Milk Street Sofrito
We created our sofrito to be the perfect building block to cook a wide variety of recipes in less time, based on the tradition of Italian and Spanish grandmothers who make this by the jar to simplify cooking and boost flavor. After much testing, we came up with an aromatic base of sautéed onions, carrots and celery, complemented by the bright tones of tomatoes, white wine and vinegar. For additional depth, it has earthy, umami notes from mushroom powder, aromatic notes of rosemary and thyme, and just a hint of heat from black pepper and Kashmiri chili powder. A few tablespoons of this jammy sofrito is all it takes to spread rich, concentrated power into soups, sauces, stews, braises and nearly anything else that needs a boost of big flavor.
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.
Che Fico Calabrian Chili Bomba
The iconic condiment of San Francisco’s Che Fico restaurant, this Calabrian chili paste is incredible, with a pleasant texture and layered flavor that sets it apart from others we’ve tasted. Where most chili condiments have a one-note chili flavor, Che Fico’s features the fruity Calabrian chili at the forefront but also adds nuance with the additions of bright Fresno chilies, savory roasted garlic and a tangy vinegar that lingers on the palate. The juicy pulpiness of the peppers and the slick of oil is both pleasantly textural and somehow creamy and silky. The opening pop of slightly vinegary calabrian chili flavor is perfectly seasoned, but the following fade into garlic is what makes this feel appropriate for any and everything.
Pure Indian Foods Organic Tamarind Paste
Pure Indian Foods’ organic tamarind paste has a pure, clean flavor with a bracing tartness. This thick, smooth paste is our favorite form for using tamarind as a souring agent. While fresh pods are available in some markets, it’s more commonly sold as a concentrate or as dense blocks of pulp that need labor-intensive soaking and straining; both forms sacrifice nuanced flavor in favor of convenience, whereas this tamarind paste is both easy to use and intensely flavorful. Pure Indian Foods, which traces its roots to 1889 in northern India, still uses traditional methods to make its products. The company’s pantry staples have a complexity and authenticity that just can’t be imitated.
Bisbell Universal Magnetic Blade Cover
Made from stiff polypropylene and fit with robust magnets, Bisbell’s matte black magnetic knife guards clamp tightly and securely to your blade. The pre-scored cover requires nothing more than stiff shears to cut, meaning you can customize the fit to each of your knives and safely store in your drawer. You’ll never again nick your fingers or chip your knife blades! Plus, they’re easy to clean and great for when you need to bring a knife on the road. Unfortunately, this knife cover does not fit our Kitchin-to or Kitchin-tan knives, however we will have solutions for these knives soon!
Milk Street Palmpress Portable One-Cup Coffee Press
Victoria Cast Iron 8-Inch Tortilla Press
Made by a three-generation family metalworking business, this cast iron tortilla press is made with care and craftsmanship in mind. Aluminum tortilla presses are common, but sturdy cast iron yields more even pressure and extra weight. Its plates are made through a precise sand-casting and molding technique to ensure they (and your tortillas) are perfectly flat. A lever helps you evenly press the plates together, while the base and handle are reinforced so it will last for generations. Plus, it’s pre-seasoned with flaxseed oil, which is generally regarded as the most durable oil for seasoning cast iron because, when it polymerizes at high temperatures, it forms a structure that’s more durable than other common oils.
Fiero Forni Italian Pizza Stone
From an Italian maker famous for their wood-fired pizza ovens, this pizza stone is the real deal. Thanks to its refractory material with a high ratio of alumina, this pizza stone will heat up quickly and produce a crisp crust with every use. Its porous, very thin surface helps produce steam—moving moisture away from the pie, ensuring it doesn’t reabsorb into the crust—while also preventing burning. The refractory stone diffuses heat at the same rate over its entire surface, for an even bake every time. Plus, it has high heat resistance, so sudden changes in temperature (as might arise when using a grill) are much less likely to compromise an evenly cooked pie. The stone sits in a handy steel frame complete with handles and is quite lightweight, so it’s easier and safer to transport than a typical flat stone (with oven mitts, of course). Also, the “pizza backsplash” prevents your pie from sliding off the stone during cooking and while maneuvering it in and out of the oven. The Italian-made refractory stone (composed from natural raw materials) is incredibly thick and durable, so it can be used not only in the oven but also on the grill, which would burn other pizza cookware. The stone also comes beautifully wrapped in artisanal, traditional Florentine paper, making it a stunning gift for the pizza lover in your life.
Milk Street: Sofrito
We created our sofrito to be the perfect building block to cook a wide variety of recipes in less time, based on the tradition of Italian and Spanish grandmothers who make this by the jar to simplify cooking and boost flavor. After much testing, we came up with an aromatic base of sautéed onions, carrots and celery, complemented by the bright tones of tomatoes, white wine and vinegar. For additional depth, it has earthy, umami notes from mushroom powder, aromatic notes of rosemary and thyme, and just a hint of heat from black pepper and Kashmiri chili powder. A few tablespoons of this jammy sofrito is all it takes to spread rich, concentrated power into soups, sauces, stews, braises and nearly anything else that needs a boost of big flavor.
Cortez Milling Co. Blue Bird Flour 5#
This ultra-finely ground, high protein flour from Cortez Milling Co. in Southwest Colorado is perfect for making soft, tender, chewy tortillas and flat bread. They use red winter wheat purchased from local dryland farmers, whose higher gluten content makes dough that is pliable and resists tearing. This softer, more finely ground flour is neutral in flavor, a touch sweet with no bitterness. We also love that Blue Bird flour is bagged in 5-pound muslin cotton bags with the iconic blue bird print on the front, which can be repurposed in a number of fun ways.
JIA Inc. Kkini Bowl & Chopsticks — Set of 2
Inspired by Korean stoneware dolsot bowls, traditionally used for bibimbap, these warmly colored, matte-grey porcelain bowls are just the right size for a bowl of rice, miso soup or even late-night ice cream. The snugly fitting bamboo cover keeps food warm and prevents spills during transport, as well as providing elegant visual contrast. We especially love how the lid’s simple handle serves double duty a chopstick rest when placed on the table (it’s considered rude in Chinese culture to stick chopsticks upright into your bowl). The Kkini bowls and chopstick set are produced by JIA, an importer of fine Chinese ceramics and tableware. The company, whose name means “home”, works with international designers to put a modern spin on classic Chinese designs. Try this set for your next dinner for two, with dishes like our Taiwanese Five-Spice Pork with Rice or Chicken Teriyaki Donburi.
Casablanca Market Handblown Glass Pitcher
These beautiful handblown glass pitchers are made in Morocco by one of our favorite producers, Casablanca Market. Made from recycled glass by generational artisans, this simple and useful pitcher can be used for anything from beverages to flowers. We love the weight of it and how our hand fits snugly around the handle. The pitcher comes in green or clear glass. Casablanca Market is eco-conscious, using recyclable materials and employing sustainable practices whenever possible. In addition, they strive to provide financial security for the craftspeople who create their wares, helping to preserve and secure their artistic and culinary heritage.
Hanamaruki Foods: Liquid Shio Koji
A traditional condiment made from fermented malted rice, shio koji is known in Japan for packing a punch of umami into everything from marinated meats to savory soups. All shio kojis aren’t created equal, though, for Hanamaruki Foods distills the powerful flavor properties of this essential Japanese ingredient into an easy-to-use liquid form—the only Liquid Shio Koji available on the market—to create the ultimate pantry secret weapon. We love the condiment’s clean, yet bold flavor: salty rounded out with a pronounced sweetness and burst of umami. It’s made by pressing shio koji in its original paste form and filtering until it yields the clear, golden-hued liquid. The product isn’t heat-treated, so its enzymes remain active and effective in rendering meat remarkably moist and juicy, balancing bitterness in veggies like eggplant and adding amino acids for a full-flavored finish to any dish to truly change the way you cook. Use as a marinade for meats and fish, drizzle into salad dressings and sauces to balance savory flavors, or incorporate into baked goods to add a layer of tantalizing complexity.
#changethewayyoucook
