The September Edit: The Kitchen Tools and Culinary Finds That Defined Our Month

For those of us who make a living immersed in the world of food and kitchen technology, the line between our professional lives and our personal homes is perpetually blurred. As editors at Bon Appétit, we exist in a state of constant discovery, surrounded by an unending stream of samples, prototypes, and newly launched goods. Some of these items arrive on our desks, while others are the result of our own enthusiastic retail therapy. In either case, the result is the same: our kitchens are always evolving. Every month, we take a step back to curate a list of the standouts—the products that have not just occupied space on our counters or shelves, but have fundamentally changed the way we cook, eat, and host.

September has been a month of unexpected discoveries. Our latest favorites run the gamut from a versatile, "put-it-on-everything" spice blend that has already become a pantry staple to a highly efficient storage solution that saved a cramped kitchen. We have also seen the boundaries of the culinary world expand in curious ways, including a high-concept skincare collaboration from one of our favorite tinned fish brands. It is a diverse collection, but each item shares a common trait: they have earned their place in our homes through genuine utility and a touch of delight.

Adding Whimsy to the Table: Hors D’Oeuvres Cocktail Napkins

Hosting is often seen as a logistical challenge—a series of tasks to be managed from the menu to the music. However, it is the small, often overlooked details that transform a functional gathering into a memorable event. This month, we have been particularly fond of the Hors D’Oeuvres Cocktail Napkins from Piecework.

These napkins arrived in my home as a housewarming gift, and they have since become an essential part of my entertaining repertoire. They introduce a sense of playfulness and whimsy that immediately elevates the snack table, even if the menu is simple. When you are hosting, there is a temptation to focus solely on the food and drink, but the aesthetic environment matters. While these napkins are certainly not a "necessity" in the strictest sense of the word, they serve a purpose in the art of hospitality. They encourage the host to pay attention to the tiny details that make a gathering feel unique and allow one to romanticize the mundane act of serving appetizers. They are a gentle reminder that, sometimes, the best part of a party is the charm you bring to it.

Solving the Storage Conundrum: The Quince Magnetic Knife Block

One of the most persistent challenges in any kitchen is the storage of high-quality cutlery. We often invest in professional-grade chef’s knives, only to store them in ways that compromise their longevity. For two decades, my mother kept her knives jumbled in a kitchen drawer, a practice that inevitably dulls blades and creates a hazard for anyone reaching inside. Despite my efforts to gift her better equipment over the years, the storage problem remained unsolved.

A magnetic wall strip is often cited as the gold standard for knife storage, but it is not a universal solution. In the case of my mother’s "chicken kitchen"—a space defined by a specific, retro ’90s aesthetic—there simply wasn’t the wall space to accommodate a strip. Traditional wooden knife blocks were also ruled out after we learned how difficult they are to keep clean; they can become a magnet for dust and grime deep within the slots. The solution arrived in the form of a magnetic knife stand from Quince.

This double-sided wooden stand is a perfect compromise. It is constructed from a soft wood that protects the integrity of the knife blades and can securely hold up to eight knives—four on each side. It is a compact, countertop-friendly solution that tucks neatly into the existing space, and its black walnut finish complements the older kitchen aesthetic rather than clashing with it. It represents a practical, elegant fix to a common home-cooking frustration.

The Versatility of Salad for President Dressing Mixes

Julia Sherman is a name well-known to those who follow the intersection of art and food. Her work has long championed a pro-vegetable perspective, often presented through an artistically-minded lens. Now, her culinary philosophy is becoming much more accessible through her brand, Salad for President, which recently launched a trio of dressing mixes: Lemon Poppy, Miso Ginger, and Umami Caesar.

The brilliance of these mixes lies in their flexibility. Designed to be vegan and gluten-free, they appeal to a wide spectrum of dietary needs while remaining incredibly easy to prepare. They are intended to be whisked with basic fats and citrus juices that most home cooks already have on hand, effectively removing the barrier to making a high-quality, fresh dressing. However, the application goes far beyond the salad bowl. The mixes are dry, meaning they can be used directly from the envelope as a flavorful rub for meats, a robust base for dips, or even a seasoning for popcorn.

In testing these at the Bon Appétit test kitchen, we found them to be remarkably versatile. The miso-ginger mix, for instance, pairs beautifully with soba noodles and tofu. The Caesar mix adds a savory depth to chicken salad, while the lemon poppyseed, when blended with Greek yogurt and fresh herbs, creates a vibrant, green-goddess style dip that is just as good with potato chips as it is with raw vegetables.

A Refreshing Ritual: Scrappy’s Celery Bitters

The ritual of the after-work drink is a powerful tool for decompressing, but it doesn’t always need to involve alcohol. Lately, many of us have gravitated toward the simplicity of bitters and seltzer. It is an affordable, satisfying, and headache-free way to unwind. While classic aromatic bitters have been the standard, we have recently been captivated by the celery bitters from Scrappy’s, a small-batch producer based in Seattle.

These bitters offer a distinct, vegetal, and savory undercurrent that provides a sophisticated flavor profile without the cloying sweetness found in commercial celery sodas. It is a refreshing, clean option that feels like a deliberate treat. It serves as a reminder that the most enjoyable culinary experiences are often the ones that rely on high-quality, singular ingredients to transform something as simple as carbonated water into a complex beverage.

The Terroir of Gold Ridge Meyer Lemon Olive Oil

Northern California, with its sun-bleached grasses and lush, emerald-green vineyards, often feels like a mirror to the Mediterranean. It is a landscape defined by its agriculture, particularly its olive groves. A recent visit to Gold Ridge Organic Farms in Sebastopol offered a firsthand look at this tradition. The farm cultivates a variety of Mediterranean olives, including Frantoio, Arbequina, and Picholine, but it was their Meyer Lemon Olive Oil that stood out.

The production process here is significant: the olives are co-milled with Meyer lemons grown on-site. This ensures that the final product is authentically citrus-flavored, devoid of the artificial chemicals or flavorings that often permeate mass-market oils. The result is an oil with a bright, fragrant citrus aroma that beautifully balances the natural, gentle bitterness of the olive oil itself. It is best used as a finishing oil or in light salad dressings, ensuring that the delicate, fresh notes remain intact. The quality is such that it has earned a place in the kitchens of renowned institutions, including the fine-dining destination Lazy Bear in San Francisco.

A Curious Collaboration: Dieux x Fishwife

When we first heard that Fishwife, the tinned-fish brand famous for its impeccable branding and high-quality product, was venturing into the skincare space, it certainly caught our attention. The result is a partnership with Dieux, a skincare company known for its reusable silicone eye masks. The "Glowing Skin Bundle" features eye patches that brighten and hydrate, designed to be worn while enjoying the brand’s signature sardines—a combination that emphasizes the Omega-3-rich nature of the fish.

The design of the patches is, as expected from Fishwife, aesthetically delightful. While the idea of a skincare-and-seafood collaboration might seem unconventional, it speaks to a certain modern lifestyle of "self-care"—the idea that you can nurture your skin while indulging in a high-quality, nutrient-dense snack at home. And for those who might be concerned about the ingredients, there is no actual tinned fish involved in the formulation of the eye patches. They can be purchased as a standalone item or as part of a bundle that includes the fish themselves.

Maximizing Space: The Wall Control Kitchen Pegboard

Moving to a new city often involves a dramatic shift in living conditions, and for many, that means a significant reduction in kitchen space. A recent move to San Francisco left one of our editors dealing with a kitchen that lacked the cabinet capacity of her previous New York apartment. To solve this, she turned to the Wall Control metal pegboard.

This is a utilitarian solution that effectively transforms a blank, empty wall into a highly functional storage area for a large cookware collection. It is robust, straightforward to install, and serves as an excellent example of how to adapt to a smaller footprint without sacrificing the tools you need to cook effectively. It is a clear demonstration that with the right organizational equipment, even the most constrained kitchens can be optimized for productivity.

The Swiss Army Knife of Seasoning: Jugaad It!

If there is a "Swiss Army knife" of seasonings, it is surely the blend known as Jugaad It!. Composed of salt, sugar, and MSG, this seasoning has earned a permanent spot next to our stoves. It possesses the unique ability to deepen the flavor profile of almost anything it touches, from simple microwave popcorn to complex soups and dumpling sauces.

The balance of the blend is striking—it is neither overwhelmingly sweet nor excessively salty, but rather acts as a flavor enhancer that makes food taste more like itself, only better. It is, perhaps, dangerously addictive. A simple bowl of popcorn, once dusted with a generous coating of Jugaad It!, becomes something far more compelling. It is a reminder that the best pantry additions are often the simplest ones, providing a reliable, flavor-forward boost to the daily meals we prepare at home.