Kankitsu Labo 100% Yuzu Concentrate
If you haven’t yet come across yuzu, this Asian citrus brings together the fragrance of Meyer lemons, the tartness of lime and the bitter crispness of grapefruit. And yuzu is all that’s in Kankitsu Labo’s 100% Yuzu Concentrate. Once it’s harvested in Kawakami, the native Japanese habitat of yuzu, the fruit is pressed on all sides to maximize extraction, flavor and aroma. Sweet like an orange and tart like a lemon, with floral and herbaceous notes, this concentrate lends itself well to baking, cocktails, dressings and more. Use it in place of lemon juice, like on avocado toast, or add a dash to seafood, like when curing fish for ceviche. Even better? There are absolutely no additives, colors, fragrances or preservatives involved.
Milk Street Small Nakiri
Introducing the Milk Street Small Nakiri, a companion piece to our full-scale vegetable knife. In Japan, nakiris come in all shapes and sizes to accommodate a variety of hands and chopping styles. Small nakiris, called ko-nakiri, are perfect for those who prefer using small knives or for the cook who wants a reliable knife that stands in for a paring knife or prep tool. It’s every bit as essential a kitchen tool as the full-scale knife.
Like its big brother, the Small Nakiri is the perfect tool for vegetable prep. Super thin, lightweight and razor sharp, it’s a nimble knife for all your slicing and dicing. It’ll precisely slice razor-thin ribbons of shallots, carrot coins or garlic cloves and turn a fluffy pile of parsley into confetti.
Both large and small nakiris have their roles to play for effortless prep. The Small Nakiri excels at the little stuff that can make a big knife feel awkward and even dangerous—slicing garlic into paper-thin slices, mincing shallots or onion into tiny cubes, shaving radishes, slicing mushrooms, shredding fine herbs into a feathery garnish and more.
This isn’t just a shrunk-down version of our full-size Nakiri. It’s reengineered top to bottom for impeccable small-scale function. The blade is roughly 4.5 inches long (just a little longer than most paring knives), so it feels just right for all the usual prep. It’s tall though—1.75 inches—so that it has all the benefits of a big knife: Never bang your knuckles on the cutting board, chop through big veggies and scoop up foods like a bench scraper to dump into the pot. Of course, the tall blade also shields your fingers during chopping. Also, the blade shape is tapered to the tip and curved to make the smaller blade function as effectively as the large version for slicing. Our signature lock-in handle is slightly scaled down for the smaller blade but every bit as comfortable and secure, regardless of hand size.
Like the larger Nakiri, the blade is embossed with a nonstick file pattern that replicates the kurouchi (blacksmith) finish to traditional nakiris, so sliced ingredients fall right off. A gentle curve at the butt accommodates fingers when choking up tight for control, and the handle has been designed to provide a nonslip grip.
Haeoorim Jeju Korean Fish Sauce
For those put off by the typical pungency of fish sauce, Haeeorim’s Jeju Korean Fish Sauce—a milder, less funky take on the classic staple—may be just the thing. Caught in the waters off of Korea’s Jeju Island by local fisherman, a combination of young and horse mackerel marinate in salt crystals from Jeju before being expertly sealed in traditional Onggi (Korean earthenware pots) for more than a year. After the initial fermentation, a mixture of locally-grown daikon radish, sea kelp from Wando and local mandarin orange are added to the Onggi to add interesting notes of flavor, complexity and a bit of sweetness. After another period of aging and ripening, the resulting sauce is clean without the funk of typical fish sauce— thanks to milder mackerel, a less pungent option than the anchovies typically used for fish sauce, and longer fermenting—yet still full of meaty fish flavor. With a little more sweetness and a lighter touch of salt than most other brands, this fish sauce lends itself beautifully to a variety of dishes, from noodles and vegetables to sauces and marinades.
Chinese Laundry Kitchen Dan Dan Noodle Sauce
Bring dan dan noodles, a popular Sichuan street food, home with this ready-to-use jarred sauce from Chinese Laundry Kitchen. The layered, umami-forward sauce gets its tingly spice from roasted Sichuan peppercorns and nutty flavor from sesame, a classic dan dan sauce ingredient. With a hint of sweetness and warm aromatic spice, it makes a near-instant dinner—just boil noodles and toss with the velvety sauce. But we also like it with other ingredients, like fried tofu or in a green bean stir-fry. Made with 100 percent real ingredients and no additives by a family-owned business in California. Each jar contains 6-8 servings.
Suncraft Silicone Serving Spoon
Our very own Matthew Card (our creative director of recipes and products) loves this functional spoon that’s stylish enough to use at the table: “This silicone serving spoon is interesting in that it’s short with a rounded, really comfortable wood handle. The broad, concave paddle is stiffer than other silicone tools and features steep sides ideal for scooping rice, stews, etc. It's stiff enough to actually scrape up stuck-on bits, making it really the perfect tool for nonstick cookware. All the Suncraft material is really well thought out, beautifully made and durable, crafted for long-term use.” Use this for serving pasta, paella, roasted veggies and more.
Empress Pineapple Miso Hot Sauce
Made and bottled in Taiwan, this small-batch hot sauce features Taiwan-grown pineapples sourced from family farms and a hint of miso. Inspired by the flavor of tacos al pastor, savory miso, fruity chilies and bright, acidic pineapple combine to make a mild-to-moderate hot sauce. It’s excellent in a marinade, thanks to pineapple’s natural ability to tenderize; we love it in grilling and basting sauces. It’s also wonderful on pizza, thanks to its smooth and pourable consistency.
De La Cal Ceramics Talavera Sangria Pitcher
Hand-shaped on a potter’s wheel, this pitcher is the perfect vessel for a fruity, refreshing sangria. We love the pinched shape of its mouth, which prevents ice and fruit from escaping as you pour.
Nihonichi Premium Tamari
Tamari, the liquid byproduct that results from pressing miso, is so much more than gluten-free soy sauce (a common misconception among American cooks). This premium tamari from Nihonichi is darker, richer and less salty in flavor than the soy sauce in your cabinet, adding layers of umami and a sweet finish—reminiscent of miso—with just a splash. It’s produced in Japan by a revered shoyu manufacturer that traces its roots back to the 1700s. And unlike grocery store brands that may muddy and darken the flavors of your dish, this tamari, naturally brewed in wooden vats, is deeply flavorful and pourable, perfect to add to just about any dish.
Iwachu Cast-Iron Grill Pan
This grill pan from Iwachu is made to order from Nambu iron, a traditional Japanese cast ironware known for heat retention and durability that dates back over 400 years. The perfect companion for meat, chicken, fish, veggies, sandwiches and more, the pan is designed with a corrugated wave pattern on the bottom that leaves your burgers and grilled cheese with beautiful grill marks. Its compact, not-too-heavy size is just right for an at-home grilling experience, not too bulky like big cast iron griddles, and easy to use at any time, unlike a full-sized grill. And its natural cast iron construction makes it practically nonstick. Plus, the thoughtfully designed handle stays cool longer on the stove, so you can skip the potholder and still keep your hands safe when handling.
Nihonichi Yaki Senka Grill Sauce
Produced in Japan by a revered shoyu manufacturer that traces its roots back to the 1700s, Nihonichi’s “Japan’s Best” Yaki Senka Grill Sauce offers a unique gingery profile that’s salty-sweet and carries a kick. Exclusive in the U.S. to Milk Street, it features a base of Nihonichi’s natural brewed soy sauce made in wooden vats, mixed with miso and garlic, then offset by sweet apple juice and ginger zest. Sweet and fruity, balanced by the salinity of rich soy and savory miso, use this gently spicy sauce to marinate fish, glaze grilled meats and tofu, toss into stir-fries, noodles, vegetables and more. It’s also great as a dipping sauce or thinned out in a dressing.
Kinto Butter Dish
Enokida Jozo Yuzu Miso
Saucy and full of punchy yuzu flavor, Enokida Jouzo's Yuzu Miso is a lovely twist on a typical umami-packed miso. With a texture perfect for spreading or glazing, this slightly sweet miso is made from rice malt and yuzu, a tart citrus fruit grown in Japan. Add this citrusy flavor bomb on top of rice, mixed into noodles, on vegetables, fish, chicken, meat and more. Based in the Gunma Prefecture at the foot of Mt. Akagi in Maebashi City, a place known for its fermented foods, the company has been in business for over 100 years.
Beehive Handmade Laurel Jam Pot
Beehive Handmade’s elegant jam pot with its understated laurel pattern was designed in Rhode Island and produced by artisans in Peru. Matte-glazed and fired at high temperatures, it’s exceptionally nonporous and sturdy. Charming details like the pewter bird finial and complementing spoon make it perfect for jams, jellies or even sugar. Its neutral palette will complement any table, and the pot (not lid) is microwave-safe and can even go in dishwasher for easy cleanup.
Belazu Sour Cherry Molasses
Mouthwateringly tart, balanced by sweet, silky wine-like notes, Belazu’s Sour Cherry Molasses is not to be conflated with pomegranate molasses. Made with a blend of dark red Kutahya and Katirli sour cherries sourced from Türkiye, this complex and rich rendition tastes distinctly like cherries. Winner of a Good Food Award in 2023, it’s full of body—thick and deep red with a pourable viscosity thicker than your average balsamic. While we love it drizzled over sweet applications like cheesecake, pudding and ice cream, it also is a dynamic addition to pork, duck, vegetables like eggplant, yogurt, oatmeal, cocktails, marinades and so much more.
Graza Co. Squeeze "Drizzle" and "Sizzle" Olive Oil Set
Enjoy the best of both worlds with Graza’s “Drizzle & Sizzle” combo pack of extra-virgin olive oils. Grown and made in Jaen, Spain, the country where about half the world’s olive oil is produced, Graza uses 100% picual olives for both their blends of extra virgin olive oil. Use “Drizzle” for finishing, made from olives harvested by hand in October when they are still young, green and not fully ripe. The younger olives make an olive oil that is full of attitude, grassy and peppery, with a spicy zip that finishes a dish beautifully. “Sizzle” is for everyday cooking, made from picual olives harvested in December and January, when they are more mature and juicy. Once pressed, “Sizzle” is a bit more mellow and milder in flavor—though still with a grassy, peppery bite—perfect for roasting, searing, poaching, pan frying, baking and marinating. Both versions also come packaged in an easy to use squeeze bottle, so you can emulate exactly what chefs do in restaurants.
EatCo Suqu Spoon
This Japanese-designed serving spoon is compactly sized and made of high-grade stainless steel. The handle features a brilliant detail on the end: a down-turned lip that can hang on to the rims of bowls or containers, keeping the spoon from slipping in.
Kuki Hojun (Full Bodied) Sesame Oil
Incredibly fragrant and full-bodied, this rich sesame oil is better than any supermarket brand we’ve tried. The warm, nutty oil offers the best of both worlds: The flavor reminds us of a darker toasted sesame oil, but unlike those—which tend to be limited to finishing due to the low smoke point—it can be used for cooking, like that of a lighter sesame oil. Kuki’s oil gets its rich, dark, deep flavor from the highest-quality sesame seeds, which are slow-pressed using traditional methods without the use of any chemicals (often added to mass-produced brands to speed up extraction). The whole process takes roughly 1.5 months, but it’s worth it—this sesame oil is unlike any other we’ve tasted. Try the oil as a finish for stir-fries, soups or noodles; mixed into marinades dressings or as a cooking oil.
Shupatto Foldable Tote
Cleverly designed in Japan, meet the Shupatto: the “one-pull” foldable bag. A perfect replacement for single-plastic bags, the slim-profiled Shupatto folds down neatly, so it’s easy to take on the go to carry groceries, shopping and baked goods. To open, the folded accordion pleats expand into a roomy bag; to quickly close, pull both ends of the bag until taut pleats form again, then roll back into a coil for storage. The Shupatto is made from lightweight (just 69 grams) durable material, too; when tested by the makers, the pleats still folded perfectly after 100 cycles in a washing machine. And the quick-drying material can handle wet or messy items, too. The Ougi print features a traditional Japanese folding hand fan. The Sakura print features a classic cherry blossom motif.