it, it never fails to delight me.
• $25
• Amazon.com
Oh the mandoline - beautiful, swift, and sharp! This Japanese slicer is the secret to amazing salads. It shaves cabbage slaw whisper-thin, and it slices tough fennel so closely you can see through it. It's a hazard to your fingers, yes, but perhaps that's part of the thrill. You can read more about this mandoline here in my full review.
• $19
• Canvas
These terra cotta plates are my ideal salad plates for summertime - a little rustic, really colorful, with a handmade look and feel.
• $22.96
• Amazon.com
Salad spinners are big, bulky luxuries, taking up a lot of cabinet space. And yet some, like this one from Zyliss, do such a good job getting salad greens really dry and tasty, that if you have the space, it's a worthy investment. This one is especially fun to play with, with a solid lever action and a quick-stop latch.
• $48
• Terrain
It's Salad Week on The Kitchn and I'm really loving these splashy salad bowls. They have such a great shape, and they are made from a light, organically-grown material. The handles make these perfect for assembling, tossing, and serving a big, colorful summer salad.
• $149.99
• Amazon.com
Fuego makes small, stylish gas grills for urbanites, and this is their smallest (and perhaps most stylish) grill of all. It takes a small can of kerosene, instead of a big tank of propane, and you can fold it up and carry it to the back yard or even the park. Read more about this grill here in our full review.
• $34.96
• Sur La Table
What's a summer outdoor party without a big jar of lemonade (or, um, margaritas)? This beverage dispenser takes its jar inspiration seriously, with detailing and a rubber gasket lid inspired by canning jars.
• $179.95
• Amazon.com
Want to cook stellar pizza? The most important ingredient is heat, and lots of aspiring pizzaiolos use their grills to work up those 800+ temps to get the perfect charred crust. The KettlePizza claims to help out here, by creating an enclosed pizza-oven environment on your grill. These come in a couple different sizes to fit standard round Weber grills.
Recipe: Spring Fruit and Nut Tabouli
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