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In our series “Shopping Buddy,” we ask our favorite in-the-know authors, actors, musicians, and tastemakers to share their most coveted home purchases, from kitchen essentials to entertaining must-haves, so that you can shop along with confidence.
Ask food personality and record producer Benny Blanco what a party at his house is like, and he’ll tell you: “I like to bring all walks of life together,” he says. “Unexpected pairings are my forte.”
Then things get a little Stefon-like: “My mom will walk in with a glitter shirt that says ‘Bada bing’ on it, while a baby is carrying around a wheel of Parmesan that weighs as much as they do, and somehow out of the corner of your eye you spot Ed Sheeran playing a guitar poolside, as a 75-year-old man does a cannonball into the Jacuzzi.” To which we reply—where’s our invite?
Open Wide by Benny Blanco with Jess Damuck, Amazon
Here, in his own words, the man behind Open Wide, his cookbook about serving up epic meals for friends, shares his favorite cooking essentials for when company’s coming over.
My Favorite Countertop Appliance
Zojirushi 5.5-Cup Pressure Induction Heating Rice Cooker, Amazon
The One Knife That Does It All
Gesshin Stainless 210MM Wa-Gyuto , Japanese Knife Imports
I have a trusty all purpose Japanese knife from Japanese Knife Imports. I don’t really use knives that patina because I have too many people in my kitchen who wanna cut a lemon, so I want a knife that’s stainless steel.
My Preferred Pans
HexClad Hybrid Nonstick Frying Pan, 10-Inch, Amazon
Bruntmor Pre-Seasoned Frying Pan Set, Amazon
10u0022 Cast Iron Pan, Matheson
It depends on what I’m cooking, but I feel like everyone needs a really good stainless steel pan and a really good cast-iron pan. Don’t wash your cast iron with soap unless you’re stupid.
The Salad Spinner I Rely On
OXO Good Grips Large Salad Spinner, Amazon
Whichever one Jess Damuck [who cowrote Open Wide] bought for me. She’s the salad freak.
The Food Storage I Buy in Bulk
Pyrex Freshlock 14-Piece Glass Food Storage Set, Amazon
Anything glass.
The Most Underrated Cooking Tool
Microplane Premium Zester Grater, Amazon
A good zester. You’d be surprised how many people don’t have a zester.
The Single-Use Kitchen Tool You Actually Need
OXO Good Grips Garlic Press, Amazon
The Best Speaker to Keep in the Kitchen
Klipsch Heritage Wireless The One II Tabletop Stereo, Amazon
Whatever speakers you’ve got. It’s music, baby.
The Splurge That’s Worth It
Ironwood Grill, Traeger
The Serving Platters I Always Use During Parties
Aerin Garden Bouquet Blue Scalloped Platter, Williams Sonoma
Daisy 13u0022 Cream Stoneware Platter by Leanne Ford, Crate & Barrel
Something huge so everyone can get their hands in it.