Chef-recommended gifts for the earth-conscious kitchen
I'm a chef, entrepreneur, activist, and mother of three challenging conventional ideas about our food systems and environmental stewardship. Drawing from my Californian roots, I started west~bourne as New York City's first zero-waste certified restaurant and has now expanded its mission of eating well and doing better into a collection of regenerative, carbon neutral provisions for the conscious home.
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Rikyu Tokusa/ Everyday Donabe, TOIRO
As a chef and mother, this is my go to for a healthy dinner that’s also easy on clean up. It’s not just a cooker, but also a piece of art that emphasizes beautiful natural materials and timeless cooking heritage.
Made entirely from recycled plastics and sugarcane, it’s a brilliant example of how innovation can foster sustainability. In my kitchen, it’s a daily reminder of the small steps that contribute to a larger mission of a waste-free world.
Stasher, Starter Kit 7-Pack
Stasher bags have become a constant in my mission to maintain a zero-waste kitchen. Their reusability has transformed the way I store and preserve food, limiting the need for single-use plastics and providing an accessible way to pre-prep and store stocks, soups, etc. in our freezer. The Starter Kit seamlessly integrates into my daily routines, advocating for mindful consumption.
Herriott Grace, Cedar Bowl
Incorporating Herriott Grace pieces into my kitchen has been a delightful homage to craftsmanship and sustainability. An inspiring father-daughter endeavor, each piece is distinctly hand-turned and made of salvaged wood ranging in type, age, and origin, honoring the natural irregularities of each piece of wood, not only preserving but celebrating its particular character.
Bee’s Wrap, Variety Value Pack
Bee’s Wrap has enhanced my kitchen’s journey toward reducing waste. It’s an essential part of my food storage strategy, aiding in the elimination of single-use plastics. It has become a seamless aspect of my culinary routine.
Acid League, Big League Vinegar Kit
Preservation and fermentation are important ways that we can cut down on food waste and extend the life of precious produce. No one does it more thoughtfully or uniquely than Acid League. Their pantry staples bring a vibrancy and distinct culinary point of view that gives a kick to any flavor profile of a dish.
Zabs, Trio
A cornerstone of environmentalism for the next generation lies in supporting biodiversity. Zabs makes my favorite hot sauce, which I put on everything, with the intention of preserving the datil pepper, a historic rare pepper grown in the oldest city in our country.
Lomi, The Classic
Lomi has revolutionized waste management for the average home. It turns most of what households throw away everyday into plant food, making composting accessible and dare I say chic.
Koala Eco, Starter Collection
Koala Eco’s products align with my passion to align personal and planetary health. Truly botanical and healthy cleaning products has been something I searched for a long time for, and this thoughtful company has finally matched clean ingredients with performance for highly used spaces like ours. The collection is integral to maintaining a hygienic space that reveres nature’s offerings, making sure that every aspect of my kitchen nurtures our planet.
Everybody World, Seasonal Trash Hoodie
My restaurant kitchen uniform. If only every item of clothing was made with such integrity, style, and mindfulness. Everybody World makes each garment in LA with upcycled cotton, using fair labor practices and that’s unisex and biodegradable. Trash becomes the ultimate utility player.
Hawkins New York, Enamel Storage Containers
Hawkins has long been a go-to collector of mindfully made goods for all your home needs. Storing properly cuts down waste and also helps me stay organized to make the most of whatever we have on hand. A simple, lovely solution to a less sexy issue, I also love that the Riess facility where these are made is carbon-neutral, generated by hydro power by the Ybbs river.
