Jesse Jenkins, also known as Adip (Another Day in Paradise), makes cinematic cooking videos that rack up millions of views. He grew up in Los Angeles, splitting his time between professional kitchens and life as a sponsored skateboarder, before spending almost a decade in the UK as a fashion photographer. But cooking remained his obsession. Shaped by the people he has cooked for and alongside over the years, Jenkins’s food is fresh, fast and a bit filthy, with a laidback American streak. His debut cookbook, Cooking with Vegetables, came out last year. And this year, he and his partner Francesca Zampi launched Yew, a sparkling-water brand with zero sugar or sweeteners.
Here are 10 things he loves right now.
On Light Spray Cloudmonster 3 Hyper, £270
I’m running a lot at the moment – training for my first marathon this autumn – and these are my new favourite shoes. The upper is sprayed directly onto the shoe, so there are no laces or seams and they weigh almost nothing. They’re comfortable over long distances but still feel quick. They also look rad and unlike any other running shoe.
Satisfy Tech Silk Evo 9 inch half tights, £170
When I find something I like I go all in, and I am basically decked out from head to toe in Satisfy running clothes. These shorts are light, supportive and don’t move around while you run. The pockets hold a phone, keys and gels without being annoying.
Nenohi Nenox-S Gyuto knife, from ¥88,000 (approximately £420)
I love using this knife. It’s beautifully balanced, holds its edge and can handle a lot, from finely slicing vegetables to breaking down a large piece of meat. A great knife should feel like an extension of your hand and this one does.
Parker Asahi Hi-Soft chopping board, £135
This chopping board is made from a soft synthetic rubber that feels somewhere between wood and plastic. It’s gentle on knives, doesn’t slip around and is much easier to look after than a wooden board. I have a large yellow one and small black one and that is all I need. Once you’ve used one, everything else feels inferior.
Service Projects aluminium pepper mill, £120
This pepper mill is made from a solid piece of aluminium, and has an excellent weight in the hand that gives you proper control over the grind. A kitchen tool that works extremely well and is beautiful enough to have out on the table.
Gray Kunz sauce spoon, US$13.80 (approximately £10)
This is one of those pieces of kitchen equipment that looks unremarkable until you start using it. The bowl is the right size and shape for basting, saucing, tasting and serving, and it ends up doing the work of five different utensils.
Teenage Engineering OB–4 bluetooth speaker, £549
The OB–4 sounds brilliant and you can carry it around the house or take it outside. It also continuously records the previous two hours, so you can rewind the radio, loop something you’ve just heard or happily lose half an hour of your life playing with it.
Yew pickle sparkling water, £18.49 (12 cans)
Pickle is the Yew flavour I drink most. It’s briny and savoury with dill, fresh cucumber and a bright tangy finish. I am biased, of course, but I can’t think of anything more moreish and refreshing I would like to drink.
Posa reversible Barrington jacket in black/olive, £328
This golf jacket is simple, well cut and reversible, with black on one side and olive on the other. Wearing it every time I go out right now.
Vitra Akari 15A pendant by Isamu Noguchi, £980
Noguchi’s Akari lights are sculptures as much as they are lamps. The 15A is handmade from washi paper and gives off beautiful soft, warm light that changes the feeling of a room. It’s large over our dining room table but somehow still feels very light and quiet.
