For many in the Asian American community, cooking is more than just a process. Preparing food is more than just chopping and dicing. It's also a way to stay connected to family traditions, bond with friends across culinary traditions, and introduce beloved recipes to new generations. And while there's no shortage of trusted kitchen brands to shop in this growing sector, especially now that May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Asian-Owned Companies are worth looking for.
This AAPI Heritage Month, support Asian American-owned kitchen brands like Material, Anyday, Sona… (+) Home.
Illustration: Forbes / Image: Retailer
AAPI Heritage Month, which celebrates the diverse cultures and traditions that make up the Asian American community, is an especially great time to get to know Asian-owned small businesses and brands. Because the entrepreneurs behind them offer a unique perspective that blends design and culture. And function. Here are nine of our favorite kitchen brands that make everything from precise, minimalist knives to stylish, durable glassware. By purchasing their creations, you'll not only be better equipped to make better meals at home, but you'll also be supporting the AAPI community.
If you're a home cook, you're probably familiar with Our Place. The versatile Always Pan is his 10-in-1 cookware that not only sautes and stir-fries, but also braises, steams, and makes fries. The idea came to founder Shiza Shahid, a Pakistani activist and co-founder of the Malala Fund. He sought to make cooking an easy and less intimidating process through beautifully designed yet functional cookware. Since its founding in 2019, the company has expanded its product line to include pots, bakeware, tableware, and kitchen tools. Additionally, Our Place uses recycled materials and works with women-owned collectives to manufacture its products.
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The timeless design of Hudson Wilder glassware is conveyed in both form and function. When brothers Joyce and Conway Liao founded the Brooklyn-based brand, they had a clear vision for its ethos: practicality in form. Not only does the hand-blown glass have clean, classic lines, but it's made from borosilicate glass (the same material as Pyrex), making it extremely durable. Pops of color on the glass and coffee mug base add a modern touch.
The pair rose to prominence in the fashion world after many of their chef friends turned to husband-and-wife designers Chachi Prasad and Karam Kim to create stylish and functional aprons. We launched BlueCut in 2014. Prasad and Kim have been making aprons ever since. Used by many famous chefs (like David Chang and Ray Garcia) and countless home cooks who love Apron's modern tailoring and quality materials.
Combining quality, function and thoughtful design, Material kitchenware is created for cooks who demand sophistication and precision. Co-founders Eunice Byun and Dave Nguyen ensure that sourcing is a key part of the material's process (hence its name), making it from 25 percent sugar cane and 75 percent post. This led to the creation of reBoard, a sustainable plastic cutting board. -Consumer scrap. Their thoughtful approach to cookware is evident in every product they've since released, from steak knives to ceramics to glassware.
This family-owned business has been in the heart of San Francisco's Chinatown for more than 50 years and is the go-to place for cooks looking for reliable Asian cooking utensils, especially the eponymous wok. is. If you can make it to the store, wander through the aisles lined with knives, steamer baskets, rice cookers, and more. Not in the Bay Area? The website also has everything you need to fry like a pro.
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Last year, actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas collaborated with restaurateur Manesh K. Goyal to launch Sona Home, a tableware collection that pays homage to the elegance and charm of India's rich history. Originally designed for the restaurant of the same name in New York, this tableware is vibrant yet delicate in its use of motifs and prints. A fusion of modern and traditional, this collection has everything from salad plates to pots of chutney.
When developing the idea behind Hast, founder Elliott Kao sought to create a cutlery company that would bridge the gap between very authentic, difficult-to-maintain knives and cheap, poorly designed knife sets. In particular, he was inspired by matrix powder steel, a material that produces a harder and sharper blade than carbon steel, but still lightweight and easy to hold. Hast's knife is very sharp, smooth and agile, so he certainly succeeded in his mission. (The name “hast” comes from a Swedish word meaning fast or swift, and is an appropriate adjective to describe a knife designed to be nimble and efficient.)
Illustrator and art director Carrie Lau turned to ceramics as a way to relieve stress and eventually created enough work to sell at the local craft market. Eventually, she turned her hobby into a business called OM Ceramic, creating pieces for the home and kitchen. The Hong Kong-born, Los Angeles-based manufacturer is known for its quirky and colorful designs, many of which are inspired by their surroundings. In addition to the playful mottled “sprinkles,” one of her signature designs, you'll find pieces depicting undulating canyons, bulging flowers, and more on mugs, plates, and bowls. Masu.