
KitchenAid, Caraway, and Shun Made Some of Our Favorite Items We Tested in March
This post is part of our ‘Monthly Obsessions’ series, where we ask our writers and editors what products they’ve added to their kitchen that they now can’t imagine living without.
Between trying new restaurants, scouring sales for great deals on all things cooking, and covering the hottest kitchen and dining releases, you might think that Food & Wine writers and editors have no time left to try out new products in their free time. You’d be wrong — we live for this and enjoy nothing more than trying out new gear, from nonstick pans and Japanese chef’s knives to new pizza cookbooks and futuristic tea kettles. Read on for the 15 best things we tested out in March.
March Editor Obsessions
- Shun Kanso 7-Inch Asian Utility Knife, $150
- Tanteo Habanero Tequila, $37
- Hestan ProBond 3.5-Quart Nonstick Sauté Pan, $250, originally $350
- Made In 10-Inch Stainless Clad Frying Pan, $119
- Pizza from the Heart by Paulie Gee and Mary Ann Giannone, $35
- Out of the Woods Shopper, $26
- KitchenAid Fully Automatic Espresso Machine, $930, originally $1,199
- Caraway Knife & Utensil Set, $395, originally $545
- Hedley & Bennett Chef’s Knife Set, $195, originally $265
- Made In 3-Quart CeramiClad Saucier, $179
- Philips 6.5-Quart 3000 Series Air Fryer, $120
- Balmuda MoonKettle, $259
- Dangbei Freedo Portable Projector, $399, originally $549
- Orbital Swiss Water Process Ethiopia Decaf, $23
- Yaza Labneh, $7
Shun Kanso 7-Inch Asian Utility Knife
Amazon
“This extremely unique, ultra-sharp knife from Shun is basically a nakiri with a reverse tanto-style tip, which is to say it’s great for chopping veggies and has a really sharp point with almost no curve. It has a really handsome wooden handle that’s comfortable to hold, and the whole thing has a great weight to it. I have a ton of knives, but this might have assumed the mantle as the coolest knife I own.” — Adam Rothbarth, Writer
Tanteo Habanero Tequila
Total Wine
“I was needlessly careful when I recently took my first sip of Tanteo Tequila. 80-proof and habanero-flavored, I prepared for the worst but was surprised with a warm, smooth, and actually spicy liquor. It was even tastier mixed into a margarita and combined with the jalapeño version. There’s also a chipotle-flavored bottle that’s great for savory drink lovers.” — Dillon Evans, Update Writer
Hestan ProBond 3.5-Quart Nonstick Sauté Pan
Hestan
“I’ve been pulling this new sauté pan out a lot lately. It’s dishwasher-safe, oven-safe to 500°F, and metal utensil-safe, all thanks to its diamond-reinforced, titanium plasma-bonded nonstick surface. The pan is also big enough for my household of two to make one-pot dinners with plenty of leftovers for lunch the next day.” — Dillon Evans
Made In 10-Inch Stainless Clad Frying Pan
Made In
“I love stainless steel cookware and use it almost exclusively. I recently got this Made In skillet and it’s my new favorite piece of cookware. It’s our top pick in our roundup of stainless steel skillets, and now that I’ve used it in my own kitchen, I can see why. Cladded steel can be heavy but I love how lightweight this pan is; my wrists don’t hurt after some vigorous sautéing. And, it heats up so fast and evenly — even on one of my gas burners that is super unreliable.” — Nick DeSimone, Updates Writer
Pizza from the Heart by Paulie Gee and Mary Ann Giannone
Amazon
This new cookbook from pizza legend Paulie Gee and his wife, Mary Ann, is a real treasure. I live near the Paulie Gee’s in Chicago — there are also locations in New York, Baltimore, Columbia, and Philadelphia — and I think it’s definitely among the best pizza in town. Pizza from the Heart features some of my favorite pies I’ve had there, as well as a bunch more that I can’t wait to try at home. Included are recipes for Neapolitan, Sicilian, New York, and grandma-style, so there’s something for everyone. It also has one of the best vegan sections in any pizza book I’ve encountered (a whole chapter!), including the recipes for the delicious cashew ricotta and vegan fennel sausage.” — Adam Rothbarth
Out of the Woods Iconic Shopper
Out of The Woods
“I’ve owned a handful of reusable grocery bags, but this one from Out of the Woods is easily my favorite. Made from FSC-certified washable paper, it doesn’t look much different than a brown paper grocery bag, but it holds more and is super strong and sturdy for hauling heavier items like bottles. It can even go in the washing machine.” — Mary Claire Lagroue, Editor
KitchenAid Fully Automatic Espresso Machine
Amazon
“I’ve been testing this fully automatic espresso machine (thanks to a press sample) for a few weeks now and frankly don’t know how I lived without it before. The drinks make me feel like I’m spoiling myself every morning with a latte macchiato made specifically to order with my ideal proportions of foam, milk, and espresso. It’s easy to clean, simple to fill with water and beans, and holds up against our very serious semi-automatic espresso machine with the touch of a button and no coffee grounds spilling everywhere. I hope it lasts for a very long time.” — Megan Passaro, Editorial Director
Caraway Knife & Utensil Set
Caraway
“I had an opportunity to test this Caraway Knife and Utensil Set and loved it. I have a small galley-style kitchen and counter space is limited. This 14-piece set doesn’t take up much real estate and stores everything neatly. All I have to do is place my cutting board in front of it and prep — all the kitchen tools at my fingertips.” — Joe Morales, Senior Editor
Hedley & Bennett Chef’s Knife Set
Hedley & Bennett
“These knives have replaced all my other blades. The three essentials (chef’s knife, bread knife, and utility knife) are so sharp I actually said ‘wow’ the first time I used them. The chef’s knife slices smoothly through onions and the bread knife practically glides through crusty sourdough loaves. I have small hands, so the utility knife has been my go-to for most weeknight meal prepping! I also love that the handles come in such vibrant colors. I have them in Shiso and the set fits perfectly in my kitchen. They’re on sale for $70 off.” — An Uong, Writer
Made In 3-Quart CeramiClad Saucier
Made In
“This saucier lands somewhere between a pan and a pot, making it the ideal shape when cooking everything from sauces to soups. I got it a month or two ago but it’s quickly become one of my most-used pieces of cookware. Highly recommend.” — Liv Dansky, Writer
Philips 6.5-Quart 3000 Series Air Fryer
Amazon
“Another sample, a brand-new air fryer from Philips, is making quick lunches and reheating leftovers easy and delightfully quiet while our baby is napping. The viewing window on this air fryer is a huge help for seeing whether food needs a bit more time for crisping without opening it and losing precious heat while it’s running. The settings are easy to use and the basket is big enough to fit a full chicken plus veggies.” — Megan Passaro
Balmuda MoonKettle
Amazon
“Balmuda’s newest launch, the MoonKettle, is so lovely. Not only is the kettle beautiful with its minimalist design, but its base lights up and plays a pleasing tune as your water boils. You can choose from three different sounds and three brightnesses, and you do have the option to mute it if you need to. The brand was nice enough to send it to me in white (it also comes in black), and I’ve got to say, my Nespresso machine loves its new neighbor.” — Phoebe Sklansky, Senior Editor
Dangbei Freedo Portable Projector
Amazon
“Hear me out: You may not think a portable projector has anything to do with food and dining, but when it comes to hosting guests, it is truly the MVP of outdoor entertaining. I’ve been putting this portable projector to work and it’s incredibly impressive. It has Netflix, YouTube, and countless other streaming applications built in. On a full charge, it lasts up to two-and-a-half hours (perfect for your favorite rom-com) and the visuals are stunning. It also has an integrated speaker, so it’s really an all-in-one system for your upcoming backyard movie nights! With the weather finally warming up, this gadget will be essential to hosting people outdoors this spring and summer. Oh, and it’s on sale for $150 off.” — An Uong
Orbital Swiss Water Process Ethiopia Decaf
Orbital
“I drink decaf coffee most of the time because caffeine makes me woefully jittery. So, I was excited to find out about Orbital, a new, sustainably minded coffee brand that focuses on decaf beans and decaf cold brew, with a couple of half-caff options offered, too. Orbital
uses two chemical-free methods, Swiss Water and sugarcane processing, to remove caffeine without sacrificing taste. I love being able to choose between whole beans or a custom grind size, with options specifically for a Chemex, an Aeropress, espresso machines, and more. And the alien-themed packaging is just fun.” — Mary Claire Lagroue
Yaza Labneh
Amazon
“I love a good dip, and it was time to branch out from hummus. I was introduced to Yaza labneh, which is creamy without being too heavy. The brand’s flavors include Za’atar & Olive Oil, Roasted Garlic & Mint, and Spicy Chili, but my go-to is the Plain with olive oil and some chili flakes mixed in.” — Phoebe Sklansky