Best of Class

In Ina Garten's cookbook, Barefoot Contessa Parties! Ideas and Recipes for Easy Parties That Are Really Fun, she wrote about how Martha Stewart values what Ina calls, "Best of class."  Ina says, "It doesn't matter to [Martha] whether we're talking about hot dogs or caviar, she wants to know if something is made with quality."

Best of Class is a great concept, and although sometimes BOC products are expensive, it really has nothing to do with cost.  Which is why an expensive restaurant that serves fancy food might go out of business, while the hamburger joint next door that serves the best milkshakes known to man, is packed every night.

We all, I think, want Best of Class-- toasters that toast, a vacume cleaner that vacumes and doesn't put as much dust back into the air as it removed from surfaces, kitchen towels that actually dry and don't leave lint all over glasses, mascara that doesn't end up under your eyes.

So, I'm starting a list, of products and places that aren't just fine or even good, but best in their class.  I would love to hear your ideas too.

In no particular order:

Swan's Island blankets-  In the early 1990's John & Carolyn Grace quit their law practices and moved to Swan's Island off the coast of Acadia National Forest, to begin a small weaving operation using local wool.  By 1996 they had received such glowing press coverage, their small studio could no longer keep up with the growing demand for their handmade wool blankets.

Now located in an 18th-century farmhouse on the mainland in Northport, Maine, their studio continues to produce the same blankets that won them a prestigious Smithsonian Blue Ribbon for Craft. The wool comes from Maine-raised sheep, is woven on hand looms and is dyed using only naturally-derived colors.  Each blanket comes with a linen storage bag and slats of protective aromatic cedar.  Find Swan's Island Blankets by clicking here. 

Lancome Le Crayon Poudre in Blonde-  Long wearing powdery pencil on one end to give soft definition to brows and a nifty brush on the other to brush them into place.  The best color ever for blondes.  

It seems silly to get excited about a dish towel, until you try these all-purpose kitchen towels from Williams-Sonoma.  Here's the thing, it actually dries dishes.  Completely.  Yes, that's right, a towel that dries.  And leaves glassware sparkling with no lint.  Smooth-ish on one side and terry-ish on the other, it is hemmed all around and comes in packs of 4.  They wash and bleach wonderfully.  Best eighteen bucks you'll ever spend.

The best way to describe this olive oil is to tell you what it is not.  It is not acidy, heavy, or bitter.  Mainly derived from the Gentile di Chieti olive, it is mild and fruity with a delicate, slightly sweet flavor.  If you've never understood what, for heaven's sake, is all the fuss about olive oil, this one is for you.

The Haven Bakery and Cafe, Lenox, MA-  Best place to start the day- a cozy, relaxing, uplifting, casual environment.  Yummy Blueberry pancakes.  Very popular with the locals.  Read the paper and enjoy a rich, foamy, vanilla latte in a pottery mug handmade by a local artist.

  

The fresh ingredients are sourced from local organic farmers and environmentally conscious distributors. Community and phenomenal food.  Neat.

Note:  We like what we like.  Jennings & Gates was not compensated for these recommendations