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GENERAL NEWS KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW n JUNE 2017 n www.kitchenwarenews.com 6 Igloo Products Corp. celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. Since creating the category with the original beverage cooler in 1947, Igloo has been a leader in mobile food preservation and hydration systems. To celebrate this milestone anniversary, Igloo is introducing their stainless steel Legacy™ Collection. "Igloo's metal beverage cooler was the product that launched the cooler industry and put Igloo on the map," said Candi W hitsel, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Product Management at Igloo. "As we celebrate our 70th anniversary, it seems fitting to pay homage to the cooler that started it all by building on its timeless design and universal appeal." Igloo is launching its all-new Hydration Collection in 2017. This high performing, high quality drinkware is available in a variety of styles to address different consumer needs and activities. The Legacy Vacuum Tumbler is the cornerstone of the collection and is the perfect tumbler to keep drinks cold or hot. These beautifully designed tumblers are perfect for the backyard, desktop or family camping trip. Features include dishwasher safe press-fit Tritan™ lid, a stackable design, ounce markings to easily measure 1.5 ounces for spirits or 5 ounces for wine. The suggested retail prices for the line are $8.99 for the 12 ounce, $9.99 for the 16 ounce, and $10.99 for the 20 ounce option. The Legacy 2.5 Gallon combines Igloo's hydration heritage with f resh materials and innovative features to create the ideal beverage cooler for home and backyard entertaining. The Legacy 2.5 Gallon combines Igloo's hydration heritage with fresh materials and innovative features to create the ideal beverage cooler for home and backyard entertaining. The body and lid are made of rust-resistant 304 stainless steel. The Cool Riser Technology® pedestal and base elevates from hot surfaces and enables easy cup access to spigot. Ultratherm™ foam insulation keeps beverages cooler longer. The Lagacy 2.5 Gallon carries a suggested retail price $199.99. The Legacy 54 Q uart Cooler offers excellent cold retention and is right at home at a backyard party or the family campsite. Features include a Convenient stainless steel bottle opener, wide, stainless steel swing-up side handles with comfort grips, and stainless steel lid hinges and latch for maximum durability. The suggested retail price is $179.99. For more information, visit www.igloocoolers.com. KN Igloo Chills Out with New Collection Following the success of Anolon® Advanced™ Umber, a rich brown hue offered in Anolon hard anodized cookware, Umber is the newest color addition to Anolon Vesta™ Cast Iron cookware and Anolon Vesta Stoneware. The new Umber color in Vesta Cast Iron and Vesta Stoneware will be available at retail nationwide in June 2017. Anolon Vesta Cast Iron cookware merges cast iron's superior durability and heat retention with distinctive stovetop- to-oven-to-table style and performance. The nonreactive, matte black enamel cooking surface resists stains and does not require seasoning, while the beautiful porcelain enamel exterior – now offered in rich, warm Umber – is both easy to clean and beautiful to display. The self- basting lid features a nubbed-interior for natural redistribution of flavorful cooking liquid back into the pot for continuous self-basting properties. The lid also features an elegant and generously proportioned stainless steel handle large enough to fit an oven mitt. Similarly, side handles are styled with a wide flare to make them easier to hold. For the ultimate in versatility and convenience, each item in the collection is suitable for all ranges, including induction cooktops, and is oven safe to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Anolon Vesta Cast Iron cookware in new Umber is offered in a 10-inch Skillet; 12-inch Skillet; 4 Quart O val D utch O ven; 5 Q uart Covered Braiser; 5 Quart Round Covered Dutch Oven and 7 Quart Round Covered Dutch O ven. Other colors offered in Anolon Vesta Cast Iron include Paprika Red and Cobalt Blue. Complementing Anolon's cast iron cookware is the elegantly styled Anolon Vesta Stoneware collection of durable oven-to-table bakers, casseroles, ramekins, and more. Made of non-reactive and stain- resistant stoneware with a rich glaze in solid hues, each item features sturdy flared side handles for easy lifting and carrying f rom the oven or cook top to the table. All items are dishwasher, microwave and f reezer safe, and oven safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Anolon Vesta Stoneware is available in new Umber as well as Paprika Red, Pumpkin Orange and Cobalt Blue. KN Meyer Introduces Umber Color for Anolon Vesta Cast Iron, Stoneware Lunches with Character make a balanced lunch for your kids and yourself." Bento boxes can generally be found at every corner store in Japan, but despite their newfound popularity in the West, the boxes are a little harder to find there. Anyone looking to get started on building their first bento boxes might try PlanetBox, which manufactures its products f rom stainless steel because it's non-toxic, doesn't leach plastics into food and is recyclable if broken. The company also promotes how useful long-lasting bento boxes are to reducing waste, with less paper or plastic bags wasted, but also water, since stainless steel cleans quickly and easily. For a more affordable bento, Coff ron recommended Easy Lunchboxes. The boxes are made f rom materials f ree of BPA, lead, vinyl and PVC, are microwave and dishwasher safe, and come in a variety of shapes to meet a multitude of needs. However, bento boxes aren't just a tool for creating compact, healthy lunches; they also help parents introduce kids to new foods by making them more fun. "We use the same boxes throughout the week and a number of times we've introduced f ruits and vegetables in a fun way, in fun shapes or designs, in their Monday lunch," said Coff ron. "Then they decide they like it, so we put it in their regular lunches f rom then on out." While most bento masters keep the craft simple by utilizing everyday kitchen items, some bento lovers add extra tools to their artistic arsenals. Cookie cutters go a long way in making character shapes, and Coff ron says egg shapers, reusable toothpicks in different shapes and sizes, silicone cups and containers — little mini ones that go inside the box that help decorate the lunch — help parents get creative and help hold together the lunch. Tools aren't always enough to hold the lunch together, especially in a kid's lunch that gets carried around for 4 or 5 hours, but Coff ron said it 's a common problem that's easily solved. "I try to pack each little compartment pretty tight so food can't move around a lot, and I'll use toothpicks to keep food in place," he said. "I'll also tell my kids that there are toothpicks in the sandwich, or the piece of apple, so they take those out. Also, sometimes I'll use cream cheese or honey to paste things down, and that tends to do a good job. Another idea is, I'll take a napkin or paper towel — you can use a reusable napkin — put it on top to make sure it fits tight when the lid goes on, and it won't move around a lot like that." However, jostling around isn't much of an issue for most kids when it comes to bentos. "Honestly, if I tell my kids they have a special lunch that day, they're going to make sure that they don't throw the lunch around and be careful with it to make sure they can enjoy it when they get to school as well." Cute as some of the boxes might be, with Hello Kitty or Pokemon characters, creating themed lunches can be time consuming. Coff ron says a themed lunch can take him half an hour or longer to make, but added that he doesn't do it every day for just that reason. He has a full-time job in addition to the blog and his family life. "We have lots of stuff to fill up our time. Some people choose to spend time going to the gym,or watching TV, or playing games. All that is great stuff," he said. "I just choose to use some of my time on Sunday nights, before the kids go to bed, to make these lunches. ….If parents aren't going to have fun with it, they aren't going to enjoy it, but we tend to have a lot of fun with it. If you think your kids are going to enjoy it, if you think it ' ll create memories, conversations between them and their kids, it's a great thing for parents to at least try out." Coff ron has taught bento box classes at Whole Foods and other markets. Mayuko's Little Kitchen offers a bento box class online, among the multitude of guides available f rom blogs and other sites. For Coff ron and other parents, bento boxes aren't just about health or fun, but also about connecting with kids in a meaningful way, to communicate and grow into a better parent. "It's given us stuff to think about and talk about," Coff ron said. "When I'm looking for ideas, it helps me pay attention to what they're putting into their heads. It's like, 'Wow, that's an okay thing to watch,' or, 'Maybe we shouldn't watch that show anymore,' or 'Maybe this is a book we need to put on hold for a little bit.' It helps me get closer to what they 're into, and that helps creates conversations about characters and stories. It's brought us a lot closer together. Not just them, or me; it's us together." KN (cont. from Page 1)

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