Olivia Tarantino
Montana Labelle Red Marble Tray
Montana Labelle Red Marble Tray
I’m admittedly a bit of a hoarder when it comes to kitchen gear and pantry products, so I’m always on the lookout for products that can help streamline the mess that is my kitchen countertop—and preferably look good while doing it. This gorgeous red marble tray from Westbourne is the latest addition to my setup. Made in collaboration with Montana Labelle, it’s crafted in hand-honed Rosso Alicante marble that’s quarried in Spain and features beautiful striations that are unique to each piece. I’m using mine to hold my everyday cooking oils (the Westbourne avocado oil and whichever extra virgin olive oil I’m currently working my way through), and thinking of ordering a second to gift to a lucky someone this holiday season. Or maybe I’ll keep that second one for myself—it would work great as a vessel for lotion and jewelry on my vanity. —Alaina Chou, commerce writer
Zwilling XTEND Cordless Hand Blender
Zwilling XTEND Cordless Hand Blender
For years I’ve held an opinion that I believe to be the consensus at Bon Appétit: Cordless kitchen tools are underpowered and are never a better choice than a plug-in version of the same tool. That goes for blenders, for hand mixers, all of it. But I got my hands on Zwilling’s new Xtend series, and I have to admit: I love having a cordless immersion blender to zip together scrambled eggs and pancake batter. It’s got two power settings—yes, both notably less powerful than my plug-in Breville immersion blender—which are enough for the lighter tasks you use an immersion blender for. I wouldn’t use it to replace a high-powered, full-sized blender, but it’s certainly a handy companion piece. —N.K.
Jovial Farfalle + Force of Nature Meatballs
I’m already a big fan of Force of Nature’s ground bison and ground chicken, but lately my go-to product has been their 100% grass-fed beef meatballs. These fully cooked, frozen meatballs are the perfect weeknight dinner solution after a day at the office. They’re pre-seasoned with organic ground spices like sumac and garlic and are gluten-free (organic brown rice flour is the binder), dairy-free, and egg-free. Having them in the freezer means all that stands between me and a delicious, filling, mostly homemade dinner is heating them up in the oven for just over 10 minutes (an air fryer works too) and serving them with some quick roasted vegetables, pasta, and sauce. In case you were wondering, my hyper fixation meal right now is pairing the meatballs specifically with Jovial farfalle. A Tuesday night dinner of bowtie pasta and meatballs makes me feel like a kid again, and what could be better than that? —K.K.
Our Place Always Pan 2.0
After months of back-to-back travel, I barely remembered the last time I cooked at home. When I finally had a free Sunday, it was time for a meal prep marathon. Normally, I reach for stainless steel, but after a week-long cross-country trip, I wanted low-effort, and that’s where Our Place’s Always Pan shines. This ceramic, PFAS-free nonstick skillet is a kitchen lifesaver—it’s so nonstick that food literally slides off with a splash of water or a quick paper towel swipe. Bonus: the handle doubles as a spoon rest, so I didn’t have to wash mine. I got a great sear on some spicy shrimp, scrambled eggs (no butter required) for fried rice, and heated up some MiLa soup dumplings using the included metal steaming basket. At 10.5″ it’s versatile enough for nearly anything, and cleanup is a tired cook’s dream. —O.T.
A. Vogel Herbamare Organic Herbed Sea Salt
A. Vogel Herbamare Organic Herbed Sea Salt
My beloved green tub of Herbamare has become something of an all-purpose seasoning in my kitchen. It’s made from sea salt and a blend of dehydrated organic herbs and veggies like celery, leeks, rosemary, garlic, basil, kelp, and more. The greens-heavy blend gives it a savory-but-mild flavor, with an almost vegetable bouillon-like taste (don’t worry, it’s not nearly as concentrated), and a gentle kick of saltiness (it contains about 360 mg of sodium per ¼ tsp. serving). There are no fillers or additional preservatives (other than salt), so it doesn’t get gummy when you mix it into soup or rice or eggs or sprinkle it on roasted meats or veg, which I do nearly every time I cook. It’s a nice boost for most staples I whip up, and a real upgrade for make-ahead batch cooking because it lets me season nearly everything, but still leave each dish neutral enough to transform with bolder spices and sauces as my cravings change throughout the week. —K.J.Y.
JonnyPops
My favorite little treats come in the form of a new-to-me ice-pop brand, JonnyPops. Despite not being made with any artificial dyes, the bright ice pops scream childhood joy in a way I least expected I would need or enjoy as a full-grown adult. My favorites are their Cream Pops, notably the Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry and Birthday flavors. The Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry pops, deeply fruity like your ideal strawberry milk and with a snappy dark chocolate exterior, truly recall everyone’s favorite Valentine’s Day treat as a kid. Their line of mini pops is about half the size of a standard ice pop, but it is enough to satisfy that late-afternoon craving. (The Orange Cream Minis and standard-sized Mango pops were the first to go when I shared them with the wider BA team, btw.) They also have a line of supremely fun Sour flavors for those who crave that fruity tang. —A.C.
Owala Freesip Water Bottle
Owala Freesip Water Bottle
I’ll admit I was late to the party about the Owala Freesip. But after kindly receiving one as a gift a couple of months ago, I became immediately hooked and quickly abandoned all of my other water bottles. The cute butter yellow color, the satisfying click of the spout cover as it pops open, the joy of sipping through a straw—I loved it all, and found this was the first water bottle I’d owned that actually encouraged me, a person who is perennially underhydrated, to drink water throughout the day.
And then tragedy struck: My beloved bottle was snatched out of my bag while I was getting off a flight, which I know because I saw someone holding it minutes later while I was in line at customs. Am I entirely certain it was my bottle he was holding? No, but it seemed too coincidental, and I’ve since been referring to this incident as Owalagate.
Losing my emotional support wattle bottle at the beginning of a 10-day trip was tough, but I made sure to order a replacement immediately so it would be waiting for me when I got home. I like the 24-ounce model because of its slim profile, but the brand also makes 32 and 40-ounce versions if you’re a better hydrater than me. —A.C.
