With the end of May, kitchens across the city are making seasonal adjustments. This month, editors at Bon Appétit shared a handful of products and ingredients that stood out during tastings in Brooklyn and Manhattan offices. Among the items noted was a pistachio spread described as thick and sweet, sampled straight from the jar on a Wednesday afternoon in Midtown. Staff also singled out a spice blend with pronounced floral and citrus notes, used to finish a simple egg dish during a recent editorial lunch.
Colorful plastic ice cream spoons, seen at several Lower East Side gelato counters, were mentioned for their nostalgic appeal and practical use at outdoor events as festival season opens. These small utensils have appeared in park picnics around Prospect Park and at sidewalk tastings in Astoria.
Prices for the highlighted items ranged from $6 for the spice mix to over $12 for the pistachio spread. Retailers report increased interest in pantry upgrades as the weather turns warmer, with some shops in Greenwich Village noting a run on imported nut butters this past week.
With school years winding down and outdoor dining picking up, operators say these kinds of specialty products are being used both in-house and sold for home use. As June begins, buyers and cooks are watching for new releases with summer menus in mind.