15 Things to Make Your May the Tastiest Yet

I have a major soft spot for toffee and for Theo Chocolate's bars, so the Seattle-based chocolatier's Salted Toffee 55% Dark Chocolate ($4) was an easy sell. Supersmooth, not-too-dark chocolate is punctuated by crisp, buttery chunks of toffee for a bar that's almost too good. Also new and notable: the Salted Almond Butter Dark Chocolate Cups ($4). — Nicole Perry, contributor, Food

There's nothing I love more than hiking up to the highest peaks, throwing down a blanket, enjoying the sun — and perhaps a glass of wine? Thank goodness for these Wine2Go foldable wine bottles ($13) that are lightweight and easy to throw into a knapsack! Seriously, it's the best wine "flask" ever. — Nicole Iizuka, senior producer

Cherry Bombe is one of my favorite food magazines, and I've never been more excited to get my hands on the newest one. The seventh issue ($20) features cover star Chrissy Teigen and focuses on a "Golden Girl" theme — "It's all about the California chefs, restaurateurs, farmers, and other amazing people who make the Golden State so special." As a San Francisco resident who's obsessed with California's food scene and Chrissy Teigen and her recipes, I can't wait to read this from cover to cover. — Erin Cullum, assistant editor, Food

It's hard not to fall in love with everything Sugarfina packages, but these sophisticated Champagne Bears, made from Dom Pérignon Vintage Champagne, take the cake. These luxuriously fancy bears featuring two flavors, classic Brut and sparkling Rosé, are my dream candy and certainly the kind I would love to see at my bridal shower. Hint. Hint. — Brandi Milloy, host and producer

As 2016 is the year of the pulses, it makes sense that unique bean and pea products are entering the market. My new favorite one is Original Unsweetened Ripple Milk made from yellow peas. I know it sounds strange, but the milk has an addictive creaminess and wonderfully neutral flavor. I'm saying goodbye to almond milk in favor of this stuff. — Anna Monette Roberts, editor, Food

If you're anything like me, you struggle to find the exact right blend of granola at the store. Yes, the options are practically endless, but what if I want dried jalapeños, blackberry powder, and sea salt? Bear Naked granola understands my pain, thankfully, and recently launched a create-your-own-granola program ($10) where you can pick your own base and mix-ins and even design the packaging with the bear and name of your choice. You can choose a combination from a curated list of suggestions or go crazy and do it all yourself. My first mix is pretty tame — honey granola with dried apples, chocolate chips, and dried ginger — but who knows what could be next. Dried jalapeños? Maybe! — Hedy Phillips, contributor

Though they're pretty, I had sworn off of paper straws as they tend to get soft and flimsy after mere minutes soaking in a drink. That is, until I tried Aardvark's product line ($5 for 24 straws). Made with one-third more paper than is standard, they actually hold up through an entire sipping session, and they're also bendy. My favorites are the sea turtle print and the gold foil. — NP

Pure Delicious ($18) by food blogger Heather Christo is a cookbook of allergen-free recipes that I can't wait to make. Heather's a pro at making beautiful, mouthwatering dishes that are good for you yet seemingly indulgent. While I don't have food allergies, I do try to cook without dairy and aim to keep my pasta intake to a reasonable level. So, many of these recipes speak to me (spicy Thai curry noodle soup, gluten-free pasta with dairy-free vodka sauce, and salmon ceviche). — EC

I can't help myself — I'm like a fly attracted to a lightbulb when I see this colbalt-blue color. It's a featured color in Williams-Sonoma's latest Colorful Kitchen collection, and while I want everything, I'll settle for a pop of the magnificent color via this Blue Wood Dipped Spoon ($13). —AMR

One bite of the signature noodles from Crustacean Beverly Hills and you'll understand why this restaurant has been a renowned celebrity favorite for years. The An family has created a Vietnamese empire in Los Angeles, and they've finally decided to share their secrets with the rest of us. Behold! An: To Eat — Recipes and Stories From a Vietnamese Family Kitchen ($25) is stuffed with delicious recipes like beef pho and drunken crab. What I'm most excited about is reading all about Helene An's journey to America, fleeing Vietnam in 1955, discovering herself and cuisine in Saigon, and becoming a culinary icon in Los Angeles 20 years later. — NI

Honestly, I'm not a granola- or energy-bar type of person, and I love these new nut-butter-filled energy bars ($2) from Clif Bar. They're much more exciting than the average bar thanks to a thick layer of chocolate hazelnut butter. They're ideal for airport snacking while traveling, taking on hikes, or refueling while on the go. — EC

If anyone understands how to write exciting, easy weeknight recipes, it's the creators of meal delivery services like Blue Apron, Marley Spoon, and Plated. The last is coming out with a cookbook May 17, Plated: Weeknight Dinners, Weekend Feasts, and Everything in Between ($25), by Elana Karp and Suzanne Dumaine. Clearly written with ease and adaptability in mind, it front-loads recipes for dressings, rubs, marinades, and sauces, as they're an easy way to upgrade and change up dinner staples. I also love how each of the recipes in the weeknight dinners chapter offers up four variations (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter) using seasonal produce. Busy home cooks looking for inspiration and ease, this book is for you. — NP

I love bold and colorful paper coasters. Quite simply, they spark joy. The Piña Colada the Shots Coaster Set ($18) inspires me to entertain and celebrate the start of Summer. — AMR

I am a salt fanatic. I absolutely love having pinch bowls of salt on hand at all times when throwing down in the kitchen — but I always find that they sometimes get flecked with other things, like errant drops of olive oil, chopped herbs, etc. So when my friend showed me this olivewood salt keeper ($50) from Williams-Sonoma, I fell instantly in love. Not only does it look fantastic, but the swiveling lid with a tiny magnetic closure keeps everything easily accessible and super fresh.

What if you could get warehouse-store prices on organic pantry staples without buying massive quantities or waiting in long lines? It's not just a nice thought, thanks to Thrive Market, an online marketplace for those sorts of products. Since moving to an apartment with not-so-great access to a full-service supermarket, I've been using this subscription-based service ($60/year) to stock up on everything from quinoa to nut-butter without schlepping them home on the subway. — NP