Kitchen Counter, Drawer and More

Non food items of interest for your kitchen

Nordic Ware Backsplash Griddle

bonnie Bonnie: Walking the aisles of another holiday gift show in Manhattan, I noticed this backsplash griddle at the Nordic Ware booth. Holiday gift shows are abundant at this time of year as long-lead magazines are working on their holiday stories.

In a flash, I visualized my dad flipping...

BryanBryan:I absolutely love my apartment, but I am just dying to redo my kitchen. It gets me by, but there are more than a few things I dislike about the room: limited counter space, only one drawer, very little storage and an awkward layout, to name a few. But the most frustrating element is that it has only electric appliances. No natural gas… no real burners to cook with. You may or may not have strong opinions about electric cooktops, but I am not ...

Eric (2 sunglasses)Eric: I’ve worked a decent number of jobs in the realm of food and beverage, and got my start at 14 working the deep fryer at a beach club in Connecticut during the summer. As I progressed, so did my responsibilities, and my next job was running the operations of a small snack shop at an indoor soccer center in that state. The added bonus was that I didn’t have to just...

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Norpro Avocado Slicer

5171slicingBonnie: I often think I never need another gadget to fill my already overstuffed tool drawers. But some wise person once told me never to say never. He was right.

I found this handy avocado slicer in my welcome bag on a recent trip to the San...

Bryan: Butchering meat is certainly an art. If you've ever attempted to fillet a trout or take a whole chicken down to it's delicious parts without training, you probably know what I'm talking about. A few mis-strokes of your knife and your desired fish fillet ends up a mushy pile of flesh and ...

Eric: What the egg slicer did for the world of hard-boiled eggs, the avocado slicer has done for our sandwich-dominated society. I have seen avocado on menus everywhere -- it's even the focus of the newest Subway nationwide marketing campaign -- and for good reason: The avocado is just ...

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Deadly Dishes

If you're looking for a little more dare devil in your daily diet, than this is the post for you. Hey, maybe you're already a dare devil and you don't even know it. In fact, many everyday foods are potentially quite hazardous to your health. Don't believe me? Well, believe it or not, even apples can send you to the hospital. Apple seeds actually contain cyanide, which can cause stomach agitation and vomiting. Okay, in reality there's very little risk unless the seeds are pulverized or chewed up and even then you'd need to eat a ton for it to be fatal. So, you're not the type to chew on [...]

Trudeau Pot Clip

Bonnie: Last month, my family gathered for the dedication of the atrium of Sun Life Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins, in honor of my father who died suddenly and unexpectedly at 92. He had been overseeing the stadium's renovation until literally the day he died.

While in Miami, one of my sisters, a niece and I went on a quick shopping trip – yakking more...

Bryan: I haven't had the time or money yet to redo my kitchen. Why do I mention this, you ask? Well, the previous owner of my condo designed what is now my kitchen with a certain proclivity for the color white. Countertops, floor tiles, cabinet doors, and worst of all... stovetop.

I like to cook, so it stands to reason...

Eric: One of my uncle's favorite sayings when it comes to business is "gelt ist in dreck" -- meaning, make your money from the simple ideas. I believe my cousin took this saying literally when he started his own recycling company. It's those simple ideas, those...

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By |2017-09-04T18:33:52-04:00February 15th, 2011|Kitchen Counter, Drawer and More|0 Comments

Measure Up Bowl

Bonnie: Almost as sure as death and taxes is making a New Year's resolution to lose weight (or at least to lose what you put on over the holidays). These new bowls make that so much easier, with pre-measured portions subtly etched into the interior of each white porcelain bowl. Measure Up Bowl provides a gentle reminder of how much food you're eating, and should teach you to eyeball portion sizes at other times. I find them a realistic weight-loss tool. goodpictureberries I tripped over them at an exhibit in New York City last year, and thought...

Bryan: Oh the holidays! Tis the season to get fatter, tra-la-la-la-la la-la la la....

If weight-conscious people are aware of anything, it's about how the festive season can do some damage to their waistlines! Indulgence is one thing, over-indulgence something completely different.

It all begins at Thanksgiving, the fattiest of holidays! Thanksgiving is a day that is literally built around over-eating. It's one of the few times that you might be scorned for not ...

Eric: For years I have been crossing my fingers in hope that a combination of intelligent design and simplicity would one day help alleviate concern over portion control in the home kitchen. I'm guessing that for the majority of people, portion control seems as dated as the eight-track tape - especially considering that a large percentage of the American population depends on restaurants and to-go food as its main source of nutrition.

I would be curious about the response if I were to challenge...

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By |2017-09-02T10:34:33-04:00January 4th, 2011|Kitchen Counter, Drawer and More|5 Comments

Trudeau Aerating Pourer

Bonnie: This is one of those “slap-my-head-of-course” kind of items. Last summer, we featured the Vinturi wine aerator in this space. You hold that wine aerator over either individual glasses or a decanter and then pour the wine through it. In contrast, this Trudeau Aerating Pourer fits on the bottle and aerates as you pour. And — what's even better — it's much less expensive. Now that's...

Bryan: But I want it now! We've all got a little Veruca Salt in us, don't we? That epically selfish, demanding, impatient spoiled little girl that wanted an Oompa Loompa and a golden goose more than anything. And waiting was simply not an option! Well, for all you wine-loving Verucas out there, a faster way to have your wine has finally arrived.

Decanting is one of those things you know you should do, but never actually feel like doing. Letting your ...

Eric: With wine, there's an amazing array of subtleties that can affect the drinkers experience. Most people will point out the temperature of the bottle and the way in which it was stored. Others might focus on the amount of aging that went into the vintage, or the type of material used to mature it. Some aficionados even discuss the terroir and argue about the angle of the sun in relation to the vines. Now, there is no doubt that all of these factors are important to the production of wine, but for me, and for most people who...

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By |2017-09-04T18:34:45-04:00August 17th, 2010|Kitchen Counter, Drawer and More|3 Comments

Wüsthof Classic Ikon Tomato Knife

Bonnie: Long, long, long ago my friend and colleague Brian Maynard (director of brand marketing, Jenn-Air and KitchenAid brands) sent me a tomato knife to try. The knife was one that he had worked on developing and that KitchenAid was selling.

“A tomato knife?” I asked. “Why would anyone need a knife just for tomatoes?”

Brian said,...

Bryan: Ooohhh, aaahhh… this is a pretty knife. No, it’s not wrong to think a knife can be aesthetically pleasing. That does not make one a sociopath or homicidal maniac. It’s not a Dexter-like love affair with the destructive power of blades, but an appreciation of fine craftsmanship. It’s like a samurai honoring his sword as art before...

Eric: I always have a feeling that for most people who cook at home, the knives they use while preparing their meals are an afterthought. I say most, because I do know some people who pay homage to a knife as if it were the deity of their culinary world; for the other 98 percent, the term “all-purpose knife” comes to mind.

I remember that while growing up, I would use...

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NexTrend Fat Skimming Ladle

Bonnie: The easy way to remove the fat from any homemade soup is first to refrigerate it, so that fat solidifies in a layer at the top. Just scrape off and discard. But that’s not always possible, when you’re making a soup to serve immediately. Another...

Bryan: Today’s company, NexTrend Products, is the outcome of one man’s passion to develop new kitchen tools that are both simple in design and amazingly functional. Beginning in 2002, NexTrend Products hit the market with its first (and most...

Eric: Some design team at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is certainly wondering how this idea from NexTrend got past them; it seems that the simplest changes to the most commonplace problems are often the most...

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The NexTrend Fat Skimming Ladle is available at the Bite of the Best shop

OXO Good Grips Silicone Collapsible Colander

Bonnie: Space-saving, useful kitchen gadgets like the OXO Good Grips Silicone Collapsible Colander are always welcome in my kitchen.

This colander is useful as a strainer (to drain pasta or rinse fruits, veggies or canned...

Bryan: There are certain products that come along and are simply a revelation; they absolutely replace whatever existed before them, and we wonder how we ever lived without the new product to begin with. I have a good friend who refers to all antiquated...

Eric: OXO is helping to revolutionize the way we think of, and use, kitchen utensils. For me, the beauty of most OXO products is in the simplicity of the design; they’re practical, made of quality, innovative materials and have a long l...

OXO Good Grips Silicone Collapsible Colander is available at the Bite of the Best shop

Copco Bag Cap

Bonnie: Sometimes gadgets just get to me. I see them and I must try them immediately. That was exactly the case with these adorable bag caps from Copco.

If you’re a baby boomer like me, you’ll remember Copco as the company that made the porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cookware. I still have some of its pots, and use them for stews and soups. I don’t...

Bryan: Who isn’t sick and tired of food going stale? Who here hasn’t been distraught by freezer burn? If you’re anything like me, your kitchen cabinets are cluttered with food packages that are fresh today and old tomorrow…. Well, it’s not a vacuum-packing machine, but these little pieces of plastic will help you go a long way toward...

Eric: I never would have expected bag clips, of all things, to be the topic of discussion on our blog. Of all the appliances and accessories in my kitchen, it is sometimes the simple pieces that prevail as “the best.” Copco Bag Caps have helped to redefine what a practical kitchen accessory truly means; they’re....

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By |2017-09-04T11:26:21-04:00September 2nd, 2009|Kitchen Counter, Drawer and More|4 Comments

Circulon Divided Skillet

Bonnie: I’ve been told I’m nuts for liking nonstick pans. Well, not that I’m actually crazy but that real cooks prefer other cookware. I beg to differ. To me, it’s all about time. I prefer to spend little of that precious time cleaning up, and using nonstick pans expedites this process.

I fell in love with my very first Circulon Toss & Turn pan for that reason and more. One side is taller than the other, providing any level cook the ability to look professional by tossing the ingredients with a flip of the wrist.

I reached out to the publicist to find out all the details about this pan so we could share them with you. But, sadly, I was told that Circulon was no longer making it. Fast-forward to a fabulous media luncheon at Adour Alain Ducasse in the St. Regis Hotel in Manhattan this past spring. I arrived late as I was trying to squeeze in two luncheons that day. Yup, some say I’m a glutton, but I say I’m practical in getting to two press events for one trip to the Big Apple. I missed most of the presentation, but heard a buzz about a divided pan.

Divided pan, I pondered: How cool is that? I can cook two things at once. I wished I had had it while the boys were...

Bryan: How does one prepare fajitas properly when the audience doesn’t like different foods to touch? What is the best way to cook sausage and eggs at the same time without breaking out and sullying all the pans in the kitchen? Can I warm two side dishes (baked beans and potatoes) simultaneously with only one free burner? These questions may not be so deeply profound that you’ll turn to Dianetics for the life-changing answers, but they can be a real puzzler when you don’t want to wash an army of pots and pans while cooking a simple meal (btw – I’ve heard if you read L. Ron Hubbard’s classic backwards, there’s a really ripping recipe for lentil soup hidden in there).

All of these questions, and more, are answered with one of the newest products to leave the Circulon test labs: the Divided...

Eric: Who likes to wash dishes? Honestly, I can’t think of a single person who’s ever said to me, “Hey, that meal was delicious, but what I’m really looking forward to now is standing over the sink for the next 30 minutes while I get elbow deep in soap, and scrub the pots and pans.”

Unfortunately, in my apartment, I don’t have a dishwasher. Instead I have my girlfriend. She might clean the dishes, but usually only after a discussion with me about who’s washed which dishes, and how many, throughout the day. We both try to pawn off the dirty deed onto each other, but in the end, cleaning dishes still takes up a chunk of someone’s time – and any time we can salvage is more than appreciated.

The Circulon divided pan, as my mother and brother have explained, is an invaluable...

By |2017-09-04T21:03:05-04:00September 24th, 2008|Kitchen Counter, Drawer and More|4 Comments

Starbucks Coffee for Tassimo

Bonnie: In general, I’ve never really been a fan of “pod” single-cup beverage machines for many reasons. For some (Senseo), the resulting coffee is too weak and watery for me, where you almost see the bottom of the cup.

My one exception was my Nespresso machine that always makes a good cup of espresso. Its pods — that look like a foil-sealed, half-and-half creamer found in diners — are well sealed, keeping the coffee fresh. And, the maker of the brew controls the amount of liquid in the cup, and thus the strength.

And now there’s another good single-cup brewer: Tassimo, but only with their new Starbucks T-discs.

I must, though, first back up to May 2005 when at FMI (the supermarket industry convention) Pat Riso (then a Kraft spokesperson) demonstrated their new beverage-making machine to me. According to Pat, you...

Bryan: Do any of you remember those drug commercials from the 80’s: “I learned it by watching you, Dad!” I learned much from this ad and tactfully avoided my mother’s vicious coffee addiction. Bonnie needs a full pot of strong brew to get going in the morning. This fact was driven home to me on a trip to Brussels long ago. Staying at my aunt’s...

Eric: I nearly laughed out loud after reading my brother’s recollection of our trip to Brussels and the withdrawal my mother went through with her “decaf episode.” It is amazing that coffee is not considered a soft drug or, for that matter, that caffeine itself is not recognized as just as an addictive substance as nicotine. Working in the hospitality industry you start...

One Touch Can Opener

"The ONE TOUCH can opener----Found this gem when shopping at Bed,Bath and Beyond. My mom saw an add on TV for this no-hands one touch can opener. She has a terrible time opening cans even with an electric opener. This product takes 2 AA batteries. You literally place it on the can, push the big black button and off it goes. It takes no coordination or strength. Great for any elderly person or anyone with arthritis or other disabilities. With hurricane season coming to Florida a manual can opener is always needed. Price is $20 and well worth it. I'll never buy another can opener again!!" - Gail Rubinsky

By |2017-08-25T16:40:06-04:00September 2nd, 2007|Kitchen Counter, Drawer and More|52 Comments

Orka Silicone Oven Mitt

Bonnie: It’s true. Outfitted in these awkward but useful silicone mitts you can carefully turn meat or chicken on the grill without getting burned. I know, as I’ve tried it.The mitt maker also claims that you can reach into a pot of boiling water or vat of ready-to-fry oil without getting burned (although why you’d want to do that is beyond me). I didn’t try that. I’m always sporting a big smile at the ease—and fun—of grabbing and turning racks of ribs while wearing these mitts. That’s something I do whenever Eric’s home. “Ribs,” Eric always replies when asked what I should make when he’s home. He never cares what [...]

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