Namikura Kyoto-Style White Miso
Savory, sweet and flavor-dense, white miso is an absolutely essential pantry item. Winey-sweet, buttery and deeply rich, this organic version from Japanese family producer Namikura Miso Co. is more complex and less salty than other brands, which means it can be used more freely with soy sauce without dishes tasting overly seasoned.
Yakami Orchard Yuzu Marmalade
Juicy, flavorful and wonderfully textured Yakami Orchards Yuzu Marmalade is made with fresh, local yuzu from a collective of family farms in Japan’s Miyazaki prefecture. Balanced out with honey and sugar, this yuzu marmalade is bright, tart and warmly sweet with every bite. Just by opening a jar of Yakami Orchards’ product, you’ll be able to smell the bright and subtly floral aroma of yuzu. We love the plentiful chunks of yuzu rind, which are thinly sliced and add texture without making the marmalade clumpy. The yuzu pieces contribute a pop of piney bitterness that is a pleasant counterbalance for the overall sweet spread.
Vain Vanilla Original Baker's Blend Pure Vanilla Extract
This small-batch vanilla extract from Kansas-based Vain Vanilla is prepared completely by hand using only the best ingredients. The Original Baker's Blend is made with top-shelf rum that emphasizes vanilla's sweet characteristics and adds its own cane-sugar dimension. We especially love that Vain Vanilla leaves its vanilla pods in the bottle, which has two benefits. First, over time the extract will continue to deepen in color and become more complex as the pods release more flavor compounds. Second, when you're done with the vanilla extract, you can still slice open the pods and use the beans themselves in your desserts.
Namikura Red Miso
Red Miso is stronger, saltier and more assertively flavored than yellow or white miso due to its six-month aging process and has a higher proportion of soybeans for a richer taste. This particularly interesting version has sweet flavors reminiscent of sherry and milk chocolate that are perfect for pairing with red meat and other robust dishes.
Sukoyaka Brown Genmai Rice
If you are tired of tasteless white rice, let me introduce you to Genmai Rice. When I first tasted genmai two years ago, my first thought was that this rice was a miracle—it cooks quickly, just like white rice, but has the rich, earthy flavor and satisfying chewiness of great brown rice. Once you taste Sukoyaka Genmai, you will never go back. How is this possible? It is an American-grown short-grain brown rice that has had a portion of the outer bran layer is scrubbed away, allowing the grains to hydrate faster while retaining most of their nutritional properties. The nutty, earthy-tasting grains are distinct and just a touch sticky, making the rice perfect for accompanying stir-fries, curries, soups and stews, although I make it two or three times a week as a starter, for any sort of topping from steamed vegetables to quickly grilled chicken or steak. Matt, Card, our food editor, also swears by it for fried rice. He keeps a batch frozen in the freezer for a quick batch: Just defrost on the countertop, and it's ready to go for a virtually instant meal. Buy as much as you can afford, since genmai will become your go-to rice after the first bite.
Verve Culture Small Molinillo Whisk
This intricate wooden whisk from Mexico is the traditional tool used to prepare Mexican hot chocolate. Each molinillo is beautifully carved by hand from a single piece of alder wood, resulting in a one-of-a-kind product. And the designs aren't just decorative—the extra nooks and crannies are great for aerating liquid, resulting in an especially creamy drink. Simply roll the shaft back and forth between your palms to whip milk into a light, frothy consistency. For the most authentic experience preparing your hot chocolate and a visually appealing addition to your kitchen, Mexico's time-tested molinillo is perfect.
Wet-It Dishcloths
In addition to being highly durable and effective, Wet-It Dishcloths are ridiculously easy to keep clean in a wide variety of methods: Wash them in the washing machine and dryer with the rest of your laundry; add them to the top rack of your dishwasher; soak them in a boiling pot of water; or wet the cloths then microwave for three minutes to sanitize.
Verve Culture Mexican Servilletas - Set of 4
These versatile and vibrant Mexican servilletas, which come in a set of four, are an ideal piece to upgrade your table schemes for the holidays. Handmade by Mexican artisans and inspired by traditional pre-Hispanic fabric-making practices, you’ll love the mix of modern designs and striking colors that exemplify Mexico's rich culture.
VejiBag Reusable Storage Bags - Set of 3
Vegalene Premium 3-Oil Blend Cooking Spray