Things We Like, Round Nine

Cute dish towels that WORK, Mark's new nut butter obsession, and a Japanese-style chef's knife.

Published August 8, 2025

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1. Dusen Dusen Dish Towels​

Image courtesy of Dusen Dusen

Why am I so particular about dish towels? Maybe because I use them so much. I want them to be cute (I’m not above admitting that), but also, they need to work. I hate wiping away at a wet pan and seeing the water basically get spread around, rather than absorbed. The Dusen Dusen towels are a current favorite—good looking and hardworking. – Kate


2. ​Big Spoon Roasters Cardamom Bun​ 

Big Spoon Roasters

Listen to this ingredient list: almonds, coconut nectar (which I take to be a form of sugar, but oh well), cardamom, cinnamon, salt, vanilla. Given that the spices are from Burlap and Barrel, and that all of Big Spoon’s offerings so far have been super, it’s not surprising that this is impossible to stop eating. – Mark


3. Hammer Stahl 8 (or 9) Inch Chef’s Knife​

Photo courtesy Hammer Stahl

Nothing makes a budding cook (which is what I could generously be described as) feel like a boss in the kitchen more than a good knife. Imperial in look. Substantive in feel. Smooth in handle. Sharp in application. Enter — the ​Hammer Stahl 8 (or 9) inch Chef’s Knife​, which has the added benefit of putting you on par with the team at “The Bear”–Hulu’s hit show about an accomplished young fine-dining chef who comes back to run his family’s restaurant in Chicago, where this is the knife of choice. This is a Japanese-style knife, which means that its lightness, length, and curvature made it super easy for me to cut everything from apple slices to longer zucchinis with precision. (OK, I was not that precise, but still, it wasn’t the knife’s fault.) I found that the handle was easy to grip, and that it sliced sharply and fluently — meaning it didn’t stick too much even with fibrous targets. It’s $40 off right now, which makes it a nice treat for yourself to encourage a bit more time in the kitchen—and it comes in a sexy box, which makes it even better as a gift. Enjoy and tell us what YOU think. – Samir


4) ​$25 off Wild Alaskan​​

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