As people who write about food and test kitchen gadgets for a living, Bon Appétit editors are constantly surrounded by a wide range of products. Between our own purchases and the endless stream of samples sent our way, it means there’s always something new coming across our desks and into our homes. Every month we’re rounding up the standouts we’ve tested or bought ourselves that changed the way we cook and eat.
This month a new piece of kitchen gear that changed our cooking game, a condiment we’ve taken to putting on everything, and a limited-edition bev we’ve been sipping all summer long. Read on for all of the products we’ve been obsessing over this August.
Spindrift Yuzu Mandarin
Spindrift Yuzu Mandarin Sparkling Water, 24-Pack
I had never taken a sip of a drink and felt like my whole world shifted until I cracked open a can of Spindrift’s new Yuzu Mandarin sparkling water. It bursts with bright, tangy citrus notes from the real Japanese yuzu juice that are perfectly balanced by the juicy sweetness of Californian mandarins. The result is a flavor that’s simultaneously nuanced yet familiar. This is a limited-edition, online-only batch, so do yourself a favor and grab a pack (or two, or three…) before it’s gone. Trust me, this is the ultimate summer porch pounder you need in your fridge. —Olivia Tarantino, senior commerce editor
Koala Eco Natural Multi-Purpose Kitchen Cleaner
Koala Eco Natural Multi-Purpose Kitchen Cleaner
Having white kitchen counters means that yes, I’m spending more time than I’d like to admit cleaning up drops of egg yolk and streaks of chili crisp after all our summer cooking. I’ve also been trying to make a conscious effort to use natural, nontoxic cleaning products in an area like the kitchen where I’m regularly eating, and I’ve become obsessed with Koala Eco’s natural multipurpose kitchen cleaner. I’d buy it solely for the smell alone, which comes from lemon myrtle and mandarin essential oils, but what matters is that it actually works. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the product is plant-based and biodegradable. —Kate Kassin, editorial operations manager
KAMA-ASA Black Cutting Board
Kama-Asa Black Cutting Board
I recently picked up a new cutting board from Kama-Asa, the newish Japanese kitchenware shop in the growing Japanese marketplace collection off Norman Avenue in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. It is so pleasant to prep veg on. My knife feels secure when I use it, and I don’t have to deal with the same paranoia about microplastics as I do when I think about plastic cutting boards. Cleanup is a breeze (especially for something that requires hand-washing lest it warp), and it doesn’t clash with my kitchen. It doesn’t completely replace my wooden cutting board, but it’s nice to have a solid number two option. —Joseph Hernandez, associate director of drinks and lifestyle
Birkenstock Super Birki 2.0
Birkenstock Super Birki 2.0
I’ve been testing indoor pizza ovens, which meant two full days in the Test Kitchen. On the first day I wore sneakers; by the end of the nine-hour day my feet were so sore. On day two I slipped on the Birkenstock Super Birkis—and wow. These workhorse clogs did what no sneaker ever could: make a full day of cooking actually comfortable. They’re loose enough to let your feet breathe, snug enough to support your arches, and super easy to clean thanks to the waterproof upper (clutch when you’re splashing tomato sauce around). I went for bold green, but they also come in more subtle colors like black and olive green, which Alaina and commerce writer Wilder Davies got. The three of us keep them at the office and switch into them every time we’re in the Test Kitchen. Pro tip: size down. I’m usually a 38, and the 37 was perfect. —O.T.
East Fork Guava Everyday Bowls
East Fork Everyday Bowl, Guava
My collection of shallow bowls (a.k.a. bowl plates, a.k.a. blates) is admittedly out of control—and yet I can’t seem to stop adding new ones to my cupboard. The most recent addition is a set of Everyday Bowls from East Fork in their newly launched seasonal color Guava. They’re the ideal size for grain bowls, pasta, or a serving of my go-to fish curry, and the color is a gorgeous, juicy hue that sits somewhere between pink and terracotta. I’ll swap them out for my set of forest green bowls come fall, but for now I’m enjoying the summery pop of color. —Alaina Chou, commerce writer
Bungkus Bagus Sambal Goreng Chili Topping
Bungkus Bagus Sambal Goreng Chili Topping
It all started with buying crispy shallots, little pops of umami crunch that I find welcome on literally everything. Then came store-bought crispy garlic slices from my local Asian market. Finally, Sambal Goreng Chili Topping tore into my culinary universe like a condiment supernova. It kicks like Chuck Norris. It doesn’t just add heat, though—it adds the kind of bass that rattles the trunk latch of your car. Garlic, shallot, and chilies tangle up on your taste buds until you don’t know what is what. It is the finishing blast that makes my savory egg scrambles, rice-whatevers, and soupy anythings feel wonderfully complete. It’s borderline too spicy for me, but I can’t stop eating it because it is just that good. —Chris Morocco, food director
Pomelo Casa Large Hand-Painted Bowl
Pomelo Casa Large Hand-Painted Bowl
The McCarren Park Greenmarket has become a Saturday morning non-negotiable in my household this summer. We usually return home with a whole big bag of peak produce, wash it, and then put all the fruit (yes, heirloom tomatoes count) in our Pomelo Casa bowl. It’s the most beautiful hand-painted bowl and is big enough to fit our whole haul. Plus, since it looks so nice sitting out on the counter, it actually reminds us to consume all of our produce before it gets too ripe. —K.K.
Staud Tommy Bag
Staud Stautines Tommy Bag
As a lover of food and also of cute things, I’m very into all the cute-food-printed clothes and accessories I’ve been seeing recently. Staud’s Tommy bag comes in a multitude of cute food prints—so many, I can’t pick a favorite. I grew up in a New England household where saltines comprised an entire food group, so the “Stautines” design is near and dear to my heart. But then there’s also the clutch made to look like a “Staudines” tin, one emblazoned with a hot dog (featuring the ballpark concession on one side and wiener dog on the other), and one featuring a host of jaunty crudités veggies. Gotta catch ’em all? —Abbey Stone, senior commerce director
Oxo Good Grips Corn Prep Peeler
OXO Good Grips Corn Prep Peeler
Jersey-fresh sweet corn is my favorite summer vegetable—so much so that I eat it by the spoonful, tossed with butter, herbs, and a squeeze of citrus. This little corn peeler is a total game-changer. Before, I’d awkwardly saw kernels off the cob with a knife, sending them scattering across the counter. Now I can strip an ear in one smooth swipe, with less effort than peeling a carrot. I even let a friend try it the other day; her eyes went wide, and she turned to me in awe. It’s quick, mess-free, and makes tackling a pile of farmers market corn a total breeze. —O.T.
