How to kitchen with Austin Tedesco

Kitchenwares you should buy second hand, splurge on, or get wherever

Do you ever get tired of your own voice? ME TOO.

Luckily for all of us, the very talented, stylish, and opinionated taste maker chef Austin Tedesco is here to teach us all about kitchenwares.

I won’t give you a full bio on Austin, but if you’re someone refining your personal style and taste, he should be on your radar. I would encourage you to read “How to get your ass kicked”, “What makes a good coffee shop”, and “A smoothie to save you from recipes" to get a sense of the man taking over today’s newsletter. Trust me, you'll want to listen to him instead of me.

When it comes to your kitchen, Austin says:

“I have a firm belief that, like, 80-90% of your kitchen should be stocked with second hand stuff, and then you find the few items that are worth a splurge.”

Here’s what we’ve got on the menu today:

• what to get second hand

• what to splurge on

• what to get wherever

• HOT TAKES ( my favorite)

Ceramics, spoons, cast iron, mortar and pestle, glassware, wok, no aprons

1. Plenty of good restaurants turn over their ceramic stash every couple years. I stocked an entire kitchen through wild giveaway sales at Konbi and Steep in LA. Make friends with the people who work at well-designed spots in your city. Let them know you’re interested in a bulk purchase the next time they’re swapping out ceramics. It’s the best move.

2. Spoons and a nice bain for holding them. Having more than four knives is dumb, but a vintage spoon collection can and should be endless.

3. A cast iron pan and dutch oven, with the dutch oven acting regularly as serving-ware.

4. A mortar and pestle, for cooking but also for aesthetics and organization.

5. Glassware, servingware and any kitchen organization tools.

6. A wok, if you’re feeling wild or have total control of your smoke alarm.

7. Aprons are stupid, just get $4 vintage Ts that become your messy kitchen attire.

   KL: Hard disagree, love my filthy apron, but I suppose I love vintage Ts more. BAM!

Ceramics, knives, All-Clad, cutting boards, cutlery, Gestura

1. If you’re going to go hard on ceramics — maybe one statement piece, or a gift — go to Keith Kreeger, an Austin legend whose work is unmatched.

2. You only need one chef’s knife, one slicer, one bread knife and one paring knife. Do you need a slicer? No. But few things are more fun than nailing a Sicilian crudo set up at home, and a slicer is your best path to that goal. So go for it. Treat your knives with care. Gently push and pull, letting the sharpness of the knife do the work. If you’re pressing down firmly, you should sharpen that bad boy. The bread knife should not be nice. The paring knife doesn't have to be nice …  the nice ones are just so cool.

3. One All-Clad, 14-inch stainless steel frying pan with a lid. The rest of your pots and pans you can and should source second hand (besides non-sticks) or on deep discounts.

4. A Boos cutting board.

5. Cutlery from Cutipol.

6. Basically everything from Gestura.

If someone tells me I can get something “wherever” you know my thumbs are already pitter pattering away on EBAY. These picks are mine, so don’t take it out on Austin if you think they are sus. Special call out to the mini ice-cube tweezers which I KNOW Austin would not approve, which makes me love them even more.

Baking sheets, metal tweezers, and tongs

1. Japanese BBQ Tongs Chef Plating TWEEZERS - EBAY | $14.99

2. Stainless Steel Baking Pan Tray – EBAY | $17.08

3. Square Cake Baking Pan Carbon Steel – EBAY | $21.10

4. Vintage Gold Mini Serving Tongs – EBAY | $9.99

5. Winco Heavyweight Stainless Steel Tong – EBAY | $7.85

6. Chef Stainless Steel Baking Pans Sheet Rectangle – EBAY | $10.99

Japanese Mandolin

1. Japanese Benriner Mandolin Made in Japan Green – EBAY | $39.00

2. Vintage BJARNE BO Denmark Hand Slicer Mandolin – EBAY | $19.99

3. NEW Benriner G Mandoline Slicer – EBAY | $29.99

Spatulas and whisks

1. TableCraft Stainless Steel Angled Fish Spatula – EBAY | $9.70

2. Rösle Stainless Steel Hotel French Whisk- EBAY | $19.99

3. MIU France Stainless Fish Spatula Large – EBAY | $19.00

4. Vintage Whisk with Red Wood Handle – EBAY | $14.99

5. Vintage EKCO Slotted Fish Spatula – EBAY | $15.00

6. Stainless Steel French Wire Heavy Duty Whisk – EBAY | $14.99

• Buy flowers at the farmers market. 

• Make a playlist for big meals. If you’re in a rush, have people take turns putting on albums from start to finish.

• Read the recipe once then put it away.

• Buy one piece of seafood you don't know how to cook. Ask the people at the fish market how they’d prepare it. See what happens.

• Write a menu and a prep list. Cross off the prep list as you go.

• Make your aioli by hand.

• A rice cooker is the only electric appliance you need. A food processor can be nice, but not necessary. A stand mixer is a lifestyle choice.

• Have 50% of the food ready when guests arrive. Roll the rest out in spurts. Most food is great at room temperature. Embrace it.

• Go slowly and focus on your knife cuts. Then work on getting a little quicker each time.

• Rate your chives.

• Always dessert. Buy it or make it. But always dessert. (A cheese course doesn’t count).

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Comments are open for any disagreements!

XO - Best Friends (Austin & Kellyn) 🍳