Ttyokzk Pomme (Apple) Sugar Jar
Lovely handmade porcelain balances form and function.
The Apple of Our Eye—and Our Kitchen Counter
Clever craftsmanship combined with a touch of whimsy—that’s the signature style of Japanese ceramics artist Tatsuya Okazaki, founder of Ttyokzk Ceramic Design. Case in point: his elegant porcelain Pomme Sugar Jar, which may look delicate, but it’s functional to the core. This sugar bowl (which also can be used to store salt or spices) is designed to be easy to grasp, and the apple “stem” is the handle of a wooden spoon that nestles inside the jar for convenient scooping. Each piece is handmade, so no two are exactly alike. Available in white, green or golden yellow for $59 each at 177milkstreet.com/mj23-jar.
Fromwell Stir-Fried Mushroom Gochujang
Extra-savory gochujang
Mushroom Gochujang?
Spicy, savory and sweet, gochujang is one of our favorite ways to inject bold flavor into our cooking. And Fromwell’s Stir-Fried Mushroom Gochujang ups the umami ante by adding shiitake mushrooms. This truly special condiment starts with shiitakes harvested from Korean forests. The mushrooms then are stir-fried, heightening their depth and complexity. The combination creates a beautifully balanced gochujang—funky, rich and earthy with a light sweetness to level out its heat. In addition to flavor, the mushroom pieces provide interesting texture to further enhance the dish. Use it anywhere you would regular gochujang—as a base for stews, stirred into vegetable dishes or as a sauce for meats. Available for $19.95 at 177milkstreet.com/mj23-gochujang.
Korean Barbecue in Your Kitchen
What makes Korean barbecue so delicious? That perfect char on those thinly sliced meats. On a conventional stovetop, the best way to achieve that telltale caramelization is with cast iron, which holds heat beautifully to ensure a good sear. We take this idea a step further with the Milk Street Cast-Iron Stovetop Korean Barbecue, a stovetop grill with a unique convex shape that promotes better browning. Special grooves drain excess fat as the meat cooks, reducing smoke while channeling the sizzling fat into an outer reservoir where it can be used to lightly fry vegetables and aromatics. The grill is designed for any type of burner or cooktop—including portable stoves, so you can use it just about anywhere. In addition to grilling sliced meats, it also is great for thin fish fillets and sliced vegetables, even flatbreads and tortillas. Available for $59.95 at 177milkstreet.com/mj23-bbqs.
Milk Street Cast Iron Stovetop Korean Barbecue
Korean barbecue at home.
Beast Blender
Meet the Beast: the best personal blender we’ve tried.
Mini Blender, Maximum Power
Personal blenders may be compact, but that’s usually where the convenience ends. What you gain in portability, you end up sacrificing in blending power. Not so with the Beast Blender + Hydration System. This workhorse easily handled whatever we threw at it, from salsas and soups to smoothies. And while most small blenders are stalled by frozen ingredients, the Beast blitzed them all—even plain ice. And the portable infuser makes refreshing flavored waters on the go. Just add quick-pulsed fruits and herbs to the infusing chamber (we like lemon and mint), no steeping required. The set comes with two sizes of leak-resistant cups and a selection of screw-on lids so you can take your beverage with you. Best of all, you can throw it all in the dishwasher when you’re done. Available for $199.95 at 177milkstreet.com/mj23-blender.
The Middle East’s All-Purpose Spice Blend
Across the Middle East, cooks rely on baharat, a warmly spiced all-purpose seasoning blend, to embolden everything from kibbeh and couscous to falafel and fatteh. It’s so ubiquitous, the word translates simply as “spice” in Arabic, and variations abound. One of the most intensely aromatic versions we’ve tried comes from Beit Sitti (“My Grandmother’s Kitchen”), a Jordanian cooking school founded by three sisters who employ local women to teach traditional recipes. The love and care they pour into their work comes through in this exceptional baharat, a heady mix of cardamom, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, black pepper and turmeric. To keep the blend from leaning too sweet, mastic (a piney-tasting ingredient made from tree resin) adds a distinctive woodsy, earthy note. Use it to enhance meat, fish and vegetable dishes, or add it to stews, grains and soups. Available for $24.95 at 177milkstreet.com/mj23-spice.
After Years of Testing, We Designed a Wok We Love!
The typical wok simply isn’t built for the average U.S. kitchen. Its rounded bottom doesn’t sit evenly on flat burners. And most conventional stoves don’t generate enough heat to impart the signature smoky depth that makes wok stir-fries so delicious. That’s why we created the Milk Street Hammered Wok, designed specifically for American home cooks’ stoves. We rigorously tested woks of all shapes and sizes, using our findings to shape our own design. The result: a 13-inch carbon steel wok with a flat bottom that sits squarely on any burner for even heating. The lightweight, durable material heats quickly and retains that heat for better searing. The hammered interior finish helps food release more easily, and over time, the carbon steel develops a natural patina. So the more it gets used, the more nonstick it becomes. And the wok’s ample size means it can handle four-portion meals without crowding the pan—a common pitfall that leads to soggy stir-fries, preventing moisture from evaporating so ingredients steam rather than brown. But for the occasions when you actually want to steam foods (such as vegetables, fish or dumplings) we include a tight-fitting glass lid and a steamer basket. Available for $155.95 at 177milkstreet.com/mj23-wok.
Serving Hope, One Meal at a Time
Readers who have enjoyed our stories and recipes from Türkiye and Syria have asked how they can contribute to relief efforts following the earthquakes that devastated the region in February. We encourage them to join us in supporting World Central Kitchen. Founded by restaurateur José Andrés in 2010, the group provides meals to those affected by war and natural disasters, and it was one of the first relief efforts on the ground following the quakes. To date, World Central Kitchen has served more than 250 million meals across the globe. “We believe that a plate of food is sometimes the beginning of a better tomorrow,” Andrés says. To learn more visit wck.org.
