bougie on a budget: kitchen favs
a few of my must have items for the bougiest kitchen imaginable
I spend a lot of time in my small galley kitchen because I cook almost every day. I love how it’s slightly separated from my living space (hello studio apartment life) and there’s enough room to make it as cute as possible.
This is my first time living alone (a blessed 5 years this November) and I must admit, I went a little HAM when I was shopping to stock my kitchen. I learned a long time ago that having nice things in a communal space is not ideal, especially when your roomies have differing ideas on how to take care of things (RIP to many a dish and pot).
But since I am my own keeper, I started to stock my kitchen with the cutest and bougiest things I could find. A lot of these items came with time (I did not discover smoked AND spicy Maldon until this year), but I would not having the bougie kitchen/pantry of my dreams without these items.
01. Marble Salt Cellar: I mean how freaking CUTE is this? When I first moved, I had a wooden salt cellar but discovered this marble and gold version a few years ago. It matches a marble tray that I rest my dish soap and handsoap on.
02. Maldon Chili Sea Salt: A must, must have if you want a bougie kitchen. Maldon is a flaky sea salt from France and this version is so freakin good. It’s smoky and spicy — two of my favorite flavor profiles. There’s also OG Maldon and a smoked salt version. If you’re truly ballin on a budget, cop the bucket of Maldon.
03. Vintage Brass Trivet: When “designing” my perfect bougie kitchen, I knew I wanted to bring in vintage elements for sustainability and uniqueness. This seashell brass trivet reminded me of something I had as a kid and I knew I needed my own version for my house. Etsy and eBay are excellent sources for finding these.
04. Daphnis & Chloe Greek Thyme Flowers: I know, I know, this is probably to bougiest thing on this list, but hear me out. These beauties were in a gift bag from a food event I attended with my good friend Klancy. I didn’t even know that thyme could flower but once I tasted them, there was no going back. I love adding them to my pearl couscous, eggs and even sliced cucumbers. Daphnis & Chloe, sources directly from Greece and has other spices like Smoked Chili Flakes and Oregano. If you’re in NYC, Happier Grocery carries them!
05. Eye-Catching Cutting Boards: If you have limited space like I do and keep your cutting boards on display, they might as well be cute! I bought a customized Zodiac cutting board for my friend Nia as a gift for her new home but also love the idea of a checkered Acacia Wood board.
06. Yuzu Kosho: The day I discovered Yuzu Kosho was truly a gift from God herself. I used to be a member of a really cool cookbook club and one month we made recipes from Japanese Home Cooking. One of the members made a DIY hand-roll bar and Yuzu Kosho was one of the many toppings available. I’d never seen it before, let a long heard of it but the moment I tasted it, it was game over. It is a bold, zesty Japanese condiment that packs a citrusy punch with a spicy kick that comes in two distinct versions. Green yuzu kosho is made with green chili peppers and unripe green yuzu peel, giving it a sharp, fresh, and fiery flavor. Red yuzu kosho uses red chili peppers and ripe yellow yuzu peel, resulting in a slightly sweeter, deeper heat with a more fermented, rounded flavor. I love using them in ramen, marinades and in crab salad for hand-rolls.
07. Vintage Indonesian Pink Glass Dishes: Again, when building my perfect kitchen, I knew I wanted to snag some vintage dishes. While searching, I came across this stunning style of blush pink glass that was very popular in the ‘70s. I was able to grab three plates and three salad bowls from a seller on Etsy. There are still a lot of listings available but there are also modern versions available online.
08. Graza Drizzle Olive Oil: I am a B2C company’s dream. All it takes is some sleek marketing on Instagram and I am sold. That is how I discovered Graza Olive Oil and have never looked back. I’ll admit I have their Sizzle Olive Oil and Olive Oil Spray versions at home but really love their Drizzle version. It’s a finishing olive oil that makes for amazing salad dressings or that je ne sais qoui you need to round out a dish. I love the squeeze bottle design and it makes it incredibly easy to control the flow — there’s no dousing your food on accident here!
09. Cravings by Chrissy Teigen 3 Piece Knife Set: Ok hear me out…I did buy a Cravings knife block before Ms. Teigen was canceled a few years ago but got this set last year and I LOVE it #notashamed. These knives are so beautifully made and look way more expensive than they actually are. I also have a shit ton of her cookware. Look — her social media etiquette might’ve been ass but girl knows how to make good kitchen gear.
Honorable Mentions
Cloud 23 Hot Habanero Sauce: As one of Brooklyn Beckham’s many ventures, he really got it right with this hot sauce. It is really flavorful and spicy (without it being overwhelming). The bottle design is also deliciously bougie and would look great sitting on your counter.
Shibori Tie-Dye Tea Towels: I got the teal version of these during the Tie-Dye craze of 2020 (hello COVID activities). This seller only has the blue variety but there’s many versions available online.
Mama Lil’s Kick Butt Peppers: Holyyyyyyyy shit these things are SO good. I discovered these after watching this account on TikTok that makes stunning cheese, veggie and meat plates. They are briny and spicy. I love putting them in marinades, salad dressings and just eating them on a baguette with butter, cheese and cold cuts. The oil the peppers are in also make for an amazing base for dipping oil or even frying eggs.
Shop some of the items featured on my list here.
What items do ya’ll think I should add to this list? Can’t wait to hear what ideas ya’ll have!
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Got the bucketof maldon at Costco!