The Euro is higher than the hemlines this summer, and with burgeoning industry, balanced diets, and public transportation as chic and affordable as ever, let’s face it: Europeans are living better than we are. But fear not: I’ve just returned from touring the Continent - Italy, specifically - and managed to pick up some key pieces that make life stateside a tad bit easier along the way. Case in point, the Italian stovetop espresso machine:

It’s small, cheap, simple, and brews a better macchiato than your hulky electric device that broke after two years and cost you a month’s rent - and the zinger is, they’ve had them since seriously forever. Invented in 1933 by an Italian named Bialetti, who no doubt took his espresso very seriously, these chic little aluminum pieces give your fifth floor walk-up one-bedroom that Heiress-Slumming-It je ne sais quois - as opposed to the dreaded Post-Grad-Winging-It grunge.

(classic Bialetti model pictured, $25-50 at espressozone.com)

Sure, who wouldn’t want one of these shiny big boys for Christmas? The KitchenAid stand mixer is one of the ultimate tools in the kitchen, especially if you are (or want to be) a baker. But it turns out there’s more to this baby than just beauty and brawns: A lifetime guarantee that they actually make good on. As reported in Consumerist, consumer Robin encountered heartbreak when her four-year-old mixer suffered a magnificent death, with deafening noises, smoke and all. For a modest $35, KitchenAid sent Robin an estimation kit, which allowed her to send her baby in to the ER. While KitchenAid couldn’t repair her beloved appliance, they went one better, replacing the machine free of charge with a new one. Numerous user comments corroborate the company’s track record as a leader in customer care.

In a day and age when customer service is increasingly a disservice, don’t you owe it to your loved ones to get them a gift that will bring them joy, even when it causes them pain?

(via MattBites) 

A toaster is a toaster is a toaster, right? Not if it’s the Panasonic NB-G100P 7.2-Quart 1300-Watt Infrared Toaster Oven, which uses a combination of near- and far-infrared light, cooking food through up to 40% faster than other toaster ovens. Shuna at Eggbeater digresses from a very engaging musing on dessert composition to wax rhapsodic on her favorite appliance:

“If you have the best toaster in the world, as I do, you can defrost bread right from the freezer and get it to arrive at a slow, low toast. This toaster also does well with frozen latkes, or potato pancakes for you non-Yiddish speakers, cold pie, or that morning bun from the day before.”

But after reading the entire post, and gaining newfound knowledge of the peccadilloes and vagaries of making and storing desserts, there may be one other appliance you suddenly realize you need: A pastry case.

We’re all adither over this faboo little invention: The Cuisinart Soft-serve Ice Cream Maker. Just drop in your favorite ingredients, and in the time it will take you to get a roaring fire going in your living room, you can have a sweet treat without having to go out into the elements. The best part is the topping dispensers, so you can doll up your cone with jimmies, gummi bears, bacon bits — hey, it’s your ice cream parlor! This one’s sure to top a few guys’ Christmas lists this year. (via Coolest Gadgets)

Big things come in small packages. Case in point: This snack-sized deep fryer is postively filled with calorically charged deep-fat deliciousness. Remember: It’s snack-sized, so you won’t be cooking up the Thanksgiving turkey in it, but there’s surely enough room to whip up a wee batch of fresh French fries, the occasional Snickers bar or, if you truly hate your cardiologist that much, some deep-fried Coke. We’re thinking this is going to be college student holiday gift of the year. (via Uncrate)

If I had the cash, I would buy this refrigerator for Kristopher Dukes to house her soy milk and vintage fur…

Born Rich discovered a new swarovski embedded refrigerator designed by Korean painter Seung-rim Ha for LG Electronics’ Art home product line. According to this article, LG plans to continue this beautiful product line with washing machines, air conditioners (could you DIE?) and other household appliances, as well as future collaborations,

The Art home appliance is the first product developed collaboratively with world renowned artists to be mass produced in Korea. LG has invested more than $30 million in this project that brings together digital appliances and art. LG plans to introduce its next masterpiece developed with Young Se Kim, who is the hottest industrial designer in Korea and CEO of Inno Design. More aesthetic appliances are on the drawing board.

“Design is part of LG’s overall philosophy for creating better products for our customers,” said president and CEO of LG Electronics Digital Appliance Company Young Ha Lee.

Lovely. 

 

School’s coming back, and Cool Hunting has located an environmentally friendly mini-fridge that perfect for the college dorm room. It “forgoes liquid refrigerant and noisy motors for environmentally-friendly Peltier Effect electronics to keep food and beverages cold or hot. This big-enough-to-share fridge has room for four wine bottles or 15 12-oz cans. includes a slide-out shelf, two storage racks, and carry handle.” Very cool…in every sense of the word.

Just cuz you’re camping doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the good things in life. After all, what could be better out in the great outdoors than a freshly blended margarita or daiquiri? Of course, power sockets are few and far between in the woods, so this hand-crank blender is just the ticket. If you’re really adventurous, you can pick your own berries for a one-of-a-kind custom cocktail. However, you’re on your own when it comes to finding ice.

Sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands. Handmade pasta is one of life’s sublime pleasures, and when it’s made with your own two mitts, your guests can taste the love. Barbara at You Gonna Eat All That? broke out her Atlas pasta maker to whip up some tender  linguini. Sure, you could invest in the mechanized version yourself, but we think the hand-crank version does wonders for the pasta’s texture and your handshake.

Ask any Southerner you happen to see (except Jessica Simpson): Chicken doesn’t come from the sea, it comes from a vat of boiling oil. And s’kat sings the praises of this shiny, five-liter Euro-Pro Deep Fryer for the purposes of frying up some chicken down-home style. Pair those puppies up with some cheese biscuits and cooked greens, top with a dollop of gravy, and you’re transported back to the old South.

At least as entertaining, though, are the comments left by salivating readers who lament their reluctance to invest in this appliance and its fruits.  

This past weekend, it broke 100º in my neighborhood, and therefore in my house. Enduring the oven-like heat was punishment enough, but it had one unexpected side effect: Wine began to leak from the bottles in my rack due to the expansion of the liquid in the heat. I scurried to rescue what we could, shuttling boxes of wine to the basement for safer and cooler keeping. I think the crisis was averted, but I can tell you that I will run, not walk, to buy one of these home wine coolers to prevent any future catastrophes. And for that, I am deeply endebted to Jeni at ~Oishii~ for the find.

Before you quit your day job and pursue your dreams of becoming a professional baker, pop by chef JoAnna’s ChefBlog. That shiny new 12-quart stand mixer you want, nay need? You might be astonished to learn that it will set you back a whopping $3,200. But hey, it’s a relative bargain at the store she links to, marked down from over $4,600 retail. But sometimes, only the best will do. Perhaps JoAnna can whip us up a little big something with her new toy.

Like ThisNext, productdose is dedicated to shopcasting. With a focus on modern, well-designed products for the consumer “productdose began as a weblog dedicated to filtering the numerous choices offered to consumer product buyers online.”

productdose understands that sometimes shopcasting means forecasting what you wish you could have…like this microwave that was created for Samsung in 2002, or this wrap toaster by GRO Design.  The design group considers kitchen appliances with the same design aesthetic as furniture, thus choosing commonly used materials like wood veneer as elements  in every day objects.

I just discovered the delightful home design blog Lovely Things via shelterrific. If you’re looking for decorating tips with a decidedly girlie and British twist, defenitely add this new blog to your bookmarks.

I am in LOVE with a recent post about pink appliances to have in your kitchen…check out this dishwasher, oven and fridge…Pink is so Beep.

…If you’re not looking for a big appliance just yet- but are wanting to add a little color- kitchen accessories from Typhoon are a great way to go.