http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/ en-US Copyright 2012 Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:00:58 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss This January marks Kitchen Critic's 5th anniversary, but it will also be our last. While we've enjoyed bringing you the newest and coolest kitchenwares, we've decided it's time to move on to new things. We will continue to blog elsewhere in the future, but from a more personal perspective. Thanks so much for reading, and we're so grateful to those we've worked with over the years. Thanks so much for your support! Kate & Dan @KitchenCritic ]]> http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2012/01/so_long_farewell_auf_wiederseh.html http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2012/01/so_long_farewell_auf_wiederseh.html Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:00:58 +0000 ]]> http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/post_5.html http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/post_5.html Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:04:13 +0000 Emma Bridgewater is well known for their British made creamware, so it's quite a surprise to see them branching out with this gorgeous new tray. Made in Sweden by Ary, they also offer high environmental credentials in addition to their 50 years of experience. Made from Scandinavian Birch these trays are carved from a single sheet of wood. With a fine grain and no joins, the Polka Dot Tray will last for years. The top of the tray is decorated with rings of pretty polka dots that create a mosaic effect, while the underside reveals the beautiful wood. A large tray at 49cm wide, this statement piece will add fabulous bold colour to your table. A unique addition to any Bridgewater collection, the Wooden Polka Dot Tray is £49.95 from Emma Bridgewater. Emma Bridgewater Wooden Polka Dot Tray - £49.95 ]]> http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/emma_bridgewater_wooden_polka.html http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/emma_bridgewater_wooden_polka.html British Kitchen Servingware Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:27 +0000 If we really want a sustainable future we can't just recycle our old things, we need to buy products made from recycled material. Ecology are leading the way with their eco-friendly products. From manufacturing to packaging, Ecology try to minimise the effect on our environment. The new collection of Ecology Kitchen Utensils combines recycled stainless steel with a sustainable bamboo handle. The collection includes all you're kitchen must-haves, from Garlic Press to Slotted Turner - so you can indulge your culinary passions without costing the earth. Contemporary style with eco-friendly credentials, the Ecology Kitchen Utensils are available online from John Lewis. Ecology Can Opener - £12.95 Ecology Garlic Press - £12.95 Ecology Ladle - £12.95 Ecology Masher - £12.95 Ecology Peeler - £6.95 Ecology Slotted Spoon - £9.95 Ecology Slotted Turner - £9.95 Ecology Solid Spoon - £9.95 Ecology Kitchen Tongs - £7.95 ]]> http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/ecology_kitchen_utenils.html http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/ecology_kitchen_utenils.html Eco-Friendly Kitchen Utensils Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:05:22 +0000 While I like making impressive cakes, I don't really have the patience for decorating - which is why I'm frequently in awe of Nordicware Pans. Their cast aluminium pans create brilliant detail without any extra effort. The new Honeycomb Pan is a brilliant example, with a sweet sticky glaze it look simply scrumptious. The unusual design has preportioned pieces that are perfect just for one. Decorated with honeycomb and busy bees, this cake captures the warmth of summer year round. Charming and unique, the Nordicware Honeycomb Pan is £28.99 from Lakeland. Nordicware Honeycomb Pan - £28.99 ]]> http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/nordicware_honeycomb_pan.html http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/nordicware_honeycomb_pan.html Bakeware Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:01:14 +0000 While there are gadgets and gismos for everything, often it's just easier to do things by hand. The OXO Good Grips Rotary Whisk walks the line between the two. Perfect if your wrists aren't capable of repetitive motions, the Rotary Whisk is still less effort than getting out the electric hand blender. The extending bridge is longer than the beaters, so you can rest it on the base of the bowl. With just a spin of the handle you can scramble eggs, whip cream and mix batter. All the gears are hidden inside the case, and the two stainless steel beaters are removed with the press of the button for easy cleaning. A well designed tool that makes whipping quick and easy, the OXO Good Grips Rotary Whisk is £19.99 from Lakeland. OXO Good Grips Rotary Whisk - £19.99 ]]> http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/oxo_good_grips_rotary_whisk.html http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/oxo_good_grips_rotary_whisk.html Kitchen Utensils Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:18 +0000 Top of our Christmas cookware wishlist is the Thermospatula. In the run up to Christmas we often make jams, jellies and lemon curd as presents for our family. While we have a lovely large preserving pan we've struggled to find a suitable thermometer - some need to be dipped to far into the jam, some always seem to touch the bottom, and others are a pain to clean. It looks like the Thermospatula may solve all these problems. With the silicone spatula you can stir the jam ensuring an even temperature and protects your pans from scratches while keeping the thermometer sensor away from the hot pan bottom. The Digital Thermometer is easy to read, and can be removed and used independently. Heat-resistant to 220°C, the Thermospatula is £14.99 from Lakeland. Thermospatula - £14.99 ]]> http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/thermospatula.html http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/thermospatula.html Bakeware Kitchen Utensils Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:02:46 +0000 Is listening to the Queen's Speech one of your Christmas traditions? This year you can add a bit of baking glamour to the event with these pretty Crown Cookie Cutters! The set includes three cutters in red, white and blue - these festive crowns are perfect for celebrating. Just £2.99 from Lakeland, with the 3 Crown Cookie Cutters and some creative icing you can make delicious cookies fit for a king! 3 Crown Cookie Cutters - £2.99 ]]> http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/3_crown_cookie_cutters.html http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/3_crown_cookie_cutters.html Bakeware Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:05:41 +0000 Emma Bridgewater glassware is expensive, but it is also gorgeous. I did boggle a moment when I saw the new Bridgewater Glass Honey Pot, but actually it's surprisingly versatile. Perfect for honey, jams and marmalade, the glass reveals the lush rich colours. The weighty glass pot is etched with the familiar Black Toast text reading 'Honey & Marmalade', while the lid has the convenient notch for the serving spoon. A brilliant choice for your cranberry sauce this Christmas, the Glass Honey Pot is £49.95 from Emma Bridgewater. Emma Bridgewater Glass Honey Pot - £49.95]]> http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/emma_bridgewater_glass_honey_p.html http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/emma_bridgewater_glass_honey_p.html British Kitchen Servingware Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:05:45 +0000 Lovely Christmas tableware is a bit hard to find this year, but I love this Merry Christmas Turkey Platter by Cath Kidston. With a cute polka dot pattern, the festive red band is a brilliant accent for your main course. The bright red colour adds vibrancy to your delicious vegetables. Finally decorated with a 'Merry Christmas' in a cheerful script it's a brilliant addition to your normal tableware. You can also get matching dinner and dessert plates if you'd like a full set. Fun and festive choice for the holidays, the Merry Christmas Turkey Platter is £30 from Cath Kidston. Cath Kidston Merry Christmas Platter - £30 Set of 4 Cath Kidston Merry Christmas Dinner Plates - £20 Set of 4 Cath Kidston Merry Christmas Dessert Plates - £18 ]]> http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/cath_kidston_merry_christmas_p.html http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/cath_kidston_merry_christmas_p.html Celebrations Servingware Tableware Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:00:27 +0000 Knowing how much we love the Black + Blum lunchboxes, it's no surprise that I'm tempted by the Lunch Pot. A set of two stacking pots, this allows you to pack both dry and wet components. The polypropylene container is microwave and dishwasher safe, while the watertight locking seal makes it perfect for soup, cereal, and yoghurt. So if you love a mid day cereal snack, the Lunch Pot will ensure you can enjoy every crunchy bite. Then when you are finished, the smaller pot pops inside the larger pot for compact travel. The set also includes a spork and convenient carry strap. A great addition to your lunchbox collection, the Black + Blum Lunch Pot is available in three colours from Amazon UK. Black + Blum Lime Lunch Pot - £15.50 Black + Blum Orange Lunch Pot - £13.60 Black + Blum Black Lunch Pot - £13.60 ]]> http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/black_blum_lunch_pot.html http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/black_blum_lunch_pot.html British Kitchen Outdoors & On-The-Go Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:07:27 +0000 We love the Black + Blum Box Appetit Lunchbox, so when we spotted the smaller Black + Blum Bento Box we had to try it out. My husband loves the compact size, which perfectly fits two half sandwiches stacked one on top of the other. Like its bigger bother, the Bento Box includes a small sauce pot and special fork with a handy cutting edge. The lid has a silicone seal that prevents spills and a raised ring designed to hold dipping sauces like soy sauce or salad dressing. The sleek sweeping bowl adds sophisticated style your favourite leftovers. A brilliant way to spice up your packed lunches the Black + Blum Bento Box is £14 from Amazon UK. Lime Bento Box - £14 Orange Bento Box - £14 Black Bento Box - £14 ]]> http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/black_blum_box_appetit_bento_b.html http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/black_blum_box_appetit_bento_b.html British Kitchen Outdoors & On-The-Go Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:02:39 +0000 I've often heard men complaining that kitchenware is almost exclusively aimed at women - and when wedding lists are mentioned, many blokes scoff that it's all for the bride. It looks like Bosch have taken this opinion to heart with the IXO Vino. Basically they've added a fashionable corkscrew attachment to their normal IXO Lithium-Ion Screwdriver. I find it a bit of an odd combination, but this is one kitchen tool that is truely multi-functional. Perfect for a power tool enthusiast and available in three patterns, the Bosch IXO Vino Cordless Drill is £23.99 from Amazon UK. Vine Leaves Bosch IXO Vino Cordless Drill - £23.99 Language Bosch IXO Vino Cordless Drill Wine Goblets Bosch IXO Vino Cordless Drill ]]> http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/bosch_ixo_vino_cordless_drill.html http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/bosch_ixo_vino_cordless_drill.html Hot, Cold Drinks & Barware Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000 I have such a weakness for vintage inspired cookware and it's perfect for nostalgic Christmas baking. Following on from their popular retro collection, Tala have just released this 1960s collection. These fabulous tools feature the simple styling of bygone years, with iconic fonts and soft blue and yellow bands. A great gift for trendy bakers, the Tala 1960s Baking Tool Collection is available online from John Lewis. Tala Flour Sifter - £10 Tala 1960 Sugar Shaker - £6 Tala 1960 Cook's Dry Measure - £8 Tala 1960 Crinkle Pastry Cutters - £12 Tala 1960 Plain Pastry Cutters - £12 Tala 1960 Icing Bag Set - £15 ]]> http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/tala_1960s_baking_tools.html http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/tala_1960s_baking_tools.html Bakeware Kitchen Gadgets Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:08:33 +0000 Living near Liverpool there's never a shortage of Beatles themed products, but this year the Sergeant Pepper Mill has the whole country talking. Wearing hand-painted livery, the Sergeant Pepper Mill stands proudly at attention. His cute curling moustache and retro style make him the perfect gift for music fans and kitsch queens. With an adjustable ceramic mechanism, the beechwood pepper mill is a good choice for in the kitchen or on the table. Available online from Firebox, the Sergeant Pepper Mill is £14.99. Sergeant Pepper Mill - £14.99 ]]> http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/sergeant_pepper_mill.html http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/2011/12/sergeant_pepper_mill.html For Spices & Herbs Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:04:40 +0000