kitchenware news - Oser Communications Group

Transcription

kitchenware news - Oser Communications Group
SPECIAL FEATURE:
GIFTWARE:
BUYERS GUIDE:
HOME & KITCHEN STORAGE
PET PRODUCTS
BAMBOO
SEE PAGE 11-18
SEE PAGE 20-21
SEE PAGE 21
K ITCHENWARE NEWS
H o u s e w, a r e s R e v i e w
S E RV I N G K I T C H E N WA R E
VOLUME
19,1NUMBER
VoL uMe
9, N uMber1010
OCTOBER 2013 n $7.00
SMALL ELECTRICS
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Yogurt Makers
PAGE 9
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Kuhn Rikon
PAGE 10
HOME DECOR
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VIETRI
PAGE 12
HOME & KITCHEN
STORAGE
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Ziploc Vacuum Sealer
PAGE 15
RETAILER PROFILE
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The Good Life
PAGE 17
PRODUCT REVIEW
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Chef Pro Super Chopper
PAGE 18
GIFTWARE
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Designer Pet Products
“Made in America” Gains Strength
as a Consumer Motivator
BY LORRIE BAUMANN
CUTLERY
PAGE 22
“Made in the USA” is a trend
that’s growing in strength as its
adopted by the mass market
consumer, according to Architec
CEO Jenna Sellers Miller, whose
company is responding by
increasing the number of
American-made products it
offers. “From the marketing
standpoint,
the
Walmart
announcement of $50 billon
initiative to buy U.S. is going to
drive the market, and we’re going
to see a lot of other companies
following suit,” she said.
Walmart
announced
in
January that the retailer plans to
n
Whisk Away: Modern Options
Increase Efficiency, Alter Traditional
Shapes PAGE 23
News..............................................4
Ad Index .......................................23
www.kitchenwarenews.com
buy an additional $50 billion in
American-made products like
sporting goods and high-end
appliances over the next 10 years.
At the same time, Walmart
announced that it will hire
100,000 American military
veterans over the next five years.
In past years, “Made in
America” wasn’t a strong seller,
simply because American-made
products tended to be more
expensive than the same item
made in China, but over the past
five years, that’s been changing,
according to Sellers Miller. U.S.
industries’ costs are declining
because they’re experiencing
Kitchen Minimalism:
Scandinavian Design
for Small Spaces
lower energy
costs as a
result
of
abundant
natural gas
supplies,
according to
the Institute
for
Energy
Research. At the same time,
production costs are rising in
China, and a study released in
April of this year, the
“AlixPartners ManufacturingSourcing Outlook,” projects that
the U.S. will achieve cost parity
Continued on PAGE 6
Stronger than Titanium, Lighter than Steel,
Sharp for Years. Is this Superknife?
BY LORRIE BAUMANN
GADGET OF
THE MONTH
H O M E D E C O R A N D G I F T WA R E M A R K E T S
Step aside, Sheriff, there’s a new
knife in town. VMatter Cutlery
has announced the launch of a
crowdfunding campaign to bring
to market a knife made of a new
material that the company claims
has the potential to change food
preparation forever. The knife is
among the first commercial
applications of a metal alloy
developed at the California
Institute of Technology through
research funded in part by the
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.
This alloy is a metal that has
the amorphous structure of a glass
rather than the crystalline
structure of a normal metal. You
can imagine the difference by
thinking about the difference
between the sharp edge of a piece
of broken glass and the sharp
edges that you feel on the grains
of sand as you walk barefoot
along the beach. This metal alloy
is more like that piece of broken
glass than it’s like those
crystalline grains of sand, and the
folks at VMatter are claiming
that’s how it cuts too.
Although the material was first
discovered 20 years ago, it has
taken its inventors a long time to
Continued on PAGE 10
Product Knowledge, Passion and
Family Involvement Make The Good Life
BY LORRIE BAUMANN
For more than 40 years, familyowned and operated The Good
Life has been providing
everything for the well-equipped
kitchen of the chef at heart.
Cooking classes with a resident
chef, demonstrations in and out
of the store and an
extended family with a
deep knowledge of the
products
are
all
instrumental in the
store’s long success.
The Good Life is
located in Naples, Fla.,
which has a winter
tourism season that
stretches from mid-October
through April that swells the city’s
population and has drastic effects
on the store’s business during that
time. “We’re about six months on
and six months off,” says Dave
Schwarz, who owns the store along
with his wife Deb. “We still do
business in the summertime, but
it’s nothing like what we do in the
winter months.”
The Good Life incorporated
Continued on PAGE 17
Modern Scandinavian design
offers answers for cooks who find
themselves in cramped kitchens
short on drawer space. This
multi-purpose
kitchenware
combines style with efficiency,
reducing the need for extra
kitchen tools, but freeing up space
for cooks who just can’t resist a
few more. These tools and
gadgets can be tucked away
before guests arrive for dinner,
but they’re so beautiful that you’ll
want to leave them out.
The Magisso Teacup eliminates
the need for a teapot on the shelf
and strainers in the drawer with its
innovative steep-in-the-cup design.
Place loose leaf tea in the small
strainer end and fill
up the cup with
hot
water.
When the tea
is ready for
drinking, end
the
steeping
process by tilting the
cup away from the tea leaves and
enjoy. Magisso also offers the Slotted
Turner, a tool that transforms from
a spatula to a serving utensil.
The Sagaform Hold is a
delightfully modern, stylish and
minimalist way to hold your page
in a cook book. Due to its weight
and construction, the Sagaform
Hold keeps the cook book open
without breaking the binding.
When it’s not in use, it hangs on
the wall. The Funnel and Strainer
from Normann Copenhagen,
designed by Boje Estermann, are
made of durable rubber, allowing
them to pop into form for use and
nest flatly for storage. True to
Scandinavian design, these tools
play with bright colors and smooth
edges that will brighten up the
kitchen when in use and are easy
to locate when tucked away.
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GENERAL NEWS
3
General News
best New Products from
the Gourmet Housewares Show
BY LORRIE BAUMANN
The Modena Cruet from Nycruets won
best of show honors at the Summer 2013
Gourmet Housewares Best
New Product Awards at
NY Now. Modena is one
of a line of cruets that
dispense both oil and
vinegar from one bottle.
These cruets are handblown
by
master
from
the
craftsmen
Hungarian
city
of
Nyiregyhaza using both
traditional glass-blowing
techniques and modern
methods relying on Pyrex
technology for maximum
product life along with beauty and
functionality. These cruets are chemical
and heat resistant as well as dishwasher
safe. The Modena Cruet retails for $59.
In the cooking category, Talisman
Designs, LLC. took home the award for
its Get Real Measuring Spoons. These
measuring spoons as well as the matching
measuring cups
are made of
beechwood from
a
responsibly
managed forest
that has been
etched
with
images
from
nature. Both are
available
in
Nature and Woodland Designs. Singing
birds, owls and tree branches are etched
Thirstystone resources Acquired
by Flatware Industry Leader
Cambridge Silversmiths Ltd.
Thirstystone Resources, a leading
manufacturer of coasters and decorative home
entertainment products, has been acquired
by Pine Brook, N.J.-based flatware and
cutlery industry leader, Cambridge
Silversmiths. Thirstystone will continue to
function independently, from its Gainesville,
Texas, headquarters, as a separate division of
Cambridge Silversmiths.
Cambridge Silversmiths markets more
than 250 different flatware designs in every
price category, including 18-8, 18-10, and
forged products. The company also acts as
a licensee for Robert Welch Designs,
Farberware, and Fiesta. Cambridge designs,
manufactures, and distributes private label
programs for clients including Target Stores,
Food Network, Bobby Flay, and Joy
Mangano. Cambridge is the leading source
for major retailers including: Walmart,
Crate and Barrel, Williams-Sonoma,
Pottery Barn, Neiman Marcus, Bed Bath
and Beyond, Restoration Hardware,
Federated Department Stores, Target
Stores, Costco, Kohl’s, Bloomingdale’s,
Dillard’s, J.C. Penney, and Sears.
Roger Freeman, founder and owner of
Cambridge, said, “I am extremely enthusiastic
about this acquisition because Cambridge
represents five generations of skill, expertise,
and devotion to the craft, and Thirstystone
is a proven, innovative industry leader. This
means great potential for both companies to
expand and benefit from the success we have
built independently. I have been looking for
the right acquisition for a long time,” he
continued. “Thirstystone is a perfect fit for
our long term goals. I am confident that it
will be a most exciting adventure to build
both brands.”
Longtime Thirstystone President Laurie
Leahy had this to say about the merger:
“This acquisition is a wonderful opportunity
for our company, providing us with new
resources available to us under the
Cambridge umbrella which will propel us
forward into new markets. Together, we
will create collections that will celebrate
home entertainment and exciting design,
while maintaining both companies’ longterm commitment to quality, customer
service and unique product.” Leahy added.
“I believe we can take the home
entertainment category by storm.”
Founded in 1989, Thirstystone Resources
has been a consistent industry leader in
coasters, and in recent years, has expanded
into the home entertainment category with
a focus on serveware and barware. Trendright design and partnerships with top art
licensing houses across the globe have helped
Thirstystone secure business with national
household names such as HGTV star David
Bromstad and The Food Network, as well as
iconic brands like Coca-Cola and Thomas
Kinkade, among others.
Thirstystone will exhibit in the Cambridge
showroom on the 18th floor of Forty One
Madison during the upcoming New York
Tabletop Show, October 14-18.
More about Cambridge
The Freeman family has been in the tabletop
and accessories business since 1956, when
Charles Freeman founded his kitchenware
company, Stanley Roberts, Inc. In the 1990s,
into the Nature spoons, while peacocks,
squirrels and playful hedgehogs are
pictured on the Woodland spoons. The
spoons come in a set of
four in 1-tablespoon,
1-teaspoon, 1/2-teaspoon
and
1/4-teaspoon
measures and have a
suggested retail price of
$9. Hand washing is
recommended for these.
Corkcicle won the
award in the dining
category for its new
Chillsner, designed to
chill
bottled
beer.
Chillsner retains the
signature icicle shape that
has so defined the
Corkcicle brand but is
made of aluminum and
comes in a set of two. The
two-pack retails for
$29.95.
the family sold the business to its partners
and Roger Freeman, along with his son
Harold Freeman, launched Cambridge
Silversmiths LTD.
Cambridge creates original designs for all
of its product lines, which are manufactured
in Indonesia, Korea, Vietnam and China.
The entire line of Cambridge products are
produced in more than 35 different factories,
most of which have done business with
Cambridge personnel for more than 30 years.
Cambridge’s executive offices are located
in Pine Brook, N.J., as is its main warehouse
distribution facility. The company also
operates offices in Hong Kong and Tianjin,
China and additional warehouse and
distribution facilities in Los Angeles,
California. The New York Merchandise Mart
in New York City houses the Cambridge
Silversmiths Showroom, which occupies
approximately 3,500 square feet.
More about Thirstystone
Centrally located approximately one hour
north of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex,
Thirstystone Resources is best known for its
100 percent natural sandstone coasters. Since
its inception, the company has been the
industry-leading manufacturer of functionally
absorbent, decorative coasters. However, in
recent years, Thirstystone has significantly
expanded its product line beyond its signature
coasters to include trivets, appetizer plates,
serveware, barware and private label products
in a plethora of substrates, including:
sandstone, dolomite, travertine, cork, slate,
wood, bamboo and glass. In addition, since
most of the value added to the company’s
line of coasters and Carsters[TM] car
coasters, including all printing and packaging,
is done domestically, many of its products
can carry the “Made in the USA” distinction.
During the last two decades, Thirstystone
has become well known for its new product
innovation and trend-right artwork
Finally, in the kitchen preparation
category, Spice Ratchet’s Blossom
CHOCO.NUT.CHEESE™
grater
received the nod. This grater creates spirals
of hard cheeses, chocolate or nuts with
just a twist, and sharp edges are encased
inside it so that fingers aren’t grated
along with the food. The device is BPAfree and can be disassembled for
dishwasher cleaning. The Blossom
CHOCO.NUT.CHEESE™ Grater retails
at $29.99.
collections, holding approximately 300
licenses with well-known artists and licensing
houses, as well as more than 80 collegiate
licenses for its standard product lines. Current
licenses include artists David Bromstad,
Thomas Kinkade, Tara Reed, Jennifer
Garant, Jan Shade Beach, Jill Seale and
Kathleen Parr McKenna.
Collaborating with customers through
art and design to create coordinating
tabletop products and accessory collections
is also a specialty Thirstystone takes pride
in, and for which it is well known.
Customized, private label collections have
been developed by the talented team at
Thirstystone for companies such as Bed
Bath and Beyond, Pier 1 Imports, Kohl’s,
J.C. Penney, Food Network, Dillard’s,
Tommy Bahama, Ducks Unlimited, and
many others. Some of the products
designed for these companies include
coasters, glassware, barware, serving sets,
cheeseboards, cheese markers and
entertaining gift sets.
Thirstystone products are displayed at more
than 20 tradeshows each year, including the
Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Seattle, and Las
Vegas Gift Marts, which draw not only
domestic buyers, but international buyers as
well. In addition, Thirstystone has sales
representation for both big box and smaller
retailers in every state in the U.S., including
Alaska and Hawaii.
To sum up the new partnership between
Cambridge Silversmiths and Thirstystone
Resources, all involved agree that the product
development, design strength, and
distribution of Cambridge Silversmiths, along
with Thirstystone’s creative talents, collegiate
licenses, and extensive art library make this
partnership a true home entertainment
powerhouse. In years to come, no one will
have a dinner party without Cambridge and
Thirstystone!
4
GENERAL NEWS
OCTOBER 2013
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Top Industry Decision-Makers to Sit
in the Housewares Hot-Seat During
Keynote Session at CHeSS 2013
The impact of digital commerce is
undeniable. What strategies are housewares
execs using to optimize and control
business in the vast digital marketplace
without undermining a brick-and-mortar
foundation? A panel of top industry
leaders will address this issue and other
hot topics during the keynote session
“Housewares Hot-Seat: Tough Questions
for the Industry’s Top Decision-Makers”
to kick-off the 2013 Chief Housewares
Executive SuperSession (CHESS), Oct.
8-9 in Rosemont, Ill.
The blue-ribbon panel will open the
CHESS conference Oct. 8. Moderated by
Peter Giannetti, editor-in-chief of
HomeWorld Business, the panel will
include Greg Cairo, president, Groupe
SEB USA; Evan Dash, CEO, StoreBound;
and James Glenn, president/CEO,
Household Essentials, LLC. In addition
to the digital marketplace, the panel will
also discuss “showrooming,” price
transparency, digital content and
experience development, social media and
mobile marketing, consumer data mining,
omni-channel participation and direct-toconsumer selling.
CHESS, the strategic and networking
event for industry leaders, will be held at
the InterContinental Chicago O’Hare,
Rosemont, Ill. It is designed for
chief officers of all IHA member
companies and their top decisionmakers and features sessions on digital
commerce, viral marketing, retail
trends, re-shoring, the Affordable Care
Act and more.
To register for CHESS or for more
information, visit the CHESS website at
www.housewares.org/chess or contact Judy
Colitz of IHA at [email protected]
FMP Adds New Director
of business Development
Industry veteran Phil Tondelli has joined
Franklin Machine Products (FMP) as
Director of Business Development. Phil’s
foodservice industry experience spans over
25 years and includes sales, marketing, and
national account management positions
with Edward Don, Prince Castle, Keating,
Hatco, Ready Access, and R. F.
Technologies.
In his new role, Phil will
be responsible for developing replacement
part programs with leading national chain
concepts within the foodservice industry.
FMP is a leading manufacturer/distributor
of kitchen equipment replacement parts and
accessories.
ugly Kitchens Compete for Facelift
Kitchen Magic, the Northeast’s largest
kitchen cabinet refacing and remodeling
company launched its new Scary/Ugly
Kitchen Photo Contest on Sept. 4, 2013
on its Facebook business profile. The
contest allows Facebook Fans to submit
photos of their kitchens to the contest in
hopes of winning a $13,000 kitchen
makeover.
The Scary/Ugly Kitchen Photo Contest
was launched right in time for the
Halloween season, and allows homeowners
to submit one photo of their outdated
kitchen, along with a description by Oct.
20, 2013. A panel of thirteen expert
judges handpicked by Kitchen Magic will
then determine the top 26 semi-finalists
for the contest. The panel of judges comes
from various backgrounds, each judge
offering expert advice on remodeling,
design and craftsmanship.
The top 26 semi-finalists chosen by the
panel of judges will then be posted back
onto the Scary/Ugly Kitchen Photo
Contest application present on Kitchen
Magic’s Facebook business profile on
Halloween. Kitchen Magic’s Facebook
fans will be able to vote on the top 26
semi-finalists, casting one vote per kitchen
photo based on which kitchen each
Facebook Fan deems most undesirable.
Kitchen Magic’s Facebook Fans will
determine the top 13 ‘ugliest’ kitchen
photos between the dates of Oct. 31, 2013
and Nov. 10, 2013. Theses top 13 finalists
will move on to the next round of voting
by Kitchen Magic’s panel of judges, and
each finalist will receive a $50.00 Visa
Gift Card, courtesy of Kitchen Magic.
The panel of judges will deliberate on
the top 13 finalists and vote upon a
winner. On Nov. 13, 2013, the winner of
the Scary/Ugly Kitchen Photo Contest
will be announced on Kitchen Magic’s
Facebook business profile, and the
homeowner with the ‘ugliest’ kitchen will
receive a $13,000 kitchen makeover with
cabinet refacing.
To enter the contest, visit Kitchen
Magic’s
Facebook
profile
at:
www.facebook.com/kitchenmagic.
Kitchen Magic was founded in
Allentown Pennsylvania in 1979 by Jost
and Reine Fleck. Still family owned and
operated, the company is now in the
second generation, and is the largest
specialty refacing and kitchen remodeling
company in the Northeast.
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KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW
roland Products, Inc.
begins Distributing Curtis Stone
Kitchen Solutions
Roland Products, Inc., a leading North
American distributor of brands including
Fissler premium German cookware and
Hurom slow juicers, partnered with Curtis
Stone Kitchen Solutions. Roland Products,
Inc. has already commenced U.S.
distribution of the Curtis Stone Kitchen
Solutions brand of bakeware, gadgets and
accessories.
Curtis Stone Kitchen Solutions features
functional and well-designed products which
Curtis himself, as the co-owner of the
company, helped design and develop. The
company launched in 2012 with great
momentum and has grown since then.
Roland’s knowledge and penetration of the
U.S. market will allow the team to further
build the brand.
“Curtis Stone and I, co-founders of Curtis
Stone Kitchen Solutions, are thrilled to have
Roland Products, Inc. as the distributors to
serve the United States customers more
effectively and efficiently and their
knowledgeable team will help the Kitchen
Solutions collection thrive in the USA.
All functions of the Curtis Stone/Foodfight
Market Strategist Warns
that Keurig’s brand Strength
Faces Market uncertainty
Expiration of its patents may threaten
Keurig’s market position, warns global
strategic brand consulting and design firm
Landor Associates, which has released the
results of an annual study ranking U.S.
brands based on successfully sustaining
growth in brand strength over a three-year
period (2009-2012).
Longstanding household brand names
Quilted Northern and Dawn, employing
a mix of traditional and digital marketing
strategies, beat out trendsetting technology
brands in Landor’s 2013 Breakaway
Brands® Study. The only brand born in
GENERAL NEWS
5
About Roland Products, Inc.
Established in 1989, Roland Products, Inc.
is a North American
distributor headquartered
in Los Angeles. The
company
offers
distribution for several
leading European and
Asian houseware brands
and is renowned for
excellent customer service
and marketing. Since its
founding,
Roland
Products,
Inc.
has
continued to introduce
the most innovative,
health conscious and
unique products for the
home. Its umbrella of
premium brands include Fissler, Hurom,
Goodbye Detergent, Bisbell, Fabrikators,
Drosselmeyer, and GarlicCard. For more
information, please visit www.rolandinc.com.
the digital era to make the top ten is
Amazon, along with its Kindle subbrand,
and Apple fell off the list entirely. The
study analyzes data from Young &
Rubicam Group’s proprietary BrandAsset®
Valuator (BAV ), the world’s largest
database of consumer brand perception.
Dixie placed at #7 on the list of 10
breakaway brands after expanding its
product line beyond paper cups to a super
strong line of disposable products called
Dixie Ultra. Febreze (#6) launched Febreze
Sport and Febreze Sleep Serenity.
In addition to the ten breakaway
brands, Landor chose five brands for its
2013 "Watch List." Included are last
year’s ranked Breakaway Brands Apple
and Keurig, in addition to Reynolds
Wrap, Microsoft Windows, and Ford Sync.
The "Watch List" brands have shown
exceptional brand strength in the
past years, but now face uncertainty in the
long-term.
With the expiration of K-Cup patents,
Keurig’s leadership in the market is
uncertain despite its strong partnerships
with Green Mountain, Starbucks, and
Dunkin’ Donuts. Its ability to survive amid
a sea of me-too competitors will dictate
the brand’s long-term potential.
USA office, will now be
assumed by Roland. For
additional information on
this line, please contact
Roland
at
[email protected]. The
Curtis Stone Kitchen
Solutions line of products
will be shown at these
upcoming trade shows:
Dallas Market, Source
One Marketing Showroom
#1949 June 19-25
Atlanta Market, Roland
Products
Showroom
#8119A July 10-17
NY NOW- Curtis Stone
Kitchens Solutions booth #3535 August 18-21
6
GENERAL NEWS
Made in u.S.A.
(Cont. from Page 1)
with China by 2015, although actual cost
competitiveness varies by product type as
well as other factors.
“Prices in China and USA are so close
that when we go back to USA, they are
able to match those prices,” Sellers Miller
said. “Before they could get close, maybe
10 or 15 percent away, but now it’s a direct
match. Two things: prices have gone up
in China to the point where it’s making
American factories really able to compete,
but now that it’s gotten so close, it seems
to have motivated American manufacturers
to buckle down and see what they can do
to compete, including greater automation
to enhance their productivity.”
Architec is only one manufacturer
responding to consumer calls for
American-made products, Sellers Miller
said. “We were wondering in the beginning
KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW
if this was a flash in the pan. We were
seeing ‘eco’ as the real driving force, but
as the years go on, we’re starting to see
Made in America as the primary driving
force,” she said. “Within our industry, we
hear a lot of buzz about companies who
are doing this as of late, but we’ve been
doing it for the past six to 10 years.”
Architec started seeing the growing
trend five years ago in the orders coming
from independent housewares retailers, but
the push from the mass market merchants
for American-made products has only been
coming within the past 18 months, Sellers
Miller said. With five brands and product
lines for the gourmet channel, which
constitutes 20 percent of its business,
upscale mass merchants like Sur la Table
and Crate and Barrel as well as the bigbox mass merchants like Target and Bed
Bath & Beyond, Architec was positioned
to observe the trend as it grew. “I would
guess that the gourmet stores were hearing
it from their customers early on. They were
hearing it from their customers, whereas
Zak! Designs Promises to unveil a
Whole New Collection at Tabletop
Each year during the NY Tabletop
Market, Zak Designs unveils its newest
products for the upcoming spring and
summer entertaining season. This year, on
October 15-18 at its showroom at 7 West
34th St., Suite 700, it isn’t just a group of
products that will be featured, but rather
an entire collection that the company
promises will allow retailers to make a
cohesive statement on their shelves and
help consumers bring home a coordinating
selection of innovative dinnerware,
serveware, and kitchen prep products that
all feature the latest global color trends.
Zak’s Summer Sizzle collection includes
a wide range of products joined together
by the Fresh color story that features bold
shades of grapefruit, coral, yellow, and
kiwi. Included in the collection is a new
dinnerware line in special four-packs of
plates and bowls.
The line will also
include
special
four-packs
of
tumblers and bowls
from the Dot Dot
collection
in
coordinating Fresh
colors and a fourpack of the new
Lotus Bowls which
are shaped like the
serene blossoms of
the Lotus flower.
For the salads,
chips, fruits, and
n
OCTOBER 2013
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the mass merchants don’t have that direct
contact with their customers. That’s my
guess,” Sellers Miller said.
In response to those demands, Architec
is launching eight new products in March,
and all but one are being made in the USA.
These products include a set of cutting board
plates for kids, called Cut and Serve Plates.
There will also be a new line of cooking
tools consisting of six pieces: scoop strainerspoon, turner, whisk, spreader and cooking
spoon. The remainder of the new products
are a countertop cutting board
holder, utility bin, and
SWIPE, a squeegee device
that allows the user to cut
down on paper towel usage.
Products will range from
$3.99 to $19.99.
These new products are
important to sustaining
Architec’s growth, and the
company is planning to be
able to tell its customers and
retailers in 2015 that more
than half of its products are made in the
U.S. “We feel that that’s what our
customers are looking for. We want to be
able to say that we are 51 percent made in
the U.S.” Sellers said. It’s not just
patriotism; it’s also a matter of controlling
costs
to
keep
retail
prices
as low as possible, she added.
“We definitely think that that’s important
to
our
customers
as
well,
and we want to do what is important to
our customers.”
countless other treats that
accompany any summer gettogether, Zak is releasing a set
of three standard serve bowls as
well as a large and small set of
the always-popular Rose Bowls
in the Summer Sizzle color story.
And for meals on the go, the
Summer Sizzle collection
also includes a stylish
Planet Zak insulated
lunch kit as well as
several food storage
containers and water
bottles. To ensure that the Summer
Sizzle collection can be used in
conjunction with existing Zak lines,
the colors in the Fresh Color Story
that’s featured on the products in
the collection is designed to
complement a wide range of Zak’s
dinnerware, drinkware, serveware,
and on-the-go products.
So, regardless of whether people
are staying home, or heading out to
enjoy the heat of the season, Zak’s Summer
Sizzle collection has everything they’ll
need to enjoy all their meals under the
sun. To see the new Summer Sizzle
collection, and the other items that Zak
Designs will be showing at the New York
Tabletop Market, stop by the showroom
at 7 West 34th St., Suite 700 October 1518. Feel free to call or email if you’d like
to make an appointment, or if it’s easier,
swing by whenever you’re in the area.
Lavazza Appoints Two New Directors
for North American Market
Lavazza Premium Coffees Corporation,
in a continued strategic effort to strengthen
and broaden the renowned Italian
company’s presence in the United States,
appoints two Group Directors to the
company’s North American headquarters.
Lavazza launched the RIVO® Cappuccino
& Latte Brewing System in the U.S. in
2012. It is marketed by and in partnership
with Keurig® and Green Mountain Coffee
Roasters.
Michele J. Abo joins Lavazza as Director
of Sales North America, bringing a
significant amount of sales executive and
general management experience from her
previous roles at Chevron, PepsiCo, and
Entenmann’s. Ricky Khetarpaul joins as
Director of Finance & Administration
after eight years of experience at PepsiCo,
bringing expertise in roles of increasing
responsibility in finance, financial
planning,
strategy,
and
business
development.
“Today, more than ever, our North
American presence becomes increasingly
vital. We look forward to working with
Michele and Ricky to bolster our
organizational structure, and foster longterm growth across all channels and
markets,” says Ennio Ranaboldo, CEO of
Lavazza North America.
The announcement comes on the heels
of two recent introductions from Lavazza
in the U.S. and Canada, including their
first-ever ecommerce store launch in
September, as well as the fall 2013 debut
of a new specialty coffee line for the
retail channel.
www.kitchenwarenews.com
n
GENERAL NEWS
OCTOBER 2013
7
Gourmet Settings to Supply Soprano
Flatware to James beard Foundation
Gourmet Settings has been selected by the
James Beard Foundation as a JBF House
Purveyor. As part of its relationship with the
foundation, Gourmet Settings will be its
official flatware provider, an honor reserved
for companies that create premium ingredients,
goods, or services within the culinary industry.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to partner
with the James Beard Foundation as we
strongly admire their passion for providing
scholarships and educational opportunities
– it matches our passion for providing the
best flatware,” says Hildy Abrams, President
of Gourmet Settings.
The flatware collection selected by the
non-profit foundation is called Soprano.
Originally designed 10 years ago for
Gourmet Settings, it is defined by fluid lines
and wide assortment of pieces. From a fivepiece flatware set to service ware to the
essentials for a cocktail hour, Soprano meets
every need for a seamless meal. The design,
with a wider tail and tapered neck, was
created just as much for function as form,
after focused research on the varying ways
people hold their utensils during meals.
Gourmet Settings is extremely committed
to innovation as each of its exclusive patterns
is researched, modeled, drawn, prototyped
and refined
before final production.
Additionally, the company is steadfast in
producing less waste material through an
expert manufacturing process.
The purveyorship between Gourmet
Settings and the James Beard Foundation
began in June 2013 and will continue into
2014, and potentially beyond. Started in 1986,
the James Beard Foundation is a New Yorkbased national professional organization
named in honor of James Beard that serves
to promote the culinary arts by honoring
chefs, wine professionals, journalists, and
cookbook authors at annual award ceremonies
and providing scholarships and educational
initiatives to cooking hopefuls.
About Gourmet Settings:
Gourmet Settings products have been featured
in prestigious online and print media including
The New York Times, Good Housekeeping,
Bon Appetit, Modern Bride, and O, The
Oprah Magazine. BusinessWeek named the
company a gold award winner at the 2007
International Design Excellence Awards for
its innovative design strategy for Costco.
Flatware from Gourmet Settings is
available worldwide through retailers such
as Target, Crate & Barrel, Williams-Sonoma,
Macy’s and many more, as well as online at
www.gourmetsettings.com.
Soap & Paper Factory Soaps Take
Home best of Show from NY Now
Soap & Paper Factory’s Deco Collection
of hand-stirred soaps won a best of show
award in the Personal Care + Wellness
category at this year’s NY Now Best New
Product Awards. Soap & Paper Factory
combines all natural, beautifully scented,
handmade products wrapped in exquisite,
earth-friendly packages. Products are
hand-crafted in New York and are never
tested on animals. Recycled materials are
used for packaging, and candles are
contained in reusable Italian glass.
Tervis brings New
Products to Tabletop
Tervis has announced a number of product
introductions that will be seen at this year’s
New York Tabletop show. A couple of
them are designed to help consumers who
will be entertaining at home during the
holiday season to make a splash with their
drinkware without endangering either
guests or glassware with breakage.
With a touch of class and a dash of
whimsy, Tervis has combined the best of
insulated drinkware into its latest new
product, the Goblet. The Goblet is
available in a series of sophisticated jewel
tones as well as selected emblem designs
for a good look that also keeps drinks at a
consistent temperature. Retail prices start
at $20.
Hosts and hostesses can make a bold
fashion statement and add a little extra
sparkle to a party with the new Purple
Sequin Initial designs. These are styled
with big, bold letters and available
matching purple lids. They’ll be available
for $11 to $20 in October.
For more information or to see these
and other new products at New York
Tabletop, visit Tervis’ showroom on the
eighth floor at 41 Madison.
8
IN THE ISSUE
KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW
from the
n
OCTOBER 2013
n
www.kitchenwarenews.com
K ITCHENWARE NEWS
H o u s e w, a r e s R e v i e w
S E R V I N G K I T C H E N WA R E
publisher
PUBLISHER
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
editor
Lorrie Baumann
[email protected]
EDITOR
Kristina Harris
[email protected]
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Jazmine Woodberry
[email protected]
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Hannah Hollins
[email protected]
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Yasmine Brown
[email protected]
TRAFFIC MANAGER
Jaysun Freightman
[email protected]
SUBSCRIBER SERVICES
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[tel] 520.721.1300
[fax] 520.721.6300
KITCHENWARE/HOUSEWARES ADVERTISING
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Lee M. Oser, Publisher
from the
Lee M. Oser
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Greetings!
It will not have escaped your notice that this issue inaugurates not just a cover redesign for Kitchenware News & Housewares
Review but also a marked change in editorial philosophy. We’re making these changes after a good deal of thought about
the differing roles of our weekly electronic publication, the Kitchenware Newswire, our website at www.kitchenwarenews.com
and this, our print publication.
We believe that it’s clear that the Internet has superseded any need for readers to depend on a monthly print publication
to inform them about the ebb and flow of personnel changes within the industry. If you want to know who went where a
year ago, you’re much more likely to Google a name than to reach for your back issues of Kitchenware News & Housewares
Review. If you want to know who went where last week or what product is coming to market next week, the Kitchenware
Newswire can shoot that information into your in-box every Wednesday morning. Nor do you depend on our monthly
magazine in the same way that you once might have to give you the basic specifications about a product you’ve already run
across at a trade show. All that information is online for you, and you don’t even need to know how to spell the name of
the product any more.
What our monthly print magazine can do very well, though, is to take a step back and give you information that looks
beyond the immediate, that gives you ideas that you’ll want to think about for more than the moment that they’re in front
of you on a screen. It’s our intention that while the Kitchenware Newswire will continue to tell you what happened last week
and what’s happening this week within the kitchenwares industry, Kitchenware News & Housewares Review will begin to tell
you more about how and why kitchenware retailing is changing along with what’s happening in the U.S. and in the world.
Even last year, it was common for kitchenware retailers to be discussing, more or less despairingly, how a brick and
mortar kitchenware store was ever going to compete with the retailing juggernaut that is Amazon, not to mention the
many other online-only retailers that have proliferated in cyberspace during the recession. We’re now hearing from many
of you that you’ve found ways to compete successfully in what has become a truly global marketplace and even to embrace
the Internet as a means of doing that.
Publishers of print publications have been asking themselves many of the same kinds of questions even as we watch many,
many print publications fall by the wayside and many others abandon every commitment to quality journalism. Even as you
have had to find your own ways to compete in an online world, so have we. And what you see in your hands is how we’re
going to do it. Our future is in all our hands, and we’re grateful that our readers continue to want us to tell you about it.
H O M E D E C O R A N D G I F T WA R E M A R K E T S
Lyle Sapp
[email protected]
[tel] 520.721.1300
Jeff Rosano
[email protected]
[tel] 520.721.1300
Kitchenware News & Housewares Review is a
publication of ELM Communications, a division
of Oser Communications Group, Inc.
1877 N. Kolb Road, Tucson, AZ 85715
www.oser.com
PRESIDENT
Lee M. Oser
Periodicals postage paid at Tucson, AZ and additional mail-
It feels like I’ve spent most of my life in the kitchen. Whether it was cooking as a child beside my talented mother, who
earned the affectionate nickname Betty Crocker from my friends, to now creating meals and baked treats for my husband
and three sons, I’ve always had a passion for finding the perfect pan or neatest knife to round out my kitchen collection. I
guess the only time I don’t devote to cooking or learning about the newest kitchen gadget I’ve acquired, I spend writing,
blogging and editing. So what could be more natural than becoming the editor of Kitchenware News & Housewares Review?
I’m very excited to be starting this new adventure with all of you, our readers.
Hopefully you’ve already noticed the changes we’ve made to the cover of the magazine. We decided to give it a fresh,
more streamlined look as we head into the fall season. Let me know what you think!
In this issue, we’ve got a special retailer profile about the family-owned company, The Good Life, a full supplement
dedicated to kitchen storage items, and an entire buyer’s guide section dedicated to bamboo, which is becoming quite popular
for its versatility, low cost, and eco-friendly nature. Also, be sure to check out what’s happening in cutlery there’s a story about
an exciting new metal alloy on the cover, and more knife news on page 10. We’ve even got a fun sneak peak at VIETRI’s new
collection in our home décor section.
I hope that you are all enjoying the beautiful October weather, and all of the wonderful things that are going on as you
prepare your businesses for the start of another holiday season. Have fun with this issue, and I’ll see you in November!
ing office. Kitchenware News & Housewares Review
(USPS012-625) is published 12 times per year (Jan., Feb.,
March, April, May, June, July, Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and
Dec.) by Oser Communications Group, 1877 N. Kolb
Road, Tucson, AZ, 85715 520.721.1300. Publisher
assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material or prices
quoted in newspaper. Contributors are responsible for
proper release of proprietary classified information. ©2013
by Oser Communications Group. All rights reserved.
Reproduction, in whole or in part, without written permission of the publisher, is expressly prohibited. Back issues,
when available, cost $8 each within the past 12 months.
Back issue orders must be paid in advance by check.
Kitchenware News & Housewares Review is distributed
without charge in North America to qualified professionals
in the retail and distribution channels of the upscale
kitchenware and tabletop trade. For subscriber services,
Kristina Harris
[email protected]
including subscription information, call 520.721.1300.
Printed in the USA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes
to Kitchenware News & Housewares Review, 1877 N. Kolb
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www.kitchenwarenews.com
n
OCTOBER 2013
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KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW
SMALL ELECTRICS
9
Small Electrics
DIY Yogurt
Cuts Cost, Waste
BY HANNAH HOLLINS
The exploding popularity of Greek
yogurt is evident in the grocery aisles. The
EURO CUISINE
YM260 YOGURT MAKER
small electrics market has responded to
the yogurt craze with a variety of
options that will save consumers
money and allow them to use the whey
from the Greek yogurt in other
recipes. Automatic yogurt makers
prepare large batches in a single container
or smaller batches in jars that are all
housed in the same temperature-controlled
unit. With yogurt makers, the DIYinclined user can control the sweetness,
fat content, ingredients and thickness.
After the yogurt is finished processing,
it is possible to make the yogurt extra
thick—in the Greek style—by draining it
in cheesecloth.
CUISINART CYM-100
ELECTRONIC YOGURT MAKER
WITH AUTOMATIC COOLING
EURO CUISINE
DIGITAL YMX650
The Euro Cuisine YM260 Yogurt Maker is
an economical large-batch machine; it
makes two quarts of yogurt in six to eight
hours. The thick walls of the Euro Cuisine
Yogurt Maker effectively incubate the
yogurt, maintaining the necessary
temperature throughout the entire batch.
The timer located on the side of the unit
indicates when the yogurt maker should
be unplugged to stop cooking; it does
not have an auto-off function. The main
advantage of a large-batch machine
like the Euro Cuisine Yogurt Maker is that
no special jars or other extras are needed.
Included with the kit is a stainless steel
thermometer, individual serving bowl and
cheesecloth bag for making cheese.
Suggested Retail Price: $69.99.
The Cuisinart CYM-100 Electronic Yogurt
Maker with Automatic Cooling is
another large-batch machine; it makes
50 ounces of yogurt, or six 8-ounce
servings per batch. With the CYM-100,
the yogurt culturing process is
automated
and
temperatureregulated—the machine starts and
stops at the touch of a button, and a
built-in cooling system automatically
shifts to a preset chilling temperature
at the end of the incubation and
fermentation cycle. Users can monitor
the processing time of their yogurt with
the digital time display on the front of
the machine.
Suggested Retail Price: $129.99
For those who want to make separate
small batches of yogurt with different
flavors, the Euro Cuisine Digital
YMX650 makes seven 6-ounce
servings in six to 10 hours. The clear
lid encapsulates all of the jars in the
digital yogurt maker, allowing the user
to view the process. This model is
essentially fool-proof, featuring a 15hour blue LED digital timer that beeps
when the yogurt is finished as well as
an
automatic
shut-off.
The
dishwasher-safe glass jars used in the
machine also are used for storage-their date-setting lids indicate
whether the yogurt is still fresh when
it is pulled from the fridge.
Suggested Retail Price: $59.99
Euro-Cuisine
www.eurocuisine.net
Cuisinart
www.cuisinart.com
Euro-Cuisine
www.eurocuisine.net
SodaStream Launches New Model
SodaStream International Ltd.debuted the
SodaStream Play, designed by Yves Behar,
during the London Design Festival.
SodaStream Play will be available in stores
in Spring 2014.
Adopting the concept of “play it your way,”
the new SodaStream Play will be available
in six fresh, strong colors and is the first soda
maker in the world that can be colorcustomized to fit the preferred design choice
or kitchen interior of the consumer.
Behar’s design re-examines the interface,
shape and material selection of the SodaStream
system, redefining the way it is used. The
simple shape of the Play soda maker expresses
the efficiency of the system while making a
strong design statement in the kitchen. As an
innovative new feature, the refined mechanics
of the machine allow the high-gloss slider
column to automatically return to the original
position after being pressed, simplifying the
process of carbonation. The matte texture and
contrasting color of the column and base add
a light-hearted, playful feel, and the
carbonating bottle easily locks into place with
a single-push motion. The Play will work with
either the 60-liter or 130-liter CO2 cylinder,
providing even greater user flexibility.
Yves Behar explains, “SodaStream has
always been about ‘fresh, just in time’ soda
and sparkling water. I wanted this new,
affordable design to reflect the contemporary
idea of creating things yourself. Play is
minimal by design and simple to use, while
the six bright colors are interchangeable and
create personalization for the consumer.”
“After a very successful collaboration with
Yves on the award-winning Source soda
maker, we have decided to partner once again
to create Play,” stated Daniel Birnbaum,
CEO of SodaStream. ”This new soda maker
maintains the design language of the Source
family, yet has a clear identity, with a price
point that will appeal to a larger segment of
the market. Customization is a key
part of our product portfolio ethos;
the ability to mix-and-match the
heads and columns of the Play with
different colors reflects the
empowering choice we provide
consumers to decide how fizzy and
how much flavor they desire. We
understand that people want a product that
is fun yet can fit within the aesthetic of their
living space. Play allows you to do just this.”
As part of the installation at designjunction
during London Design Festival, SodaStream
also launched a new carbonating bottle
designed by Yves Behar. The new bottle
was created to accompany SodaStream Play
and Behar’s already iconic SodaStream
Source home soda maker, which was
launched in 2012.
The fresh design, inspired by the single
water drop motif, is available in three colors
for the base and cap: black, chrome and white.
The drop motif also features in the surface
pattern of the Source and Play machines,
creating a sense of fluidity and modernity.
Combining a sculptured design with
PEPPERPRO SMART GRIND
Grind pepper or salt with the touch of
a button with Prodyne’s PEPPERPRO
Smart Grind Electric Mill. The mill
features a 1-7 select, easy adjust grind
dial. The dial is continuously adjustable
in an extraordinary range from powdery
fine to very coarse. The high-quality,
thick walled stainless steel body has an
easy-grip contour shape and stylish
black silicone push button. The durable
ceramic grinder allows it to be used
with pepper or salt. LED light illuminates
while grinding for perfect portion
control. The quiet motor and drive runs
on four AA batteries (not included).
Suggested Retail Price: $29.99
Prodyne Enterprises
800.822.4776
www.prodyne.com
functionality, the clean, monolithic shape of
the reusable bottle expresses the special
emphasis on sustainability while retaining
the minimalistic approach of the Source
collection. The new bottle will come in a
one-liter as well as a half-liter “to-go” version,
for consumers to enjoy both in and out of
the home.
Mr. Birnbaum notes, “When designing
the SodaStream carbonating bottle, we
challenged ourselves to create a completely
new, BPA-free plastic bottle that actually
looks beautiful on both the kitchen counter
and dining room table, and maintains the
integrity of our sustainability message. The
result is an iconic, elegant accessory that is
reusable thousands of times to help reduce
the waste caused by conventional soda
bottles and cans.”
10
CUTLERY
KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW
n
OCTOBER 2013
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www.kitchenwarenews.com
Cutlery
edge of belgravia
Edge of Belgravia, founded on Eccleston
street in Belgravia, combines über-chic of
Belgravia with the avant-garde design of
Clarkenwell. The futuristic design, by edgy
London designer Christian Bird, won a
slice of the 2012 D&AD product design
award in competition with Apple’s Ipad2.
Zirconium oxide blades
The high–tech zirconium oxide blades are
second to diamond in hardness, keeping
blade sharpness substantially longer than a
normal steel knife. With regular use they
could keep sharp for years with no
sharpening. The light weight makes these
beauties easy to use and the unique
molecular surface reduces space for bacteria.
Supreme cooking power
The full ceramic set , either Lime or Onyx,
gives supreme cooking power and five unique
pieces of futuristic art. A select group of
owners includes Master Chef winners, super-
chefs and celebrities, top journalists, designers
and even the British royal household.
Colorful Cutlery Adds a bright Spot
The line will be shown at this year’s London
Design Festival, an event conceived by Sir
John Sorrell and Ben Evans. Building on
London’s existing design activity, their
concept was to create an annual event that
would promote the city’s creativity, drawing
in the country’s greatest thinkers,
practitioners, retailers and educators o
deliver a celebration of design.
Kuhn Rikon’s Colori paring knife is the
handy all-purpose knife for all kitchen
prep-tasks. Perfect for slicing cheese for
your sandwich, peeling an apple or
chopping vegetables. The Colori line
features nonstick Japanese carbon steel
blades for a super sharp edge and longlasting performance. The nonstick coating
ensures that foods will release from the
Messermeister offers New Line
of High-Quality Prep Knives
If you are not cutting carrots into cubes
for three hours, than there may not be a
need for a large cooks knife. Prep knives
have become ever increasingly popular with
today’s home and traveling chefs. They are
excellent for chopping light weight
vegetables and fruits and slicing meats and
Superknife
(Cont. from Page 1)
come up with the right application for it.
Even though it’s light, strong, elastic,
extremely durable and corrosion-resistant,
it’s also hard to work with and requires
specialized equipment to fabricate it into
a shape, according to Blair Dahl, President
of VMatter. After 15 years of working with
the metal to develop manufacturing
methods, one of the engineers working on
the project made a prototype knife for his
own use. He took that knife home with
him, and the partners didn’t think very
much more of it until an “aha moment”
six years later, when he came into the office
one day to announce, “Remember that
knife I made? I’ve used it every day, and
it’s still sharp.” Cutlery development mode
was launched then and there, Dahl said
with a chuckle.
The knife that’s ready to be launched in
the marketplace is made by injectionmolding the molten alloy, much as if it
were a plastic being shaped in a mold.
Then when it comes out of the mold, it
bread for sandwiches. The new colorful
Petite Messer knife line by Messermeister
includes a light-weight stamped blade with
a soft-grip handle, perfect for those who
want a higher quality German knife to do
the work. They cut perfectly, clean up
quickly and pack easily. For some color
and fun in your knife
case, these are great. The
Petite Messer collection
includes a 5-inch chef ’s
knife, 5-inch Santoku, 5inch utility and a 6-inch
offset scalloped knife, in
blue,green, orange and
red! Retail prices range
from $9 for the paring
knives to $23 for the
items listed here. All are
made in Germany.
has a mirror-like finish and a very accurate
shape. Already sharp, the cutting edge
receives final finishing and the blade
surface is polished to a softer sheen that
looks less like a mirror and more like a
conventional steel knife. The top edge and
the area where it joins the grip are left
with that reflective surface, so it still has
a distinctive appearance without being too
obviously different from an ordinary knife.
The 8-inch chef ’s knife weighs in at
200 grams, while a conventional steel
chef ’s knife of German manufacture comes
in at about 20 to 250 grams, Dahl said.
“Because it can be made so sharp, it’s
effortless to cut with, so you don’t need
the weight,” he added.
The angle on the cutting edge is similar
to a European blade, but it’s easily as sharp
as one of the thin-profile Japanese knives,
according to Dahl. Balance is so superb
that it’ll rest on a fingertip, he added.
Stronger than titanium, it’s also
corrosion-resistant. It transfers no metal
residue to food, so it doesn’t leave behind
a metallic taste, and the glass-smooth
surface of the blade is so dense that
bacterial growth is inhibited. “The real
magic of the knife is that it’s much more
elastic than steel,” Dahl said. “It can take
abuse in the kitchen.”
The crowdfunding campaign, which is
taking place on Indiegogo through October
18, has a financial goal, but the real goal
of that effort is to arouse the interest of
early-adopters and the real cutlery
enthusiasts, as well as to capture the
attention of potential retailers, Dahl said.
The company is hoping to build enough
momentum through the campaign to
encourage a large specialty retailer to offer
the knives for sale in a pilot test in a
percentage of its stores for the holiday
season. If that goes well, the retailer would
likely place a larger order and offer the
knives for sale chainwide. “The idea would
be to be in store at the beginning of
December, and those tests typically run
for 60 days,” Dahl said. It’s expected that
a retail test will introduce a VMatter
Cutlery Collection that includes a chef ’s
knife, a paring knife, a Santoku knife
and a slicing knife.
Two models of the knives are currently
for sale on VMatter’s website. Both are 8inch chef ’s knives. The Professional model
comes with a G10 handle in either green
or black. “G10 is a material used
blade to make each cut easier and neater.
The knives come with matching sheaths
for storage, camping, picnics and travel.
Kuhn Rikon added 17 new SKUs to the
line last April, including the playful Cheetah
and Zebra, with their animal-print blades,
and the Polka Dot collection. Serrated blades
are also available in a few color choices, and
retail prices range from $10 to $12.
extensively by custom knife makers,” Dahl
said. “Its appearance has a bit of a carbon
weave. It’s very durable, a great material
for a grip.” The green handle is a pale jade
that’s attracting a lot of excitement from
the folks who’ve seen it; so much so that
it’s essentially becoming a signature color
for the product, he added. That model has
a projected retail price of $247.
The other model, the Executive, is
projected to retail for $397 and comes with
a stabilized rare hardwood handle and
custom laser engraving. You can see the
knife on Indiegogo by visiting the site at
Indiegogo.com and typing VMatter into
the search box in the upper right of the
home screen. Or you can visit the
company’s website at www.vmatter.com
and link from there.
12
HOME DÉCOR
KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW
n
OCTOBER 2013
n
www.kitchenwarenews.com
Home Décor
A Sneak Peak at VIeTrI’s
Tabletop Introductions
BY LORRIE BAUMANN
VIETRI is debuting a new home decor
collection this year at the NY Tabletop
show along with new pieces for its other
collections. Ellen Thompson, Public
Relations Manager for VIETRI, offered
the readers of Kitchenware News &
Housewares Review a sneak peek at the
items that are expected to be the stars of
the show, and who could turn that down?
Let’s start with the new home decor
collection, which is called Stellare. There’s
a small planter, large planter,
umbrella stand, urn and
oval planter, all in a
classic Italian shape
with a soft white
glaze. Star and
sunburst-design
embellishments
and buttons are
all attached by
hand, and the
artisan’s
thumbprint
is
imprinted into the
clay. “The star and sunburst designs
are representative of two of the five
traditional emblems of Italy,”
Thompson says.
For the outdoor living space,
VIETRI has added more than 40 new
pieces to the Rustic Garden
collection. These are in soft neutral
colors, and there are plenty of pieces
for the homeowner who wants to
recreate the entire experience of a
Tuscan courtyard as well as a lot of
choices for the landscape designer
who’s adding an accent to a quiet
corner. “We have lots of different
shapes and sizes, but a star for me is
the Rustic Garden trumpet
vases, similar to those
found in Renaissance
Italian
villas,”
Thompson says.
For the bride’s dining
room, there’s a new
color for the
popular Lastra
Italian
stoneware
dinnerware
collection.
Aqua is very soft, almost
white, so it’s a true neutral with just a hint
of color to echo the color of the Italian
sea and sky and to complement the food
served on it. “Pastels are going to be huge
this year in fashion, fabric and paint,”
Thompson says. This is a complete
dinnerware line, with both an American
dinner plate and the smaller European
dinner plate that Americans might use for
luncheon. Lastra, ‘strap’ in Italian, is handcrafted in Tuscany with a form that’s
inspired by the wooden strap that’s used
to bind traditional Italian cheese molds.
The collection was introduced by VIETRI
in 2012, and it has soared to the top of
the sales charts, so VIETRI expects this
on-trend color to do very well for retailers
this spring.
To go under the dinnerware on the table,
VIETRI also offers a linen collection
produced in collaboration with Pardi
Linen, an Italian family business since the
1940s. Napkins, placemats, tablecloths,
guest towels and kitchen towels are
woven from 50 percent cotton-50 percent
linen fibers by skilled craftsmen on shuttle
power looms. The resulting chevron-print
fabrics come in soft, natural shades of
blue, green, natural, orange and yellow
on a creamy background. They are
machine-washable.
The Art of Crystal exclusively
at Kiyasa Corporation
Kiyasa Unveils Its Newest Addition – Val
Saint Lambert
Boutique luxury trading and sourcing
company, Kiyasa Corporation, that
specializes in the most exclusive and
unique lines of tableware and home décor
from around the world unveils their newest
addition, Val Saint Lambert. Joining their
range of profilic brands, the Belgium
crystal glassware manufacturer will be
making its debut at New York Tabletop
Market at 41 Madison on October 15th –
18th. Kiyasa Corporation will be the
official United States representative for
the prestigious company.
“We’re very excited to be working with
Val Saint Lambert,” explains Kiyasa Co-
Founder
and
CMO
Yasamin
Bahadorzadeh. “We are very selective in
regards to the brands that we take on.
Being able to work with such a
longstanding company known for their
artistry and devotion to tradition is truly
a pleasure.”
Master craftsman in crystal since 1896,
Val Saint Lambert is known for their top
quality, expertise, passion and artistry. Now
in the hands of the Onclin family, they
are devoted to keeping their rich heritage
alive and to let the purity of crystal shine.
Val Saint Lambert still makes all products
completely by hand using the traditional
blowing technique on the banks of the
Meuse in Belgium. Each product is unique,
mouth blown, hand cut and finished.
K ITCHENWARE NEWS
H o u s e w, a r e s R e v i e w
S E RV I N G K I T C H E N WA R E
H O U S E WA R E S A N D TA B L E T O P M A R K E T S
VoL uM e 1 9, N uMber 10
oCTober 2013
home
&
kitchen
S T O R A G E
14
HOME & KITCHEN STORAGE
KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW
n
OCTOBER 2013
n
www.kitchenwarenews.com
organizers Help Solve
Kitchen Storage Dilemmas
A great collection of gadgets and tools
needs an organization system that will
keep the drawer in which they’re stored
from devolving into chaos and perhaps
damaging the more delicate items. The
Expandable Utility Drawer Organizer by
Totally Bamboo expands from 12 3/4" to
17 1/2" and the rectangular partitions can
be used for eating utensils, cooking
supplies, or many other items. Another
drawer organizer that can help free up
space is the Bamboo Spice Rack Drawer
Tray by Seville Classics. With its three
tiers, a dozen standard-sized (1.62 oz) jars
can be stored on their sides.
In the cupboards, risers and baskets
create more space. The DecoBros
Kitchen Organizer Rack slides in to
hang under a shelf to create extra space.
The Grayline large, Two Shelf Organizer
is a great example of a riser used for
separating dishes.
TWIXIT! SEAL & POUR BAG CLIP
The twixit!® Seal & Pour bag clip features
a handy pour spout with lid that makes
pouring and resealing from a bag easy
and quick. Like the twixit! Bag Clip it is
designed to tightly close and keep
bagged (paper or plastic) contents
fresh for months. Reusable for years.
Ideal for bagged coffee, cereal, rice,
popcorn, flour, sugar, flax seed, or any
food that pours from a bag. Handy and
easy to use, you will want several for all
your bagged foods. The Seal & Pour is
freezer, dishwasher, and microwave
safe as well as BPA free. Made in
Sweden and available in three colors:
white, red, and lime.
GNAM BREAD BIN FOR ALESSI
WRAP-N-MAT
Wrap-N-Mat Inc.’s products have always
been made in the United States.
Production started in Colorado and is
now in Kansas, where the tradition of
American-made products continues. To
ensure freshness, the lining, which keeps
air out and freshness in, is made of LDPE
(free of lead, phthalates, BPA, and PVC).
All products open flat for easy cleaning,
and are top-rack dishwasher safe. The
full line of products is available in specialty
stores and retailers domestically and
internationally.
Keep your bread and biscuits fresh in the
Gnam Bread Bin. Its smooth design and oval
shape makes it a perfect fit for kitchen
counters. This spacious bin comes in four
great colors (white, black, blue and yellow)
that are sure to add a wonderful vibe to
your kitchen.
Alessi
www.alessi.com
LA SOMMELIÈRE WINE CELLARS
La Sommelière introduced a new line
of wine cellars which combine
elegance and functionality in an effort
to meet today’s demanding consumer
needs. Cellars will be available as
freestanding or built-in units, both
featuring varying capacity and
innovative elements to meet individual
wine storage needs. Depending on the
models, customers will have the option
to choose from single, dual or multi
temperature units with UV-protected
glass doors, digital displays, rolling
shelves, LED lights and other features.
B & M Marketing (Canada) Inc.
www.winecellarexpress.com
Wrap-N-Mat
[tel] 970.229.1943
www.wrapnmat.com
FRANMARA ZIP-N-GO
NEOPRENE WINE BAG SET
EMSA CLIP & CLOSE BY FRIELING
Certified “baby food safe” and BPAfree, the 29-SKU Clip & Close™ line is
unsurpassed in quality, food safety and
convenience features for storing any
type of food. Made in Germany to the
highest quality standards, these
containers with inserts keep food fresh
separately and are also perfect for preportioning foods. Emsa by Frieling offers
three options: two sizes (6.4" x 4.4" x 2.3"
and 7.8" x 5.4" x 2.8") containing two
dividing inserts and one size (8.9" x 6.6"
x 2.3") with three dividing inserts.
Suggested Retail Price $4.50-29.99
Frieling USA
www.frieling.com
Linden Sweden, Inc.
[tel] 952.465.0052
www.lindensweden.com
WINE TIME CAPSULE
Great for picnics and events. This handy
neoprene sleeve snugly holds a 750ml
bottle of wine, which includes a zipper
closure and carrying handle. The
neoprene bag insulates your bottle of
wine for hours. The bottom of the bag
is gusseted and includes a handy side
accessory pocket. The set also includes
a Traveler’s Corkscrew & Bottle Opener,
which is an easy-to-use opener for wine
bottles and beer bottles. Available in
all black or black-and-red combination.
Measures 10-1/2" high x 4-1/2" diameter.
Suggested Retail Price: $5.99 each
ClickClack prides itself on making stylish,
functional kitchenware that’s user
friendly, airtight, durable and highquality. ClickClack Cubes are pleasing
to the eye with their sleek, modular
design. The Cubes come with clear
bodies and white, black or red softtoggle lids. They are designed to stack
when in use or nest when not. Cubes
come in sets of three.
Hot summer nights on the poolside with
a bottle of chilled Chardonnay. Wait a
minute… no glass bottles allowed! Pour
your bottle into the largest vacuum
stainless bottle ever made. With its 750
ml capacity it’s just right for keeping
your full bottle of wine chilled for as
long as you need. Going to a jazz
concert at the park after work? Your
Wine Time Capsule will keep it perfectly
chilled for up to 10 hours. The time
capsule is available in sports top or a
new clear coat brushed stainless with
classic bottle top.
Franmara
[tel] 800.423.5855
www.franmara.com
Innova Products Ltd.
[tel] 800.884.4543
www.clickclack.com
Highwave Inc.
[tel] 800 444.4928
www.highwave.com
CLICKCLACK CUBES
www.kitchenwarenews.com
n
OCTOBER 2013
n
KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW
Ziploc brand Vacuum Sealer
Takes the Gold!
BY MIKE MARTINEZ
The Ziploc® Brand Vacuum Sealer System
product line has won the Housewares
Executive Gold Innovation Award for
2013. The innovation award winner is
selected by asking leading retailers to name
suppliers that have brought noteworthy
innovations to the Vacuum Sealers category
and the Ziploc Brand Vacuum Sealer
System was among those mentioned. The
final winners are chosen by Housewares
Executive’s research staff and are
determined by evaluating the uniqueness
of the products, the packaging and/or
features that have been brought to the
market over the past year.
The Ziploc Brand Vacuum Sealer
System line was launched in March 2012
by CTi Industries Corporation (under
license from S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.).
The CTi product development team
set out to provide consumers with a
Pure Glass Safe-Shell bottle is the
Safest Glass bottle on the Market
Glass is making a comeback. More and
more people are turning to glass and
leaving plastic bottles behind. Precidio
Design, Inc. was well ahead of the curve
when it introduced the Pure Glass bottle.
So why the shift toward glass? Well,
there are a few reasons. One of the most
compelling reasons is the impact of plastic
bottles on the environment. Each year
plastic bottles produce more than 3 billion
pounds of waste. More than 17 million
barrels of oil are used in creating those
bottles. And perhaps most alarming is that
only 20 percent of bottles are actually
recycled. Glass bottles allow for reuse,
which greatly reduces the amount of waste
created. And unlike plastic, glass can be
recycled indefinitely without losing its
integrity.
Another reason why more people are
choosing glass is that glass is the best
material we have to create drinking
products. Glass is inert, nontoxic, easy to
clean, easy to maintain and easy to recycle.
product
that
gives them a
great
value
when buying a
vacuum sealer
product while
meeting
the
consumer’s
quality
expectations that come with the Ziploc
Brand. “We couldn’t be happier with the
results. Our product line out shines the
competition, and the consumers are quickly
showing us that they are interested in
purchasing our products.” says John
Schwan, CTi’s CEO and Chairman of the
Board. “In fact, the Ziploc Brand Vacuum
Sealer System is positioned to become a
leader in vacuum food storage.”
Glass is made from sustainable raw
materials. It offers unparalleled purity
and preserves any beverage’s true taste.
It keeps drinks colder, hotter and
fresher longer.
One reason that people stopped
using glass initially was the concern
for safety. Glass bottles break, and
when they break they cause a mess,
create shards and may even cause
injury. The Pure Glass bottle can now
address this concern. What makes the
Pure Glass bottle unique is its
patented Safe-Shell coating. This
revolutionary coating, developed by
Walt Himelstein, an Environmental
Chemist, protects the users from glass
shards and liquid messes. The Pure
HOME & KITCHEN STORAGE
15
CTi
has
been
experiencing strong
sales growth since
launching the Ziploc
Brand Vacuum Sealer
product line. The
Ziploc Brand Vacuum Sealer System can
be found at retailers like Wal-Mart, Target,
and others.
CTi President, Steve Merrick says,
“Watch this fall for our new advertising
campaigns. We are launching new DRTV
spots, print media advertising and
additional coupon programs, all with the
full support of the Ziploc brand team!”
Check out the new website at
www.ctiindustries.com/ziploc.
Glass bottle is made from impact
resistant glass, but if the glass
ever should break the coating
keeps all the shards and liquid
contained. It forms a seal around
the entire bottle keeping contents
away from human touch. The
bottle can then be thrown into a
recycling bin, as it is 100 percent
recyclable.
With Pure Glass bottles, glass
is now mobile. Pure Glass bottles
can travel to the gym and yoga
studios. They can be used at work
and throughout the day. With
Pure Glass bottles, there is no
reason to not to have the best
hydration experience possible.
16
HOME & KITCHEN STORAGE
KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW
n
OCTOBER 2013
n
www.kitchenwarenews.com
COOKWARE STANDS IN STYLE
Enclume’s 8-tier cookware stand has
risen to the top of its venerable line of
premier pot racks. Versatility is the key
as consumers seek flexible kitchen
locations for storage and display of their
cookware. This stand is a classy extension
of antique French baking racks – with
tripod legs tapering upward, embracing
the gentle curves of eight shelves.
Constructed of hot-rolled steel, the stand
is completed in the soft gray of
Enclume’s signature hammered steel
finish. The 8-tier stand is available in fullyassembled or knock down versions – the
latter offering substantial freight savings
along with the joy of a 45-minute
assembly. Other cookware stands are
available in 3,4,5,6 and 7-tier models.
The trend is vertical, so let your cookware
stand become your tower of cooking!
Enclume Design Products Inc.
[tel] 877.362.5863
www.enclume.com
THE SPEEDYPLUS INSTANT
MARINATER FROM JACCARD
The SpeedyPlus Instant Marinater from
Jaccard is a multi-functional, complete
grilling and marinade preparation system.
It is a complete food preparation tool
that instantly marinates, stores and
transports the meat to and from the
oven or grill. The SpeedyPlus provides
commercial level vacuum pressure which
causes marinades to penetrate deeply
and completely into the meat in as little
as five minutes. The patent pending
10" x 14" design sports a 4.5 liter volume
which can accommodate up to 14
boneless chicken breasts. The marinating
chamber’s
locking
tabs
secure
pre-cooked juices within the container,
eliminating cross contamination potential.
The uniquely designed “platter” cover
tray integrated into the marinade
chamber cover provides an ideal surface
for transporting cooked foods from the
grill back into the kitchen. It easily
disassembles for quick and effortless
cleaning and it is dishwasher safe.
Suggested Reail Price: $30
Jaccard
www.jaccard.com
SOUDA STRUT SHELVING SYSTEM
Modern minimalism meets classic
architectural construction in the Strut
Shelving System. Inspired by the
Manhattan Bridge and construction
techniques of early aircraft carriers, the
modular system is functional and flexible
making it ideal for commercial and
residential spaces alike. Offered in both
powder coated and plated options, the
polished simplicity and adaptability of
the system is sure to support any interior
effortlessly. Available for pre-order soon.
Souda
[tel] 718.576.3544
www.soudasouda.com
SNAPWARE TOTAL SOLUTION
FOR KITCHEN STORAGE
BlenderBottle® GoStak, a system of
interlocking jars, is the company’s first
product designed to carry snacks,
powdered supplements, pills, and more,
on the go. Made of durable, stain-and
odor-resistant Eastman Tritan®, the
BlenderBottle GoStak complements a
healthy lifestyle. The unique Twist n’
Lock™ system secures the jars together
with a quick twist, while a secure seal
allows for worry-free portability. Designed
to work with BlenderBottle SportMixer
and Classic products, the GoStak fits
inside the bottles for compact traveling.
The inclusion of a removable carrying
handle with the GoStak Starter Pak
makes it easy to clip the GoStak to your
bag or purse and take anywhere.
Currently available in four different sizes.
Like all BlenderBottle products, the
GoStak is BPA-free and is dishwasher
safe. The BlenderBottle GoStak is
available in a variety of colors and sizes.
The Snapware® Total Solution™ line of
leak-proof food keepers offers exactly
what its name implies: innovative,
surefire solutions that literally make food
storage a snap. This line offers both stainproof, Pyrex® glass storage containers
or BPA-free plastic containers in six
different-sizes with airtight, leak-proof
plastic lids. There are small- and mediumsized lids for three shapes of containers:
square, round and rectangular. The lids
fit interchangeably on the 6 glass and
12 plastic vessels of various capacities,
from one to almost sixteen cups. The
Snapware Total Solution container and
lid storage features and time-saving
benefits: Six lid sizes, which reduces
clutter and frustration from timeconsuming lid-hunting in the cupboard.
The lid types are specially color-coded
to match their respective containers.
Additionally, the lids stack and nest to
save space while keeping the cabinet
and fridge organized. The Snapware
Total Solution latch-locking lids make an
audible "snap" when properly closed
and airtight sealed, ensuring that food
can be transported leak-free. When the
container is empty, the glass and plastic
containers and lids are dishwasher safe.
The two-shot, molded-gasket design on
the lids eliminates the hard-to-clean
grooves found on many airtight lids.
BlenderBottle
www.blenderbottle.com
Snapware
www.worldkitchen.com/snapware
BLENDERBOTTLE GOSTAK
HYBRID THERMAL TUMBLER
Outlast the elements with the insulated
Reduce™ Hybrid Thermal Tumbler,
ready to keep beverages hot or cold
for up to eight hours. This reusable 16ounce thermal tumbler is an ecofriendly and economical alternative to
buying bottled beverages or highmargin drinks out and about. The Hybrid
Thermal Tumbler uses Reduce Fire & Ice
vacuum insulation to keep beverages
hot or cold. Sturdy yet lightweight, it
has a double-wall stainless steel interior
with a BPA-free plastic exterior and lid.
Each tumbler comes with two lids. The
lid designed for cold beverages has a
large treaded twist spout, making it
easy to hydrate quickly. The twist-off
spout is connected to the lid, so it can
never be separated or lost. The coffeestyle lid features a smaller opening that
slides open and shut, making it easier
to sip hot liquids without spilling.
Suggested Retail Price: $14.99.
Reduce by Base Brands
www.reduceeveryday.com
MR. LID PATENTED
FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS
Introducing Mr. Lid, the attached
patented lid design storage container
so you never lose the lid again. Simplify
your kitchen with the food storage
system that saves you time and space.
Mr. Lid containers are BPA-Free, easily
stackable, microwave and dishwasher
safe. Use it for food storage, to organize
your office supplies, to keep your pets
food fresh, or to make arts and crafts
easy for your kids. Mr. Lid is available in
multiple sizes, from 4-oz. half cup
containers all the way up to full gallon
containers. Made in the U.S.A.
Harvest Direct
[tel] 800.733.2106
www.harvestdirect.com
www.kitchenwarenews.com
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OCTOBER 2013
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KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW
RETAILER PROFILE
17
Retailer Profile
The Good Life
(Cont. from Page 1)
in 1981 and opened in its present 4,100
square foot location in November of 2007
after moving from a smaller location. The
original store carried just cookware and
bakeware, but over the years, The Good
Life evolved to carry just about everything
that has to do with cooking, dining and
entertainment. “We still consider this a
new store. We’re still working out the bugs,
rearranging, but we like this store a lot,”
Schwarz says. The additional square
footage of its current location made it
possible for The Good Life to add a bigger
kitchen for demonstrations and classes,
which ramped up the cooking school
operation that had begun in the original
store. Most of the classes are taught by
resident Chef Kristina San Filippo, who
was recruited from the local branch of Sur
Le Table, and her skills in cooking
healthful food with local ingredients are
keys to the school’s success, Schwarz says.
“A lot of the students have taken classes
in a lot of other places. They’re welltraveled. She’s really in tune with staying
healthy, and the students that she draws
are also very interested in healthy cooking
and eating,” he says. “All the produce is
local, unless you just can’t get it here. It’s
all locally grown and fresh and the highest
quality.”
The cooking school offers a wide range
of scheduled classes, which are packaged
and advertised a month to six weeks in
advance. Prices for the classes range from
$50 up to about $75 for a two-hour class
with up to 14 students, although
occasionally a guest chef is invited to teach,
and in those cases, the chef ’s celebrity will
bring a premium. “We do all our classes
after hours, when the store is closed,”
Schwarz says. Menu and recipes for the
regular classes are designed by San Filippo,
and the freedom that The Good Life offers
her to teach classes that align with her
own culinary interests was instrumental in
luring her away from Sur Le Table,
Schwarz says.
Children’s classes are offered occasionally
for ages 12 and up. “My oldest
granddaughter Emily has done kids’ baking
classes. She’s very good. My daughter-inlaw is also very good at teaching the kids,”
Schwarz says.
In addition to the regular program of
cooking classes open to the public, The
Good Life also offers private classes and
demonstrations
for
groups. The
demonstrations are often held off-site for
groups, such as women’s clubs, that may
be larger than the 14 or so who can fit
comfortably into the store’s classroom
kitchen. A typical demonstration will be
about the latest gadgets on the market,
and it’s usually Dave himself who arrives
to show the group what’s new and exciting
from his inventory of “every kind of gadget
you can think of.”
That wide range of merchandise is a big
part of what draws customers into his store
when they might go instead to WilliamsSonoma or Sur Le Table, which also have
local stores. “While they may carry two or
three different types of vegetable peelers,
The Good Life will carry 10 and in a wide
price range,” Schwarz says. “We try to have
good quality and give them a good price
range.”
Some of the store’s particularly popular
products recently have been the Original
Cheese Knife, the Recipe Rock by Architec
Housewares, Emile Henry baking stones
and Lekue silicone products, especially the
Lekue citrus misters. All you have to do
to sell that citrus mister is demonstrate it,
Schwarz says. “We sell just about
everything we demo,” he adds. Cookware
is by Swiss Diamond, and Riedel wine
glasses and knives by Wenger, Wusthof,
Shun and Kyocera are offered as well as
several brands of Swiss-made stamped
knives. A lot of young chefs come into the
store for their knives, Schwarz says. “If
money’s no object, you can go ahead and
fill up your knife block with everything
they make, but with three or four good
knives, you should be able to do just about
everything,” Schwarz says. He advises
customers who are just beginning to build
their knife collections to start with a couple
of paring knives, a chef ’s knife or a
Santoku and a nice long slicer. Get a slicer
that’s longer than the diameter of the
biggest roast you’ll ever carve, he says.
“That way, if you’re cutting a roast, you
have blade on each side.... Maybe later on,
you’ll add a boning knife and a bread
knife.”
Great customer
service also helps
explain how The
Good Life holds its
own against the
national
chains.
Twenty five or 30
years ago, there were
more kitchen store
in Naples than
anywhere else in
Florida, but over the
years, most of them
have
vanished.
Competition over
pricing isn’t the
reason for that; it’s a
matter of knowing
the products and
being able to explain
to customers why
they’re really worth
the prices, Schwarz
says. “Everybody
here, if you have a
question about one
of our products, can
answer a question
about what’s here
and whether you’d
be happy with it,” he
says. “If you walk
into the store and
you’re looking for a
knife or bakeware or
cookware, I need to
be able to tell you
what the differences
are in what I carry
and why it’s good.”
18
PRODUCT REVIEW
KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW
n
OCTOBER 2013
n
www.kitchenwarenews.com
Product Reviews
SousVide Supreme brings
Celebrated Cooking
Technique to the Masses
BY LUCAS WITMAN
Few culinary techniques are as trendy right
now as sous vide cookery. Peruse the menu
at almost any fine dining restaurant in the
country, and you are almost certain to find
meats, vegetables and even eggs that have
been prepared using this method.
Celebrated chefs such as Joël Robuchon,
Thomas Keller and Ferran Adrià have
endowed sous vide cooking with an almost
mythic air of haute cuisine through their
impassioned support of the technique.
However, since its inception, this technique
has been reserved primarily for
professionals, as the equipment used to
conduct it (often repurposed laboratory
thermal immersion circulators) is expensive
and difficult to obtain. This is changing
today, however, as kitchenwares company
SousVide Supreme is finally bringing sous
vide cooking to the masses.
Sous vide cooking is a particular method
of slowly poaching foods at a steady,
relatively low temperature. Foods are sealed
in airtight plastic bags (often vacuumsealed), where they are submerged in a
water bath. Sous vide meats in particular
retain a succulence that is often lost
through conventional cooking methods.In
addition, cooking tougher cuts of meat at
a low temperature for a long time
tenderizes them.
As an admitted connoisseur of kitchen
gadgets and appliances, learning about the
existence of SousVide Supreme’s home
kitchen sous vide cooking equipment
immediately piqued my interest. I was
curious to find out if I could in fact use
this appliance to recreate sous vide dishes
from some of my favorite restaurants.
Upon receiving the equipment, I
immediately knew what item I wanted to
cook first in my SousVide Supreme. At a
favorite local Italian restaurant, the chef
has re-imagined the traditional baconand-eggs pasta dish, spaghetti carbonara,
by putting something he calls a “perfect
egg” on top. When the dish hits the table,
one mixes the delicately poached egg into
the pasta, and it forms the sauce for the
dish. It did not take much coaxing from
the chef to get his recipe for the perfect
egg: He sous vide an egg in its shell for 45
minutes at exactly 145°.
The SousVide Supreme could not be
easier to use. One simply fills the large
metal water oven (there are fill level
markings inscribed on it) and inputs the
desired temperature and, if desired,
cooking time. The machine quickly heats
the water to the specific cooking
temperature, where it is kept perfectly
steady. An alarm sounds when the desired
cooking time has been reached. Simply
remove the cooked food from the water
bath and enjoy.
My first attempt at creating a “perfect
egg” was an immediate success. The low
and slow cooking method creates a smooth,
luxurious, delicately poached egg that
practically disappeared into my pasta dish.
One could also use the SousVide Supreme
The Chef Pro Super Chopper
BY KRISTINA HARRIS
The Chef Pro Super Chopper isn’t your
normal small-foods dicing machine. The
area given to the motor is about the same
size as my blender, something I noticed as
I hefted it out of the box. Plus, the whole
device is easy to grip, thanks to well-placed
divots on the sides. I appreciated that,
especially when imagining wet, busy, or
distracted hands as I tried to both negotiate
my chopper and do two other things at
once in my kitchen.
My first impression was that the colors
felt sort of retro, which is quite trendy
right now. The bright yellow pressure bar,
the off-white body, the clear plastic
chopping area it all combines very well.
First, I played with the product, trying
to get a feel for how it works and how
easy it is to use. I found that the blade
comes off with just the push of a button
situated safely on top, and then the plastic
bowl where the food is chopped lifts right
up. I like that the chopping bowl is a rigid
plastic: it’s easier to fit in the dishwasher,
not breakable, and easy to get chopped
ingredients out of. The rigid plastic top
took me a few tries to fit on before I
figured out that there was a special divot
on one side. Locking into place may take
an extra half-second, to be sure it’s done
right, but once you get the feel, it becomes
easy and natural.
The first time I turned on the Chef Pro
Super Chopper was for a test run with
nothing inside. I was shocked and pleased:
it was quiet, yet powerful! Most small
choppers I’ve owned have been loud
and rather clanky. Not the Chopper. I
attribute this to the large, blender-like
motor it sits on.
I was making pork chops, so I pulled
out an onion and some garlic. Normally
garlic doesn’t do well in any chopper I’ve
to create delicious
poached eggs for
eggs benedict or for
use as a topper in a
hearty soup. I
doubt I will ever
again poach an egg
in the traditional
manner.
In addition to
the water oven
itself, SousVide
Supreme offers an
extensive line of
cooking equipment
that completes the
sous vide cooking
experience. A zip
sealer enables one
to carefully seal
plastic bags for
submersion, while a
vacuum sealer does
the same thing,
simultaneously removing all air from the
bag. SousVide Supreme also offers an array
of cooking pouches, sous vide seasonings,
cookbooks and other accessories.
Already satisfied with my perfect egg, I
then decided to use the equipment to cook
some vacuum packed vegetables. Using the
SousVide Supreme Vacuum Sealer and
Vacuum Seal Pouches is practically
foolproof. I filled a bag with chopped
carrots and winter squash, added a couple
pats of butter and some seasoned salt and
positioned the top of the bag in the
Vacuum Sealer. One simply clicks down
on a latch, holding the bag in place, and
presses a button. The machine then
removes all the air from the bag and seals
it tight. In a matter of seconds, my bag
was ready to be placed in the SousVide
Supreme water oven.
ever tried. The Chef Pro minced up
my garlic in less than 20 seconds, with
no large pieces left. I was impressed.
Scraping the soft plastic bowl out felt
a bit odd, because it has a lot of ridges,
but a small spatula tool included in
the box fits between the ridges
perfectly, and makes the work much
easier.
Next, I tried the onions. They were
chopped quickly, but I wanted a paste,
and had one in less than a minute. It
was a well-wrought paste, with no large
chunks anywhere. I spread the minced
garlic and onion paste on my pork
chops, threw them in the crock pot,
rinsed my Chef Pro Chopper, set it in
the dish drainer, and called it a
morning.
All-in-all, the Chef Pro Super
Chopper exceeded my expectations
for a smaller-sized food chopper. It’s
quiet, fast, and powerful and easy
to clean. Basically the best of
everything someone would want in a
kitchenware product.
When doing sous vide cooking, one
needs to be patient. Cooking my vegetables
in the SousVide Supreme took two hours.
I know that I could have boiled the
vegetables in less than a quarter of the
time. However, the results were worth the
wait. The vegetables came out perfectly
tender and cooked completely evenly. And
by cooking them in a vacuum-sealed
pouch, they were infused with the flavors
of the butter and spices with which they
were cooked. It was truly a home run.
The SousVide Supreme is destined to
become a staple in my kitchen. And with
the holidays coming up, I am excited to
have a new gift to present to the many
foodies in my life who, like me, think they
already have everything they could need
in their kitchens. Chances are, they don’t
have this.
www.kitchenwarenews.com
n
OCTOBER 2013
n
KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW
NEW PRODUCTS
19
New Products
Zoku Ice ball: Cooler and easier
Way to Serve Drinks on the rocks
The new patent-pending Zoku® Ice Ball lets
you savor your favorite iced drinks on the
rocks without diluting the flavor. There is a
simple pleasure in adding one 2.5-inch
diameter sphere of ice to your beverage
instead of multiple ice cubes, especially
because it melts at a very slow, even rate in
your glass. Whether it’s whiskey, a margarita
or pink lemonade, the ice ball creates a more
fulfilling taste experience.
Beautifully designed in red and white, the
Zoku Ice Ball is unsurpassed for its ease of
use. Just fill with water through the hole on
the top of the food-safe silicone mold, and
then place in the freezer. Once it’s frozen,
just pull the halves apart to reveal the perfectly
formed ice sphere. There is no need to rinse
it under water first. When you push on the
bottom of the flexible mold, the ice ball pops
up, ready for beverage service. The pop-up
Fun Shapes and Autumn Colors
Welcome Home Brands has added the new
Fall Festive Collection to its bestselling line
of oven-safe paper bakeware. Featuring fun
stripes and polka dots in warm autumn colors,
this oven-safe and freezer-safe paper
bakeware makes home baking more
convenient and enjoyable.
Adding a festive look to home-baked
pumpkin bread, chocolate cake or red velvet
cupcakes for parties, birthdays, baby showers
4 Stir Inc.
Introduces
Innovative
Sifting Spoon
Revolutionary sifting spoon, designed for
cooks, bakers and chefs, which was unveiled
by 4 STIR, Inc. at the 2013 International
Housewares Association Show in Chicago
in March, and the Consumer Products Show
in New York in June 2013.
Called “The SPIFTER," the hand-held
sifting spoon gives cooks control when
decorating their food using sugars, spices
and herbs. It gives perfect, clean, precise
placement every time, with no mess and
no waste. Three interchangeable sifting
bowls vary in grade for versatility. The
mesh bowls and long handle were
functionally designed for reaching into
spice containers. The most unique feature
is the tapping edge, which gives the cook
control over quantity and ease of use.
“We invented The SPIFTER out of sheer
frustration at the inability to control how
much spice comes out of the containers and
one too many dishes being ruined,” said
4STIR President Diane D’Andrea.
The SPIF TER won an Innovation
Finalist Award in the Kitchen Tools &
Cutlery category during the IHA Show
in Chicago – one of only 65 products
honored out of 30,000 new products. The
SPIFTER was also a nominee for the 2013
Chicago Innovation Award.
and more, these colorful paper bakeware
molds feature rich hues of tangerine, dark
green, dark blue and honey dot. The
collection’s classic, warm and inviting colors
also make it perfect for baking throughout
the year.
Paper bakeware is a great alternative to
metal bakeware, allowing the home baker to
bake, serve, store and give, all in the same
form. The disposable paper pans are
action makes it fun to use.
Demonstrating the attention to detail for
which Zoku is known, the hole at the top is
specially designed to make it easy to fill with
just the right amount. If you accidentally
overfill it, you can tip it over to release the
excess water only, without disturbing the
liquid needed for the full ice sphere. A silicone
band in the middle of the closed unit makes
it more comfortable to use when frozen.
The Ice Ball also adds visual appeal to
a beverage, making it cool in more ways
than one.
The Zoku Ice Ball comes in a stackable
set of two. Taking up minimal space in the
freezer, each unit
is just 2.75 inches
tall and 3.6
inches diameter.
The Ice Ball is
BPA
and
phthalate free.
The patentpending Zoku
Ice Ball will have
a suggested retail
price of $16.95 for a set of two. It will be
available for shipment in November 2013.
For
more
information,
visit
www.zokuhome.com.
convenient to use: simply pour in the batter,
bake and serve. Welcome Home Brands paper
bakeware can be placed directly in the oven,
and because the baked good is served in the
same mold it is baked in, clean-up is a breeze.
Putting a twist on the traditional cupcake
mold, the Fall Festive Collection features the
new Cube Baking Cup (1.6 by 1.6 by 1.6
inches), a fun new petite shape that holds
fewer ounces than a traditional cupcake mold.
Perfect for small portions of cupcakes or spice
breads, this new size is available in Tangerine
with Stripes, Dark Green with Stripes, Honey
Dot with Polka Dots and Dark Blue Dot
with Polka Dots. It has a suggested retail
price of $6.99 for a 12-piece set.
The Paper Bakeware line won "Best of the
Best - Bronze" at the prestigious 2012
Housewares Design Awards and was a finalist
in the 2012 International Housewares
Association Innovation Awards in the
Cookware & Bakeware category. It also won
an Innovation Honor in Product Design at the
2011 ICON Honors at AmericasMart Atlanta.
For more information, contact Welcome
Home Brands at 914-696-0010 or
[email protected], or visit
www.welcomehomebrands.com.
20
BUYERS GUIDE
KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW
n
OCTOBER 2013
n
www.kitchenwarenews.com
BUYERS GUIDE
Core Bamboo
bamboo
Core Bamboo is the proud
manufacturer of the world’s finest
bamboo products. All of its products
are made by an experienced team
of hard working artisans in a safe and
responsible work environment. Its
extensive collection includes bowls
and servers, trays, utensils and
gadgets, entertainment pieces,
kitchenware, storage items, cutting
boards and more. For 2013, Core
Bamboo is proud to offer an array of new products from its entertainment
collection. One of the top sellers this season from Core Bamboo’s new line
are its Modern Paddle Boards. Designed with the professional host/hostess
in mind, each board is developed to help the entertainer present his or her
food with elegance and grace, all while providing all the functions that
bamboo offers. Use these boards to effortlessly prepare your favorite
delicacies and then serve them directly on the board to your guests. All of
these products are made from 100 percent organically grown bamboo and
are available in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit your personal needs
and style.
Core Bamboo
[tel] 646.845.6000
www.corebamboo.com
Butcher Block Cutting Board Oil &
Butcher Block Conditioner
Howard Products’ butcher block and
cutting board oil and butcher block
conditioner will help you get more
use out of your cutting boards and
butcher blocks. Made of food-grade
mineral oil and enriched with Vitamin
E, the high-quality butcher block and
cutting board oil is great for use on
cutting boards, butcher blocks and
wooden utensils. The butcher block
conditioner has added natural waxes,
and is safe to use after every wash,
preventing your wooden kitchen
items from drying or cracking and
keeping them beautiful yet still
functional. They are both excellent add-on items to any wooden kitchen
utensil, bowl or cutting board purchase.
Howard Products
[tel] 800.266.9545
www.howardproducts.com
Bambooee
The folks who created Bambooee hope to help
change our paper addiction. Bambooee is a
reusable cloth made from sustainably grown
bamboo. One roll of Bambooee is equal to up to
286 rolls of regular paper towels. Depending on
how much a family uses, that can replace up to
5.5 years of paper towel use. Introduced in March
at the 2012 Expo West in Anaheim, Bambooee won
the “Best of the West” award, and is made from a
certified organic bamboo source.
Bambooee
[tel] 800.873.3856
www.theoriginalshammy.com
Oceanstar Wine Rack
Made with 100 percent bamboo, the
Oceanstar stackable bamboo wine
rack is not only strong and durable,
but versatile as well. It is designed to
be stacked, creating the two-tier look,
placed side by side, or separately in
different areas. Each tier comes with
two wave-like bars and two bars that
hold the wine bottles in place. The narrower wave bar holds the top lid
portion of the bottle while the wider wave bar holds the bottom portion of
the bottle. It is fun and easy to assemble, with no tools or hardware necessary
as the wave bars and blocks will interlock. The Oceanstar stackable bamboo
wine rack combines green materials, functionality, versatility, and
contemporary style to enhance the home environment for consumers. The
2-Tier Stackable Bamboo Wine Rack comes in natural finish color and
standard retail carton packaging.
Suggested Retail Price:$109.99
Oceanstar
www.oceanstardesign.com
Totally Bamboo Dish Racks
The newest member of the Totally
Bamboo line is the Slimline dish rack.
This rack combines the natural beauty
of bamboo with black powder
coated steel for a contemporary look
that is built to last. As an added bonus,
the Slimline folds flat for easy storage
when not in use. The Eco Dish Rack
offers gracefully curved lines that will
provide a touch of elegance to any
kitchen counter. With three separate
racks, the Eco provides plenty of room
for drying dishes with no electricity needed. There is also a large capacity
matching utensil holder, available separately. The Dish Rack and Compact
Dish Rack are designed with clean simple lines and are available in two
different sizes. The Dish Rack has three drying racks and measures a generous
19" x 18" x 10", making it perfect for those busy kitchens with space to spare.
For those smaller kitchens where space is at a premium, there is the Compact
Dish Rack that measures 13 3/4" x 13" x 10". Also available separately is a
utensil holder that fits both the standard and compact racks.
Totally Bamboo
[tel] 760.471.6600
www.totallybamboo.com
Chic Teak
Chic Teak is introducing a range of robust
bamboo parasols, ideal for use with its teak
furniture in both commercial and domestic
gardens. Chic Teak are designed to withstand
the worst weather and compliment its range
of teak square, round and rectangular dining
tables. The bamboo parasols are made from
a single-piece pole for extra strength and
durability. Their double pulley and rope
system ensures easy raising and lowering of
the parasol, even on the the largest models. The Levante range also incorporates
a turned bamboo hub and runner with stainless steel brackets, a bamboo finial,
and an elegant practical hour glass shaped pin made from bamboo and stainless
steel. The canopies themselves are made from tough wearing polyester or a
fade resistant Spuncrylic (depending on color choice).
Chic Teak
www.chic-teak.co.uk
www.kitchenwarenews.com
n
OCTOBER 2013
BUYERS GUIDE
21
BUYERS GUIDE
bamboo
Totally Bamboo Laser Line of Cutting Boards
Introducing the art of cooking, or
more aptly: the art of cooking tools.
Totally Bamboo’s new product line,
“Art for the Kitchen,” has married the
natural beauty of warm bamboo with
the hi-tech art of laser to create a
mesmerizing and intricate new line.
The laser line of bamboo cutting
boards combines the concept of
kitchen art with the function of cutting
boards. Whether it’s the Tree of Life, etched with hundreds of exotic and
endangered animals, or the Wine Cut’n Serve, shaped like a wine bottle
and etched with the names of wine varieties, Totally Bamboo has undeniably
created true kitchen art.
Totally Bamboo
[tel] 760.471.6600
www.totallybamboo.com
MÜkitchen’s Bamboo Dishcloths
MÜkitchen’s 12" x 12" bamboo dishcloths
are made of 100 percent bamboo fiber,
are naturally bacteria resistant, ultra
absorbent and quick drying with every
day durability. They are strong, ultra soft
and finished with a hanging loop for
convenience. They are available in the
following vibrant beautiful colors: natural, espresso, Pacific, moss, pomegranate,
indigo, lemon, ocean, celery and eggplant.
MÜkitchen
www.mukitchen.com
TruGourmet By TruBamboo
TruGourmet is an eco-friendly enterprise
specializing in the design and manufacture of
contemporary premium kitchen products
made with the eco-friendly beauty of
renewable natural materials and the latest
green technologies. Superior quality artisan
construction is expressed through the use of
rich detailing and hand finishing for best in
class fit, finish and function. Designer Pablo Baquero creates innovative solutions
to enhance the gourmet cooking experience. Our designer collections express
an elegantly modern style in functional kitchen décor.
TruBamboo
www.shoptrubamboo.com
State Inspired Bamboo Cutting Boards
Begun just few short years ago in a 250 square
foot shop, Woodbob.com Woodworking, based
in Chetek, Wisconson, has been met with
success in a short time. Proud to announce the
launch of their latest line – state inspired bamboo
cutting boards – co-founders Robert and
Richard Wendt are excited about the product’s
potential. Also offering personalized engravings
or a custom shaped cutting board of the
customer’s choosing, the brothers Wendt are poised to make their Etsy store top
of mind come Christmas. The new line of state cutting boards come in three sizes.
Suggested Retail Price: $35-58 (maple or bamboo)
Woodbob
www.woodbob.com
22
GIFTWARE
KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW
n
OCTOBER 2013
n
www.kitchenwarenews.com
Giftware
Gifts to Honor relationships
between People and Pets
BY LORRIE BAUMANN
The right gift for a devoted pet
owner can also open up
conversations that help those
owners through grief at the loss
of a pet or celebrate the joy of
an emotional connection with a
beloved animal, says designer
Elaine Seamans, owner of AtChoo, which offers an entire line
of pet products designed to
accomplish just those intentions.
Her products express the love
she felt for a pet who died almost
two decades ago but who is still
remembered. “I had the company
before my dog passed, but I
didn’t really have a focus,” she
says. “When she passed, I put
everything into the line in honor
of her, and that’s when it took
off. When you do something
that you’re passionate about,
people respond.”
Some of the items in her
collection are intended to be
presented to the pets themselves;
there are pet tags engraved with
sayings whose emotional content ranges
from the deeply poignant to
humorous
observations
of
behaviors that distinguish an
individual pet from other animals.
Other items in the collection are
intended for the humans in the
relationship, some to celebrate the
love of a living pet and some to
provide a means of opening a
difficult conversation about the loss
of a pet. There are, for instance,
stationery items for memorial
announcements and memorial
jewelry. “They’re all quiet ways to
let people know that
this is important to me,”
Seamans says.
Retail prices range
from $15 to $220. The
pet tags are at the $15
end, with fine jewelry
items at the upper end.
”See the line at www.atchoo.com.
Pearhead Inc. offers kits with
frames to hold a photo and a
pawprint for a beloved canine
Primula Adds Asian-Inspired
Teapot to Collection
Primula® expands its extensive tea pot
collection with the elegant new Blue Floral
Cast Iron Teapot. With a low horizontal
silhouette, inspired by the heritage of Asian
design, it features a graceful pattern of
round blossoms that create a textured
surface, adding both visual and tactile
appeal.
It has a 1.25 quart (40 ounce) capacity
to steep multiple cups of tea. Completely
lead free, this cast iron pot has a quality
feel and creates an ideal environment for
steeping. It comes with a removable
stainless steel loose tea infuser basket and
can work with either loose tea or teabags.
The Blue Floral Cast Iron Tea Pot comes
optimism About Holiday Season
Drives Sales at Tendence
The international Tendence consumergoods fair closed on August 27 after a
four-day show that drew very good
approval ratings from both exhibitors and
visitors, according to Messe Frankfurt
GmbH, the show’s producers. During the
four days of the fair, exhibitors from 55
countries presented their latest products
for the autumn and winter season and
offered an initial preview of the coming
spring in the fields of ‘Living’ and ‘Giving.’
“Tendence remains one of Europe’s
most important order platforms in the
second half of the year. Despite the
difficult economic situation in Europe, we
have succeeded in repositioning Tendence
in the interests of our exhibitors and
visitors. The new concept has produced
its first positive results. The overall
rating given to the fair is significantly
better than last year’s,” said Detlef Braun,
Member of the Executive Board of Messe
Frankfurt GmbH.
As was expected in view of the economic
trend in the sector, there was a decline in
the number of visitors from last year’s show.
During the four days of the fair, one less
than last year, a total of 38,000 visitors
passed through the doors. Last year’s fiveday event was attended by 45,477 visitors.
The top 10 nations on the visitor side were
Switzerland, Austria, The Netherlands,
France, Italy, Belgium, China, Spain, Poland
and Great Britain. Altogether, 20 percent
companion.
The
frame designed to
hang on the wall is
11”x 14” while the
desktop version has
two 8”x10” frames
hinged together to
hold the picture on
one side and a
pawprint on the other.
The frames retail for
$34.95. The company
also offers a memory
box kit to hold a picture and pawprint on
the outside, with a space for mementos
inside. Occasionally used as an urn, the
box retails for $39.95. The company’s
online store is at www.pearhead.com.
Jen Curry, the owner and designer of
Kitty Jones, a small studio based in New
York City, takes a
different approach
to producing gifts
for pet owners,
particularly
the
owners of cats. For
her, it’s all about
offering a product
that will entertain
the family cat while enhancing the look
of its owner’s dwelling.
Her handmade cat toys are based on
classic items that we already know that
cats enjoy, but they’re
made from fabrics that
Curry hand-prints with
nontoxic water-based
inks on organic cotton
canvas. The catnip mice
are filled with highquality catnip that’s
grown under clean
conditions
in
Massachusetts. “Great
care is taken to make
them current in terms of
trends in interior design. You’re bringing
something into your house that’s going to
contribute to the aesthetic that you enjoy
in your house, and your cat is going to
enjoy it too,”
Curry
says.
“What we’re
doing
is
contributing to
your style as
well
as
entertaining
your cat.” Kitty
Jones products
are being sold
at stores across
North America
and online at www.kittyjones.com, and
retail prices range from $8 for a felted
wool ball to $120 for a cat tepee.
with a 25-gram sample of
Primula’s Premium Loose
Leaf Green Tea, making this
an ideal gift for the tea lovers.
It has a suggested retail price
of $44.99, and is available for
immediate shipment.
Primula® offers a variety of
beverage-related products that
make ordinary moments
extraordinary. For more
information,
visit
www.primulaproducts.com.
of visitors came from outside Germany.
The exhibit hall was also smaller this
year, declining from 130,600 square meters
last year to 98,000 square meters this year,
as the show’s sponsors cut back on the
number of Asian companies allowed to
exhibit. That brought fewer exhibitors in
from China, Hong Kong and India.
Buyers flocked to the show’s Giving
section, which offered giftware in four
product segments – Gifts Unlimited,
Young & Trendy, Personal Accessories and
Carat. Categories included original
emotional and trendy gifts, souvenirs,
stationery, gourmet gifts, costume and fine
jewelry, watches, arts and crafts, bags, belts,
scarves and shawls.
“Given the very difficult first half year for
the sector, the course of business at Tendence
was positive. Overall expectations have been
exceeded. A decent consumer-goods fair for
the second half of the year, such as Tendence,
is extremely important for the sector,” said
Stephan Koziol, Chairman of the European
Lifestyle Association.
Buyers at the show expressed optimism
about the European economy’s ability to
support a good holiday buying season. “All
in all, 2013 has been a successful year for
us and Tendence represented a perfect start
to a really good Christmas season.
Although the autumn fair is more of a
national event than Ambiente in the
spring, we were able to welcome many new
customers not only from Germany but also
from other countries, including many from
East Europe,” said Peter Schönhofen,
CEO of Kare Design.
The next Tendence will be held from
August 30 to September 2, 2014. The next
Ecostyle, colocated with Tendence, will be
held concurrently with Tendence in
Frankfurt am Main from August 30 to
September 2, 2014.
www.kitchenwarenews.com
n
OCTOBER 2013
n
KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW
GADGET OF THE MONTH
23
Gadget of the Month
Whisk Away:
Modern options Increase
efficiency, Alter Traditional Shapes
For those who prefer to whisk by hand
rather than pay a stand mixer to automate
the process, efficiency is paramount. After
minutes of beating a balloon whisk in a
large bowl of egg whites, a person begins
to wonder if there is a better way to form
those foamy peaks. The solution to
efficiency lies in the construction of the
whisk – traditional and modern whisk
profiles alike have been redesigned to make
each stroke of the chef ’s wrist maximally
effective in aerating a liquid or egg mix.
Culinary purists see the traditional whisk
shape as the optimal tool for all whisking, as
it has been the timeless standard. Balloon
and French whisk shapes are popular sellers,
but they have not been spared from modern
updates. Kitchen equipment retailers such as
Williams-Sonoma have updated the handles
of traditional whisks to make them more
ergonomic. With a better grip, the chef will
be able to more powerfully whisk a mix in
fewer strokes. The traditional balloon whisk
and French whisk shapes are best suited for
use in large spaces, such as a big bowl.
When whisking in smaller spaces that
are unaccommodating to a traditional
whisk, a chef can turn to a modern shape
that is not constrained by old silhouettes.
Whisks such as WMF’s Profi Plus mini
ball whisk and WMF’s twirl whisk are
galactic in form, but updated in function
and efficiency. These new designs make
whisking, as well as cleanup, easier and
quicker. Ball whisks have silicone or
stainless steel weights at the end of each
wire, making each stroke efficient by
folding more air into the food being
beaten. The weighted wires bend freely,
allowing them to fit into virtually any
shape or size container.
No matter which task a chef wishes to
accomplish, design innovations and a
variety of materials have made the whisk
capable of efficiently handing a myriad of
kitchen needs.
TRADESHOW
CALENDAR
NOVEM BER 2013
5-8 Smoky Mountain
Gift Show
Gatlinburg Convention Center
Gatlinburg, TN, 678.285.EXPO (3976)
www.urban-expo.com
ADVERTISER INDEX
Cook Pro..................................................................4
Core Bamboo........................................................21
CTi Industries.......................................................24
Enclume Design......................................................7
Franmara ................................................................15
Howard Naturals..................................................20
Kavalier Glassworks ...............................................6
LSArts ....................................................................11
Oceanstar Design Group......................................5
Prodyne ..................................................................11
Talisman Designs....................................................4
The Alison Group..................................................7
Tribest.....................................................................19
Totally Bamboo.......................................................2
Weston....................................................................11