Best in Green Home Design
IN THE KITCHEN
BEAUTIFULLY RESPONSIBLE
Bazzèo would like to come and customize the perfect kitchen for you (pictured above). When they say custom they mean it-they will accommodate your style and your space with unlimited sizes, finishes, and configurations. In addition, they have a no-nonsense recycling policy that would make Al Gore proud. Their beautiful designs use only recycled wood from certified resources, lumber from sustainable forests, aluminum, glass, and non-toxic resin from the crushed shells of cashew nuts. I especially love the embossed aluminum door panels. Drawers also can include a pleasure factor, which open automatically with a light touch, and close silently with just a tap. www.bazzeo.com -Ellen Swandiak
IT THINKS FOR YOU
Having a Miele appliance is like having a built-in kitchen assistant. And a savvy one at that. With the steam oven, food cooks nutritiously and quickly (rice 17 minutes, broccoli 3 minutes) with flavor being added via herbs, spices, stock, or wine. In refrigerators, sections can be instantly set to the proper temperature for the foods you’re storing with one touch, and come equipped with a sensor that will report any faults directly to a service center, via Wi-Fi. Dishwashers have up to 14 programs, like one for baked-on cheese or a gentle cycle for crystal. As a bonus, Miele showrooms around the country invite you to test drive any of their products-do a load of laundry, see if your dishes fit in the dishwasher, test your favorite recipes, watch a cooking demo-and really learn about all the wonderful capabilities. On top of all this, the company is devoted to being green, see the website for details. www.miele.com/usa
7 AWESOME KITCHEN ITEMS
MUBAMBOO DISH TOWELS
Soft, absorbent MUbamboo dishtowels are made with 100 percent sustainable woven bamboo and are 100 percent biodegradable. Available in happy colors like lime and aqua, MUbamboo uses eco-friendly dyes. www.mukitchen.com
LA CHAMBA COOKWARE
In Half Moon Bay, California, My Toque carries La Chamba Cookware from Colombia. Handmade from clay that contains mica, this cookware line-including our favorite, the sturdy casserole dish, perfect for baked chicken-can really withstand high heat. All pieces are hand-burnished, not glazed, so they’re also toxin-free. www.mytoque.com
ZAK TUMBLERS
The next time you’ve got a hankering for juice, pour some into one of Zak’s whimsical Confetti tumblers made from recycled melamine. The set features cups in bright kiwi, turquoise, magenta, and orange hues. www.zak.com
BAMBU KITCHEN CANDLE
You may know Bambu for its beautiful cutting boards and bowls made of bamboo laminates, but they also have a quality candle in their portfolio. The kitchen candle, strong enough to camouflage the lingering smell of that accidentally burned chicken or the trash that has yet to be taken out, is made with U.S. grown soybeans infused with bamboo essence. It also features an all-cotton wick. www.bambuhome.com
VIVATERRA FLATWARE
VivaTerra’s stainless steel “Twig” carved flatware introduces a touch of Zen to the dinner table. www.vivaterra.com
GREEN PAN COOKWARE
Green Pan with Thermolon, the first PTFE-free non-stick cookware on the market, requires less energy to rack up a high temperature and reduces carbon emissions. Must-have staple: the versatile Stockholm black aluminum non-stick fry pan. www.green-pan.com
TWIST DISH DUMPLING
Soaked the brownie pan overnight and it’s still crusty? Turn to the Twist Dish Dumpling for help. This chunky biodegradable sponge is dye-free and packed in an agave wrapper. www.twistclean.com
Alia Akkam is Organic Spa Magazine’s contributing editor of food & festivities.