As professionals who write about food, home cooking, and kitchen gadgets for a living, the editors at Bon Appétit find themselves constantly surrounded by a wide and eclectic range of products. Between their own deliberate purchases and the endless stream of commercial samples arriving at their desks, there is always something new making its way into their workspaces and residential kitchens. Each month, the team rounds up the standout items they have rigorously tested or bought themselves—products that have genuinely changed the way they cook, eat, and manage their living spaces.
September’s curated selection of favorites spans a remarkably diverse array of categories, ranging from a savory, put-it-on-everything spice blend and a clever cookware storage solution to an unexpected skincare collaboration from one of the internet’s favorite tinned fish brands.
Hors D’Oeuvres Cocktail Napkins
For social media manager Cristina Correa, elevating a casual gathering often comes down to the smallest decorative details. Correa recently added a touch of whimsy to her snack table by acquiring a set of Hors D’Oeuvres Cocktail Napkins from Piecework. While she acknowledges that such linens are not strictly necessary when hosting friends and family, she champions the philosophy that home cooks should more frequently invest in tiny details that make gatherings feel unique and romanticize everyday life. These whimsical napkins provide an immediate conversation starter and an elevated aesthetic for anyone looking to upgrade their hosting game.
Quince Magnetic Knife Block
Storage challenges in the kitchen often require creative problem-solving, a lesson learned firsthand by senior shopping and reviews editor Olivia Tarantino. Tarantino noted that her mother had kept chef’s knives jumbled haphazardly in a drawer ever since renovating her kitchen two decades ago. Despite gifting her upgraded knives year after year, Tarantino had never thought to address the underlying storage issue. While a wall-mounted magnetic strip is a popular industry standard, her mother’s distinct style of kitchen decor lacked the necessary wall space, and traditional wooden knife blocks were quickly ruled out after Tarantino learned how prone they are to accumulating interior grime and bacteria.
The ultimate solution came in the form of a double-sided magnetic knife stand from Quince. Crafted from wood, which is inherently gentle and soft on sharp blades, the stand holds up to eight knives—four per side—which is more than enough capacity for daily cooking needs. The compact design tucks neatly onto the countertop, while its black walnut finish blends seamlessly into the classic kitchen aesthetic.
Salad for President Dressing Mixes
Home cooks who have long admired the artistically minded cookbooks and staunchly pro-vegetable culinary perspective of Julia Sherman can now take advantage of her recipes through Salad for President, her expanding line of dressing mixes. Designed to make the humble salad the undisputed star of the meal, Sherman launched the brand with three versatile mixes that can accompany a myriad of culinary creations: Lemon Poppy, Miso Ginger, and Umami Caesar.
Crafted with entirely vegan and gluten-free ingredients to appeal to the widest possible network of eaters, the dressings come to life by simply whisking the dry mix with citrus juice and everyday fats that home cooks likely already keep stocked in their kitchens. Test kitchen editor Rebecca Firkser explored the line and found that the utility of the mixes extends far beyond traditional greens. The blends can be used straight from the envelope as a dry rub for meat, as a savory base for party dips, or even as a specialized seasoning for popcorn. Firkser specifically noted pairing the miso-ginger flavor with soba noodles, crumbled tofu, and a drizzle of tahini; using the Caesar mix to elevate a homemade chicken salad; and blending the lemon poppyseed with fresh soft herbs and Greek yogurt to create a green goddess-style dip suitable for both crunchy vegetables and potato chips.
Scrappy’s Celery Bitters
For cooking director Emma Laperruque, the ritual of the after-work drink has evolved into a simpler, non-alcoholic affair centered around bitters and seltzer. Praised as the ideal refreshing beverage that feels like a treat while remaining inexpensive and headache-free, Laperruque’s routine recently shifted from classic aromatic bitters to celery bitters produced by Scrappy’s, a small-batch brand based in Seattle. The botanical addition provides a vegetal, savory undercurrent that delivers the nostalgic refreshment of an old-school celery soda without the cloying, heavy sweetness.
Gold Ridge Meyer Lemon Olive Oil
Exploring the agricultural landscape of Northern California often reveals regions that rival the Mediterranean, characterized by sun-bleached grasses contrasting sharply against the lush emerald of sprawling vineyards and abundant olive groves. During a summer visit to Gold Ridge Organic Farms in Sebastopol, site director Rachel Tepper Paley discovered an operation that cultivates a diverse range of Mediterranean olives, including the Frantoio, Arbequina, and Picholine varieties.
Paley was particularly moved by the estate’s Meyer Lemon Olive Oil, which delivers a bright aroma and fragrant citrus notes on the palate that gently uplift the inherent bitter spice of the oil. The olives are co-milled directly with Meyer lemons grown on-site, ensuring that the final product is genuinely flavored by the fruit rather than artificial additives or chemical flavorings. Ideal as a finishing oil or as the foundation for vibrant salad dressings, the product has earned a dedicated following, including long-time buyers like the acclaimed fine-dining establishment Lazy Bear in San Francisco.
Dieux x Fishwife Glowing Skin Bundle
In one of the more unexpected cross-industry collaborations of the season, the beloved tinned fish brand Fishwife teamed up with Dieux, a skincare company celebrated for its reusable silicone eye masks. Editorial operations manager Kate Kassin admitted to doing a double take upon learning that Fishwife was venturing into skincare products designed to brighten and hydrate the under-eye area.
The resulting collaboration pairs skincare items you can wear with tinned fish you can eat, such as the brand’s popular sardines with preserved lemons, which are naturally rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Featuring the characteristically playful and charming design aesthetic that Fishwife is known for, the eye patches allow fans to practice self-care at home while enjoying a tin of seafood. The patches are available for purchase on their own or bundled directly with the brand’s tinned fish, though consumers can rest assured that there is no actual seafood incorporated into the skincare product itself.
Wall Control Kitchen Pegboard
Relocating across the country to San Francisco presented a significant spatial challenge for shopping and reviews writer Alaina Chou, who had to leave behind a relatively spacious New York City apartment kitchen. Confronted with a new setup severely lacking in cabinet space, Chou immediately ordered a heavy-duty metal pegboard from Wall Control to serve as an organizational solution for an extensive cookware collection. Sturdy and straightforward to install, the industrial-style board successfully transformed a blank, underutilized wall into functional storage space.
Jugaad It!
Rounding out the month’s favorite finds is a seasoning blend from Spicewalla dubbed "Jugaad It!" Described by Olivia Tarantino as the Swiss Army knife of pantry seasonings, the blend consists of a precise combination of salt, sugar, and MSG. Designed to be kept within arm’s reach of the stove, the seasoning enhances everything from microwave popcorn and comforting soups to savory dumpling dipping sauces. Striking a careful balance that avoids being overly sweet or aggressively salty, the blend deepens the fundamental flavor profile of nearly any dish it touches, making home-cooked snacks and meals addictively savory.