Cool Mats

These are not your ordinary, cornball mats. They’re light and elegant, in sophisticated shades of green and burgundy.

Asiaphile palm fiber mats, about $12 each, from Blackjack, West Hollywood, and Tesoro, Beverly Hills.

Garlic Jams!

Yes, this is a jam made from roasted garlic and onions. You might not want to put it on your peanut butter sandwich, but it makes a great condiment or glaze for barbecued meat, and the makers also recommend it on crackers with cream cheese. Think of it as chutney with a fragrant attitude.

Stonewall Kitchen roasted garlic and onion jam, $7, from HomeChef, Pasadena.

Hitting High Sea

It’s getting to be the beachy time of year, and these plates--with designs by Ralph Lauren--strike the proper casual, carefree seaside note.

Ralph Lauren plates by Vineyard, $18, from Room at the Beach, Malibu.

Crepes Made Ridiculously Simple

This nonstick pan solves the twin problems of pouring the right amount of batter for crepes and removing the pesky little critters from the pan when they’re done. You heat it up, dip the bottom side into your batter, set the pan on the heat upside-down until the crepe cooks--it only takes a few seconds--et voila. The crepe peels off the pan easily; there’s no need to cook both sides.

Nordic Ware French crepe pan, $29.95, from Sur La Table, Pasadena.