Tools & Gadgets
DishFish Launches Line of Super Scrubbers
DishFish has created a line of multipurpose sponges and non-scratch scrubbers designed to clean harder and smarter while staying fresh and odor-free longer.
The whimsical shape is more than merely playful. Its patent-pending shape feels comfortable in the hand and allows more effective cleaning in hard-to-reach spots. It’s designed to stand on its tail to allow quicker drying, which reduces mold, mildew and bacterial odors. The products are made from a specialized polyurethane foam infused with antimicrobial substances, which reduces the spread of E. coli.
DishFish dual-sided sponges a
nd scrubbers are six times more water-absorbent and two times more absorbent on grease and grime than competitors, the company says. It claims its scrubbers are two and a half times stronger than its competitors and are powerful enough to tackle baked-on grease in the kitchen and soap scum build-up in the bathroom.
The new line includes:
DishFish Scrubber, for use on dishes.
DishFish Dual, a sponge-scrubber made with PowerCell™ technology and ForeverFresh™ foam, which makes it ultra-absorbent and capable of “single-swipe” cleaning to get wipe-dry results. It’s designed for everyday household cleaning tasks.
DishFish Lil Scrubber, a smaller scouring pad.
GoFish Scrub Sponge, a larger dual sponge-scrubber suitable for on-the-go jobs or cleaning hobby equipment, including automotive, motorcycle, marine, RV, hunting and fishing applications.
GoFish Power Scrubber, an aggressive scrubber that can safely remove oxidation, tar, grease, bugs, biofouling and other tough outdoor stains.
DishFish says 92 percent of the consumers it queried prefer the DishFish Dual over their current scrubber-sponge.
Consumers can find savings in DishFish because it needs to be replaced once every six to 12 weeks, rather than the one- to two-week replacement schedule for regular sponge-scrubbers.
Kuhn Rikon Push Slicer Makes Prep Quick
The new Kuhn Rikon push slicer slices and dices fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, zucchini, mushrooms, and onions quickly and easily.
The device includes two blades and two pushers. To use, click the desired blade onto the container, then press the slicer onto the ingredient. The pusher base can be used to clear the blade before flipping the container over to retrieve perfectly chopped ingredients. The clear container has measurement marks for easy recipe prep, and also provides storage for extra ingredients using its included storage lid.
The container is microwave-safe. The Kuhn Rikon push slicer was designed in Switzerland and features a two-year guarantee. All pieces click together for easy storage as one compact unit. Suggested retail price is $30.
For more information, visit kuhnrikonshop.com.
Instagram-Worthy Accessories for Cheese Service
By Lorrie Baumann
This year’s winter gift shows featured a wide array of boards and condiment bowls for 2019’s cheese service and the Instagrammed photos that will be showing them off. From the subtle to the spectacular, these essential accessories are camera-ready for their close-ups and sturdy enough to stand up under the critiques of the social media commentariat.
Pacific Merchants Trading Company offers an array of options in its Acaciaware® line of hard wood trays and serving pieces. Its K0571 oval baguette board is 16.5 inches by 5.5 inches by 1 inch, and three sizes of square plates measure 7 inches square, 10 inches square and 12 inches square. Each is handcrafted, turned from a solid piece of acacia wood, also known as monkey pod wood, from the Philippines. The hard grain of Acaciaware repels liquids without picking up stains or odors, so while it’s not dishwasher safe (and it should never go into a microwave oven), it’s reasonably durable and easy to care for.
The wood is responsibly forested, and Pacific Merchants has an active replanting program to ensure sustainability and supports local communities with scholarships, lunch programs and free eyeglasses for those who need them, said Bruce Mannis, Pacific Merchants’ Owner. “Others talk about it. We actually do it,” he said. “I’ve been doing it for about 25 years.”
Slates from J.K. Adams are a collection of light gray or sea green stone serving pieces for cheese service. In round, oval, hexagonal and rectangular shapes, the Sea Green pieces include a little piece of soapstone that can be used to label them with the names of the cheeses sitting on top. After the event, the soapstone label wipes right off. The pieces have cork feet to protect the tables beneath them, and any one of them would make for a presentation worthy of the handcrafted cheeses and charcuterie of the most festive occasion. All of the items in the collections are American-made and guaranteed for life, and they can be engraved.
In addition to a range of bamboo boards that includes its Bambu Artisan Board in two sizes, Bambu offers Large Condiment Cups that would be perfect for jams and nuts. Each holds about 1/4 cup, and a set of two retails for $11.20. Bambu also offers a range of spreaders and a honey dipper. The utensils are certified organic by the U.S Department of Agriculture and they retail for around $2.50 to $5 each.
Talisman Design also offers an array of spreaders in three collections: Nature, Woodland and Bee as well as the Bee Cheeseboard. Made of beechwood harvested from a responsibly managed forest, these items are decorated with etched designs that won’t fade.
A Taste for Cheese is a brand new offering from Martin’s Home Wares. Made by an Amish Mennonite family that’s been in the business of making hand-crafted custom furniture since 1960 and then turned to smallwares about five years ago, these round cherry wood cheese service boards are laser-engraved with the names of various cheese styles. The 16-inch diameter board retails for $70, a 12-inch board retails for $54.95, and the 8-inch board retails for $29.95. A 12-inch by 20-inch cherry tray with wrought iron handles retails for $89.95.
Primeware’s Cambridge 5 Tier Server is multifunctional, as a five-tiered food display stand and as individual appetizer plates. Made of rubber wood, the plates come in a set of four with a base and stand. The plates can be stacked and assembled onto the display stand, then fanned out to be filled with cheeses and meats, or the piece can come apart to make individual cocktail plates designed to hold a wine glass so guests can move about without spilling their red wine onto their host’s carpet.
—
PowerCrush Blender Features 2 Blending Jars
The PowerCrush Digital Blender with Quiet Technology from Black + Decker is designed to effectively and quietly blend just about any ingredient in its 18-ounce personal jar. The on-the-go jar is made using BPA-free Tritan, making it incomparably durable and dishwasher safe along with the rest of the PowerCrush Digital Blender’s components.
The Black + Decker Infuser 3-In-1 Digital PowerCrush Blending System is a solution for everything from drinks to soups to crushed crumbs which can be safely blended in two sizes of blending jars made from shatterproof Tritan. The unique 6-cup blending jar made from BPA-free Tritan features an infuser for the easy addition of added flavor, while the 18-ounce jar is great for on the go. Both are easy to clean and dishwasher safe.
For more information, visit www.blackanddeckerappliances.com.
Finds from Las Vegas Market
We saw plenty of interesting things at Las Vegas Market recently. Here are some of our favorites.
Impwear Reversible Tub
Impwear, the maker of a line of aprons and table linens made from a buttery-soft and pliable oilcloth, now offers new fabrics and a new shape – the Reversible Tub. These waterproof containers are 6 inches in diameter and 8 inches tall, so they’ll fit around a 4-inch or 6-inch flower pot, and their maker recommends them to enhance the pots for succulents, sedums or any other kind of indoor or outdoor plants. They can also be used as a fruit basket or candy bowl or simply as a handy receptacle in which to toss the sunglasses by the front door. The Impwear Reversible Tub retails for $16 to $20.
J.K. Adams Porter End Grain Board
The Porter End Grain Board from J.K. Adams is new this year. It’s 17 inches by 12 inches, and since it’s only 1.5 inches thick with undercut handles on each end, it’s easily portable enough to carry from the kitchen counter to the dining table for carving, which is extremely unusual for an end-grain board. Made of American walnut, it’s a visually stunning statement piece that’s easy on knife blades. It retails for $150.
Bambu Cork Bowls
Bambu cork bowls are stain-resistant, water-resistant and machine-washable. The cork from which they’re made is an abundantly renewable natural resource, and the bowls make beautiful display pieces for fruit, serving bowls for bread rolls or hold-alls for the mail. They are offered in three sizes: a 6.5-inch diameter Mini Soft Cork Bowl that retails for $18, the 8-inch and a 10-inch bowl that retails for $28. Bambu also offers the 8-inch bowl in a limited edition that’s embossed with a swirling leaves pattern for added flair.
Vintage Inspired Utensils from Talisman Designs
This gorgeous line is inspired by the historical art of woodturning. High-quality nylon echoes the designs of spindles made on a lathe, but it’s dishwasher-safe and durable. A Mixing Spoon, Silicone Spatula, Balloon Whisk, and Dough Whisk each has its own spindle design, and they hang on diecut pegboard tags to enhance their retail appeal. The Silicone Spatula has a permanent debossed design on its head that won’t peel off, and the whisks are made with high-quality stainless steel for enduring beauty. They retail for $10.99 each.
Primeware Libation
Primeware Libation is a tote bag made of cork fabric with a hidden compartment for two bottles of wine. It’s insulated, and there’s a divider between the two bottles to keep them from clinking together. The eco-friendly cork fabric of the bag can be hand-decorated and personalized with an indelible marker or it can also be laser-engraved. The bag’s straps are made of vegan leather. It retails for $39.95, and it’s part of a line that includes several other models of drink purses, including a few designed to hold wine bladders, for those events that prohibit glass containers.
PG Fondues
PG Fondues is a line of Belgian fine chocolate fondues packaged in porcelain containers and designed to be heated in a microwave oven for three to four minutes for the 8-ounce container. Four-ounce containers are also offered. The line includes six dark chocolate varieties and two milk chocolate varieties. PG Fondues does not sell on Amazon, and the product is shipped across the U.S. from Florida. To help retailers offset shipping costs, the retailer who buys a case of 12 will pay for only 11. The 4-ounce fondue, packaged in a tin, retails for $10, and the 8-ounce stoneware container retails for $19.
Great Scrape
Great Scrape is a barbecue cleaning tool that has no wire bristles, so there’s no danger that wire bristles can detach from the tool and become embedded in the food that comes off that barbecue. It’s made of solid hardwood that burns when it comes into contact with the heated grill, so that its edge takes the shape of the grill’s bars. The Great Scrape will last for years, and it’s offered in four different models.
Heart Boards from Out of the Woods of Oregon
Out of the Woods of Oregon offers heart-shaped serving boards made of red alder, a sustainable hardwood grown in the Pacific Northwest, that will be in stock in March. The Small Heart Board is 8 inches by 8 inches; the Large Heart Board is 11 inches by 11 inches.
For more on this year’s Las Vegas Market, visit www.lasvegasmarket.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.