The Kenji Lopez-Alt + Earlywood Story

They say it's better to be lucky than to be good. We like to think a little of both went into the beginnings of our colaborations with Kenji Lopez-Alt. So how did the relationship begin? That's the story we're here to tell you about right now.

Back in 2015, before we had ever heard of Kenji, we started getting emails from customers saying that we should send some of our utensils to him. If you know Kenji's style, he's very methodical, scientific and meticulous. If you want proof, just check his encyclopedic first book "The Food Lab". Our customers know how much time and effort we put into the tiniest little details of our products and knew that Kenji would appreciate that too.

So, we put a package together and sent them off to Kenji. He is a busy guy and we never heard back from him. We admittedly never reached out to see if he liked them either (chalk that up to starting and growing a business with just a couple of people)!

Five years later, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and Kenji shifted his cooking endeavors to the comforts of his home. As he began filming cooking shows and sharing his culinary adventures online, our utensils were frequently used in his videos and he started mentioning them when followers asked about the unique wooden utensil he was using in the kitchen. Check out some of Kenji's great videos on YouTube.

That's when we found out that he had been using them religiously for five years straight! Since that point, we have worked with Kenji on a number of things and loved every minute of it. Kenji does not accept sponsorships, affiliate codes, free product, etc., as an effort to stay unbiased and make sure he's 100% honest with his recommendations to his followers. Really hard to argue with that! We have done a number of promotions with Kenji and together we’ve donated over $12,000 to help end childhood hunger via No Kid Hungry.

Next, Kenji set out to write a new cookbook "The Wok, Recipes and Techniques". Already having a fondness for Earlywood utensils, he reached out to us asking if we could craft the perfect wooden wok spatula. Kenji provided invaluable feedback that helped us refine its design and functionality. We sent prototypes back and forth and took all the constructive criticism we could get. Over several months and with his guidance, we perfected the wok spatula, ensuring it met the demands of professional chefs and home cooks alike.

We now offer the Earlywood Wok Spatula alongside signed copies of Kenji's The Wok Cookbook on our website. It's a testament to our shared commitment to quality and innovation in the kitchen. Working with Kenji Lopez-Alt has been an incredible journey, and we're grateful for his ongoing support and friendship.

What sets Kenji apart is his genuine love for products that enhance his cooking experience. Despite his fame and influence, he never accepts compensation for items he uses and only shares about them if he truly believes in their quality and functionality. So, when he started featuring our utensils in his cooking videos and recommending them to his audience, we knew we had something special, and are so grateful for his support.

As we continue to grow and innovate, we're excited to see where this collaboration takes us next. But one thing is for sure – our passion for creating exceptional kitchen utensils remains unwavering, fueled by the support and encouragement of culinary experts like Kenji Lopez-Alt.