As shopping editors at Bon Appétit, we keep our finger on the pulse of the kitchen gear space. We monitor new appliance launches and put them to the test, keep tabs on viral trends, read up on technological advances that are changing the way we cook—but we are also on the look out for things that can make a kitchen or dining room more beautiful. We’re always looking at which home and tableware brands consistently manage to put forth new products that innovate on their existing collections in a way that feels exciting and thoughtful.
We receive hundreds—if not thousands—of pitches and look books throughout the year. And while we have one-off favorite items from a host of brands, these are the companies whose new drops we eagerly anticipate—the ones with websites we find ourselves browsing in our spare time, and whose products have made their way into our homes, onto our dinner party tables, and into our gifting rotations. Here are the seven brands we’ve crowned tabletop winners in our inaugural Gear of the Year Awards.
Heath Ceramics
Heath Ceramics in California has been producing beautiful dinnerware since 1948, when the Coupe Line hit the market as the brand’s very first collection. Seventy-seven years later, Coupe is still in production—but Heath has continued to innovate and iterate in the decades since, solidifying itself as one of the most iconic and exciting brands in the dinnerware space.
A highlight from this past year? A collaboration with storied furniture company Herman Miller that celebrates the two brands’ commitment to crafting timeless items that seamlessly blend practicality and beauty.
East Fork
East Fork gained a passionate following for its signature mugs sometime around 2019, but the brand has been producing ceramic dinnerware in North Carolina since founder Alex Matisse (yes, the great-grandchild of that Matisse) started the business in 2010. Though pottery remains a core focus area, the brand has continually expanded its products over the years to include glassware, table linens, home goods, and enamelware.
East Fork also releases a number of limited seasonal glazes and special collections every year—like this fall’s jewel-toned Malachite and glossy Sepia colorways, or the colorful Matisse collection that launched in this past spring. Each new release feels considered and beautifully designed, whether it’s a seasonal color or entry into a brand-new category.
Jono Pandolfi
Acclaimed ceramic designer Jono Pandolfi has come a long way since he first started producing commissioned pieces for New York City restaurants in the aughts. What was once a one-man, one-wheel show is now a 30-person company operating out of a 30,000-square-foot studio in Union, New Jersey.
Despite the expansion, the brand’s commitment to its craft has remained the same. Every Jono Pandolfi piece is hand-thrown and undergoes a unique production process, and Jono and his team are constantly experimenting with new glazes, techniques, and forms. These often become available as special-edition launches—like these marbled bud vases or this colorful serving set that was originally created for a 2025 James Beard Award collaboration with San Pellegrino.
Glasvin
Since its beginnings in 2019, Glasvin quickly became a go-to glassware brand for restaurants and consumers looking to upgrade to high-quality handblown glass without the exorbitant price tag it usually entails. David Kong created the brand after making a move common to many founders: jumping from an unhappy job in finance. He has continued to introduce new product lines and glass shapes year after year. Kong started with a Universal glass meant to be used across all types of wine, but has since launched dozens of other products, including a line of more durable glassware called GV Home and a Ceramics Collection that features two styles of porcelain cups.
A few favorites from this past year are the Whiskey Glass (both stemmed and not), which senior commerce editor Noah Kaufman describes as “the best nosing glass” he’s ever used, and the Parr Glass, which was made in collaboration with renowned sommelier and winemaker Rajat Parr. The glasses are each handblown from lead-free crystal by artisan glassblowers, who Glasvin partners with directly.
Holcomb
Seattle housewares brand Holcomb is the brainchild of inventor father and digital marketer daughter duo David and Ariel Holcomb. The brand releases new collections seasonally and after an intro to the company when it launched in 2023, we’ve found ourselves eagerly awaiting each new drop. Every addition improves on the brand’s limited product line: The offerings feel cohesive, united by shared design principles and a blend of form and function. Holcomb uses a mix of wood, glass, stone, and stainless steel in its kitchenware that gives the pieces a simultaneously sleek and warm look that would be at home in most kitchens, no matter their vibe.
Some early launches, like the stainless-steel Puddle Coasters, have remained favorites among our team members. Then there are the newer additions: a green marble spoon rest that features two nesting pieces and a trio of sage-handled cheese knives, both of which we’re eyeing for holiday entertaining and gifting season.
Big Night
The concept of Big Night, which started as a brick-and-mortar store in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, was simple: a shop dedicated to all of the bits and bobs you might need for an evening of hosting at home. Today, Big Night has three locations and a robust online shop that includes home goods, tableware, kitchenware and barware, glasses, and pantry items. Big Night offers top-notch wares—though perhaps we’re biased because many of the brands Big Night carries happen to be ones we’ve raved about (and included in numerous roundups and gift guides) for years.
In addition to its retail business, Big Night also has its own line of products—things like produce-inspired spoon rests, colorful striped napkins, and funky tiled coasters. It also frequently works with small brands on exclusive items, like a line of hand-painted ceramics made in collaboration with Valsa Home that launched this year. Some other recent additions to Big Night’s product lineup include handblown glasses, playful sets of tea towels, and a collaboration with Jacobsen Salt Co.
Sophie Lou Jacobsen
Sophie Lou Jacobsen is the cool girl brand of the homewares space. Jacobsen is a French American designer who often uses glass as her medium, crafting it into objects simultaneously sculptural and practical, bridging the gap between elegance and whimsy. You can find Jacobsen’s work sold in stores like Big Night (see, we told you), Coming Soon, Design Within Reach, or on her own website, which is the best place to get a sense for her full breadth of offerings, with new additions showing up throughout the year. Most recently we eyed a duo of glasses streaked with pastel stripes and a dramatic Spiral Candleholder that marks an ode to old-world dining and the 1930s.
Haand
Haand’s handmade ceramics has made its way into many of our staffers’ kitchens (we’re partial to the mugs) and over 175 restaurants and hotels nationwide. The company was founded by high school buddies Mark Warren and Chris Pence, who came together to start the business in 2012 and have since expanded into a 13,000-square-foot facility that houses a 20-person team. Haand’s product lineup has several core collections that span dinnerware, kitchen essentials, and decor, as well as a handful of collaborations with chefs, stylists, and organizations. This summer, the brand launched the Hestia Coupe line, which blends design aspects from two existing collections to create a set of graceful plates that almost appear as if they’re floating on the table.
