Savory chilli pate

Chefs Nick Montgomery and Akira Akuto have had a big year, thanks in part to their restaurant Konbi being named Bon Appetit's Best New Restaurant in America. In this episode of Kitchen Essentials, we visit the sandwich shop in Echo Park, Los Angeles to talk to Nick and Akira about their favorite kitchen tools, which include: a German egg slicer, a Japanese chef knife, a Thermapen, and a rubber spatula. Shop Nick and Akira's Kitchen Essential Picks.

Anna Francese Gass joins our Table Talk series. In this interview with our Executive Editor Hana Asbrink, Anna, a native of Rhode Island living in New York City and alumni of the French Culinary Institute, talks about her passion for authentic immigrant cooking and the surrounding stories. She has spent much of her time traveling the country cooking with grandmothers and learning the true and complicated fabric of this country, one kitchen at a time. Her hope is that by transcribing these cherished recipes, they will continue to be shared and loved for generations to come.

Café Gratitude, a small vegan chain from California, has an interesting concept to improve the future of our planet. Meatless Monday deals and offerings across the country show no signs of slowing down. Growing concern over both the quality of mass-processed meats along with climate change and the humane treatment of animals, is inspiring folks to adopt vegan habits, at least part-time anyways. The café took a step ahead by offering 50% off on their most popular dishes every Monday for a limited time, as an incentive for diners, while trying to motivate other restaurants to follow the model. Café Gratitude’s motto “Be plant rich” means they want you to live a rich life mostly on plants.