August, to me, means shopping: Dorm shopping, back-to-school shopping, end-of-summer shopping. Itâs the month when my mom would let my siblings and I buy a brand-new pair of shoes for the academic year, and the only time my lunch box didnât look like itâd been run over by a lawn mower.
Even though my school days are behind me, I (along with the rest of my colleagues) still have shopping top of mind this August. For this monthâs Whatâs in Epi Staffâs Carts? weâve got our eyes on versatile (yet highly underrated) kitchen tools, cookbooks, a goofy garlic press, and more.
Mezcla: Recipes to Excite by Ixta Belfrage
If I were going to preorder one cookbook right now, thereâs no question that it would be this one. Ixta Belfrage is part of the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen team, but she brings her own personal style to this book, influenced by roots in Brazil, Italy, and Mexico. Her flavors are bold and brilliant, and while the dishes from this chef would be showstoppers in a restaurant, theyâre not too fussy to make at home. Tomato salad with chile oil and crumpet croutons, Iâm coming for you. âMaggie Hoffman, digital director
Fish spatula
Despite having edited multiple love letters to the fish spatulaâand having been convinced by those love letters that itâs the very best tool for all manner of flipping and fryingâI have never actually purchased one. I continued to rely on the random metal spatula that came in an Ikea set my roommate bought and left behind in college. No more. Iâve decided I need this elegant, extra-thin number for my eggs, cookies, and yes, fish. âEmily Johnson, associate commerce director
Garlic crusher
Bram Stokerâs Dracula might not like garlic, but this Gracula garlic crusher that I stumbled across a few weeks ago sure seems to. This is definitely one of those âfound at 2 a.m. while mindlessly scrolling through Amazonâ kind of products. Itâs silly, itâs frivolous, and I have no real need for it, but oh, do I want itâand Iâm just one more late night away from hitting buy. âMegan Wahn, associate editor
Steel measuring cups
We went to visit some dear friends a few weekends back. As soon as we started cooking togetherâthe killer buldak-style grilled chicken from Susan Kim and Lauren Schaefer for dinner, easy buttermilk pancakes for brunchâI realized my friends were seriously lacking in the measuring cup department. The labels on their plastic measuring cups had rubbed off, so it was your guess whether you were adding â or Âœ cup of something. The moment I got home, I ordered them a long-overdue housewarming gift: a set of the kind of measuring cups thatâll last a lifetime. âM.H.
Graf Lantz felt coasters
Felt coasters are the best because they donât do that thing where they stick to the bottom of your glass and then crash back down onto the table. Theyâre also a great housewarming gift! âWilder Davies, staff writer
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Machine washable dishwashing gloves
Four words: MACHINE. WASHABLE. DISHWASHING. GLOVES!!! I recently moved and decided to purchase them, and if you ask me, these are a truly life-changing pair of dishwashing gloves. These durable vinyl gloves are lined with cotton for comfort and will protect your hands from hot, hot water and cleaning products. Theyâre also easy to keep cleanâwhen they get grimy, you can just toss them into your washing machine! âGenevieve Yam, assistant editor
Emile Henry deep food storage bowl
My sister has had the larger version of this fruit and onion bowl for a few months and every time I visit, I see it on her kitchen counter and feel a strike of envy. I have a few bowls that I use for this kind of storage, so I havenât plunged in to buy my own. But I have limited space and the idea of having onions and potatoes hidden in the ceramic bowl below, with ready-to-eat fruit displayed on the cork top (which acts as a fruit fly deterrent) grows more and more appealing every day. âJoe Sevier, cooking and SEO editor
Snow Peak fire tool setÂ
Usually when I go camping, moving logs and coals around the fire pit for cooking is handled by a melted, warped, totally crusty set of extra-long dollar store tongs that are on the verge of breaking. So, of course, Iâve fantasized about owning a tool thatâs actually designed for this task. This is why the Snow Peak Fire Tool Set Pro is in my shopping cart (and might stay there until next yearâs camping season kicks off). The set of tools is fitted with attractive bamboo handles and they all pack into a slim bag with a handle for easy carting. âAnna Hezel, senior editor
