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When you envision a celebrity kitchen, what comes to mind? Perhaps an expanse of pristine counter space, professional-grade appliances and cabinets full of glistening, neatly stacked pots and pans? Sure, that's what you'll likely find in many homes of the rich and famous, which is why we found a recent Instagram tour of Cynthia Nixon's Montauk kitchen so refreshing. Unlike the immaculate cooking spaces you'd see in an Architectural Digest photospread, which often look like nary a noodle has been boiled in them, the Sex and the City star's kitchen was rather ... normal?
Normal in the sense that it looked like an unpretentious kitchen that an everyday, non-famous person would have. The video — which Nixon is absolutely charming in — shows a rack of stain-splattered pots, a shelf of mismatched vases and an average-sized counter, every inch of which is covered with ingredients and cooking gear. Sure, it can be fun to get a glimpse of a home many of us can only dream of, but there's also something comforting about seeing a television megastar in a space that looks lived-in, a bit cluttered and, well, perfectly imperfect.
As shopping writers, we, of course, watched the video a few times to see if we could spot any familiar items, and were pleased to see that a few of our favorites made appearances. Celebrities — they really are like us? Well, maybe this one is.
The first item that jumped out was, as a surprise to probably no one, a classic Le Creuset Dutch oven in the iconic "Flame" color. These workhorses don't come cheap, but they're built to last; in fact, we could tell Nixon has had hers for quite a while, since the lid sported a handle rather than a knob, which the brand currently tops its pots with.
Yahoo Senior Home Writer Lisa Schweitzer swears by her Le Creuset, so if you're willing to spend, she promises it's worth the investment. "I have done just about every cooking task in this pot — boiling, braising, searing and sautéing," she says. "I'm not much of a bread baker, so I've never used it for that, but Le Creuset has many fans who believe it's the best Dutch oven for sourdough bread baking."
Related: I test cookware for a living — and this Dutch oven is worth every penny
"Here's my lemon-mint water," says Nixon, holding up a teal Yeti tumbler (though her lid is black). This thirst-quencher will come in handy on those particularly sweltering summer days, since its double-wall insulation can keep drinks cold for hours. (It works with hot beverages too.) This one's also got a built-in straw so you don't have to worry about water dribbling all over your chin.
We're patting ourselves on the back for identifying this little gadget, which Nixon never directly acknowledges but can be spotted on the back counter (with, of all things, a bowl of kale resting on it). Now, many people might think of a rice cooker as a single-use appliance that'll unnecessarily take up space in the kitchen — but don't be misled by the word "rice" in its name. Yes, this small yet mighty machine makes some mean grains, but you can also use it to cook soup, stew, pasta, vegetables, pudding ... in fact, there's not a whole lot you can't do in it. It's also great for keeping food warm after it's cooked without overheating it.
"There's a lobster pot," says Nixon, pointing to a large enameled cooking vessel perched high on a ledge, very similar in appearance to this one. It makes sense that she would be cooking lobster in her kitchen, seeing as Montauk is right on the water. That said, even landlocked dwellers could find uses for this speckled cauldron, from simmering soup for a crowd to boiling water for canning jars. Plus, its smooth coating makes cleanup a cinch.
"This is my basket that I get stuff from the garden [in]," shares Nixon in reference to a teal carrier like this one, which casually hangs from the lock on her kitchen window. Roomy enough for hauling plenty of fresh produce, its slats allow you to rinse off your fruits and veggies without transferring them to another holder (and thus, unnecessarily dirtying up something else).
"Here's my tea; it's very important, very precious," she notes, lifting a glass infuser pitcher like this one. Not only can it be used to steep loose leaves or bags of your favorite variety, it's also ideal for cold brew and conveniently has a measurement guide right on its side. How cool is its sleek, cone-shaped design? Very laboratory-chic.
As if spa water and tea weren't enough, Nixon also prepares a cup of coffee in this video, using what she calls an "Italian coffee maker" a la this top-seller. If there's one thing her kitchen isn't short on, it's beverages! This no-frills aluminum pot can be used for making espresso at home — Cynthia pairs hers with frothy milk and cinnamon. You can bring this little guy anywhere with access to a burner, making it a fabulous travel companion.
Don't blink or you'll miss it, but at one point in the video, you can spot a wooden cutting board akin to this one on Nixon's counter. I recently decided to go against the grain and swap all of my plastic cutting boards for wood, and this hefty block, which counts Ina Garten and Giada De Laurentiis among its many fans, is the sturdiest I've ever used. I can tell it was built to last (unlike my flimsy, cheap plastic ones); in fact, Garten even says, "I have lots of them, and if you take care of them, they last forever." Speaking of longevity, wood is more gentle on knives than plastic, so it could help preserve your beloved blades as well.
While we couldn't place the exact model, a cheery orange tea kettle graces Nixon's stovetop. We did find this one, which would be a match for her Le Creuset Dutch oven. Color coordination: It's not just for clothes anymore. This pretty pot is one of the brand's bestsellers and is made of sturdy enameled steel — once it's finished boiling your water, it'll alert you with a whistle.
In a small alcove off to the side of Nixon's kitchen, a Swiffer sweeper can be seen leaning against a wall. This multitasker can be used for wiping up both wet and dry messes, and includes 14 dry cloths and five wet ones (no dustpan necessary). What we love about these is how lightweight and flexible they are for getting under furniture and into small corners.
Finally, we'd be remiss not to spill the type of milk that graces Nixon's counter. We were impressed by the voluminous foam she was able to produce for her coffee, so it makes sense that she used this "barista blend," which is particularly suitable for frothing.
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