Margriet Foolen has freshen up the tagine like no one did before. The Slowcooker she designed for Royal VKB is a mix between the traditional Moroccan tagine and the Dutch stewing pot. It rustic and modern at the same time.

It is made of two interlocking bowls that can be turned upside down at will. You put the food in the bowl that fits the best the amount of food you need. I feel it is a cookware that fits the lifestyle of singles or couples. Use the white lid if you cook for one. If you cook for 2 or 3 persons, put the food in the big terracotta bowl instead. Then, use 2 or 3 slowcookers when you cook for a larger group.

Margriet imagined a design that simplifies our life. The top and bottom silicone rings protect your table from the heat of the hot cooker. The coolest feature is that you can cook the dish and eat it from the same pot. The glazed white lid can act as a plate for one. It’s perfect if you do not like to do the dishes or if you live in a small place.

Lastly, the slowcooker also promotes healthy eating habits. Before cooking, immerse the big terracotta bowl to capture the moisture. Doing so reduces, when it not eliminates, the need to add oil or fat to your dish. I would still add a little bit of oil for taste.

The slowcooker is in nomination for the Wallpaper* Design Awards 2010 in the Best Domestic Design category. It also won a red dot Award (product design 2008). Here are more Royal VKB products that I like.

MORE:
+ Slowcooker for Royal VKB designed by Margriet Foolen $64 USD at A+R Store
+ photo: Wallpaper

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This is baking as an art form. During the Dutch Design Week in October 2009, one exhibit was an homage to cooking and baking. Baked was inspired by a Sicilian folk event in Salemi, where a flour based material is used to create architectural decorations.

One element that I like is how the belts allow to customize the vessels with food decoration. The containers and vessels made from ingredients such as flour, coffee, cocoa and spinach, mixed together with salt, shellac and spices to make the objects durable.

MORE:
+ photos: formafantasma

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I love the ingenuity of the design behind every Royal VKB products. Their motto, Thought for Food says it all. This Dutch housewares company always succeed to grab my attention. If only, I could find a Canadian retailer who carries the entire range of Royal VKB.

A new product, Table Bin would appreciate by students who live with roommates. Designed with outdoor dining in mind, it can be practical for a small family. The concept is that you can filled the bin with food waste, place the utensils in the side pocket, stack dirty dishes on top on the lid and clean up the table in one batch.

Royal VKB developed clever double-duty measuring products that come in an array of colors. They have look and function. I told you before about Mix and Measure, a series of bowls with a graduated scale inside the bowl. You can get an air-tight lid that features a spoon rest on the reverse side.

The Cup and Store canisters come in aluminum and glass. The canister integrates a measuring cup, the lid, for easy pouring. Plus you save space since the jars can stacked into another.

No more need of a scale with the Balancing Bowls. Fill one half of the bowl and the bowl will tilt when you reach the indicated weight. This is not all, you can use the bowl for servings chips and other snacks.

As you can see, Royal VKB imagined stylish practical products that can save you time and space. For that, I gave them a 10.

SOURCING:
1. Mix & Measure by Jan Hoekstra € 9,95 to € 24,95 per bowl
2. Cup & Store Aluminium by Arian Brekveld € 9,95 to € 14,95 per jar
2. Cup & Store Glass by Arian Brekveld € 7,95 to € 9,95 per jar
3. Table Bin by Officeoriginair € 29,95
4. Balancing Bowl set by Jan Hoekstra € 14,95 for set of 2 bowls

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The Netherlands are a country where talented and creative designers flourish in a good number. Sadly, most of their design products do not cross the Atlantic Ocean. In fact, most of the Dutch products are exported when a dedicated retailer wishes to carry them and import the goods directly from The Netherlands. This is the case of the UK retailer Dutch by Design. And it is good to know that Dutch by Design will ship their orders internationally.

I was looking for cool and unique design products for Father’s Day when I thought of revisiting Dutch by Design online store. I like what I see. They have affordable stuff that will impress and please your dad. My favorite gift ideas are:

+ Back in Time Radio/Alarm Clock $40 USD
+ Cheese Board $16.50 USD
+ Sandwich Bread Board $16.50 USD

More Gift Ideas for Everyone and All occasions

+ Tree Watercan $20 USD
+ Love Birds Salt & Pepper Set $21 USD

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These fabrics specially designed by the Dutch Edward Van Vielt for the Sushi collection by Moroso are stunning. I really like the mix match of patterns. He gave a whole new meaning to patchworks.

Edward Van Vielt said in an interview that he was influenced by Marrakesh, the culture of the Far East and Middle East plus the Spirograph to create the patterns of the Sushi collection. The Spirograph was one of my favorite games as a child. And it still fascinates me today.

The collection plays with geometry in forms and patterns. It is not everyday that you see a furniture collection that could successfully integrate the straight angles of the Karmacoma sofa with the roundness of the Donut ottoman or the Juju armless seats. After Amsterdam and Milan, the Sushi collection was given an enthusiastic reception in the New York showroom of Moroso. Visitors of 2009 Salone del Mobile can admire the Sushi collection until next Monday.

MORE:
+ Moroso – Sushi events in Amsterdam and Milan
+ Via Design Boom and  Design Hole

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If you like good design, chances are that you read the style files, the blog of the Dutch Danielle de Lange. Danielle is the owner of Le Souk, a store with an online store that delivers internationally. Good for us because her store carries unique products.

What is interesting about Danielle’s style is that she successfully mixes modern, traditional and handmade products to create a warm and stylish home. You will find there little gems like this exotic teapot, hand-made from tinned copper available in limited stock. This would make an awesome wedding gift to your best friend or your sister.

I am fond of her mat black ceramic dinnerware with the vibrant turquoise glaze on the inside. Made in Vietnam, the range includes a teapot and cups, a small bowl and a large serving plate. The classic lace table linens became practical. You will not worry about stains with her machine-washable vinyl placemats and table runner. Putting modern dinnerware revitalize what used to be a granny look.

SOURCING:
+ Copper Teapot €114.95
+ Ceramic Bowl Large €14.95
+ Vinyl Lace Placemat €2.95

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+ Jorre van Ast designed a set of functional screw caps that fit twist off standard jars. The set is built for most common sizes of glass jars used for food. The Jar Tops provide several serving devices. There is a better option than throwing them in the recycle bin. Simply repurpose them with the Jar tops. ? 14,95

+ The Herb Garden comes with an integrated pocket to keep your herb scissors. I think it is just the right side. Designed by Officeoriginair. Available all white or in white and grey. ? 29,95

+ I found the invaluable picnic knife at the UK retailer Cox & Cox. This wooden handle knife features a bread knife and a corkscrew. £18

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Most of Dutch designers still sell locally. That explains why you are not thinking of The Netherlands as an influential player in household design product market.

Let me introduce a great little Dutch design company called Royal VKB that specializes in food products. Over the past weeks, I saw their products featured in many design oriented blogs.

Just in the last two years, Royal VKB won 3 reddot design awards in 2006, 2 reddot design in 2005 plus a few Design Plus+ awards at the Ambiente trade fair in Frankfurt. That is quite an accomplishment for a small company. Let’s review some of my favorites from their line of products.

Mix & Measure mixing bowls save space and cleaning time. These functionally designed mixing bowls allow for the mixing and measuring in the same bowl.

The Bowl and Spoon can be held in one hand while reaching for the remote control with the other. Inspired by the Chinese noodle bowl, the stainless steel spoon fits into the handle of the ceramic bowl. The shape, the size and the hollow handle entice to easily pick up the spoon. Practical bowl for the couch potato or when you want to go eating on the patio.

Cup & Store storage jars are quite functional. These containers offer a storage facility with an airtight lid which doubles as a measuring cup for the ingredients. So you can prepare your meal in less time. Moreover, you can stack them.

The Puzzle Dinner Tray makes eating a fun and learning activity for kids. It is a cute set. The puzzle dinner tray teaches kids the correct table setting. I am not sure that having kids playing at the table in the best situation but I do not have kids. But it is certainly better that they play with this melamine set than your china dinner ware.

A 2005 reddot design winner, their garlic crusher provides better flavor without smelly hands. That is sometimes I want.

Royal VKB wants to change your food experience every day by offering products that delight you; products that make you come back for more. And I think they are exceeding their expectations.

Link: Spring 2007 Royal VKB collection
Via: Meta MoCo This Week – march 3, 2007 post

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