Tara FinleyGood food is the great connector of all things. Whether it’s bringing family and friends to the table or warmth and comfort to your plate, good cooking is a pastime that’s as worthy as it is skillful. Whether you’re a novice in the kitchen or a master chef of your very own, you know that quality tools and ingredients can make or break your experience. Here at L.A. Weekly, not only are we foodies, but we’re culinary hobbyists as well. From our pantry to yours, the L.A. Weekly Cooking Box contains some of our favorite kitchen must-haves that’ll help you appease even the toughest of critics.
Get one for yourself at shop.laweekly.com.
Almond Breeze Almondmilk
Almond Breeze Almondmilk is a refreshing, delicious, and versatile plant-based milk, with a creamy smooth texture and hint-of-almond taste. Almond Breeze is delicious served by the glass or in any recipe, from cereals and smoothies to cooking and baking. It can be used as a replacement for dairy and gives all recipes a tasty upgrade. It’s a simple swap – 1 cup of Almond Breeze Almondmilk for 1 cup of dairy milk. Almond Breeze Almondmilk is available in 64oz and 96oz refrigerated varieties and 32oz shelf-stable varieties.
Bluediamond.com | @almondbreeze
Blue Diamond Almond Flour
Finely sifted and made with California-grown almonds, Blue Diamond Almond Flour is the highest quality almond flour on the market. It’s keto-friendly, gluten-free and kosher – not to mention vegan, paleo and non-GMO project verified. Blue Diamond Almond Flour is available in 1lb and 3lb bags.
Bluediamond.com | @bluediamond
Don Francisco’s Coffee
Don Francisco’s coffee is a labor of love from one family to your cup. Don Francisco’s Coffee is a culmination of expertise and devotion to the highest quality coffee. It’s a story that has been long in the making, a story that began with a humble family’s first coffee trees in Cuba 150 years ago. Today, the Don Francisco family oversees every step of their coffee process with great care, from the farm to your doorstep. They carefully source and select beans from the world’s best coffee-growing regions, followed by roasting and packaging the coffee in their local, zero-waste facility in Los Angeles. This craftsmanship, passed down through generations, is what sets Don Francisco’s Coffee apart. Their hope is to bring people together and enable more shared moments that get us back to what matters most. Dan Francisco’s is committed to their values of quality, heritage, and sustainability to provide a storied excellence with every brew.
Donfranciscos.com | @donfranciscos
Geometry
In the fall of 2019 Geometry launched to bring artistic and functional freshness to the world of home interiors by developing a premium eco-friendly line of not-so-ordinary kitchen tea towels made from recycled post-consumer materials. Featuring hundreds of vibrant patterns and prints, with new collections added monthly, Geometry’s ultra-absorbent towels have quickly become a household favorite.
Since the launch, the company has expanded into yoga, beach, and fitness towels. With each new release, Geometry continues to focus on its mission to create thoughtfully designed products that fuse art and performance to enhance our everyday lives and reduce plastic waste in the environment.
Geometry.house | @geometry.house
GoodCook® Fruit & Veggie Divider
GoodCook® is America’s leading kitchenware brand that makes quality cooking essentials accessible. GoodCook® products offer a wide assortment of tools, gadgets, bakeware, cookware and food storage solutions that are thoughtfully designed and reflect the brand’s personality – intuitive, inspiring and helpful.
In keeping with the brand’s integrity, the convenient Fruit & Veggie Divider provides the ultimate solution for perfectly cut, safe and bite-sized snacks. Designed to create quartered cuts without the use of a knife, this ingenious tool makes life in the kitchen much simpler – whether slicing fruits and vegetables to serve atop salads, or cutting ingredients for meal prep or a quick bite. Equipped with stainless steel blades and boasting an adjustable design to take in items of varying sizes, the Fruit & Veggie Divider is especially ideal for preparing one-pan meals. Plus, it’s BPA-free, dishwasher safe and disassembles, making it as easy to clean as it is to use.
HexClad Hybrid Pan
Not all pans are created equal. The 12″ HexClad Hybrid Pan makes stovetop cooking a breeze thanks to its slick design and even heating which is ideal when you’re cooking for a crowd. When it’s time for a family dinner or a group of friends for brunch, this spacious pan can handle the job. Whip up a frittata or easily cook two steaks at a time. Cook up at least four salmon fillets with room for veggies. There’s no stopping your culinary prowess with a pan that offers so many possibilities.
Mezzetta
Is your pantry really stocked if you don’t have your favorite Mezzetta products tucked away? From the addictive zest of their pickled red onions to the savory bliss of their Italian olive antipasto with chardonnay and herbs, Mezzetta’s line of artisan products takes food to the next level. This was exactly founder Giuseppe Mezzetta’s goal in 1935 when he opened his storefront in San Francisco’s North Beach – introducing the delicious staples of his childhood to American kitchens. Mezzetta has come a long way since then, but their unwavering commitment to family recipes, world-class ingredients, and unforgettable flavor remains the same. For over 85 years, they’ve brought delicious and unique foods from across the world to the American table. A lot has changed over that time, but President Jeff Mezzetta’s commitment to quality and innovation is just as great as his great-grandfather Giuseppe’s.
We recommend the Napa Valley Bistro™ Italian Olive Antipasto with Chardonnay & Herbs and the Pickled Red Onions. The Napa Valley Bistro™ olives blend the culinary heritage of Italy and Napa Valley – with rich green olives, peperoncini, red bell peppers and fresh garlic, marinated in Chardonnay and Italian seasonings for the perfect Italian Olive Antipasto. Tangy and sweet, the Mezzetta® Pickled Red Onions add crunch and vibrancy to any salad, sandwich or culinary creation. Mezzetta starts with crisp red onions, pickle them in vinegar and our unique blend of seasonings to create a bright flavor and unmatched color.
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