Side Orders: More cool stuff from Chicago home show

Touch T526S coffee brewer.
Touch T526S coffee brewer.

A few weeks ago, I introduced you to the top-five American-made kitchenwares that made their debut at the 2015 International Home + Housewares show in Chicago. Here are five more that I consider some of the coolest -- two for their new colors, two for their technology, and one other just because it makes such good sense. All will add some sparkle either to your cooking or to your cookware collection -- and they're all new for 2015 and available now.

* The Better Shredder. If you smoke chicken, beef brisket or pork butts and often spend time shredding them, you know what a pain it can be. Often you may opt for just cutting the meat in chunks rather than trying to shred it with two forks. The Better Shredder does the job for you. Just place a chunk of meat in the shredder, adjust the lid, turn the knobs and in seconds the meat comes out in perfect shreds. Where to find it: amazon.com, $19.99. Made in China.

photo Anne Braly
photo Trudeau and Co. Ombre professional pepper mill.
photo Fiestaware.

* Touch T526S coffee brewer. The coolest coffeemaker yet makes the hottest coffee ever. Just prepare your coffee as you would in most any other coffeemaker, then wait about 50 seconds as the water is heated to an astounding 200 degrees, the temperature suggested by the National Coffee Association for the best cup of java. It's much like you find in coffeehouses such as Starbucks. High temperature gets all the coffee flavor out of the beans. And Touch's refillable K-style cups are larger than the traditional single-serve cups. Sure, the machine will make a single cup of coffee, but you can also use the 26-ounce carafe that comes with it for multiple cups. The water tank is larger than most, too, holding 90 ounces, so you won't need to refill as often. Where to find it: touchbrew.com, $199. Made in China.

* Govino wine glasses. Stemless wine glasses are the rage in homes and restaurants across the country. For one thing, they look great; secondly, wine glasses with stems knock over so easily. But there are two problems with stemless glasses: Unless you have large hands, they are hard to hold onto, and wrapping your hand around the glass can warm the wine. Govino solves all that. The stemless glasses have a thumb notch on the side, allowing you to grasp the glass better, but it also keeps you from warming the wine, especially if you're hosting a wine tasting. Best yet, they are made from a lightweight polymer that looks like crystal but is totally shatterproof. Where to find it: wineenthusiast.com, $12.95 for a set of four; beer glasses and carafes also available. Made in California.

* Fiestaware. Remember your grandmother's colorful dishes? There's a good chance that Fiestaware was included her collection. The look has changed, though. Every year, the company unveils its latest colors, and this season they were revealed as sage, slate and ivory. The colors are best described as mid-century modern, and they'll go with all other colors in your Fiestaware collection. Where to find it: fiestaware.com and macys.com; individual pieces priced $5.99 to $179. Made in West Virginia since 1936.

* Trudeau and Co. Ombre professional pepper mills. Color was key at this year's home show, and Trudeau and Co.'s booth came alive with the different hues of the season. Of particular note were the beautiful pepper mills -- meant for show, not tucked away in the cabinet. "There'a a big trend of consumers taking their salt and pepper mills from the kitchen into the dining room," says Carol Ientile, spokeswoman for Trudeau. The colors this year are dual-toned shades in your choice of red, blue or aqua to add a splash of color to your table. Where to find them: shoptrudeau.com or surlatable.com; $79.99. Made in Canada.

* Gunter Wilhelm's 8-quart stockpot. From the outside, the stainless-steel crockpot looks little different from other top-end pots, but that's where it ends. Gunter Wilhelm cookware is made from stick-resistant 430 stainless steel, the kind that, unlike cheap stainless steel pots and pans, contains only trace amounts of nickel. So if you are a little wary about the nickel content in some stainless-steel cookware, Gunter Wilhelm is an excellent choice. It's used by White House chefs, if that tells you something. Also, all lids have a self-standing design that keeps them up and off the counter, resulting in less mess and clutter. Just pick one up and you can feel the difference. Where to find it: amazon.com; $129.99. Made in Germany and China.

While in Chicago ...

I'm usually not a fan of big cities, but when it comes to Chicago, I make an exception. There's just something about the city that fascinates me -- from its architecture to its myriad of places to go and restaurants to discover. I had one of the best steaks ever --the biggest Porterhouse I've ever seen, easily enough for three people to share -- at Gibson's Steakhouse. And at Xoco's, Chef Rick Bayless' new restaurant, I had an amazing Cuban sandwich. What the restaurant lacks in space, it makes up for in huge, bold flavors. Expect a wait, the place is about the size of a taco stand, but it's well worth it.

Contact Anne Braly at abraly@timesfreepress.com.

Upcoming Events