Geoffrey Zakarian’s Favorite Things

“For me, on-time is late. I’m always early. To stay prompt, I love the Hermès Slim d’Hermès. The thin profile prevents it from catching on my shirt cuff, and the hash marks on the face remind me of the menu font at my first restaurant, Town.”

“As a chef, I am fanatical about keeping my hands well groomed. This black powder-coated set from TenOverTen feels appropriately masculine and chic.”

“I love the effortless way the Europeans do the beach. One of these easy-to-carry peshtemals can do triple duty as your mat, towel, and sarong.”

“The boards in my house get a lot of use. This keeps them looking presentable in my open kitchen and maintains them for longevity.”

“I’ve relied on these since my days as chef at The Delano. Blue Door, blue paper. It just stuck.”

“If I could walk any city for an entire day, I would choose London. In the meantime, I’m decidedly American and wear these.”

“When I open my cupboard and see this tin, I am transported to Mariage Frères store on Rue du Bourg Tibourg. The pageantry of selecting the tea, the uniforms, the wooden mill work. Just fabulous. A piece of food theater.”

“I travel a lot as a chef and filming my TV shows. It takes a toll. Here is a secret that keeps me camera-ready.”

“When entertaining in the evening at home, candles are one of the most important elements. I stock these at the house.”

“Scrambling for matches or lighter fluid when your guests arrive is not a good look. Lately, I rely on an electric lighter. Pro tip: Place all your votives on a single tray, light them with this electric lighter, and then distribute around the house.”

“The three most important kitchen staples are a quality extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, and pure sea salt. You’ll use them everyday. This set, harvested from Kalamata, Greece, covers it all.”