Mighty Goods: Food and Drink

Henckels Pro S 8-Inch High Carbon Stainless Steel Chef’s Knife

This knife makes me purr. We received one as a wedding gift years ago, and it still makes me smile every time I pull it out of the drawer. Hold one in your hand, and you’ll see what I mean. Resist the temptation to lick it, though. That smarts.

$90 at Amazon | Buy

| Posted 20 Dec, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

Chocolate Voodoo Doll

Five ounces of semi-sweet revenge. An excellent gift for the recently brokenhearted.

$7 at Amazon | Buy

| Posted 22 Nov, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

Gingerbread House Kit

It comes pre-baked with all the candy included. All you have to do is put it together and eat it.

$17 at Amazon | Buy

| Posted 21 Nov, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

Etch-A-Sketch Lollipops

Best party favors ever.

$40 at Candy Warehouse | Buy

(For a box of twelve.)

| Posted 26 Oct, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

Caja China

Roast an entire pig (or turkey, or rib slab) at a go. The Caja China comes with a charcoal pan and grid, large dripping pan, two stainless steel grills, four hooks, and a marinating syringe.

$269 at La Caja China | Buy

| Posted 17 Oct, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

Bacon of the Month Club

OF-THE-MONTH-CLUB GIFT GUIDE

Oh, my friends. Is there a more hedonistic gift than the gift of bacon? That is, the monthly gift of bacon? Delivered to your door by women in Playboy bunny costumes! OK that last bit isn’t true, but that would be just about the only thing that could make this better.

$190 at The Grateful Palate | Buy

(For a six-month subscription.)

| Posted 05 Oct, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

Sunflower Seeds

UNIQUE HOST GIFTS

Like peanut M&Ms, but with sunflower seeds inside. Wee bits of sweet.

$6 at The Cocoa Room | Buy

| Posted 30 Sep, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

Good Morning Basket

Breakfast in a basket includes real maple syrup, wild blueberry syrup, lemon curd, raspberry peach champagne jam, and pancake or waffle mix. Now if only it came with bacon.

$50 at Stonewall Kitchen | Buy

| Posted 28 Sep, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

Safari Chef Portable Grill

The Safari Chef is my new favorite camping gizmo. It’s a lightweight stove, grill, non-stick griddle, wok, and boiling pan in one. Everything stacks up nice and neat, and zips into a small carrying bag. My sister in law gave us one for Christmas, and now a few of our friends have bought their own after using ours. For portability and versatility, I prefer it to our two-burner Coleman stove. Not built for backpacking, but great for everything else.

$80 at Amazon | Buy

| Posted 19 Sep, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

Our Favorites Gift Set

If you have a picky friend, or one who just doesn’t need any more stuff, send along Dean & DeLuca’s box of chart-topping treats. It includes: Molinari Sopressata, Raye’s Down East Schooner Mustard, Starr Ridge olive oil, Dean & DeLuca’s Grafton Round cheddar; strawberry jam from Italy, espresso brownies with nuts, Aldo’s hazelnut biscotti, Dean & DeLuca’s Kansas City Blend coffee, Virginia salted peanuts, Bella Viva mixed dried fruits, and Brent’s Beer Brittle , and Bridgewater Bark.

$130 at Dean & DeLuca | Buy

| Posted 19 Aug, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

Teastick

UNIQUE HOST GIFTS

An artfully designed option for loose-tea drinkers, the teastick scoops up your tea, slides shut, and rests against the side of your mug or teacup while the tea brews. The designers claim that it supports the “optimum flow for perfect steeping.” I just think it’s pretty. Thanks for the tip, Heather!

$20 at Gamila | Buy

| Posted 01 Aug, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

1980s Retro Candy Gift Box

UNIQUE HOST GIFTS

Lemon Heads, Atomic Fireballs, Pixy Stix, Jolly Ranchers… how long has it been since you ate a piece of candy that turned your tongue completely green? This Retro Candy Gift Box brings the Quickie Mart to your doorstep. Just skip the soda when you break open your Pop Rocks. We all know what happened to Mikey.

$24 at Amazon | Buy

| Posted 20 Jul, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

Aphrodisiac of the Month Club

Looking to spice things up? You could position a trampoline at the foot of the bed, install a pole near the closet, or bolt a trapeze to your bedroom ceiling. On second thought, try uncorking some champagne to accompany this month’s selection from the Aphrodisiac of the Month Club. A little less wild perhaps, but it greatly reduces the danger of anyone ending up in the emergency room with some uncomfortable explaining to do.

$108 at Aphrodisiac of the Month | Buy

(For three months.)

| Posted 11 Jul, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

Flower Crystallization Kit

Cupcakes look so much more dignified with boutonnieres. You can buy sugared flowers from this site for around $2 a pop, or you can learn to make them yourself with this handy kit. Includes directions, a sample crystallized flower, and everything you need to crystallize about 75 flowers.

$24 at Candied Flowers | Buy

| Posted 27 Jun, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

Love Nuts

10 LITTLE LUXURIES UNDER $10

Love Nuts aren’t nearly so risqu’e as they sound, though they do come in a close second to sex.

The lightly caramelized nuts are covered in silky milk chocolate, and then dusted with dark cocoa. They’re crunchy, creamy, a tiny bit salty, and more effective than Prozac. If have a touch of PMS, an irritable boss, or a tantrum-prone kid, these babies will pull you back from the edge.

I like the cashews, but you can also get them in almond, hazelnut, pecan, and macadamia. At only ten bucks a bag, they make excellent, unique host gifts.

$10 at Comparte's Chocolatier | Buy

| Posted 13 Jun, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

Grandma’s Chicken Soup

Have you ever been far away from a loved one who’s sick and wished you could do something to make them feel better? Now you can send them some homemade chicken soup. This one comes with or without matzah balls.

$30 at Grandma | Buy

(For half a gallon.)

| Posted 02 Jun, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

BYO Lunchbag

THOUGHTFUL GIFTS FOR EMPLOYEES

This grownup neoprene lunchbox holds a drink in one compartment, and food in the other. It insulates, and opens to form a placemat. Also, you can throw it in the washing machine without incident. Pretty cool digs for your PBJ.

$12 at Amazon | Buy

| Posted 13 May, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

Fruit Forward Wine Club

Spend less, drink more. Who could disagree with the concept behind Fruit Forward, the wine club that offers small-winery selections and shipping for $10 a bottle? Each month, you get two reds, two whites, or one of each, shipped to your doorstep. The package even includes unpretentious tasting notes. Best of all, you can select the exact number of months you’d like to subscribe. Takes the guesswork out of buying on a budget. (via Budget Living)

$20 at Fruit Forward | Buy

(Per month)

| Posted 09 May, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

Good Earth Teas

Tuck a few Good Earth teabags in your purse and you’ll never have to submit to the indignity of Lipton again. Their original Sweet ‘N’ Spicy Blend, is like a chai without all the calories and prep work. It also makes a feisty, satisfying iced tea. Their Green Tea Blend includes lemon grass, which gives it a mild tang.

$3 at Amazon | Buy

| Posted 01 Apr, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

Girl Scout Cookies

When I moved to a big city, it never occurred to me that I’d be sacrificing my Girl Scout cookies. The wee green ones don’t come to my door or stake out the grocery stores I frequent. My cupboards are cookie-free, and I’m starting to have withdrawal symptoms. The Girl Scouts don’t sell cookies online, but I did find a site where you can download a mail-order form and have Lemon Cremes delivered direct to your door. You have until the end of April to stuff your freezer with Peanut Butter Patties and Caramel deLites before the cookies disappear for another year. Stock up.

$4 at Girl Scouts, Patriots' Trail Council | Buy

| Posted 29 Mar, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

June Taylor Jams

CLASSIC HOST GIFTS

Heather can’t stop raving about June Taylor Jams. She mentions them whenever we see each other, and she sent me this note: “June Taylor has a booth on Saturday morning down at the farmers market where you can taste them all� Heaven in a spoon. I have three jars at home that you’re welcome to sample: Apricot, Pluot and Lavender and Rhubarb. All so good you might want to skip the toast and butter.” She’s right. So good, they make your tastebuds hurt.

$11 at June Taylor Jams | Buy

(Prices vary, $25 minimum.)

| Posted 10 Mar, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

Xocolatl Hot Chocolate

UNIQUE HOST GIFTS

Delicious. Xocolatl (pronounced Choco-la’tl) emphasizes the “hot” part of hot chocolate. It’s based on a traditional Aztec drink that combines chocolate with a whomp of chilies and a little cinnamon. If you need a gallon of water to get through a tamale, don’t try this at home. But if you can appreciate a dessert with some kick, this cocoa is the spice of life.

$9 at Dagoba | Buy

(12 oz.)

| Posted 01 Mar, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

Single Origin Varietal Chocolate Bars

Guittard recently launched a line of origin-specific chocolate bars. They offer three 65 percent bittersweet varietals. The Sur del Lago comes from Venezuela, the Ambanja from Madagascar, and the Chucuri from Columbia. Each has it’s own unique and delicious flavor. Pick up a bottle of wine to match each region, and have some friends over for a tasting.

$4 at Guittard | Buy

(per 2 oz. bar)

| Posted 17 Feb, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

Toasted Head Chardonnay

I know it’s not particularly sophisticated, but I’m a sucker for a good wine label. Toasted Head wines have an adorable fire-breathing bear that’s smashing at a party. And, best of all, they’re relatively cheap and yummy. This chardonnay smells like apricots. It’s sweet, fruity, and bright. The name Toasted Head derives from the process of burning the barrel heads to give the wine a caramelized flavor. I don’t taste any caramel, but I can taste a bit of the oak. A great match for the chicken wings at your backyard BBQ.

$10 at BevMo | Buy

| Posted 10 Feb, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason

Droste Cocoa

Throw away the Nestle Quick. This unsweetened cocoa from Holland will make your toes curl. Whisk it into hot milk and sweeten with Bailey’s Irish Cream or Frangelico. If you can get your hands on some homemade marshmallows you might be able to ascend. It’s also amazing in baked goods.

$10 at igourmet.com | Buy

(About 9 oz.)

| Posted 26 Jan, 2005 in Food and Drink by Margaret Mason