Dapper Scout – A lifestyle web magazine for men

Hobbies centered around the home come in various forms (most of which don’t interest us in the least) and often involve some type of DIY construction or plumbing (things that require quite a bit of effort, with mixed results to show for it).  The Brooklyn Brew Shop DIY Kit (available at Brooklyn Brew Shop starting from $40) changes everything.  Founded by Stephen Valand and Erica Shea, the Brooklyn Brew Shop provides aspiring or experienced homebrewers with the means to begin or further develop the one DIY hobby we can get behind without any reservations.  Their kits (available in both one and five gallon capacities) include a glass jug, all the necessary accessories to brew, including a stopper, thermometer, tubing, etc, and your choice of mix, ranging from Chocolate Maple Porter to Holiday IPA to our favorite: the Black & Tan (which appropriately includes a pouring spoon).  And taking into consideration the limited amount of space most urban dwellers have (especially those of us in New York), the Brooklyn Brew Shop DIY Kit takes up less than one square foot of space, making it the ideal home hobby to take up, requiring minimal space and effort, but in return providing maximum pleasure.  Mmm.  Beer.

Beer, Eat & Drink, Loft

When it comes to our favorite cold beverages, we appreciate the added chill that only ice cubes can impart.  And with the Iced Caraffe by Officeoriginair (available at FormNation for $28), our drinks stay refreshingly cold from the first pour to the last.  Simply fill the Iced Caraffe with water up to the indication level and place it flat in your freezer.  Once the ice cubes form around the “spine” on the inside of the carafe, just fill it right up again with water (or your drink of choice), and as your drink begins to cool down, the ice cubes will do their job and naturally release from the inside.  Available in a taupe or warm grey color, the Iced Caraffe ensures that every one of your thirst-quenching indulgences will be a frosty one.

Eat & Drink, Kitchen, Loft, Water Bottle

The Dutch may have had a little something to do with the origins of the Dutch oven, but with the Slowcooker by Margriet Foolen (available at Royal VKB for approximately $55), they’ve moved on to one of our favorite means of preparing food: the slow cooker.  The result of Margriet Foolen’s graduation project at the Design Academy in Eindhoven, the Slowcooker is functional simplicity at its best.  Just place your ingredients in the terra cotta/silicone container and set it in the oven.  By cooking/steaming food in its own essence, the Slowcooker ensures that whatever is placed within, will emerge tender, moist, and full of flavor.  It will practically idiot-proof your next foray into the world of gastronomy by doing all the work for you (just make sure to choose your ingredients wisely).

Eat & Drink, Kitchen, Loft

There was a time not so long ago, when the editors at DS were on a strict budget.  That meant a relatively austere lifestyle without some of the things that made life worth even living (e.g. cable TV, beer, movies).  Our dietary restrictions were also pretty much restricted by the lack of any disposable income.  Translation: we ate a lot of sandwiches.  We didn’t even own a toaster, which in hindsight, probably explained why our sandwiches were often so unsatisfactory.  Now that our financial outlook has considerably improved, we’ve had our eye on the BISTRO Toaster by BODUM (available at BODUM for $80)—a two-slice toaster whose construction and features bring a rare combination of distinctive design and a dosage of fun to the kitchen.  With a stainless steel body wrapped in a perforated rubber housing (available in eight colorways), the BISTRO Toaster features 900 watts of power, variable browning and temperature settings, a pop-up rack for keeping bread products warm, adjustable-width slots, removable crumb-tray, and a stable base from which you can adjust cord length as well as store the cord itself.  The BISTRO Toaster has everything you’re looking for: the looks, a personality, and all the charm a kitchen appliance could hope to muster (which in this case, is quite a lot).

Eat & Drink, Kitchen, Loft

Die-hard devotees of Shake Shack should stop reading this right now.  With that said, the editors at DS (while always in search of the “best of” anything), are not yet prepared to anoint Bill’s Bar & Burger our favorite new burger joint…yet.  While first impressions are important, we’re in this for the long haul and we need to revisit this pressing issue a few times before we come to a final conclusion.  Still, one thing is unquestionable—Bill’s Classic with American Cheese is worth getting to know (very well).  Made from a custom blend of Pat LaFrieda beef, the burger patty is well seasoned and has great flavor, especially considering how relatively thin each one is (we suspect the spatula is expertly used with a heavy, yet discerning hand).  The result is a crispy beef patty covered in a melted slice of American cheese situated in between a soft bun and the requisite accoutrements of lettuce, tomato and pickles.  Our Bill’s Classic with American Cheese was perfectly cooked and though not substantial in size, was nonetheless quite filling.  While the french fries were crispy, salted just right, and arrived piping hot out of the fryer, we loved the beer battered onion rings even more—with a superbly crunchy texture, they were the ideal complement to our burger.  Wherever you may go to satisfy your burger fix, we suggest you give Bill’s Bar & Burger a legitimate chance to become the purveyor of your new favorite burger in the city.

Burgers, Eat & Drink, New York City

Though Mayor Bloomberg may have an issue with New Yorkers’ overall salt intake, the editors at DS are convinced that using a higher quality salt (in selectively measured amounts) can yield some highly flavorful results without being unhealthy.  Leave it to some native Kentuckians to come up with the means to this savory end.  Perfect for seasoning your soups, stews and any of your basic proteins, Rattlesnake Hill Farm Bourbon Smoked Garlic Salt (available at Rattlesnake Hill Farm for $6) is a Kosher Celtic sea salt infused with an exquisite combination of bourbon and sustainably grown garlic that will add a layer of complexity to any dish in need of a flavor boost.  As quantities are limited and subject to availability, we suggest getting your spice rack stocked with at least a few bottles.

Eat & Drink, Kitchen

Made out of investment-cast stainless steel, borosilicate glass (Pyrex), and food-grade silicone, the Sorapot Teapot by Joey Roth (available at Sorapot starting from $200) transforms the straightforward process of steeping tea into an experience worth watching unfold.  The Sorapot features a distinctive design whose artistry can be appreciated on two levels.  The immediate: watching tea leaves unfurl as the water suspended in the glass tube is imbued with the natural blush of your tea; the eventual: watching your Sorapot take on its own unique characteristics over time as the uncoated stainless steel develops a distinctive patina and luster based on where it’s held, washed and even what tea is used.  Available in a hand-polished mirror finish and a matte finish, the Sorapot exemplifies how a deliberate attention to detail in design can separate the simple from the sublime.

Eat & Drink, Kitchen, Loft, Tea

When we hear the words “cast iron,” we usually think about cooking.  We don’t think of beer or Buddhist temples.  Crafted in Takaoka, Japan (where 17th century metal workers once produced religious items for Buddhist temples), the Cast Iron Wrench Bottle Opener (available at Design Within Reach for $30) exemplifies how the most unlikely of historical origins can perfectly translate to present day design.  The tradition of craftsmanship lives on in the Cast Iron Wrench Bottle Opener, providing you with a little bit of heft and a lot of brio for the next time you’ve got to open up a bottle of beer.

Beer, Eat & Drink, Kitchen, Loft

When the ball drops later on tonight, whether you’re carousing or keeping it low key, we hope you’re with good friends, family and loved ones celebrating the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010.  And if champagne happens to be in order, we recommend toasting to the new year with InsideOut Champagne Glasses by Alissia Melka-Teichroew (available at byAMT Studio for $60).  The double-walled glass insulates your favorite champagne or sparkling wine and the use of negative space (when filled) reveals exquisite lines.  Made of hand-blown glass, InsideOut Champagne Glasses are practically perfect in form, ensuring that any occasion involving a little bubbly will be all the more effervescent.

Champagne, Eat & Drink, Loft

Having just waited in an interminable line at our local grocery store, it was obvious that people were getting stocked up on the usual provisions for their New Year’s Eve parties.  Whatever may be on your own party essentials list, keeping your beverages ice cold is always of critical importance and with the AK47 Ice Tray (available at Charles & Marie for $15), you can add a little mischief to the mayhem of any party preparation and celebration.  Shaped like an ammunition clip, the AK47 Ice Tray produces a dozen bullet-shaped ice cubes that are ready to do their duty with precision, effectiveness and just the right amount of humor.

Eat & Drink, Kitchen, Loft