When I was a little girl, I remember spending hours in the kitchen. Unfortunately I can’t say that I was following my mom around and learning how to cook (although I certainly consumed as much cookie dough and brownie batter as was allowed). I recall discovering the wonders of the kitchen from a different angle: pots and pans became drums and wooden spoons my drumsticks. Tuperware became the building blocks for plastic cities, and toothpicks stuck in the carpet became villages (note to younger self: do not leave toothpick villages on the stairs unattended). Not entirely unusual, but when the melon baller became a flute, I’m sure that’s when my parents began to wonder.
While I can’t say that this early love of kitchen utensils led to a career as a chef later in life, I will admit that I still love playing with kitchen utensils. And with companies like Williams Sonoma, Pylones, Zak!Designs, and The Greens… I’m happy to say that I’m not alone.
For those of you who may (or may not) share my passion for playing in the kitchen, here are a few of the companies I’ve discovered over the years, whose goals are to make mealtime more fun.
The first in my collection, this Happy Spoon is created by Zak!designs. The cool thing about this company is that they’ve been creating clever cookware since 1976, and are dedicated to going Green and community service.
This Williams Sonoma spatula was given to me by my parents for Christmas last year. I’ve always loved this company, and their products last forever! They carry mostly conventional-looking products, but occasionally they create fun items such as this.
I discovered The Greens Boston Warehouse at a kiosk in a mall in New York a couple months ago. These products are not only clever named, they are also made of recycled plastic and wood, and can be recycled themselves when you’re done with them! Allow me to introduce you to Mayor Corey Green Apple Corer.
I also discovered this company during my recent trip to New York, in a store in Soho. Pylones began in France in 1985, and their only stores in the US are in New York…however hours can be passed browsing their creations online! It took me a while to decide which item to take home, and eventually I chose the Nonna Cheesegrater, and this squid whisk (which Matt and I decided to rename a squidisk).
Hehe…now I know where to shop for you…if it's not a wine and cheese shop…it's a cooking store or a store that sells cooking utensils ! 🙂 I have to admit Williams-Sonoma is an awesome store !!