If you're as obsessed as we are with all things food and kitchen then get ready for this month’s "Stuff We Love" — because it's the food edition! Lifestyle Expert and TODAY Contributor Chassie Post stopped by the Plaza with some of her favorite foodie finds — from delicious treats to genius gadgets and more.
We hope you're hungry!
Hot and spicy honey, $10 and up, Mike's Hot Honey
Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, Mike's Hot Honey is a chili pepper-infused honey that really wakes up anything you pair it with. Company founder Mike Kurtz calls this sweet and spicy delight the world's most versatile condiment. And you won't believe all the things you can drizzle it on: pizza (the very first pairing was on the Hellboy pizza at Paulie Gee's Pizzeria), chicken, ribs, cheese, cocktails and even ice cream. It's made with fresh, local wildflower honey and must be tasted to be believed. Heat + honey = yummy!
Raw honey, $7 and up Hampton's Honey Company
The Hamptons Honey Company was established in 2002 and joyfully provides honey lovers with fresh, raw honey from Long Island. Hamptons Honey is bottled directly at its source and isn't filtered or pasteurized, showcasing pure, distinctive honeys from the region made by local beekeepers. They are well-known for their Honey In the Raw, which is a thick, almost-creamed honey, that you can spread on toast — or just eat with a spoon. They also have other distinctive varietals (just like wine), from a darker and more robust Wildflower honey to a lighter Clover Blossom. They even have a honey with the comb still in it. They say you can chew the honeycomb just like gum!
Fresh oysters, $80 and up, Island Creek Oysters
Oysters shipped directly to your door? Sign us up! Island Creek's tagline is: "Harvest daily, Shipped overnight." All the Island Creek Oysters come directly from their farm in Duxbury, Massachusettes. Plus, they include overnight shipping via free next day delivery through FedEx.
Island Creek Oysters was founded by Duxbury native Skip Bennett in 1995, and he has been farming oysters ever since. They have a great selection of products, from a bag of 100 oysters to a Raw Bar in a Box. Plus, you can find these same oysters in some of the best restaurants in the country such as Chef Thomas Kellar’s French Laundry, Per Se and Next. Island Creek Oysters have even been served at the White House.
Seed & Mill Halva, $30 and up, Seed & Mill
Seed & Mill was founded by three moms who share a passion for food and halva, a sweet treat which is making quite a comeback. Halva means "sweet" in Arabic and its main ingredient is tahini (made from sesame seeds), now thought of as a superfood since it's packed with calcium, plant-based protein, magnesium, zinc, vitamins and minerals. It's also gluten free, egg free and Paleo-friendly, providing a healthier way to enjoy a sweet treat. Seed & Mill is reimagining Halva in new and innovative flavor combos including Sea Salt Dark Chocolate, Chocolate Coconut, Ginger, Chia Seeds, Rose and more. Besides being absolutely delicious, it also looks incredibly beautiful.
Ice cream pint packs, $36, Ample Hills Creamery
Ample Hills Creamery takes their craft very seriously. Their scrumptious ice creams and mix-ins (think peppermint pattie bits, cookie dough bites and peanut butter cups and more) are all made from scratch in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. And according to founders Brian and Jackie, "it is all in service of playful, whimsical ice cream designed to transport you back in time to childhood."
They first opened in 2011 in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn and now have eight shops, with one at Disney’s Boardwalk in Orlando and a ninth opening in Jersey City around Labor Day. But if you can't make it to one of their experiential shops (they actually offer ice cream cooking classes!) their ice cream is available anywhere in the U.S. via their website. It's shipped on dry ice and is delivered directly from their Brooklyn shop.
Stainless Steel Spreadable Butter Mill, $30, Cooks Innovations
Get ready because we have a new gadget for you! This stainless steel butter mill spreads butter "like buttah," as they might say on "Saturday Night Live". . .It turns your stick of butter into "softer, thin ribbons of dairy deliciousness" in seconds. Simply add a stick of butter to the mill and twist. It works almost like a grater and delivers better buttering of baked good, sandwiches, corn on the cob and so much more.
Chef'n LooseLeaf Kale, Greens and Herb Stripper, $8, Chef'n
Did we mention just how much we love a cool kitchen gadget? If not, then consider yourself forewarned. Here's a great one to add to your kitchen tool kit from the folks at Chef'n (they always have something smart and well-designed up their sleeves). It's called the LooseLeaf Greens and Herb Stripper.
Simply run any leafy green — like kale, collards, chard and more — or herb through the appropriately sized hole for instant de-leafing from stems.
The Negg Egg Peeler, $18, The Negg
This is one, truly egg-cellent invention! We are obsessed with this new creation from inventor Bonnie Tyler. The Negg is an instant, hardboiled egg peeler that removes those pesky shells in a flash. With The Negg, peeling hardboiled eggs (once an arduous task) is now a joy. Just add a little water, give The Negg a few shakes and the shell comes off in seconds with no mess. Fun for you and the kids. Plus, you can now peel a dozen eggs in under four minutes. Hello, deviled egg time!
BBQ Tool Box Grill, $125, Blue Ribbon General Store
For the BBQ'er who thought they had seen everything, we have a little something that might just surprise you. This classic, red metal tool box might appear perfectly mild mannered to you, but when you open it up, it transforms into a perfectly portable barbecue grill. Not only does the tool box grill offer an 8 by 15 inch stainless steel grilling area, it also has a warming rack and a removable charcoal tray. A perfect beach, park or backyard companion for the BBQ'er on the go.
Ugly Produce, Prices vary, Imperfect Produce
Did you know that produce is subjected to quite the audition to make it onto your grocer's shelf? Believe it or not, one in five fruits and veggies grown in the U.S. go to waste, typically because they don't meet the strict cosmetic standards of grocery stores — even tough they taste exactly the same and have the same nutritional value as their better-looking counterparts. Now, a company called Imperfect Produce based in San Francisco is doing something about it!
They are working with farmers to ship imperfect looking produce straight to your door via their subscription service. And they're offering a big discount at prices up to 30 to 50 percent off what you'd find in grocery stores. According to this innovative company, "Our customers keep over 100,000 pounds of produce from going to waste every week. To date, we have kept over 5 million pounds of produce from going to waste." They currently ship to the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange County and Portland, Oregon with plans to expand. So look out for the arrival of this imperfectly perfect produce in your town.
Bracelet Flask, $35, Areaware
Fashion meets function with this porcelain bracelet flask designed by Areaware, a company known for their innovative and modern designs. This cool-looking flask, which holds a shot's worth of your favorite libation, was inspired by a 19th century Pennsylvanian hip flask. Plus, it come in three colors - white, turquoise and chrome, so you can find one to match nearly any outfit.
Magic Placemats, $28, Snowe Home
We love these magic placemats made from beautiful, 100 percent Belgian linen that has been treated with a protective coating to repel any stain you can dish out. From ketchup to pizza to red wine and more, messes magically disappear and wipe clean in a jiffy — just like magic! So pull out the fine table linens for every meal, not just when you're having company.