Naturally good

We hadn’t cast eyes on such a futuristic-looking monolith since 2001: A Space Odyssey. The Kakugama, designed by ANAORI, resembles a simple cube, free of both nibs and knobs. It is crafted from carbon graphite, a material in which the firm boasts almost five decades of expertise. But unlike Stanley Kubrick’s unidentified flying object, and despite its unexpected shape, there’s no doubt what its purpose is in life. Grilled, stewed, poached, fried, steamed... Food can be cooked any which way with this innovative device that has an almost philosophical goal: bring cooking back to basics and back to nature. “When you use ANAORI kakugama to stew white radish, you achieve a perfectly cooked dish in half the time, without breaking down the ingredient’s cellular structure. And yet the broth and the radish water seamlessly blend together”, explains chef Hirohisa Koyama, who was involved in the product’s development. The kakugama combines Japanese culinary heritage with XXIst century technology and simple culinary techniques. Anaori has its sights set on launching a global trend that promotes a lifestyle based on “naturality”. With that in mind, the brand is inviting international chefs to try the appliance themselves during a “Naturality Tour” that is travelling from Asia to North America. Having kicked off in Japan, it will draw to a close in Paris at September’s Maison&Objet trade fair. 

The kakugama may be the latest must-have for professional chefs and foodies alike, but epicureans who are keen to rustle up some healthy fare can also rely on a variety of other items, from the simplest to the most innovative, and all suitably sustainable. Because naturality will only be achieved if both ingredients and equipment are selected with the same sense of rigour. 
The idea really couldn’t be simpler. Using one nut to crack open another is one of the oldest tricks in the book. It doesn’t always work, however... unless one of the two nuts is made from brass. Nukso, which flaunts a round and curvaceous shell-like shape, is hand-crafted in Portugal by Dedal and is impossible to break and blemish. 
Those with fresh fruit to prepare can rely on the iconic Juicy Salif designed by Philippe Starck for Alessi, a product that has been around since 1990. Everybody knows just how creative and useful the Italian brand’s stunning products are, earning them a devoted legion of followers. 
Most modern-day cooks pay careful attention to the quality and origin of produce. The shortest circuit, for those with no outdoor space, is the one that whisks the herbs and mini-vegetables grown in the Lilo indoor garden directly to your plate. Designed by Xavier Houy and using a hydroponic system combined with an LED lamp, the 3 little pots would look perfectly at home on anyone’s kitchen worktop.

Should you need to store fresh herbs or, indeed, any other tasty morsels packed with energising nutrients, Danish firm Uhmm has come up with some snazzy little boxes that are delightfully pleasing to the eye. They assemble from flat into a rectangular or square container and can be just as easily collapsed back down into a flat surface for easy cleaning and storage. The boxes, which are manufactured in Denmark, may be made from polypropylene, but they are strong, recyclable and recycled, as well as being free from unhealthy parabens and phthalates. 
26.8 disposable water bottles need to be recycled to make Guzzini’s Tierra bread bin, which is topped with a bamboo lid. What’s not to like? Tout simplement’s bag clips, meanwhile, are produced using wood sourced from eco-managed forests and manufactured in France in the heart of the Jura mountains, a region well known for working with this noble material. 

That’s the ingredients sorted, so now it’s time to start cooking.

French cutlery firm Verdier has been honing its craft since 1859, the date when the family first founded the brand. Its expertise has been handed down through six generations of cutlers, and the firm currently produces France’s most extensive range of cutlery. Everything is 100% Made in France and tailored to all budgets and requirements, ranging from kitchen knives for professionals and home cooks to flatware and regional pocket knives.
All these implements, which cut and slice to perfection, pair up perfectly with a chopping board. Over at Be Home, they’re crafted from a particularly robust type of wood, acacia, with the brand taking the utmost care to only source wood from responsibly managed forests.  

When it comes to cooking, simplicity is also a key ingredient. The JIU frying pan, dreamed up by Japanese design duo TENT, looks just like a child’s drawing. The beautifully curvaceous handle, which appears to magically cling to the pan, can be removed with a flick of the hand, instantly transforming the pan into tableware. Ryosaku Aoki and Masayuki Haruta manufacture the pan with the help of a small family-run iron factory in Osaka, which has been producing frying pans since 1951. 
Casserole dishes, saucepans, stewpots with removable handles... French firm Cristal has been in the pan business since 1987. The frying pans in their Casteline range boast an ultra-resistant non-stick coating, Exceliss+, making them the ideal solution for browning off meat and cooking healthily without the addition of water or fat. And when the coating eventually starts showing signs of wear and tear, Cristel offers the highly sustainable option of “repairing” the pan by having it recoated. 
The products in 4th-Market’s range are all hand-crafted. Each cooking pot and pan retailed by the Japanese brand exudes it own unique charm, doubtlessly thanks to the attentive work of the highly skilled artisans who spend many long hours moulding, smoothing, polishing and glazing each piece. 

As far as electrical appliances are concerned, the idea is to truly make the most of the raw ingredients that have been cultivated, raised and chosen with such care. Vacuum cooking does just that, and is no longer exclusively reserved for restaurants. WMF’s Lono vacuum cooker cooks meat, fish and vegetables as gently as can be. The high-precision temperature gauge offers a cooking range of 35 to 90°C, whilst the timer function allows food to be cooked very slowly for up to 72 hours. Because there’s nothing quite like taking your time. 
The Blender, developed by Zwilling in Germany and designed in Milan by the Matteo Thun & Antonio Rodriguez Design Studio, flaunts a pared-back design comprising a single block and just one switch, providing a simple and effective way of making juices, smoothies, soups and, indeed, anything healthy.

There’s also currently a major shift in the way we all drink coffee. The iconic capsules that allow us to swiftly whip up a strong espresso don’t always court favour with coffee aficionados, who are gradually rediscovering the taste for a slow and lovingly prepared cup of the black stuff. Brût Homeware gives everyone the ability to grind small quantities of coffee beans at home. Its professional “tamper” is a kind of pestle whose weight and size have been perfectly calibrated to prepare just enough ground coffee for one cup.
The traditional coffee grinder, meanwhile, has been given a 360° makeover by Millu, changing not only its look but the way it works, too. Carved from a single piece of wood or from cleverly worked stainless steel, the grinders are equipped with ceramic blades manufactured in Japan. 
Many a modern-day coffee lover chooses the filter route to make their stimulating brew. Designer Naoto Fukasawa has a habit of stripping things back to basics, and for Taiwanese brand TG he has designed a reusable stainless steel filter capable of maintaining the coffee’s full natural flavours. 

Tea or coffee, fruit or veg, meat or fish, all that delicious food and drink that has been so lovingly prepared is now ready to be served... or transported elsewhere. Nowadays, bento boxes are everywhere you look, inspired by Japanese tradition, or perhaps the ever-so Anglo-Saxon lunchbox. Black+Blum’s boxes are somewhat reminiscent of old metallic mess tins, only their take is far more refined as well as being thoroughly sustainable. Bamboo, cork, recycled and resistant materials, such as borosilicate: the brand designs products that are reusable, robust and future-proof. Qualities that can also be attributed to Antonella Amaretti’s delightful artisan dishes with their simple fruit and vegetable designs. With so many tempting things to choose from, all that’s left to do is indulge. 

By Marie Montuir

Discover these brands on MOM:
Dedal
Alessi
Prêt à Pousser
Uhmm Box
Guzzini
Verdier Coutellerie
Be Home
Cristel
JIU10
4th-Market
WMF
Zwilling
Brût Homeware
Millu
TG
Black+Blum

Anaori
Naturality tour

TALKS REPLAY

CAN THE NEO CHEFS SAVE THE PLANET?
THE TALKS / MAISON&OBJET PARIS JAN. 2020