Top Chef Alum Eric Adjepong Reveals the One Kitchen Item That Pays for Itself
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Fan-favorite Top Chef alum Eric Adjepong has added several new accomplishments to his resume since leaving the Bravo cooking show: TV host, ambassador, and kitchenware designer. Needless to say, he's been busy, and not just in the kitchen. In his new Food Network series, Wildcard Kitchen, a group of chefs compete in a culinary game of poker where they face unpredictable challenges for a chance to win and walk away a high roller. While contestants are taking risks on Wildcard Kitchen, Eric is betting big on something else — this summer's entertaining trend. He expects to see lots of punch bowls filled with delicious drinks. "I think it'll do numbers this summer," says Eric. "I'm super excited about that, but I think just in general people are super excited to celebrate each other outside, doing more outside activities."
He's so confident in his hand that he even created his very own punch bowl (which is absolutely gorgeous by the way) as part of his exclusive collection with Crate & Barrel. But his collection doesn't stop there. He's also designed serving platters, dishes, cutting boards and other kitchen essentials that harken back to his West African and NYC roots. "The food, clothing, and jewelry that influenced this collection bring important parts of my past to people's kitchens and living rooms to make cooking and entertaining pieces as functional art," says Eric.
And as if that wasn't enough, he's also been named as an ambassador to Save the Children — an organization that helps improve the lives of children worldwide — alongside celebs like Jennifer Garner, Enrique Iglesias, and Olivia Wilde. In the past, Eric worked with the organization to moderate discussions on food insecurity and even led a cooking demonstration at a fundraising event in his hometown of Fairfield, Connecticut.
At the end of the day though, Eric is a chef at heart, which is why we asked him to share what's in his kitchen so that we can all channel our inner Top Chef. From the inexpensive essential he always repurchases to the kitchen tool he's had the longest, Eric's picks are worth shopping.
"This pan [is] my go to, it's an everyday pan that's durable and easy to clean," says Eric. "[I]t kind of pays for itself after a while."
"I used this [spoon] for pretty much everything. This spoon is like the extension of my arm."
"[This is] The go to source for seasonality, flavor profiles, and cuisine. I reference this book so many times in the year."
"[This apron is] Chic, functional and comfortable."
"This punch bowl is going to set spring and summer time records!"
"This knife is light weight, razor sharp, and the hybrid between a trusty restaurant quality."
"As a single father this easy to operate oven is the perfect tool to help make dinner for me and daughter or just by myself. It has every cooking function you could possibly want and is pretty fun to use."
The one item Eric always buys on sale? "A really great quality [olive oil] like a Graza. You can cook with it as well, you can blend it and make sauces out of it, so I would definitely say if you ever see a really great brand reduction on virgin olive oil to pick that up. You can never have enough."
Eric designed these West African inspired plates exclusively for Crate&Barrel and it will make any dish pop.
The one inexpensive essential Eric always rebuys for his kitchen? "Cake Thermometers are not only good for cakes, but getting temperatures on like steaks, testing things honestly so I use quite a lot of Cake Thermometers and they go by fast. I'm not really sure where they go, but they're always gone."
The cooking tool that Eric has had the longest? "Probably my Vitamix. I just bought a new one, but before that I had one for quite some time."
"Next thing is a wire whisk like the pronged ones. I had that in my kitchen for some time and I use it quite often making pancakes, stirring things. It's always handy. It's always nearby."
These $19-and-up lashes from your favorite Real Housewives of New York star Jenna Lyons work for everyday wear, date night, and beyond.
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