The humble corkscrew; an essential item in any kitchen, but as something that has not changed much over the decades, it is perhaps hard to find one that looks noticeably retro.
However, I think the Chianti Bamboo Corkscrew by Legnoart has a retro look to it on account of its use of wood. The body is made from bamboo whilst the rest is stainless steel so it still functions as any normal corkscrew would.
Perfect to open the wine at your fondue evenings, it costs £39.25 from Forma House.
One of the UK’s leading interior designers, Andrew Martin has produced a range of crockery entitled “Grand Hotel” for John Lewis, surely one of the UK’s leading department stores. The range includes his signature elephant design, Jumbo, which can be found on these pop art style mugs.
The mugs are made from porcelain and feature the Jumbo design in white against candy coloured backgrounds. A set of four mugs costs £30. There are also various sized plates, teacups and coffee cups available in the same style.
Buy online from the John Lewis website.
The British designer, Oliver Hemming, has created the stunning Nio Tea Service that takes its inspiration from Bauhaus designs.
The collection comprises of various pieces, each made from polished stainless steel. Domus Brighton is selling a complete collection for £96, or you can buy individual pieces separately. The teapot costs just under £50, the milk jug around £23 and the sugar bowl £20.
Visit the Domus Brighton website for full details.
Back in print after 40 years, Cooking In A Bedsitter by Katharine Whitehorn should still offer some culinary inspiration for anyone dealing with a cramped kitchen.
Take your pick from typically quirky period recipes like Swedish Sausage Casserole, Lamb Tomato Quickie and Shrimp Wiggle, along with other cheap, cheerful and above all quick recipes for the busy flat dweller. And there’s advice too, should you need pointers on how to maximise space, how to run a dinner party on a budget and of course, what colour of wine to serve with your choice of food.
Practical advice and an entertaining read, you can pre-order the new version now for £6.74, with a release date of 4th September 2008.
The 1950s are held up at the gold age in home-making and in the USA, Betty Crocker is an icon of good housekeeping and home cooking. Of course, she is entirely fictitious, invented to sell more products, but her image remains a strong one in America.
The Betty Crocker Recipe Card set contains 55 recipe cards taken from her 1950 edition of the Betty Crocker Picture Cook Book. All-American favourites here include Fluffy Pancakes and Blueberry Pie, Pigs in Blankets and Pioneer Macaroni and Cheese. Presumably there will be a recipe for apple pie in there too.
The set costs $16.95 (just over £8) from the Urban Outfitters USA website.
Quirky design or a clever piece of recycling? Take your pick for the Deptford Project Cafe.
Newly-opened on Deptford High Street, it’s the first step in a project to completely regenerate the area around Deptford Train Station. The cafe is the work of designer Morag Myerscough, with help from architects Richard Rogers and Alison Brooks, converting a 35 tonne 1960s South East Trains carriage into a coffee bar/eaterie with a very stylish interior and designer fittings (including classic Aalto stools).
All food is home made and the coffee is fair trade. Check it out at 121-123 Deptford High Street, London SE8. It opens seven days a week from 8am.
