Spices Dressed Up As Condiments (Don’t) Shake It Up

‘Mustard & Ketchup’ Ceramic Shaker Set

I like these, if only because of the fact they don’t bug me. I better explain that: the salt is where the salt should be and the pepper is where the pepper should be. In other words, somebody was paying attention. If forced to choose which spice would dress up as which condiment, I’d have to go with salt/ketchup and mustard/pepper, just like these salt and pepper shakers.

The Tag Earthenware Ketchup and Mustard Salt and Pepper Shakers gets it right. Mustard can carry a bit of heat just like pepper can, and salt, well, as king of the spices it seems right at home masquerading as king of the condiments. Of course, the designer could have just guessed—they did have a 50/50 chance to get it right after all. And then again, the ketchup does kinda look like a bottle of hotsauce…

A Square Placemat For A Round Table

Round Table Neoprene Placemats

You would think that not a lot of thought goes into placemats; they basically are just crumb catchers designed to mask sloppy eating habits, right? Other than the actual design that is printed upon them, you would be right to conclude that there isn’t much to them. Which is why the darn things are always, always rectangular.

For those that find themselves with a round table in their lives, they wish that a little thought would go into placemat design. They can bring ice cream to the moon, but they can’t bring a proper placemat to the table, these round-tablers might think. Unless they found themselves a set of these Round Table Neoprene Placemats. Cut to fit round tables, these placemats fit squarely flush against the edge of round tables just like a good placemat should. Good news for those who are tired of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole–or just the round table sloppy eaters who happen to need every inch of coverage.

Eat By Numbers

Placesetting Placemat Donkey Products

I have about as much patience for place settings as I do for utensil drawer dividers. Granted, it’s a lot easier to just reach for a fork or a butter knife when you know where it is, but I’m still going to just toss freshly-cleaned utensils into the drawer and let them fall where they may. Same goes for place settings: instead of following a prescribed pattern, utensils on my table fall naturally to where they are most beneficial.

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Don’t Teach These Dogs To Play Fetch (That’s Because They Are Knives)

Kuhn Rikon kinderkitchen Kids’ Dog Knives

One may not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, but there are some dogs you probably shouldn’t try to teach any tricks. Aside from knife throwing and that knife between the fingers tabletop thing, there just aren’t that many good things to do with a kitchen knife aside from the preparation of food. Especially when it comes to kids’ knives.

More bark than bite, the Kuhn Rikon kinderkitchen Kids’ Dog Knives are specially designed with kids in mind and feature blades that are just sharp enough to cut through soft foods. Available in either a serrated version or not, the bright designs are intended to attract kids into the kitchen which actually might be the best trick of all.

Safe To Touch After Handling: Chili Grinder

Alessi Piccantino Chilli Cruncher designed by Jim Hannon-Tan

Nuclear-hot red chili peppers add a decisive kick to what could be an otherwise boring meal. However it’s exactly the fact that they are so damn hot that can make them too hot to handle. Literally. Releasing endorphins is great and all, but it doesn’t count if they’re triggered via hot pepper in the eye. The same volatile oil that can make eating hot pepper so enjoyable, is the same one that can stick to the fingers and end up in the most unwelcome of places.

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