Kitchen Starter Kit

Literally and figuratively spicing things up

Apr 07, 2023

There’s an area along Atlantic avenue in Downtown Brooklyn that has a collection of stores with a ton of great home goods: Whisk, Collier West, Humble House, Horseman Antiques, Sterling Place, Michelle Varian, and Mud Australia. All of those stores are in the same 2 block stretch along the avenue, with the exception of Whisk which is a quick 4 minute walk. I like to call this area Home Goods Alley™ (a phrase I thought of just now).

When things at home are feeling a little bland, I like to skip over to Home Goods Alley™ to get a few new knick knacks, including ones without much functional use. The kitchen, I’d say, is the one place we should all value functionality—but why not put more of the fun in function? Home Goods Alley™ is good for that. From storing pasta and cleaning up a spill to opening the oven and everything in between, interacting with your kitchen doesn’t have to be dull.

Scroll for a few things that might add a little spice to your kitchen (figuratively, of course).

A Ridiculous Pot ($25)

Not much else to say here. Please someone in NYC get this off Facebook Marketplace before I do.

Fun Chopping Tools ($75)

I wasn’t tapped into Kate Spade kitchenware until I found a very perfect ceramic spaghetti jar at a secondhand store in San Diego and noticed it was from Kate Spade. Their kitchen line is not to be slept on, and these knives are no exception!

More Ridiculous Pots ($39.99)

I own three of these and I love them. Something about a glass saucepan really gets me. A see-through pot does, in fact, boil.

Joyful Oven Mitts ($34/pair)

Staff sent me a pair of these oven mitts along with a few other products and I have never been more excited to unbox a package. I’m someone who uses my bare hands or a kitchen towel to take things out of the oven because I can’t commit to buying a lame-ass oven mitt. I have been burned many times. These mitts are functional and bring me so much joy.

Personalized Embroidered Napkins??? ($91/5 custom napkins)

I guess this is more for the dining area, but I had to include them. To be honest, I hate a linen napkin, I prefer a napkin I can blow my nose in without feeling guilty. That said, I know there are people out there who do like linen napkins. These may be exciting enough to change my mind. They’d also make an amazing housewarming gift (for someone you really love).

Tea Towel Set

Not to be confused with the linen hand towels, the kitchen towel boasts a far more noble purpose IMO. I own these ones from Poketo. Does it seem like a personal/moral failure that I spent $34 on a pair of tea towels? Yes! But they’ve lasted me four years and show no signs of wearing, they actually do get better after every wash, and they are so cute.

(Relevant) Kitchen Artwork ($30)

Food-themed artwork in the kitchen is a must. I was particularly taken by this risograph print by Elizabeth Goodspeed at DUMBO’s Lucky Risograph print studio.

A Loving Cast Iron ($75)

While writing this newsletter, I learned that Macy’s stopped selling Martha Stewart’s heart-shaped Dutch oven…a crime. I got my mom one of these last Valentine’s Day and have never been more excited to give a gift. I got one for myself, too.

(Rumor has it this perfect heart-shaped dish is now sold on Amazon. I won’t link it because it goes against what this newsletter is all about, but do with that information what you will.)