September 30, 2013

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Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Donald M. Rattner.

The five-piece Steam Tower by Menu takes the best qualities and techniques of the traditional Asian steam cooker and adapts them to contemporary use by means of innovative, modular and elegant Scandinavian design.

To prepare a meal, the Tower components are stacked above the porcelain water-filled base and placed in the oven. When the water vaporizes, the steam circulates through the oven and the perforated openings in the base of the upper components, cooking the food while retaining its moisture. Since the steam doesn’t transfer taste among foods, it’s an ideal way of cooking fish, meat, vegetables and dessert together at the same time.

Not only does that cut down on successive cooking times, it also helps the environment by using fuel more efficiently. And, being attractive enough to go straight to table for serving, there are fewer dishes to wash after the meal – another time and energy-saver. Made from white porcelain. Designed by Christian Bjørn.

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July 9, 2013

PalaceEditor’s note: This is a guest post from Donald M. Rattner.

Unique, functional, modular and playful, the Palace tableware collection from Seletti was designed by Alessandro Zambelli. Among the pieces making up this miniature city are towers, palazzos, villas – even a baptistry. Setting a table has rarely been so much fun, or creative. Plates, bowls, glasses, soup and cheese containers disguised as architecture are all stackable, beautifully shaped and decorated in the classic style of the Italian Renaissance. There’s even a collection of cutlery in the shape of old keys to top it off.

The Palace Collection is especially suited for environments where space is at a premium, since sets can be placed on shelves or tabletops as attractive display pieces when not in use, rather than have to be stored inside cabinets. Decoration and function unite in a seamless whole.

Made in Italy from Dolomite Porcelain. Purchase here.

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February 4, 2013

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Pools is a minimalist collection of stoneware by Vancouver based design studio Fleet Objects. The line consists of plates, bowls and other types of multifunctional vessels that can be combined or used separately in many different ways. The pieces can work equally well as tableware for serving food and drink, vases for displaying flowers, containers for storing things, or all of these purposes depending on the occasion. Minimalist and multifunctional – the two of my favorite m-words… Add to this a well-thought-out color scheme that allows you to mix and match these pieces and always strike a beautiful combination. They make a great gift too. Available for purchase here

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