The clock is always ticking, especially when there are hungry guests awaiting the next course. Between meal prep, planning, and admin, Asaro has to stay strictly on schedule and make every minute count. For that, she uses a time-tested productivity method: the trusty Pomodoro Technique. 

“I use the Pomodoro Technique throughout my day to stay focused while managing multiple parts of the business at once—candidate interviews, client communication, and operations,” she says. 

The Pomodoro Technique uses four 25-minute working sessions broken up by a five-minute break in between, with a larger break once all four working blocks are complete.

Rather than the tomato timer the practice was named after, she turns to the Time Timer’s color-shaded physical timers to help track her work blocks. With a visual clock countdown that shows elapsed time, this device is a go-to way for Asaro to keep track of time, whether it’s on a busy meetings day or fast-paced meal prep. 

“The Time Timer helps me break my day into structured work blocks so I can actually move projects forward instead of juggling everything at once,” she says. “It’s simple, but incredibly effective for how I work.”

After years in kitchens and on the go between clients, Asaro is well aware that one of the first things that can fall to the wayside during a workday is hydration. Feeling underwatered and sluggish is the last thing a chef wants to deal with when things heat up, especially on Asaro’s busiest days (spoiler alert: they’re all really busy).  

“I’m constantly on the move, so hydration is something I have to be intentional about,” says Asaro. “My Owala comes with me everywhere, from walking meetings to client visits to long days in the city. It’s one of those small things that quietly makes a big difference in how I feel throughout the day.”

Asaro is based in New York, and her job naturally means she’s always hauls supplies between taxis, the subway, and clients. That’s why she refers to her Hulken rolling tote as “one of the best items I’ve ever invested in.” Her pick? The medium in silver chrome. 

“They have small, medium, extra-large. Extra-large could fit like four children inside of it. It’s huge,” she says. “Imagine a large oversized grocery bag with handles and wheels. It also folds really nicely, so you can put it on your shoulder when you're walking. It has two handles that you can hold and, then it has a rope that you can drag it with, essentially.” 

“I use it when I’m transporting anything larger: event materials, product samples, groceries for clients, or items needed for dinner services, shoots, or sourcing days,” she says. “It’s extremely practical, durable, and very reflective of the logistical side of running a hospitality and staffing business in New York. It’s not the glamorous part of the job, but it’s one of the most real—and one of the most necessary.”

Asaro’s morning routine would not be complete without coffee, but the problem is she’s got places to go. “Mornings are a little hectic,” Asaro says. That’s why, she adds, “I just love the idea that I can make myself my perfect latte at my perfect temperature.” 

The Ember Mug 2 allows you to set your ideal temperature via the Ember app. It comes with a charging coaster, which will let the mug keep your drink warm all day or, in the case of the 10-ounce edition, for 90 minutes if you skip bringing it along. (The 14-ounce mug gets 80 minutes of heat sans coaster.) 

“My coffee almost never gets finished in one sitting, and this keeps it at the perfect temperature throughout the day. It’s a small detail, but it makes a big difference when your schedule is constantly interrupted,” she says. “I can go right back to it and grab it, and it's at the same temperature without having to put it in the microwave.”