How Food Network Staffers Relax In the Kitchen

It sounds crazy, but cleaning makes me calm. That’s why I try to tidy up the kitchen after dinner (and before dessert) almost every night. Cleaning off the countertops and giving them a wipe-down while my partner does the dishes give us time to catch-up and wind down after work. Plus, I love that it’s a ritual we can do together. The final touch? Lighting a scented candle that sits on the now-clean counter while we eat dessert on the couch. I’m loving this honey-vanilla-scented one from Stonewall Home for the winter and plan on swapping it out for Otherland’s Canopy scent when warmer weather is finally here.

-T.K. Brady, Senior Editor

One new relaxation ritual I’ve adopted is inspired by the Chinese gong fu tea ritual. The real tea ritual requires training and practice to master all the techniques and steps. It’s an ancient art that I highly respect, and one of these days I would love to experience it first-hand. I recently purchased a single-person Chinese tea ceremony kit that comes in a little travel case. It includes a Gawain cup for brewing a single portion, a fairness cup to pour your tea when it reaches the right potency and a beautiful porcelain teacup just for me. I sit quietly and watch the loose tea leaves expand in the Gawain, and the ritual of pouring that into the fairness cup and then into my little teacup just relaxes me. You don’t need a gong fu tea set to enjoy this calming ritual, though. What’s most important is getting good-quality Chinese or Taiwanese tea. I love JoJo Tea, which is based in my hometown, Miami.

-Carlos C. Olaechea, Digital Culinary Content Writer

I know my day is officially winding down when the time comes to make myself a big bowl of popcorn and get comfortable on the couch. The process of freshly popping the kernels in my air popper then drizzling a little olive oil and salt over the crunchy snack has become a bit of a ritual ending to my days that truly helps me relax. Trust me, it’s well worth it to make your own rather than relying on the store-bought version or microwave bags. To me, salty popcorn is the perfect post-dinner bite and the best companion to whatever show I’m binging at the moment.

-Rachel Trujillo, Associate Content Editor

A couple hours before bed, I’ll get a pot of roasted barley tea steeping and sip while I wind down. The tea is naturally caffeine-free, and its earthy flavor helps ground me. The tea bags come in larger-than-average sizes, so one bag is enough for two to three full cups. It's especially helpful when I need some calm or when I want my belly to feel warm, cozy and full before I sleep. It helps keep me from indulging in too much junk food right before bed!

-Maggie Wong, Editor