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| (Photo by T. Herman) |
I had the pleasure
of attending this year’s International Home+Housewares Show; the world’s
largest and most preeminent show of its type was held at Chicago’s McCormick
Place; covering this annual show for this blog is something I look forward to
each year. This annual show draws over 20,000 trade attendees from 100
countries that check out the latest in design, functionality and technology for
all-things home and housewares from over 2,100 exhibitors. The four-day
event isn’t nearly enough time to see all of the exhibits, attend all of the
workshops, and enjoy the multi-venues, which include a Cooking Theater that
attracts the best and brightest in culinary chef-dom. Once again, I
barely scratched the surface in checking things out. This show is where
the next trends are uncovered and new designs are discovered. It is THE
place where buyers and sellers come to see firsthand the latest and greatest in
products that will be on the shelves for consumers in the coming months.
Products were
categorized into exhibit segments, and included: Clean, Contain and Design ~
bath, cleaning, organization, seasonal products; Dine and Design ~ cookware,
tabletop, gourmet foods, home decor products; Discover Design ~ tableware,
flatware, cutlery kitchen and home collection products; Wired and Well ~ energy
conservation, appliances, healthcare products; and, Global Crossroads ~
international pavilions. Another major show component included the
Cooking Theatre, which featured many outstanding celebrity chefs that shared
with attendees the latest in cooking and food trends, culinary efficiencies,
while featuring their branded products; food samplings and cookbook autograph
sessions were also featured.
Once again, the
show featured multi-layered trends and advancements. One of the biggest product trends I noticed
at the show this year was that of color in prep pieces, cooking vessels, and
serveware. It seems that adding pops of color to the chore, increases the level
of enjoyment of the chore. Color is also a great way to break-up a
chore’s tedium. For me, using color for the cooking process is like
adding the right blend of spices, herbs, and seasonings to the dish, turning
the ordinary into something extraordinary and delicious.
Other trends
included products made from silicone, sustainable woods, and recycled
materials. Digital Other digital technology
and connectivity to mobile devices was also a major trend, as was hydration
with more and more filtration systems, infusers, and sport bottle designs. Lastly, improving the ease of functionality
and practicality of items for home cooks of all levels, including a return to
cast iron, safe non-stick cooking surfaces, ceramics, and green and sustainability
products were also prominent.
I had the pleasure
of reviewing products that were exhibited at the show. Each one offers a
glimpse into some of the unique and innovative products that consumers will
want to consider making a part of their culinary routines. Enjoy reading
about my favorite picks! For more
information on this show, visit https://www.housewares.org/show/
AROUND THE KITCHEN
~ Architec Ecosmart ~
The Polyflax Servings Bowls, 3 qt. and Party
Size & Serving Spoons are
the perfect serving solutions for those looking to go-green in their kitchen,
while serving their recipes in beautifully designed pieces. These lightweight serving pieces are made
from translucent recycled plastic with a suspended flax husk for design
functionality and durability. For more information, visit http://architecproducts.com/ecosmart/
~ Capri Essentials ~
Minimizing toxic ingredients from cleaning materials is the
main focus of this company’s pure essential oil infused products. I had the pleasure of trying their Lemon
Verbena Dish Soap, which includes pure essential oils of Lemon Verbena, Rosemary, Cedarwood, and Tea
Tree. This double-duty product left
dishes squeaky clean, while adding some aromatherapy to the drudgery of hand
washing dishes. For more information,
visit https://www.capriessentials.com
~ CorningWare ~
The 20 oz. CorningWare Meal Mug is
perfect for steaming cups of soup or chili, or hot chocolate and comes with its
own lid to keep contents at a perfect temperature. Perfect for those cold days when you need
something to remove the chill. CorningWare is part of WorldKitchen brands. For more information, visit http://www.corningware.com/corningware-products/
~ Lékué ~
These Pineapple and Watermelon Tropical Fruit Ice
Cream Pop Molds will turn juice, homemade ice cream, fruit smoothies,
or yogurt into healthy frozen treats that are perfect for kids of all ages; the
molds are made from silicone, which makes cleanup easy. For more information, visit https://www.lekue.com/eu/cookware/tropical-fruits-ice-cream-molds.html
~ Chicago Cutlery ~
The Prime RT Series 4” Parer Knife and 5”
Partoku Knife are the latest
offerings in this brand’s line of high performance knives; the Partoku blade is a cross between a Santoku and a Paring knife and is ideal
for slicing, dicing, and chopping herbs and vegetables. Made of German
stainless forged steel, it has the ideal twenty-six degree precision cutting
edge, a soft touch thumb-notch, and an ergonomically designed handle that’s
made of material that conforms to anyone’s grip. Since 1969, Chicago Cutlery has been offering quality knives to chefs and home
cooks. Chicago Cutlery is part of WorldKitchen
brands. For more information, visit http://chicagocutlery.com/prime/
~Holstein Housewares ~
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| (Photo by T. Herman) |
Make your bake time colorful using the FUN Silicone Spatula, FUN
Silicone Brush, and the MINI 5 Pc. Measuring Spoon Set prep
tools. If you have a budding chef in
your family, they’ll love using these easy grip colorful tools. For more information, visit http://www.holsteinhousewares.com
~ Microplane Kitchen ~
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| (Photo by T. Herman) |
Since 1994, Microplane
has been the definitive company that for superior quality performance cooking
tools, which chefs and home cooks the world over have kept in their culinary
arsenal. From its innovative and humble
beginnings of the iconic Microplane Rasp,
Microplane has continued creating a
wide range of functional, high-performance tools that meet every prepping
needs. Some of their latest innovative
prep tools include the 2-in-1 Core and Peel Apple Tool, a precision
coring and peeling for apples; can also be used on pears, potatoes, carrots,
etc.; stainless steel serrated corer and straight edge blade; easy grip, soft
handle; the 7-in-1 Ultimate Bar Tool, ideal for the novice or expert
mixologist, this prep tool handles it all; includes a muddler, drink stirrer,
strainer, partial paring knife to score and cut, channel knife for twists, and
a peeler; easy grip, soft handle; the Veggie Wedgie is a fun prep tool that
makes it super quick and easy to get six perfectly sliced wedges out of firm
vegetables and even fruits; all you need to do is apply the pressure, and the
super-sharp blades do all the rest; and, the 3-in-1 Twist & Zest
is an all-in-one prep tool that allows for zesting, cutting, and reaming citrus
fruits; zester blade is a precision etched stainless steel. For more
information and to watch video demos of these great culinary tools, visit http://us.microplane.com/microplanekitchentools.aspx
~ Oneida ~
Stainless Steel Preferred Steak Knife Set and
Nova Stemless 16 oz. Wine Glass Set The Stock Pot
is the perfect size for making large quantities of soup, stock, broth, chili, and
pasta sauces; it’s also idea for preparing large quantities of pasta, potatoes,
and ears of corn. Made of 18/10 high
polished stainless steel. For more
information, visit http://www.oneida.com/stockpots.html The Steak
Knife Set is designed with a full single stainless steel tang for maximum
stability and balance; blades are made from precision high carbon German steel;
the handles have a peened finish, making it easy to grip and hold onto. This sleek design will complement any flatware
design used on your table. For more
information, visit http://www.oneida.com/oneida-set-4-preferred-series-steak-knives.html?searched=true The Wine Glass Set has a sleek design, is weighted on the bottom for
stability, and is also easy to hold. These
glasses are perfect for any beverage, and will complement other glassware and stemware
designs used on your table settings. For
more information, visit http://www.oneida.com/drinkware/stemware.html/ Since 1880, Oneida has been the definitive brand for
quality crafted stainless steel flatware.
Over the years the brand has expanded to offer a wide range of cooking
solutions that includes flatware, cookware, baking, prepping, and serving
solutions for the home cook. Whether
it's their casual flatware, bakeware, stemware, or cookware, Oneida has the perfect solution to
satisfy any cooking or entertaining need.
Oneida is part of Robinson Home Products brands. For more information, visit http://www.oneida.com
~ Rösle ~
The Spiral Whisk is made from stainless
steel; its unique circular design makes it easy to reach edges of bowls and
pots, which reduces the amount of time needed to whisk contents evenly. Scrambling eggs with this tool seemed to go
faster, eliminating arm fatigue.
Compared to a standard balloon whisk, it was also easier to maneuver. For more information, visit http://www.rosleusa.com
~ Sabatier Knives ~
For over two hundred years, Sabatier has been making cutlery in the French city of Thiers,
known as the cutlery capital of France;
prized the world over by chefs and home cooks, each precision implement’s blade
is forged using a full
single stainless steel tang for maximum stability and balance; the handles are ergonomically designed for ease of gripping; and, for further
stability, the handles are also triple riveted.
One of their latest designs, the Edgekeeper 8” Chef’s Knife, 3.5” Paring
Knife, and 4.5” Paring Knife, includes
a protective sleeve that has a proprietary built-in sharpener, so each time the
knife is returned to its protective sleeve, or removed from it, the blade’s
edge is sharpened; this double pass through prevents any dulling, and assures
maximum sharpness of the blades. Sabatier is part of Lifetime Brands. For more
information, visit http://www.sabatier-shop.com
~ Stor-All Solutions ~
This brand offers a variety of innovative storage and
container solutions. Their Press
N’ Click solutions has a patented “one-touch” press mechanism that
locks lids securely in place; the silicone ring prevents any leakage of
contents, and extends the life of the foods stored by creating an airtight
seal; the units are available in individual sizes, as well as canisters. Containers are nestable and stackable, as
well as microwave, freezer, and dishwasher safe. For more information, visit http://storallsolutions.com
~ Tomorrow’s Kitchen ~
This brand offers a wide variety of innovative prepping and food
storage solutions with tools. Included
were the Dry & Store is the perfect collapsible spacesaver salad
spinner; the specially designed removable waffle-weave cloth protects salad
greens, and the removable waterproof exterior absorbs any excess water from hand
spinning or shaking; stores flat when not in use; the 2.5 L Instant Marinater
tenderizes, marinates and infuses flavors to meats, poultry, or fish using
manually applied vacuum pressure; the vacuum pressure opens up pores, helping
to breakdown tough connective fibers, which tenderizes the meat; the Single
Serve Steamer includes a tempered glass bowl with vented silicone lid;
perfect for microwave steaming single servings of meat, fish, poultry, and veggies;
the Vegetable
Scoop that has a serrated spoon on one end and a pointed scoop on the
other; ideal for coring, removing pits, seeds and seed strips from fruits and
veggies; and, the Avocado Box protects the delicate fruit from bruising and is
perfect for portability; also includes a cutlery set of handy soft edged scoops
for on-the-go eating. For more
information, visit http://tomorrows.kitchen
BAKING & COOKING
~ Bakelicious ~
The 9-in-1 Nesting Measuring Set is a
compact all-in-one set that includes six
measuring cups and three measuring
spoons that nest together into an adorable cupcake shape; the compact
design also takes up minimal storage space; dishwasher safe. The Emoji Flip & Stamp Cookie Cutters
give you the flexibility to design your cookies with three different trendy
social media Emoji impressions; makes
baking fun for the budding chefs, too; dishwasher safe. Bakelicious
is part of Fox Run Brands. For more information, visit https://www.itsbakelicious.com
~ Duralex ~
The 4.2 Qt. OvenChef Range Oval Roaster
is made of heat-resistant, non-porous glass that’s oven safe, microwave safe,
and dishwasher safe. Glass is the
perfect roasting and baking medium that allows for more consistent temperature
flow-through; clean up is easy. This is
the perfect baking dish for roasting meats, vegetables, or baking fruit
cobblers. For more information, visit http://www.duralexusa.com
~ Emile Henry ~
Since 1850, Emile
Henry has been France’s preeminent
manufacturer of cooking and baking ceramic ovenware for the world’s discerning
chefs and homecooks. The materials are
culled in the Burgundy region, where
the clay soil is ideal for the materials used in the manufacturing process and
fire glazing. The finished products are works
of beauty and functionality. Each
product is chip, crack, scratch, and cut resistant; and, for further durability,
product colors won’t fade. Each vessel
can withstand thermal shock and can easily go from freezer, to oven, to
broiler, to table without any problem; the ceramic glaze also prevents foods
from sticking, making cleanup effortless, whether by hand cleaning, or in the
dishwasher. Each vessel is exquisite,
and makes a statement of a commitment to culinary excellence. The natural ceramic material is ideal for
clean eating. Both the Ceramic
Soup Pot and Large
Brioche Pan can elevate the humblest of home cooks, like myself, while transforming
them into a culinary superstar. Check
out my homemade “Italian Chicken Vegetable
Soup”, which is perfect when made in this beautiful Ceramic Soup Pot. For more
information, visit http://www.emilehenryusa.com
~ My Italian Chicken Vegetable Soup ~
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| (Photo by T. Herman) |
Ingredients used
included low sodium chicken broth, globe tomatoes, diced yellow onion, fresh
chopped carrots, bay leaves, dehydrated red and green bell pepper, dehydrated
parsley, cannellini beans, tomato sauce, cooked chicken breast, brown and wild
rice, and ground black pepper; garnish with a splash of balsamic vinegar, a
drizzle of EVOO, and a generous dollop of basil pesto.
~ Mason Cash ~
Mason Cash has
been the definitive brand of glazed earthenware vessels for discerning bakers
in the UK and throughout Europe since the 1800s, and perfected its iconic Mixing Bowl in 1901, which remains a
prized addition to a baker’s cupboard.
Using one of these beautiful designs definitely elevates the baking
experience. The form and function of the
Mixing
Bowl beautifully pairs with the overall esthetic design. Making the baking experience complete is
using their gorgeous Beechwood Innovative Kitchen Utensils
for all of the mundane tasks of measuring and mixing; these attractive tools
function well for all cooking needs.
Each of the seven pieces is carefully designed to have
multi-functionality in performance; I find this multi-functionality to be an
outstanding design element, and the sleekness of each utensil is beautiful to
hold, and well balanced in weight. Mason Cash is a mainstay in the popular BBC/PBS series “The Great British Bake Off”.
This coveted brand is also available in the U.S. at select retailers. For more information, visit http://www.masoncash.co.uk
~ Oneida ~
The 8 Qt. Stainless Steel Stock Pot is the perfect size for making
large quantities of soup, stock, bone broth, chili, and pasta sauces; it’s also idea
for preparing large quantities of pasta, potatoes, and ears of corn. Made of 18/10 high polished stainless
steel. This would be perfect for my homemade "Cream of Asparagus & Scallion Soup". Oneida is part of Robinson
Home Products brands. For
more information, visit http://www.oneida.com/stockpots.html
~ My Cream
of Asparagus & Scallion Soup ~
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| (Photo by T Herman) |
Ingredients used included steamed asparagus,
scallions, herb flavored low-sodium chicken broth, asparagus cooking broth, bay
leaves, dehydrated parsley, and ground black pepper; an immersion blender
pureed the soup to give it a creamy texture; to serve, drizzle top with EVOO,
or white truffle oil.
~ Revere Cookware ~
The Revere Clean Pan 2 Pc. Anodized Aluminum
Non-Stick Nest & Protect comes in an eight inch and a ten inch set
that has an unique interlocking handle design that allows for compact storage
while providing an airflow between each pan to prevent scratching of cooking
surfaces. Revere Cookware is part of WorldKitchen
brands. For more information, visit http://www.revereware.com/REVERE-Innovative-Nest-Protect.html
~ Trudeau ~
The Structure Round Cake Mold is made of
silicone with a reinforced core for durability; it’s the perfect solution for
baking; silicone is a great material for conducting heat. My Lemon
Olive Oil Cake came out perfect using this pan. For more information, visit https://trudeau.com/us_en/cook/baking-tools.html?cat=31
~ My Olive Oil Lemon Pound Cake ~
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| (Photo byT. Herman) |
Ingredients
used included AP flour, pure lemon extract, powdered sugar, eggs, sea salt,
whole milk, EVOO, and baking powder; the glaze topping was made using powdered
sugar and lemon juice. For the recipe
inspiration, visit https://alessifoods.com/recipes/olive-oil-lemon-pound-cake
~VitaClay Chef ~
The Smart Organic 6 Qt. Multi-Crocks N’ Stock
Pot (Clay) is pure genius. The
design features combine the best of natural unglazed clay cooking with
multi-function digital variable crockery cooking. Its multi-functionality allows this beautiful appliance to perform as a Fast-Slow Cooker, a Steamer, a Slow
Cooker, a Stock Pot, a Hot Cereal Maker, a Yogurt Maker, and a Low Temperature
cooker. The natural unglazed clay
vessel is ideal for slow cooking because of its porosity, which allows both
moisture and heat to circulate efficiently, assuring maximum reduced cook times
while preserving the nutrient value of foods being cooked, including
maintaining natural alkaline levels and optimum pH levels in foods. The natural unglazed clay substance and
porosity, also prevents foods from sticking; the vessel is removable from the
chamber, making cleanup effortless.
For more information, visit https://vitaclaychef.com
WORTH MENTIONING
There were a number brands featured at the Housewares Show I didn’t get a chance to review. One was Wüsthof http://www.wusthof.com,
German knives made from superior forged and tempered high carbon stainless
steel. Another was a group of brands,
which are under the umbrella of the world leader in cookware, Meyer Corporation http://www.meyer.com/us.html;
these extraordinary brands all represent the latest in colors, trends, designs
and technology, and included Anolon https://www.anolon.com BonJour
http://www.bonjourproducts.com CakeBoss
http://www.cakebossbaking.com Circulon http://www.circulon.com Farberware http://www.farberware.com Paula Deen http://www.pauladeen.com Rachel Ray http://www.rachaelray.com Ruffoni http://www.ruffoni.net/homeeng.asp SilverStone http://www.silverstone.com
ADDITIONAL BRAND RESOURCE
INFORMATION
Emile Henry Brands ~ http://www.emilehenryusa.com
Fox Run Brands ~ http://www.foxrunbrands.com
Lifetime Brands ~ https://www.lifetimebrands.com
Robinson Home Brands ~ http://www.robinsonus.com
WorldKitchen Brands ~ http://www.worldkitchen.com
~ In Closing ~
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| (Image from www.uq.edu.au) |
I’ve enjoyed testing
these products in my home, which are available at traditional brick and mortar
retailers, as well as online retailers. Be sure to also check out each
brand’s website, as well as their social media platforms to obtain additional
information about their entire product lines.
That’s
it for this edition. Until the next one,
remember to always celebrate yourself and your culinary curiosity. Happy creating…happy
cooking…happy eating!
By Terry Herman
TERRY HERMAN continues perfecting her passion for food and
wine. She has been covering culinary
related for many years as it relates to wellness and a healthy lifestyle. Her popular blog, Terry's Spa, Beauty and Wellness
Go-To has featured formidable reviews of cookbooks, restaurants, wine and
food, food prep and tools, chef interviews, and coverage of prestigious events
such as International Home+Housewares Show, National Restaurant Show, Sweets
and Snacks Expo, United Fresh, and Food Marketing Institute. She has served as a food judge at the
Bellavita Italian Expo Excellence Awards (Chicago). She has been published since the mid-1990s in
both consumer and trade publications, and is regarded as an expert in spa,
beauty, wellness, travel and lifestyle, and is frequently interviewed by
publications for her expert content. She
has also presented at major industry conferences, and has served with
distinction on numerous governing and advisory boards. She has a background in strategic and qualitative
management, consulting, and motivational speaking. In addition to her blogs, her social media
outreach also includes Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Don’t forget to “Like” her Facebook Page, Terry’s Second Helpings. Please note that the “Comment Section” has
been disabled. For additional
information, email her at terry.herman@gmail.com.
ALL MATERIALS COPYRIGHT PROTECTED
(Photo credits as indicated, or as represented by the
specific brand.)
