The Museum of Modern Art Store might not immediately pop into your mind as the perfect place to fulfill all your kitchen needs.
Makes sense - much of its items are pricey and elegant, and not appropriate for everyday use. But if nothing else, it's certainly fun to peruse the products and place them on your mental kitchen wish list.
From inside-out martini glasses to panda-shaped pink lunch bags, MOMA's got funky kitchenware covered. Check out some of the fanciful finds below.
Forget Obama versus Hillary, the debate heating up over at Apartment Therapy has to do with dish racks. Some people consider them another fun piece of kitchen gear, buying bamboo or ultra-modern stainless steel versions. Others can't stand them (including the Apartment Therapy bloggers), finding them a waste of space, a silly unitasker easily replaced by a dish towel.
I've got one, but honestly I never really thought about it. But, judging by the number of comments on the post, it's a real Coke/Pepsi divide. It reminded me of a cool book, Emotional Design: Why We Love (Or Hate) Everyday Things, by Donald Norman. Norman, a consultant to design firms, analyzes why people feel the way they feel about things like teapots and juicers. It's a good read for the kind of design junkie who has genuine emotions about things like dish racks (or vintage toasters, or enameled cookware, or the "perfect" coffee thermos etc.).
The Supple espresso cup is exactly that - soft and supple and doesn't break. The cup is designed by Cooked in Marseille was selected by "Observer du design" in 2002. I just wonder if it keeps the espresso hot.
The Supple espresso cups are €12.00 each (cup and saucer), come in red, blue, yellow and white, and are available at Sendhen.
We talk a lot about organic, local, and sustainable foods, but what about the tools we use to prepare the foods? I just came across Branch, an online store that sells products for the home, kitchen, kids, and accessories, that are sustainably made. For example, the chopping board pictured is handmade in China by a company called Bambu. The chopping board itself is 100% organically grown bamboo and made with non-toxic adhesives and natural wood oil.
The beauty of Branch is that, well, there is beauty in the design of the products they sell. They are an online store only, but are hoping to open a physical store in San Francisco.
There are a lot of ways we try to "change lifestyle" (diet) with respect to our eating habits. Some of us
take drastic measures and completely change our diets, but we know how successfully that works. Sometimes, little
things, like simple portion-control, is all you need.
These little Mesu bowls from Studio Panepinto are for
portion control, but are as fashionable as they are functional. They've got little pictures for you of what 1 cup and
all its fractional family look like, so you'll know exactly how much Ben & Jerry's you're eating. Didn't know a
half cup serving was so small, huh? They are $49.95 for the set of dishwasher-, microwave-, and freezer-safe bowls
that nest for storage.
This month's Everyday Food magazine has an
article about the five essential pots and pans that should be in every kitchen. They definitely picked out the right
things, too. If you are missing one of these, or perhaps haven't gotten around to breaking in your kitchen after moving
out of the dorms, you will be able to cook most things if you pick up all five items. On the list are:
10-inch nonstick skillet - Nonsticks are great because they don't requite much cleanup, but
stick to anodized aluminum brands, like Analon and Calphalon, if you want to avoid potentially toxic PFOAs. Use it for scrambling eggs
and searing delicate meats, like seafood.
12-inch skillet - The best choice for sauteing because you'll have lots of room to work,
large skillets will allow for higher surface heat and better searing. Make sure that it balances well on your stove and
isn't off balance by a too-heavy handle.
Large saucepan - A 3 or 4-quart saucepan is the most versatile kitchen pot because it can be
used for sauces, small batches of soups or pasta for one for a quick lunch. Don't get an aluminum one (unless its
anodized) because its reactivity with utensils and metal cooking implements can quickly lend an unwelcome
taste to your sauces.
Large pot - Stocks, soups and stews can all be made in a big 8 or 10-quart pot, but the most
common use for a pot like this is to make pasta. Lots of pasta.
Dutch oven - These can work both in the oven and on the stove top. They retain heat
better than most other cookware, too, so they're ideal for slow cooking and making soups or chili. Look for enameled
cast iron, anodized aluminum or stainless steel with a copper/aluminum base.
Normally, I am a bargain shopper. I don't shop at super high-end stores, and I try to wait for sales because paying
full retail hurts me.
However, shopping for kitchen and cooking things goes against every other shopping and money principle I stand for.
Table Art in Los Angeles could break me. The store is just that - they sell
gorgeous dinnerware, serving trays, cups and mugs, and all kinds of other dining things that make your table into a
masterpiece.
Sandra Lee's tablescapes need not apply.
Table Art 7977 Melrose Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90046 (323) 653-8278 www.tartontheweb.com
When you have a tiny apartment or a tiny kitchen, space is at a premium. You just can't cram all the good
kitchen gadgets and cookware into one little room. The two time-honored storage traditions involve either limiting your
kitchenware collection or turning the living room into storage. Chefn' Sleekstor has a line of collapsible kitchen tools
that will make storage a breeze. The measuring cups fold up to
be completely flat and cone in seven colors, making it possible to match them to your color scheme if you are forced to
store them on the counter for lack of space. Another space-saver is the collapsible
funnel, which is a fantastic idea since funnels are rather awkwardly shaped and difficult to store.
The Museum of Modern Art Store might not immediately pop into your mind as the perfect place to fulfill all your kitchen needs. 
...and don't worry about breaking anything. 
We talk a lot about organic, local, and sustainable foods, but what about the tools we use to prepare the foods? I just came across 
This month's 
When you have a tiny apartment or a tiny kitchen, space is at a premium. You just can't cram all the good
kitchen gadgets and cookware into one little room. The two time-honored storage traditions involve either limiting your
kitchenware collection or turning the living room into storage. Chefn' Sleekstor has a line of collapsible kitchen tools
that will make storage a breeze. 
Cakes so amazing they'd be hard to cut into
Fruit juice: An invitation to diabetes?
Morbid thoughts? Have a cookie
