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In our series “Shopping Buddy,” we ask our favorite in-the-know authors, actors, musicians, and tastemakers to share their most coveted home purchases, from kitchen essentials to entertaining must-haves, so that you can shop along with confidence.
Ask food personality and record producer Benny Blanco what a party at his house is like, and he’ll tell you: “I like to bring all walks of life together,” he says. “Unexpected pairings are my forte.”
Then things get a little Stefon-like: “My mom will walk in with a glitter shirt that says ‘Bada bing’ on it, while a baby is carrying around a wheel of Parmesan that weighs as much as they do, and somehow out of the corner of your eye you spot Ed Sheeran playing a guitar poolside, as a 75-year-old man does a cannonball into the Jacuzzi.” To which we reply—where’s our invite?
Here, in his own words, the man behind Open Wide, his cookbook about serving up epic meals for friends, shares his favorite cooking essentials for when company’s coming over.
My Favorite Countertop Appliance
The One Knife That Does It All
I have a trusty all purpose Japanese knife from Japanese Knife Imports. I don’t really use knives that patina because I have too many people in my kitchen who wanna cut a lemon, so I want a knife that’s stainless steel.
My Preferred Pans
It depends on what I’m cooking, but I feel like everyone needs a really good stainless steel pan and a really good cast-iron pan. Don’t wash your cast iron with soap unless you’re stupid.
The Salad Spinner I Rely On
Whichever one Jess Damuck [who cowrote Open Wide] bought for me. She’s the salad freak.
The Food Storage I Buy in Bulk
Anything glass.
The Most Underrated Cooking Tool
A good zester. You’d be surprised how many people don’t have a zester.
The Single-Use Kitchen Tool You Actually Need
The Best Speaker to Keep in the Kitchen
Whatever speakers you’ve got. It’s music, baby.
The Splurge That’s Worth It
The Serving Platters I Always Use During Parties
Something huge so everyone can get their hands in it.