KNHR's Top Drawer

Say Cheers with Mikasa

Oh, kitchenware blog readers, I've been a little busy, but I'm back today and will be posting throughout the holiday season with fun gift items. And I won't lie, some of these items are definitely on my own personal wish list this season.

Serve guests in style and toast with flair with the Mikasa Cheers Wine Set. It's a lovely gift for a friends and family (or yourself). The set includes a carafe and two 16-ounce wine glasses, each featuring an elegant design. The suggested retail price is $39.99.

New Tableware Collection at AmericasMart

If you’re heading to AmericasMart Atlanta this week, there’ll be plenty to check out, including a new line of licensed tableware. Sorella Home signed a licensing agreement with the Ernest Hemingway brand in April for a new tableware, barware and home décor collection. And you can preview that collection at the AmericasMart Atlanta show, opening tomorrow. The line will include handpainted ceramics, stoneware and period-inspired pewter and barware. Learn a little more about AmericasMart at our website, kitchenwarenews.com, and in our July issue.

Know Your Cheese with Epic Products

Once or twice I’ve discovered myself at a party and guessing at what the cheese is after I’ve put it in my mouth. I mean, I’m not really complaining about having to eat cheese, but it’s nice to know what you’re eating before you eat it. In situations like that, I think these Porcelain Cheese Markers from Epic Products would have been really useful. The markers come in a set of four with a dry erase pen. Label your cheese, and then wipe the marker clean to reuse another day. It’s a very simple idea that will add a nice touch to your next wine and cheese party, as well as not confuse your guests (unless that was your intention, which by all means, don’t let me stop you). Suggested retail price for the markers is $14.95.

Show Off with Anchor Signature

Have I mentioned my recent interest in serveware? I’m mostly all about bowls and platters right now. In fact, for Christmas, I requested new serving dishes as a present from my good friend (and former associate editor of KNHR, Jenna Crisostomo!). Aside from an obsession with most things kitchen-related and a need to have my kitchen overrun by kitchenware products, I really just love the way it looks when I present dinner on a serving plate. It looks nice, and it feels as though you’ve gone the extra mile. They’re also a great way to show off your delicious meals. I’m telling you this so that you understand why I’m an admirer of Anchor Hocking’s recently released Anchor Signature Troy collection.

The collection includes a serving plate, a 7-inch dish, 9-inch serving bowl, 13-inch canape tray, 12-inch pedestal plate, and 12-inch serving platter. The serving pieces are designed with a round silhouette in a cut-glass pattern with radiating lines. Prices range between $16.99 and $24.99. Anchor Hocking also offers a variety of other serveware pieces, bakeware, prepware, and more.

Anchor Signature Troy 12-inch pedestal

Attitude with Vietri's Bellezza Tomato Red collection

If there is one color I can't resist, it's red. A few years ago I decided that my color was red. It's what I call a feisty color. It's bright and noticeable and I won't lie, red also looks really good on me. So if you're like me, and you have a passion for red, and a passion for kitchenware, and you want to make your table pop with attitude and color, might I suggest Vietri's new Bellezza Tomato Red collection? The collection includes dishware and serveware. It is handmade terra cotta made in Tuscany, and some of the pieces (charger, dinner, salad, berry bowl, pasta/soup bowl, cereal bowl, mug, canape plate and condiment bowl) are microwaveable.

Eating Monstrously with Monster Fun Bowls

It’s summer, and there’s ice cream (see previous entry), and you just want to have some fun, right? I know I do! But since I can’t ignore my responsibilities for three months (after all, you need to read this blog), I have to be a little more creative. That’s why I might have to start eating my ice cream out of these monster fun bowls from MSC International with a matching spoon. I know this was designed with kids in mind, but I love them a little bit, too. The bowl comes in three color options, and I guarantee it will bring a smile to your kids’ faces. And yours too. Suggested retail price is $3.99.

Ahhhh! It's looking at me!

Slice and Serve with Kuhn Rikon

So you know those dinner parties I mentioned in my last entry? Dinnerware is just one piece of your tabletop when throwing a dinner party. You also need to think about serving. Because I’m all about the casual and the fun when entertaining, I’m a fan of this new Kuhn Rikon wedge serving knife. It’s a multi-tasking tool that slices and serves. It’s an 11 ½ inches long with a serrated edge and rounded to make for perfectly smooth cuts and a wide, triangular wedge to make serving a cinch. A nonstick coating makes sure that cakes and pastries slide off easily. The knife comes in a fun bright red (my favorite color!) or purple and comes with a color-coordinated sheath. Suggested retail price is $18.

Highwave Shakes Up Your Margarita

I didn’t discover the joy of the margarita until well after I had turned 21, but now I find them to be a very gratifying drink. A drink with a bite, perfect for a summer day at the pool, or on a Friday evening, sitting on the porch. One of my favorite former traditions was margarita Fridays. On the rocks, with salt. Also, since I moved to Tucson, Mexican food has become one of my staple cuisines, and nothing pairs better with tacos than an ice cold margarita.

Try making your margarita this summer with the new Highwave four/Ritas, a stainless steel cocktail shaker for margaritas. The twist-on leakproof top makes the shaker easy to transport, going from kitchen to poolside in a snap (a vital detail during those hot summer months). The shaker comes with a nylon neoprene-insulated travel tote. The top is a 6-ounce measuring cup to easily make a liter of margaritas. Available April 1 with a suggested retail price of $21.95.

 

Outdoor Entertaining with Prodyne

Spring’s in the air and you can practically smell the steaks sizzling on the grill. (OK, the truth is, I’m based in Tucson, Ariz., and we’ve had more than a few barbecues this winter already, but for the rest of the country...). I love hosting dinner parties, and I love spring weather so give me the opportunity to combine the two and we’ve got a pretty spectacular day. And, I’m so glad Prodyne wants to make my life even easier with their new Orbit Bowl On Ice with Four Side Servers.

This eight-piece set features a big 6 ½ quart serving bowl with vented ice chamber below, four removable side server bowls and two salad servers. What I really love is the convenience of the side servers which slip easily onto the serving bowl. Imagine a tossed salad in the serving bowl with additional toppings and dressings in the side servers or tortilla chips in the serving bowl with a selection of dips in the side servers. How handy is that? Keep ice below the serving bowl to keep your salads chilled or fill with hot tap water to keep hot foods warm. The bowl and salad servers are made of clear acrylic and the side servers are made of polypropylene and are dishwasher safe. Suggested retail price for the set is $29.99.

Introductions & Core Bamboo's Shallow Bowls

Kitchenware News & Housewares Review is jumping back into the blogging spirit from a temporary time-out! I am KNHR’s new resident blogger and Associate Editor, Carrie Bui, replacing Kelly Lewis. Kelly has left for South American adventures, and I encourage you to read about them at her site, Travel Bug Juice.

As a devoted home cook, you can rest assured that I’ll be bringing you all the latest and greatest in kitchenware and housewares news and products. We’ll be oohing and aahing over them together, starting with these beautiful shallow bowls from Core Bamboo. Core Bamboo’s President Alan Bram took a few minutes to share a few highlights about these bowls and a few other pieces from Core’s product line. The really fantastic thing about the bowls (and all of Core’s products) is not only are they gorgeous (look at that shiny finish!), but they’re all-natural, too. The bowls are handcrafted from organically grown bamboo, made with water-based adhesives and the lacquer finish is food-safe and derived from cashew nut trees. Core offers the bowls in seven finishes and will also customize for customers looking to match a specific color.