In early March I returned to Chicago for The Inspired Home Show, the premier home + housewares trade show. It had been a few years since an in-person show, so I was ready to get back and connect with everyone face-to-face. While the show was smaller than in years before, it did give me the opportunity to slow down, and have conversations with long-time industry friends, and to meet many new ones.
Of course, my focus was on all things kitchen related, so here are a few of my favorite products I came across at the show.
Speaking of slowing down, we’ve all been finding ways for a little self-care. I have many self-care rituals – evening meditation, reading, knitting, hiking, swimming – along with cooking and my tea time. And the new Cast Iron Tea Collection from Frieling, called Ja, makes it easy to create a beautiful ritual of slowing down and enjoying quite moments of great taste. Each teapot is handmade in the traditional sand-casting process, and features an enameled interior with a hand-painted exterior. Each teapot comes with a stainless-steel tea infuser. They’re so beautiful, I’m thinking of adding more than one to my teapot collection.
Beautiful aesthetics are exactly what you’ll experience with Georg Jensen. Designed with the idea that everyday object can be made prettier, the new additions to the Bernadotte collection, ensure form and function can easily be added to the home. New items in the collection include the Carafe with Lid (and I love it’s slim design with the elegant ridges), Table Card Holders, with are classic, playful and beautifully elegant – both pairing perfectly with the Floor Candleholder. And, then there is the French Coffee Press. A first for Georg Jensen, this French coffee press features a double wall to help keep coffee (and tea) warm. The press is equipped with a stainless-steel filter for easy cleaning.
Touch Screen Toasting is what you’ll get with Revolution Cooking’s Revolution InstaGLO Toaster. With its patented heating system, you’ll get fast heating so the unit sears the bread without drying it out. The result is toast that is crispy outside and soft inside. The intuitive touchscreen with smart sensors deliver 63 precise settings, along with the auto lift and lower, sleep screen with your choice of analog or digital clock, and a happy finishing chime when toasting is complete. You’ll even a clean the crumb tray reminder!
I love to grind my own herbs and spices and found myself seeking our beautiful options to do so. I fell in love with Fina Mill, an innovative new way to easily grind (one-handed!) a variety of different peppercorns, species and seasonings. The mill is designed to make grinding spices approachable and easy. Using swap-able pods, you can grind every whole spice in your pantry from mustard seed to cinnamon sticks. One pod even grates hard cheese. Simply depress the mill on the counter to disengage one pod, then click the unit on top of another pod, and you’re ready to grind by pressing the button at the top with your thumb. Available in a battery powered unit, and soon the rechargeable version will hit the market. YES!!!
Peugeot’s Bistrorama Collection takes the classic Bistro mill, created in 1874, to a new level. The Bistro mill was the company’s first table mill, which has come to symbolize the quintessential French way of life. This collection features a wide range of classic and trendy colors, that complement every style. In fact, you can create your own gift set and play with colors – pick the color of your pepper mill, and another for your salt mill. Have fun, and enjoy the flavor. Colors include Pistachio, Candy Pink Gloss, Slate Grey, Pacific Blue, Passion red, Terracotta Aubergine . . .
Take me to the beach, and let me bring along the retro-inspired Polarbox. The cooler offers maximum thermal insulation, in a lightweight design,
comes in 2 sizes 13 and 21 qt and two styles – Classic with a leather handle (natural color) and Pop where you choose the color of the strap. The fun shape, coupled with the fun color combinations from lilac sky blue and cyan to yellow and nude – each with colored accents, make the day at the beach, skatepark or any adventure, more FUN.
For day-to-day transporting food, black + blum helps you do it in sustainable style. The stainless steel lunch box and stainless steel bento box are completely leak proof containers that are equipped with dividers and a concealed fork. The bamboo lid doubles as a cutting board. And the 34 oz. stainless steel version with a vacuum seal comes in three colors.
An organized kitchen is essential. You want to find things when you need them – be it food, pans, or cleaning supplies. The new StoreMore Expandable Pan and Lid Rack from You Copia is a simple design that works – and is a new addition to my kitchen. Everyone here at our house has mentioned how much better it is than the old shove-in-the-cupboard method. Expandable from 12-22” wide with 10 adjustable dividers.
Cuckoo rice pressure technology gives you greater control over the results when cooking rice. This multi-functional cooker has fully customizable menu options that feature preparation all types of different rice and grains, a reheat option for leftovers, and a keep-warm function to ensure none of your foods are ever overcooked or burnt. Not only does it cook for you, but it initiate the auto-clean function to automatically steam the interior of the rice cooker for a deep, quick clean. Choose between pressure cooking or non-pressure cooking for specific and customized desired results—high pressure will yield deliciously made sticky rice while non-pressure will result in unbelievably fluffy rice!
Enjoy carbonated water cup by cup with Carbon8. With its one-touch control, Carbon 8 dispenses sparkling water, effortlessly – directly into your glass. The patented Carbon8 Reactor mixes water and CO2 instantly, creating an infinite stream of sparkling water. No more PET bottles to be filled or attach to the carbonator (whoo hoo!).
Cook, dine, serve and compost with the sustainable kitchenware from Bamboozle. The line includes colorful mixing bowls, composters, and dry storage to fit your style.
Bamboozle products are all plant-based and include the line made of bamboo fiber, as well as the newest introduction, Astrik (which biodegrades in 2 years, and is made of 85% PLA and 15% bamboo fiber). The new Astrik storage containers feature a locking lid that helps keep your stored dry goods fresh for longer periods of time. All pieces are dishwasher safe. Choose between three different sets, available in three colors: Ash, Slate, and Cobalt.
I’m a lover of kitchen gadgets, especially those that just do so much for me in the kitchen. And Dreamfarm’s Flisk does that. The whisk’s 10 wires are made of high-vibration spring steel for maximum aeration – and are hygienically sealed within the ergonomic handle. What makes this so great is that it is three whisks in one — It’s a balloon whisk that twists into a shallow sauce whisk, or completely flat for deglazing – of course, it’s design facilitates tangle-free storage —for a win! Oh, it’s dishwasher safe as well.
I love the sustainable Zip Top line of cups, bags, dishes and more all made of 100% food-grade silicone. Designed with the environment in mind, one Zip Top can replace 5,000+ disposable bags! Proudly made in the US, you can prep meals, reheat and serve later all from the same bag. The wide opening in the ‘dish’ version, coupled with the flat bottom, allows you to easily eat directly from container. Available in a variety of sizes and colors.
A beautiful table makes me feel all good inside, and who wouldn’t love sitting at this table? Thanks to Garnier-Thiebaut, I can pretend I’m in France every day of the year. This Citrons de Menton Romance tablecloth is 100% linen, and is soft and pleasant to the touch. Why not add a little bit of romance to your table?
