PRODFeature
The Best Things We’ve Bought Recently, From Kimchi To Porcelain Bowls
Here’s what we’re into right now.
We cook a lot. We also make a lot of coffee, cocktails, and we occasionally lie in bed and think about how it would feel like to throw a dinner party where at least half the glassware matched. So when we find some home, entertaining, or kitchen products that we like, we get irrationally excited. Here are the best things we’ve bought recently. If you’re looking to make some smoothies, try a new brand of marmalade, or get an ambitious compost program started, these will help you achieve all that and more. You might even wake up one day and decide that you have the proper tools and emotional wherewithal to have a few people over. Or you might eat popcorn alone in your living room. Either is fine.
Scroll on to shop the favorite things we bought this past month.
PROD Feature
My Staub Dutchie Is The Best Thing I Bought All Year
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Hasami Porcelain Bowls
“I recently bought three small stackable serving bowls from Hasami Porcelain, and I can’t wait to start putting everything I cook in them. The bowls are gorgeous with clean lines and earthy colors (I got them in a lovely light gray). They’re so beautiful I’ve purposely avoided making room for them in my kitchen cabinet, just so I can admire them out on the table.”
- Lani Conway, Senior Staff Editor
Get Hasami Porcelain Bowls ($35) →
Lesser Evil Popcorn
“Remember office snacks? Me neither. But this salty, slightly sweet popcorn from Lesser Evil has become my go-to “office” (a.k.a. my dining room table) snack. Around 3pm on most weekdays, you can find me cramming a handful of this into my mouth before my next Zoom meeting.”
- Katherine Lewin, Deputy Editor
Get Lesser Evil Popcorn ($8) →
Alessi Pino Funnel
“The Alessi Pino Funnel simultaneously creeps me out and also makes me laugh - and, also, I didn’t have a funnel before I bought this one. It felt right to get something with personality.”
- Carlo Mantuano, Staff Editor
Get an Alessi Pino Funnel ($28) →
BRINS Rosemary Grapefruit Marmalade
“I picked this up at a bookstore (Topos) because I felt bad about not buying anything. (I still have 500 pages in the book I’m reading.) It’s a very nice jam - not too sweet and not too aggressively herbal.”
-Alicia Camden, Senior Creative Producer
Get BRINS Rosemary Grapefruit Marmalade ($10) →
Ninja Professional 72 Oz Countertop Blender
“It’s warming up in NYC, which means it’s time to play basketball outside again. My jump shot isn’t great, and my crossovers never go as planned, but I feel like some smoothies could fix that. That’s why I picked up this Ninja blender. It’s honestly much studier and a lot more powerful than I was anticipating, so I should be good to go.”
- Bryan Kim, Senior Staff Writer
Get a Ninja Professional 72 Oz Countertop Blender ($80) →
Formosa Brand Pork Sung
“I ordered some Asian groceries from Weee! the other day and bought two tubs of this sweet/salty pork floss (or “yuk sung”) so I could send one to my sister in Germany. (She’s severely lacking in Asian groceries there.) And, turns out, it would’ve cost 25 times the price of the pork floss in order to send it. So I gave the extra tub to a coworker.”
- Emily Ng, Senior Art Director
Get Formosa Brand Pork Sung ($14) →
AESOP Reverence Aromatique Hand Wash
“Normally I’d balk at a $40 hand wash, especially since you’re literally washing it off. But now that I moved into a new apartment, I wanted something nice for guests. With more of my friends and family getting vaccines, they’re able to come over, and the first thing they do when they arrive is wash their hands. I bought this bergamot scented one for our bathroom, and it reminds me of when we used to go out to restaurants. We only bring it out for guests, and yes, when it inevitably runs out, I’ll refill with a more cost-efficient hand wash.”
- Diana Tsui, Editorial Director, Recommendations
Get AESOP Reverence Aromatique Hand Wash ($40) →
Instant Noodle Bowl With Lid and Handle
“My boyfriend’s love for instant ramen is a literal safety hazard. He insists on only eating his ramen scorching hot and straight out of the pot while watching tv on the couch. So I bought him this instant ramen mug. It’s just the right size, and the handle prevents any unsolicited trips to the ER.”
- Anikah Shaokat, Editorial Operations Coordinator
Get an Instant Noodle Bowl With Lid And Handle ($39) →
Martelli Pasta
“Let’s get one thing out of the way - when it comes to buying pasta at the grocery store, there’s only one blue-and-yellow box that matters: De Cecco. Consistent and delicious, it usually clocks in at under $3.25 per box. That being said, I have begun to dabble in the luxury dried pasta market. And, as much as it pains me and my wallet to admit this, I must say - the expensive stuff is pretty great. One of my favorite fancy pasta brands right now is Martelli. Not only do I love the taste and texture, but the bright yellow bag also gives me joy. I like to leave it out on the counter (and not just because I can’t close any of my overstuffed kitchen cabinets).”
- Katherine Lewin, Deputy Editor
Get a Martelli Pasta Variety Pack ($35) →
Mama O'S Kimchi
“Lately, I’ve been an informal quest to find the best store-bought kimchi. I’ve tried a lot - most recently Mama O’s. This kimchi is crisp, fresh, and juicy, and it also comes in a bag, which is fun. The Original flavor isn’t quite spicy enough for me, which is to say that I can eat a whole pack in sitting. So if you’re looking to pace yourself, try the Super Spicy kind. It delivers some heat, but it’s still pretty manageable.”
- Bryan Kim, Senior Staff Writer
Get Mama O’s Kimchi ($45 for 3 pouches) →
Behrens Compost Pail
“I used to keep compost in a tub in the freezer, and I put off upgrading to a nicer option that didn’t get coffee grounds in my ice cube trays until I found the perfect tabletop composter. This is it: attractive, doesn’t smell, and easy to keep clean.”
- Alicia Camden, Senior Creative Producer