Welcome to my Favorite Things page! As a personal chef, I’m often asked about the tools and gadgets I trust in my kitchen – from the sharpest knives and most reliable pots and pans to smart organizers and durable food storage containers. Here, I’ve gathered all my go-to culinary essentials that combine quality, functionality, and style. Each product I recommend is chosen for its ability to add real value, save you time, and stand the test of time, so you can cook with confidence and enjoy cooking in your kitchen.
Cookware
Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Skillet – this is the work horse of my kitchen, I literally use it for anything and everything. It lives on my cook top because why put it away when I use it so frequently.
Lodge Cast Iron Skillet – Affordable. Quality. Excellent for heat retention and will last a lifetime if cared for properly.
Stainless Steel Fry Pan Set – This set has a good variety of stainless cookware pieces, the handles are heat resistant and they’ll last a lifetime if properly cared for.
3 Qt. Stainless Steel Sauce Pan with Lid – This size is great, it’s induction compatible the quality of this brand is great.
Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Round Dutch Oven – enameled cast iron conducts heat so well and is beautiful sitting out on the stove. This is an investment piece as is any Le Creuset item and it will last a lifetime.
12 Qt. Stockpot with lid – 12 Qt. stainless steel stockpot with a lid. This is a great soup pot.
XL Stainless Steel Stockpot with lid – 20 Qt. stockpot is a great size for making large batches of stock, steaming lobster, etc. I don’t think stock pots need to be fancy, this one is a good price point for the size.
Carbon Steel Griddle & Grill Press – I use this on the cooktop as well as the grill and it does not disappoint. Some of my favorite things to use on the griddle are smash burgers, hibachi style proteins and veggies, fajitas, fried rice, quesadillas, grilled cheese and pancakes.
Small Appliances
Blender – you literally can’t go wrong with this brand. I use mine for everything from smoothies to sauces to soups. This is an investment but it will last forever and you will not be disappointed.
Immersion Blender – I keep one of these in my knife bag for work I use it so frequently. I love that I can quickly blend up salad dressings, soups and sauces with minimal mess. Just pop the top off and wash the blender attachment.
Food Processor – I have had this food processor for 13 years, I use it often and it is still in great condition. It has a powerful motor and is one of my favorite/most used kitchen appliances.
Instant Pot – It seems like the Instant Pot movement has slowed but I still use mine all the time for quality results in a fraction of the time. Some of my favorite uses are beans, soups, and shredded meats like Carnitas and Barbacoa.
Mini Food Processor – You don’t always need to pull out the big, heavy food processor. I use this often when cooking for my family and toss the pieces in the dishwasher for easy cleanup. I like this for sauces like pesto and chimichurri, mincing larger quantities of garlic, chopping bunches of herbs and chopping nuts.
Stand Mixer – This is an investment but seriously lasts a lifetime. I have had mine since 2008 and it still works perfectly. You can’t go wrong with this work horse.
Hand Mixer – If you’re not into baking and want a basic hand mixer this is a good option. I got this a couple of years ago and while I don’t use it all that often it comes in handy when I don’t feel like getting the big stand mixer out.
Sous Vide – I use this sous vide at home, it’s a good middle of the road unit that works perfectly. I clip it on to the side of a stock pot to use.
Vacuum Sealer – I have an older version of this and it works great for prepping proteins for the sous vide, the freezer or meal prep.
Small Tools and Gadgets
Instant Read Thermometer – I really like that this is waterproof so it can be thoroughly cleaned after use.
Salad Spinner – I have had this salad spinner for years. it is easy to clean, easy to use and a good size.
Potato Ricer – Don’t make mashed potatoes any other way, trust me.
The Best Tongs – I don’t think you can ever have enough tongs, no explanation necessary.
Cherry Pitter – I’m usually out on kitchen tools that only serve one purpose but this is 100% useful and so satisfying. Enjoy all the fresh cherries with this easy to use tool.
Ball Whisk – This is the perfect salad dressing whisk for making small quantities of dressing, beating eggs or whipping fresh cream. I use it all the time and keep one in my knife bag for work.
Mortar & Pestle – Grind up spices, pesto, guacamole, etc. in this granite mortar and pestle. I like the 2 cup size for home use. These are pretty sitting out on your counter or styled on floating shelves when not in use.
Wooden Spatula Set – Toss any black plastic cooking utensils and replace them. I like having a good mix of wooden, metal and silicone. This is a great starter set if you’re replacing plastic and moving to all natural wood.
Metal Spatula Set – Set of two stainless steel spatulas – great for flipping fish and other proteins. These have a nice edge and good weight to the handle.
Silicone Spoon/Spatula Set – These are heat resistant up to 600 degrees so great for scrambled eggs or scraping the last bit of sauce out of a pan. I also use them to get every last drop out of jars and containers.
Food Prep & Storage
Boos Wooden Chopping Block – I’ve had this cutting board for years and it’s big and beautiful and looks great on the counter.
Pyrex Glass Baking and Storage Containers with Lids – I use these containers in all different sizes for all of my personal chef clients, they are so useful. They are dishwasher safe, can go straight into the oven and they stack really effeciently in the fridge.
Pyrex 4-Pack Glass Baking Dish/Storage Set with Lids – Larger pack of the containers I use for my personal chef clients.
Travel Hot Food Container – I use these to keep sauces warm while working and also have a set for home that my kids use to take hot lunches to school. To keep food hot fill them with boiling water and close the lid. Let them sit for 2-3 minutes then dump out the water, add your hot food and secure the lid.
Smoothie Cups – This is a great insulated cup with soft straw that actually fits in the cupholder. Great for a smoothie on the go that stays cold for hours.
Large Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls – This is the perfect salad mixing bowl but great for mixing anything else in the kitchen. I often use them to serve chips when groups of kids are over or when entertaining.
Small Mixing Bowl Set – I use these to mix small batches of sauces, serve sauces, portion out items when doing mise en place, etc. They can go in the dishwasher and are so helpful when prepping recipes.
Condiment Squeeze Bottles – I use these while working for all the things but I keep a set at home that I use often when entertaining, mainly for fresh squeezed citrus juice at the bar.
Baking things
Full Sheet Pans – In my opinion there is no need for fancy sheet pans, these are my go-to’s.
Half Sheet Pans – I use these industrial half sheet pans in my house for literally everything. Easier to clean, perfect for weeknight dinners.
Favorite Parchment Paper Sheets – don’t get me started on rolled parchment paper, lets just say I find it to be second in line for most annoying kitchen item only surpassed by cling/plastic wrap.
Silicone Pastry Mat – keep your counters from getting crusty when rolling out tortillas, pastry dough, pie crust, bread, etc. I love how large this mat is, it works perfectly on a kitchen island.
Sharps
Chef and Pairing Knife Duo – These are my two most frequently used knives. This brand is my go-to recommendation for quality knives that won’t break the bank. They’re lightweight, durable and nicely balanced. Add in a serrated knife and you can slice and dice most anything.
Vegetable Knife – This is a light and powerful Nakiri style knife that I use all the time. It has grooves that keep the food from sticking and it’s great for chopping through hard veggies and meat.
Serrated Pairing Knife – This knife is very inexpensive and is one I grab for often for quick jobs like cutting up limes, tomatoes and strawberries.
Microplane – I use this everyday for zesting citrus, grating garlic and shaving parmesan. Everyone needs one in their kitchen.
Mandoline – A mandoline is not something you want to skimp on, it doesn’t have to be super fancy but you do not want something that slips or wobbles. If you’re uncomfortable using a mandoline grab one of these gloves as well.
Clean-up
Kitchen Dish Cloths – super absorbent dish towels that dry fast. I keep a stack of these under the sink with fresh sponges.
White Kitchen Towels – These are not your cute hang by the sink towels – these are utility towels and in my opinion you can never have enough.
Cast Iron Scrubbing Square – Everyone needs one of these chainmail squares to scrub cast iron and stainless steel.
Entertaining
Thermal Hot Box – If you do a lot of entertaining at your home, or host a lot of people for Thanksgiving this will save your sanity. Everyone that has hosted a large Thanksgiving knows there is never enough oven space to cook everything and keep it warm to serve at the same time. This box is lightweight but it is bulky so you need the space to store it.
Cocktail Shaker – I love this cocktail shaker, it is double walled stainless steel, has a locking top and has a built in strainer.
Glass Beverage Jugs – One of my favorite entertaining hacks is pre-batching cocktails so that they can be set out with a cocktail shaker, bucket of ice and glasses for an easy self service specialty cocktail. I also LOVE to pre-batch a festive cocktail in these or this smaller version to bring along as a hostess gift to parties during the holiday season.
XL Wheeled Cooler – This cooler fits full size aluminum pans for easy storage of excess food as well as being a great giant cooler on wheels for icing down beverages for entertaining. I’ve had this for 10+ years, I use it all the time and it’s still in great condition.
Compostable Food Containers – If I am making a meal for a friend or family member I try not to leave them with any items that need returning. These 24oz. containers with lids are a great way to prepackage meals without using plastic and they are surprisingly durable.
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