GIFT IDEAS THAT BRIGHTEN THE SEASON

(Image from www.reasonstobelieve.com)

Everyone loves to eat, and most love to cook, no matter their level of experience, or what time of year, or the celebration.  Trying to come up with a gift for the foodie on your list, including yourself, may pose some challenges, but in this year’s guide, I’ve eliminated this.  This year’s guide includes food, wine, kitchen gadgets, and a few of those touches that are sure to make your holiday table sparkle.  Lastly, I've put together five different "Gift Basket" ideas that utilize the featured items.  Enjoy!

~ For the Discriminating Palate ~

Alessi Foods ~  If you want to impress your family and friends with superior quality Italian imported holiday favorites, then look no further than these outstanding products from Alessi.  GIFT IDEAS:  Classico Panettone, Amaretti Cookies, and Caffè Espresso.  These are the perfect holiday treats for your breakfast table, or after the main meal, or as an evening sweet.  My Take:  Make sure to explore the Alessi website for their iconic Panettone Bread Pudding recipe, or make flavorful Penettone French Toast.  I’ve made both and the results are fabulous.  For either recipe, consider making a sweetened yogurt sauce to add to the finished recipe; another great add is to use Alessi Chocolate Balsamic Reduction.  Crumbled Ameretti Cookies are great over ice cream, or added to sweetened yogurt.  These delectable dolce treats have their flavors intensified with the rich, bold Caffè Espresso; cooled Caffè Espresso goes great when added to cake or pancake batters to transform these simple dishes to an outstanding taste treat.  https://alessifoods.com

Bodega Garzón ~ The wine region of Garzón in Uruguay continues to produce some of the best wines available today; the region’s rich topography lends itself to ideal wine production.  GIFT IDEA: 2014 Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect white wine that complements the delicate flavor profiles of seafood, fish, poultry, cheese, berries, and foods in light, delicate sauces.  The taste is fresh, clean, fruity, yet dry and slightly tart; for me, I prefer it served chilled and over ice.  http://bodegagarzon.com/?lang=en

Colinas de Garzón ~ GIFT IDEA: Bi-Varietal Extra Virgin Olive Oil is milled from olive varieties Spanish Arbequina and Coratina Italian harvested at the Colinas de Garzón olive groves; both varieties naturally yield low-acidic and fruity olives.   Receiving international recognition and ranking as the world’s fifteenth best olive oil producer of all olive oil producers recently distinguished this olive mill.  MY TAKE:  This is the ideal Extra Virgin Olive Oil for any recipe that calls for a superior grade product…vinaigrettes, dips, sauces, marinades, for sautéing, baking, or roasting…I love it heated and drizzled over linguine and then sprinkled with red pepper flakes, mild Giardiniera, dried oregano, garlic powder, chiffonade of sweet basil and Italian parsley, and shaved Parmesan, Parmigiano-Reggiano, or Grana Padano.  http://www.colinasdegarzon.com/en/aceites.html

 

Echelon Foods ~ If you’re looking for a spectacular food feature this holiday, look no further than the impressive Turducken from Echelon Foods; they’ve perfected this legendary turkey, stuffed with a duck, stuffed with a chicken, and layered with seasoned stuffing carnivore’s delight.   GIFT IDEAS: Original, Premium Roast, and Bacon-Wrapped Premium Roast varieties.  Whatever Turducken variety you try, your guests will be impressed with their tender, juicy, and flavorful taste.  Echelon Foods Turducken is great any time of the year, but especially for holiday celebrations.  http://www.echelonfoods.com  http://www.costco.com

Field Roast Grain Meat Co. ~ Whether you’re a carnivore, vegetarian, or vegan, you’ll love the authentic flavors of these delicious planted-based Roasts, and you won’t even miss the “meat”.  GIFT IDEAS:  Celebration Roast With Traditional Stuffing and Gravy, and Smokey Forager’s Roast With Pineapple Mustard Glaze.  The Celebration Roast has a wheat gluten grain meat base, seasoned perfectly with rubbed sage, garlic and lemon juice, and stuffed with a traditional bread stuffing made with fresh onions, celery, organic cranberries and butternut squash. The Celebration Roast is accompanied with a delicious Porcini Mushroom Gravy that also includes porcini and shiitake mushrooms.  The Smokey Forager’s Roast is reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest foraged chanterelle mushrooms and wild huckleberries, both of which are main ingredients in the delicious traditional bread and wild rice stuffing that’s wrapped into a smokey flavored tomato wheat gluten grain meat base.  The sweet and tangy Pineapple Mustard Glaze is the perfect condiment to glaze the Roast with, or to slather on the delicious slices; the Glaze is made from crushed pineapples, Dijon mustard, white wine, and spices.  http://fieldroast.com

Honey Ridge Farms ~ Organic and locally sourced raw honey preserves all of the natural goodness of these creamed honeys, which aren’t cooked; the raw state preserves the integrity of the natural nutrient values.  GIFT IDEAS:  Delicious Honey Crèmes…including Honey Crème Raspberry ~ The Raspberry flavor is intense and an authentic berry flavor; Honey Crème Blood Orange ~ The Blood Orange is sweet, delicate, and aromatic; Honey Crème Spiced ~ Perfect Spiced flavors of Cinnamon, Clove, and Nutmeg that add a beautiful and balanced blend of aromatic spices; and, Balsamic Honey Vinegar ~ The addition of Honey mead to the Balsamic Vinegar adds just the right amount of sweetness to balance the acidity.  My Take:  Each of these three featured Honey Crèmes are delicious when used in yogurt, smoothies, fruit toppings, dips, salad dressings, sweet dips, on top of cream cheese, added to bagel smear, etc.  The addition of the Balsamic Honey Vinegar is perfect for vinaigrettes and marinades.  https://honeyridgefarms.com

Savory Spice Shop Lincoln Square Spice Club ~ GIFT IDEAS:  This is a great way for an experienced foodie or newbie to explore new spices, herbs, and recipe adaptations that will definitely expand their culinary curiosities, while ramping up the flavor profiles of their new creations.  Subscriptions available include a Six Month “Spice Tester”, a Twelve Month “Spice Explorer”, or a Twelve Month “Spice Lover”; the latter also includes a beautiful “Spice to Plate” Cookbook.  Each subscription month includes a curated seasoning blend, spice or herb, and a detailed recipe card for a culinary creation that utilizes that particular month’s featured seasoning and spice; recipe cards also give a detailed explanation of contents, flavor profile, origin, and uses, plus a beautiful full-color photograph of the finished dish, and easy to follow step-by-step recipe instructions.  The “Spice Tester” includes 15 spices and 8 savory recipes; the “Spice Explorer” includes 28 spices and 16 savory recipes; and, the “Spice Lover” includes 38 spices, 49 savory recipes, plus the cookbook.  Examples of subscription offerings: 1) Southern Spain Pinchito Spice, Crushed Aleppo Chiles; recipe for “Grilled Pinchitos with Yogurt Lime Dipping Sauce”; 2) Bajan Seasoning, Smoked Spanish Sweet Paprika; recipe for “Bajan Lowcountry Shrimp & Rice”; and, 3) Black Dust Coffee & Spice Rub, Crushed Red Pepper; recipe for “Rigatoni with Coffee Spiced Sausage”.  http://www.savoryspiceshop.com/illinois/chicago-lincoln-square.html

Wild Hibiscus Flower Co. ~ GIFTS IDEAS: Wild Hibiscus Flowers In Syrup, Rose+Hibiscus Flower Extract, and Pyramid Salt Flakes.  The Flowers In Syrup is great added to beverages, smoothies, yogurt, flavored whipped cream, on French Toast, pancakes, frostings, cake batters, breads, hot cereals, as a glaze for roasted fish, seafood, poultry, and meat, or added to delicate sauces…this delicious product goes well with anything.  The Flowers are also edible and delicious, and make for an impressive “garnish”. Rose + Hibiscus Flower Extract is great added to beverages, smoothies, yogurt, whipped cream, pudding, custard or Crème Brûlée dishes, iced or hot tea, cake batters, frostings, etc.; its subtle sweetness expands the flavor profile of whatever it’s added to.  My Take: Add this flavorful Extract to culinary grade rosewater to taste preference…peel and slice oranges, saving juice…mix the Flower Extract and rosewater and add to sliced orange pieces…(optional) add walnut pieces or roasted pine nuts…dust with confectioner’s sugar, and divide into individual servings…makes for an aromatic and delicious refreshing dessert.  Hibiscus Pyramid Salt Flakes is a delicious condiment that’s as tasty as it is eye appealing.  It’s great sprinkled on top of egg dishes, baked potatoes, or used to rim the glass of a specialty drink; can be added to bread crumbs that top a casserole, and goes great when sprinkled in salads.  Pyramid Salt Flakes are a great add to any dish that calls for salt.  http://www.wildhibiscus.com  http://hibiscus-salt.com

~ For Every Day ~

Corkcicle Canteen ~ GIFT IDEA:  You’ll love this sleek Canteen design for transporting your hot or cold beverages; the triple layer of insulation will keep hot things cold for up to twenty-five hours, and hot beverages hot for up to twelve hours.  Great gift idea…include this great Canteen along with a bottle of wine for that oenophile on or list, or as a hostess thank you gift!  http://corkcicle.com

Microplane Kitchen Tools ~ Microplane Kitchen Tools are prized the world over by home cooks and professional chefs alike.  If you’re serious about cooking, and if you don’t have any of these outstanding culinary products, take the time to explore their website and familiarize yourself with their extensive line of the definitive kitchen tool for all your grating and zesting needs.  Any of their kitchen tools will make light of your culinary grating and zesting chores.  GIFT IDEAS:  Garlic Cutter/Grater, Chocolate Grater, and Spice Grater.  The Garlic Grater’s blades are made from etched surgical-grade stainless steel, assuring precision grating and cutting without shredding; large chamber holds up to three peeled cloves of garlic cloves; the handy catch chamber stores grated garlic, and a handy scraper cleans off any remaining residue; dishwasher safe.  The Chocolate Grater and the Spice Grater are designed for ease of grating your favorite ingredients directly onto specialty beverages (e.g. hot chocolate, espresso, cappuccino, Irish coffee, etc.), or desserts with mounds of whipped cream; grating blades are made from surgical-grade stainless steel; features an open bottom, easy-grip band for ease of holding, and a safety lid.  The Chocolate Grater creates delicate chocolate shavings, and is also suitable for grating coconut.  The Spice Grater creates a fine grate of spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.  http://us.microplane.com/microplanekitchentools.aspx

New Metro Design ~ GIFT IDEAS:  Make your culinary chores effortless with the whimsical Angry Mama Microwave Cleaner and the Zest Nest Citrus Zester.  The Angry Mama Microwave Cleaner is a cleverly designed container that holds white distilled vinegar and water; placed in the microwave and within five minutes, steam is emitted from the woman shaped container, loosening caked-on food splatter and spills, making cleanup “easy-peasy”.   The hand-held ZestNest Citrus Zester is easy to grip and has a covered chamber where the citrus zest is deposited; the ZestNest can also be used to zest cheese or chocolate. http://www.newmetrodesign.com/content/home.html

~ For Entertaining ~

BonJour Products ~ GIFT IDEA:  This beautifully crafted and embossed Sierra Pine Serveware glazed stoneware platter comes with an acacia wood cheese board, and also a cheese spreader with pinecone handle; large enough to hold crackers, fruit, nuts, honey, and cheeses.  Dual functions include a warming surface by heating in a low oven (250 deg F for no more than thirty minutes), and chilling for fruit and cheeses, including dips; it's also microwave, dishwasher, and freezer safe.  http://www.bonjourproducts.com

Hampton Forge ~ GIFT IDEA: Sophia Green 20 Piece Flatware Set is beautifully designed 18/10 Stainless Steel, mirror-polished finish with Forest Green marbled design handles (although other colors are available), with decorative banding; each piece is ambidextrous, weighted and balanced; set includes four place settings of Teaspoon, Tablespoon, Butter Knife, Salad Fork, and Dinner Fork.  These decorative pieces add a touch of celebration to your table throughout the year.  Practical enough for everyday use, but beautiful enough for those special candle lit meals.  http://www.hamptonforge.com

Knork ~ GIFT IDEA: Four Piece Steak Knife Set offers substantially designed, weighted, and balanced serrated knifes ideal for all meat and poultry cutting needs; White pearlized handles that are ambidextrous, weighted, and balanced; beautiful design complements any table setting; I also enjoyed the duality of the overall blade design in its ease of cutting certain hard and fibrous fruits and vegetables; also available with apple green handles.  http://www.knork.net

~ Gift Baskets ~ 

(Image from www.winnersdrinkmilk.com) 

Consider making your own gift baskets filled with some of my gifting ideas…make the collections even more special by tucking inside a dated keepsake ornament, perhaps some of your homemade goodies, cooking utensils and tools, a cookbook, gift cards for a restaurant or culinary specialty store (e.g. Sur La Table, Williams-Sonoma, etc.), or maybe some cooking classes, etc.  Be creative…you can keep it simple, or make it an extravagant expression of your love and gratitude for the recipient.  And, while you’re thinking of others to gift, there’s nothing wrong with adding your name to your list…after all, you’re special, too!

Gift Basket #1 ~ “Pantry Essentials”

Colinas de Garzón Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Honey Ridge Farms Balsamic Honey Vinegar, Savory Spice Shop Lincoln Square Spice Club, Wild Hibiscus Flower Pyramid Salt Flakes

Gift Basket #2 ~ “Kitchen Gadgetry”

Microplane Garlic Press, Microplane Spice Grater, Microplane Chocolate Grater

New Metro Design Angry Mama Microwave Cleaner, New Metro Design ZestNest

Gift Basket #3 ~ “Sweets That Treat”

Alessi Classico Panettone, Alessi Amaretti Cookies, Alessi Caffè Espresso

Honey Ridge Farms Honey Crème Raspberry, Honey Ridge Farms Honey Crème Blood Orange

Honey Ridge Farms Honey Crème Spiced

Gift Basket #4 ~ “Host Delight”

Bodega Garzón 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Corkcicle Canteen

(Expand with Bottle Opener, Wine Glasses, and Jewelry Charms)

Gift Basket #5 ~ “Tasteful Entertaining”

BonJour Products Sierra Pine Serveware, Honey Ridge Farms Honey Crème Raspberry

Honey Ridge Farms Honey Crème Blood Orange, Honey Ridge Farms Honey Crème Spiced

Wild Hibiscus Flowers In Syrup, Wild Hibiscus Flower Rose + Hibiscus Flower Extract

(Expand with Assortment of Hard Cheeses, Assorted Crackers, and Dried Fruits)

~ In Closing ~

While this festive season may have our thoughts focused on finding the right gift for someone, let’s not forget the best gift to give, which doesn’t cost any money, and that’s the gift of our time with those we love and care about…family and friends.  Lastly, don’t forget those in need…find a local or national charity and contribute what you can…that might even include volunteering for special projects, or sponsoring a food or clothing drive in your neighborhood, place of worship, or your work place.  To you and yours, I wish you peace, joy, and love!

That’s it for this edition.  Until the next one, remember to take care of yourself and those you love.

By Terry Herman

TERRY HERMAN continues perfecting her passion for food and wine.  She has been covering culinary related for many years as it relates to wellness and a healthy lifestyle.  Her popular blog, Terry's Spa, Beauty and Wellness Go-To has featured formidable reviews of cookbooks, restaurants, wine and food, food prep and tools, chef interviews, and coverage of prestigious events such as the International Home+Housewares Show, the National Restaurant Show and the Sweets and Snacks Expo.  She has been published since the mid-1990s in both consumer and trade publications, and is regarded as an expert in spa, beauty, wellness, travel and lifestyle, and is frequently interviewed by publications for her expert content.  She has also presented at major industry conferences, and has served with distinction on numerous governing and advisory boards.  She has a background in strategic and qualitative management, consulting, and motivational speaking.  In addition to her blogs, her social media outreach also includes Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.  Don’t forget to “Like” her Facebook Page, “Terry’s Second Helpings”.  Please note that the “Comment Section” has been disabled.  For additional information, email her at terry.herman@gmail.com.

ALL MATERIALS COPYRIGHT PROTECTED

(Photo credits as indicated, or as represented by the specific brand.)

LATEST TASTINGS ~ HITHER & YON ~ PART THREE

(Image from www.artofeating.com)

In today’s edition, I’m sharing with you a few of my recent tasting experiences….one was “Yard House”, one of Chicago’s latest popular restaurant-sports bars…the other was a special trade-only event, “International Wine & Food Expo (Chicago’s Italian American Chamber of Commerce).  Enjoy!

~ Yard House (Newcity; Chicago, IL) ~

Located in a crowded, albeit vibrant part of the city, parking can be a problem, as well as locating the restaurant-sports bar, since it’s tucked in a mall on not visible from the street; I’m not from the city, so I was a bit confused and frustrated.  That being said, everything about this restaurant-sports bar is large scale…they offer at least 110 beers and offer an extensive wine and hard liquor menu, plus all of the food menus, such as the appetizer and bar eats menu, or luncheon and dinner fare, are also extensive; dining is ideal for brunch, lunch, or dinner; carnivores, vegetarians, and vegans will appreciate the variety of selections suited to their respective palates.  Another distinction at the restaurant-sports bar is that they offer a unique “Chalkboard Series”, which changes from time to time; this is a monthly offering of select draft beers from local, domestic, and import crafters.  Beer categories include craft, seasonal cider, light, wild fruit ales, and wheat; limited and seasonal drafts are also offered.  If that’s not enough to make your head spin with all of the choices, if a patron isn’t sure what they’d like to order, there’s one-ounce tastes, or five-ounce "shortys" available.

While there, I wanted to experience a variety of beer offerings, and selected the following…my guest had a Sea Dog Bluepaw Wild Blueberry shorty, which had a pleasant fruity beer flavor…I went with the sample tastes of Crown Valley Strawberry Cider, Lindeman’s Peche beer, and the Southern Tier Pumpkin beer (Chalkboard Series); my favorite was the Peche, although neither of these three brews left any bitter aftertaste, I thoroughly enjoyed the fruitiness of each taste.  Following is the food fare we experienced. 

~ Snacks and Appetizers ~

Deviled Eggs ~ Ramped up flavors include a sweet slightly peppery and tangy sauce, plus candied pieces of bacon; this was outstanding.

Duck Fat Potatoes ~ Fresh cut potato chips and ripped potatoes fried in decadent duck fat and served with a flavorful caramelized onion and bacon dipping sauce; these were outstanding.

~ Main Entrees ~

Chicken Mac-Cheese ~ A childhood favorite but made for adults made with Campanelle (bell shaped) pasta, cubed chicken breast, wild mushrooms, white cheddar, Parmesan cheese, and truffle oil.  Although tasty, the addition of chicken seemed out of place, and the cheese sauce wasn’t very cheesy tasting anda bit on the tame side.

BBQ Bacon Cheddar Burger with Truffle Parm Fries ~ Delicious Angus burger made with a rum BBQ sauce, garlic aioli, cheddar slice, and Applewood smoked bacon; these were outstanding.

Lobster Garlic Noodles ~ The seafood mélange was to include shrimp, crab, and lobster, spinach, and Shiitake mushrooms; I didn’t notice any crab or Shiitake mushrooms, and there was just a few spinach pieces; the sauce on the noodles (spaghetti) was sweet and delicate; even with the missing ingredients, this was delicious.

Steamed Vegetable Medley ~ A mélange of broccoli, green, yellow, and red bell pepper, edamame, Shiitake mushroom, and baby corn; very few slivers of mushroom, and the baby corn must have been an add, since it tasted briny (like it came from a jar); its brininess overshadowed the delicate flavors of the other vegetables.

~ Dessert ~

Banana Chocolate Crème Brûlée ~ A delicious favorite that had a slight twist of a dark chocolate bottom layer and then the rich custard, topped with brûléed bananas, and whipped cream.

Macadamia Nut Cheesecake ~ Rich cheesecake with Macadamia nuts throughout; the large slice was topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with additional nuts.

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream ~ If this wasn’t homemade, it certainly had that luscious rich taste; a great finish to a delicious luncheon.

Aside from its location, Yard House is definitely something you’ll want to put on your calendar for a unique drinking and dining experience.  For more information on Yard House, visit http://www.yardhouse.com/home

~ International Wine & Fine Food Expo ~

(Italian American Chamber of Commerce Chicago)

This special two day trade-only event featured Italian food and wine importers, in addition to travel destinations.  The event was held at Chicago’s Bridgeport Art Center, which was an impressive artsy venue.  I went on the first day and was a bit disappointed because the event largely featured wine and tourism.  The only food-related booths were of exhibitors for a pasta company and a coffee company.  While at the event, I did sample a few wines…Silvano Strologo “Rosa Rosae” and Sense of Sicily “Il Gattopardo Pinot Grigio Moscato”; I sampled an espresso, “Mokarabia L’Espresso Italiano”, and I also received a package of pasta to try, “Pasta Di Martino”; as of this writing, I haven’t tried the pasta, although I’m impressed with the fact that this pasta is made using the superior bronze extrusion process; this company also has the distinction of being the first pasta company in Italy to receive the prestigious Protected Geographical Indication Mark (PGI), for their efforts in organoleptic production.

Silvano Strologo “Rosa Rosae” Wine

This was a lovely light and delicate fruity rosé that was bright, clean tasting, with no aftertaste.

Sense of Sicily “Il Gattopardo Pinot Grigio Moscato”

This was a semi-secco and dolce white that was also bright, clean tasting, with no aftertaste.

“Mokarabia” L’Espresso Italiano

This was a rich, full-bodied espresso with a pungent earthiness; filter varieties are also available.

“Pasta di Martino”

One of Italy’s premier pasta brands made from spring water, hard durum wheat, and the Gragnano bronze extrusion process, which leaves a rough exterior surface for better sauce adherence.

Overall, these types of events benefit locale buyers and retailers by introducingthe trade to import representatives and a wider array of quality Italian import wine and food products to consider for their clients.  I’m hoping next year’s event will offer a larger presence of food importers, since the overwhelming majority of importers at this year’s event were wine importers, and tourism representatives.  For more information, visit http://www.internationalwinexpo.com

~ In Closing ~

Take the time to explore your surrounding area…you just might discover some new taste experiences that will keep you going back for more.

That’s it for this edition.  Until the next one, remember to always celebrate yourself and your culinary curiosity.  Happy cooking…happy eating!

By Terry Herman

TERRY HERMAN continues perfecting her passion for food and wine.  She has been covering culinary related for many years as it relates to wellness and a healthy lifestyle.  Her popular blog, Terry's Spa, Beauty and Wellness Go-To has featured formidable reviews of cookbooks, restaurants, wine and food, food prep and tools, chef interviews, and coverage of prestigious events such as the International Home+Housewares Show, the National Restaurant Show and the Sweets and Snacks Expo.  She has been published since the mid-1990s in both consumer and trade publications, and is regarded as an expert in spa, beauty, wellness, travel and lifestyle, and is frequently interviewed by publications for her expert content.  She has also presented at major industry conferences, and has served with distinction on numerous governing and advisory boards.  She has a background in strategic and qualitative management, consulting, and motivational speaking.  In addition to her blogs, her social media outreach also includes Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.  Don’t forget to “Like” her Facebook Page, “Terry’s Second Helpings”.  Please note that the “Comment Section” has been disabled.  For additional information, email her at terry.herman@gmail.com.

ALL MATERIALS COPYRIGHT PROTECTED

(Yard House photos by AbelC; all other photo credits as indicated, or represented by the specific brand.)