Equipping a New York Kitchen (in two levels)
As always buy the best you can afford, acquire gradually and ask for pieces as gifts- granted you may not get the same adrenaline rush as when your purchase shoes or golf clubs but we have to keep our eyes on the prize! I have categorized into two levels so as not to overwhelm.
Level One
Service: Service for eight: dinner plates, salad or small plates, bowls, silverware
Glassware: Glasses, minimum of eight to allow for beverage and water (while they do not need to match exactly they should be free of cartoon characters and in set (meaning, if you have two sets of four nice glasses that qualifies as eight). Wine glasses (six to eight) these do not necessarily need to be stem, I love small French juice glasses for wine as they are multi-use and less likely to be tipped over when perched on a coffee table.
Pots/Pans:
2 sauce pans (2 and 3 quart with lids)
1 large stockpot (8 quart)
2 skillets 8” and 10” with lids
1 vegetable steamer/collander
Bowls/Dishes:
2 quart round casserole
2 glass ceramic baking dishes (or casserole dishes) - one square and one rectangular
Set of mixing bowls. (A set of clear glass nesting bowls is ideal because they can be used for both cooking and serving)
Utensils
Good knives are the most important part of any kitchen and if properly cared for will last a lifetime. The most versatile knife is an 8” chef’s knife. A long serrated knife should be second on your list. Sometimes you can get deals on entire sets but knives can also be purchased individually. Take good care of your knives to protect both them and your fingers! I find a knife block to be the safest and most convenient storage
Spatula, spoons (wooden and stainless) it is often possible to buy a basic stainless set of utensils
Set of measuring spoons and cups. Some say you need a set for both wet and dry- I throw caution to the wind and invest in a good set of stainless for dry then a large glass all purpose- until you get your butler’s pantry anyway!
Kitchen Tongs- you can never have to many- and you look real professional once you master the wrist action
Rubber spatula
Long-handled Fork
Potato Masher (the type with the waves - not holes)
Wire Whisk
Kitchen Scissors
Wire mesh strainer- at least 8” wide
Can opener
Food grater (box or flat)
Vegetable peeler
Set of ramekins – a bevy of multiple uses for these!
Small and large cutting boards- again can be used for cooking and also make fabulous platters- particularly for cheese
Small spreaders/cheese knives
Good salt shaker and pepper grinder
Corkscrew/Bottle Opener
Other:
Blender
Coffee Maker (electric or French press) if you have space and drink coffee yourself go for both.
Tea Kettle
Mini food processor (may sound fancy but these relatively inexpensive appliances have myriad uses and will cut your prep time in half)
Platters- as mentioned cutting boards are great for this but you will need at least one large and one small platter for actual serving.
A set of good kitchen towels
Level Two (when you have ventured into baking and beyond…..)
Hand Mixer
Stand Mixer- if you are a baker this is a must- my main criteria for a recent sideboard purchase for my kitchen (okay it actually divides my kitchen from my living room) was that it had to have a cabinet larger enough to accommodate the mix monster).
3 Cake Pans (9” round)
Loaf Pan
2 baking sheets with rim
Glass pie plate
Melon Baller
Muffin Tin – for 12
Pastry Bag and tips
Pizza Wheel
Springform Pan
Tart Pan
Rolling Pin
Thermometer (meat and candy)
Wire Cooling Rack
Off-set spatula
Angel Food Cake Pan
Pastry Brush
A 2-burner griddle (I love this)! Grill pan on one side and flat griddle on the other. This pan can turn the smallest stove into an enormous cooking surface. Great for grilling meat and frying eggs and cooking pancakes.
Other:
Candles (it’s nice to have a variety of sizes but the best bet is the bags of tea lights)
available at the big box stores as well as Ikea. Just don’t forget to remove the candles from the little aluminum sleeves. Sometimes you can find tea lights in little clear plastic holders. Buy a set of these and then refill the plastic holders with one of the bagged votives. You can usually find cheap glass coasters- buy a set of these not only for glasses but set the candles in these- keeps the candles from spilling over and also adds a nice touch. Always buy unscented- you don’t want to compete with the food and you can’t go wrong. I always go white as well- but this is your space. Collect matches from all of your restaurant visits and keep them in an easily accessible, pretty box- I keep mine in a red leather box along with my coasters).
Cloth napkins, keep your eyes open as these are everywhere and in great colors and patterns have endless uses. I have both dinner and cocktail size. Cloth napkins are great for the environment and can often serve as impromptu splashes of color and protection over tables when serving food and drink. They all can be dropped off at the laundry and depending on your level of fastidiousness either be ironed or just spritzed with some water and smoothed out prior to use.
Taking Stock
Equipping a New York Kitchen (in two levels)
Stocking the Pantry