My Favorite Kitchen Items
I’ve been spending a lot more time in the kitchen lately and during one of my many cooking/cleaning sprees, I had an idea to take note of my favorite kitchen items to share with you. Over the years, these are the items that I love and use the most, and that make time spent in the kitchen easier, more enjoyable, and more efficient.
BASKETS & BAGS
Market Basket - Without a doubt, the most stylish way to shop for groceries! It also makes a great weekend bag.
Fair Trade African Basket - I use this for weekly trips to my local farmstand - it’s the perfect size for this.
Cotton Mesh Shopping Bags - I carry one of these in my handbag so I’m never caught without. I also love them in black and sometimes use these to “wrap” gifts or deliver freshly picked oranges.
Reusable Produce Bags - For larger grocery runs, I bring these for produce and occasionally store vegetables in them.
TOWELS & NAPKINS
Gauzy Cotton Napkins - These affordable cotton napkins are so pretty piled in a bowl on the kitchen table.
White Linen Napkins - Classic white napkins are a staple and much more beautiful and environmentally friendly than paper.
Linen Kitchen Towel - I bought towels similar to these in France (as gifts for those attending The Academy) and was happy to find a very close option here in the states. I love a dark towel, it’s so good at hiding stains!
Linen Cocktail Napkins - I like placing them between a cup and saucer when serving tea or coffee - or cocktails, of course!
Striped Linen Napkins - For dressing up a table, a patterned or striped napkin is always great to have on hand.
STORAGE JARS
Large Pantry Jars - I use these jars to organize bulk items in our pantry. The wide opening makes it very easy to scoop out exactly what I need when cooking. Here’s a post about our pantry, if you’d like to see more.
Weck Jars - I use weck jars to store olives, spices, pickles, and homemade salad dressings. These are also my favorite jars when I’m gifting something homemade from the kitchen.
Le Parfait 32 oz - This is a nice size for bulk nuts - we keep a large variety on hand at all times. My husband is a squirrel.
Le Parfait 48 oz - I like these for storing fresh squeezed orange juice in the refrigerator, or bulk pantry items.
COOKING & BAKING
End Grain Cutting Boards - We use several types of these for our everyday chopping and slicing. They’re beautiful left out on the counter and easy to clean with heavy dose of kosher salt and a lemon sliced in half and used as a scrubber.
Matte Black French Oven - I love the sleek lines and matte finish of this cast iron cocotte. Another favorite that often sits out on the stove, is this Emille Henry ceramic casserole I purchased in France last year.
Cast Iron Skillet - The 15 inch size is perfect for so many dishes. I love being able to put this directly into the oven and the quality of caramelization is unmatched when compared with any other type of pan.
Parchment Paper - I buy these unbleached sheets of parchment paper in bulk. They lay flat on a baking sheet and don’t curl up like the rolled parchment. They also make for pretty liners on appetizer boards and cheese platters. In a pinch, you can even use it as wrapping paper!
Silicone Baking Mat - Nothing sticks to this silicone mat and it makes cleanup a breeze!
COFFEE ACCESSORIES
Here’s a link to a dedicated post with more photos and full details about our coffee station.
Electric Kettle - Finally, an electric kettle that actually looks good on the kitchen counter! The gooseneck spout creates a precise water flow for making pour over or french press coffee.
French Press - To me, this classic chambord style is the best French press.
Milk Frother - I love when French cafes bring you hot milk for your coffee, this frother will do just that and more - like help you make beautiful latte art or at least practice it. I’ve also heard from others that it makes great hot chocolate.
Cups & Saucers - The perfect size for making cappuccinos or dirty chai lattes.
Duralex Cups - A great size for serving shots of espresso, with a little extra room for a dash of milk on top if you prefer.
COFFEE MACHINES
Breville Espresso Machine - This was our first espresso machine and although we don’t use it on a daily basis any longer, it does come in handy during parties for pulling shots or steaming hot milk.
Nespresso Citiz Machine - I have this Nespresso in the studio and always tell my husband that the day it breaks down is the day I go buy another one. I like it that much!
De’Longhi Espresso Machine - On the daily, this machine gets quite the workout! I tell friends that this machine has made us supremely lazy - with the push of a single button it will make just about any style coffee. There’s no going back.
MISCELLANEOUS
Pantry Appetizer Plates - I own three sets of these appetizer plates and use them for almost all my breakfasts and lunches. Their sturdy weight reminds me of French cafe plates and they stand up well under the wear and tear of daily use.
Orange Juicer - This was the first thing we bought after we purchased our grove property. After years of use, I can definitely say, it squeezes every last drop of juice from our oranges and still looks and works great. Highly recommend!
Recycled Glass Tumblers - I bought these probably ten years ago and still love them. They have changed the design slightly but I think they’re still just as beautiful for serving special drinks.
Beeswax Wraps - Not only for cheese, I also like use this to beeswax wrap over bowls and plates for leftovers.
White Tea Scented Liquid Soap - The scent is unexpected, subtle and lovely, and it looks great on a kitchen counter.
Stainless Steel Water Dispenser - This stylish dispenser is perfect to use at parties and outdoor get-togethers.
Thanks so much for reading! I’m happy to answer any questions you might have in the comments.
