Miya Company Donabe Casserole Earth Green
If you’re serious about cooking the best rice you can, it’s worthwhile owning a proper rice cooker. There’s convenience to an electric cooker, but we much prefer the remarkably moist, fluffy grains of rice produced by clay donabe-style rice cookers. Clay heats evenly and maintains steady heat for uniform cooking, slowly heating the food to coax out flavor while maintaining moisture. This donabe—made in Japan’s Kansai region by fifth-generation donabe makers—has a lovely rustic design and emerald-green glaze. It’s a single-lid style, which is thinner and lighter than the double-lidded version, and holds about 4 cups of rice. We love how once it’s seasoned that this donabe is virtually nonstick and also how its lovely look can easily take you from stove to table.
Kamasada Cast-Iron Sukiyaki Casserole Pans
The Japanese marry great design and functionality with cast iron to create truly unique pieces. There is nothing like it coming out of America, at least not yet. These moderately sized pans (7½ inches and 10 inches) are surprisingly thin and beautifully proportioned. The effective flat handles are easy to hold while cooking or transporting to the table. We use the larger one for everything from browning grilled cheese and searing steaks to roasting vegetables or baking pasta. We also use it to braise chicken parts or for a simple fricassee. The smaller pan is just right for toasting nuts, for cooking for two, or for gratins and small casseroles. We also love these pans because they can be used for serving at the table.
Yoshikawa Yukihira Saucepan with Lid
As attractive as they are functional, yukihira pans are traditional Japanese saucepans that date back centuries for cooking soups, broths and stews. What sets them apart from European-style sauce pans are the thin construction and textured hammered finish. The thin stainless steel means these pans from Yoshikawa heat up fast, perfect for boiling water or reducing sauces or soups, and the hammered surface has two advantages. It both strengthens the thin metal and creates more surface area to help foods cook fast and cut down on reduction time. A removable wooden handle, which screws on, will stay cool during use, and dual pour spouts minimize spills while serving. And since they’re made of stainless steel, these pots are easy to clean, and they work well on gas, electric and induction cooktops.
Vermicular Oven Pot - 22cm
Weighing in at 9.3 pounds, the Vermicular Oven Pot is one of the lightest Dutch ovens we’ve tried—but it’s still incredibly durable. It features three layers of heat-resistant enameled coating made from a proprietary glass composition that distribute heat evenly. Plus, a precision seal between the lid and rim helps to lock in moisture and flavor. Its design promotes excellent heat conduction, radiant heat and steam convection to cook food gently and evenly. Both the lid and pot are equipped with ergonomic handles for a secure, comfortable grip when transferring the pot from stove to oven or from kitchen to table. Use to steam-roast vegetables, cook rice, soups, stews, braises and more. Available in natural beige or matte black.
Vermicular Skillet and Lid
Our kitchen team was, quite frankly, stunned by the Vermicular 10-inch skillet. It is at least 50% thinner than other cast-iron skillets, making this 2.4 pound one the lightest we’ve tried. Durably designed, it features a heat-resistant enameled surface and a wooden handle that stays cool to the touch. The pan cooks more like stainless steel than cast iron thanks to its thinness, which makes it heat up more quickly, but it offers the nonstick and cleaning advantages of enameled cast iron. It’s the perfect skillet for searing or stir-frying. The skillet also comes with a glass lid that’s designed to be stood upright to avoid touching a dirty counter. Use to sauté veggies, fry an egg, sear a steak or make the perfect crispy grilled cheese.
Oigen YakiYaki Grill Pan
This small, gorgeous cast-iron griddle set from Japan is just the pan to sear scallops, a few jumbo shrimp, filet mignon or asparagus. The thin yet sturdy construction heats up quickly—over any burner or grill--and holds its heat well. The textured surface prevents foodstuffs from sticking. With its hardwood base, the griddle can easily be brought to the table and used as much as a hot plate as a cooking pan. We’ll heat it and fill it with appetizers like warm, spiced nuts or baked feta drizzled with fruity olive oil, herbs and pepper flakes. The ingenious handle removes easily for serving and storage.
Pingto Bamboo Chopstick Sets
Chopsticks come in all shapes, sizes and materials, These vibrantly colored, durably fashioned chopsticks from Japan are just the right length and width for most anything. We use them beyond the dinner table for stirring drinks, stirring batters and frying delicate items. Take note: The chopsticks come in a six-piece set.
Black Garlic Molasses
This inky black, syrupy “molasses” is made from concentrated black garlic, which is garlic fermented long enough to render the cloves tender, mellow, earthy-sweet and utterly addictive. It's reminiscent of concentrated balsamic vinegar, without the acidic tang.
Yakami Orchard Yuzu Kosho - Red
Yuzu Kosho is a Japanese condiment prepared from fermented yuzu, chilies, kombu and salt. This spicy, briny paste combines chili heat with yuzu, the best-tasting citrus fruit you’ve never heard of that is used broadly in Japanese cooking as an accent note. We like this kosho's fruity, bright red bell pepper aroma and subtle sweetness.
BLiS Gourmet Barrel Aged Fish Sauce
This bourbon barrel-aged fish sauce is mellowed by seven months of sitting in oak, so the earthy, meaty funk that one expects from any fermented fish product is beautifully balanced by a complementary sweetness. BLiS's product is also rounded out with soft notes imparted by the seven-month aging process: warming spices, vanilla, and fruit woods, as well as a subtle smoky depth.
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.
Iio Jozo Pure Rice Vinegar
Bright, clear-tasting rice vinegar is the primary vinegar in Japanese cooking and this is one of the best we’ve tasted. We like its neutral, clean flavor and how well it pairs with delicate flavors that might otherwise be overwhelmed by stronger vinegars. Try blending it with lemon or lime juice in vinaigrettes, where it boosts the citrus acidity without calling attention to itself.
