A Year-Round Chocolate Treat
Why should enjoying the finer things in life be reserved for special occasions? When you give a gift of the Gourmet Chocolate of the Month Club, luxury can be experienced at any season. Each month, members will receive signature creations from a different world-class chocolatier. The chocolate selections are chosen by the well-traveled connoisseurs from the Zagat rated Zingerman's. Previous years' chocolate includes Vosges Haut Chocolat, Nirvana Chocolates, and Champagne Fizz Truffles from Ireland. A chocolate gift membership can also be paired with cheese, wine, microbrewed beer, flowers, and cigar memberships as well. www.chocolatemonthclub.com, $26.95 per month (2 month minimum). – L.E.

Making the Cut
This set of mini santoku knife and kitchen shears is a great way to add some color to your kitchen prep. The santoku knife is a clever combination of chef's knife and cleaver. With a flat edge, it's excellent for slicing, dicing, and mincing. This little colorful set isn't just another pretty face. The high-carbon stainless steel blades make them stronger so they'll keep a sharp edge longer.
www.surlatable.com, $39.95. – K.B.

Smells like Austrian Spirit
The hills are alive with the smell of elderflower... one whiff and you'll imagine yourself rollicking the hills of Austria like Maria von Trapp. The scent of elderflowers can only be described as ethereal and the flavor something akin to honey and sweet grapes. Use D'arbo's all-natural elderflower syrup to make a snow-white floral-scented sorbet or add it to Champagne for an unexpected cocktail or to sparkling water for a refreshing non-alcoholic spritzer. For believers, it's been said to ward off colds, infections, and even depression. For everyone else, it just tastes nice. www.lepicerie.com, $12.75 for a 17-ounce bottle. – J.W.

Sing a Song of Sixpence
You certainly don't need any fancy gadgetry to make a great pie, but these adorable pie birds are pretty irresistible. First used in Europe hundreds of years ago, pie birds are positioned in the center of an unbaked pie to funnel out steam and prevent a pie's juices from bubbling up over your perfectly crimped crust (and the inside of your oven). Vintage pie birds are considered collectibles that can fetch over a hundred dollars on the antique circuit, but King Arthur Flour is offering this perfectly functional and charming new bird that will fit the bill just fine. http://shop.bakerscatalogue.com, $4.50. – R.B.

The Art of Living
It's a pretty lofty aspiration to cook every recipe in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking in a lifetime let alone in one year, but after too little excitement in her secretarial job, Julie Powell takes on the task with gusto, expanding her popular blog into a book. In Julie & Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen, she shares the ups and downs of French cooking from tracking down a cow bone from which to extract marrow, the ethical quandary of killing lobsters, perfecting orange Bavarian cream, and the toll it all takes on her marriage, job, waistline, and sanity. www.amazon.com, $25.95. – K.B.

For the Future Pastry Star
Think your tyke is set to become the next Gale Gand or Jacques Torres? Foster your budding gourmet's interest in the pastry arts with Sur La Table's Kid's Sous Chef Baking Set. The kit includes an assortment of real pans and utensils, all scaled down for smaller hands. With your supervision, kids can roll and cut cookies, bake pint-sized tarts, muffins, and cakes, and mix batters and icings with a handy set of wooden tools. www.surlatable.com, $29.95. – R.B.

Sweet Scents for Your Sweetie
We all know that the smell of something in the oven can give your mood a boost and put a smile on your face. Why reserve these olfactory pleasures for the kitchen? Give an indulgent treat without having to dirty any dishes. Philosophy's Sweet Shop Collection of 3-in-1 shower gels (shampoo, conditioner, and body wash) includes scents such as lavender pound cake, strawberry milk shake, and coconut cream pie. Treat the pumpkin pie or cinnamon bun in your life to a set. www.sephora.com, $16 for a 16-ounce bottle. – L.E.

Measuring Up
The Nuscüp wet/dry measuring cup is up to the challenge of any ingredient, wet or dry. The handy scoop allows you to measure from 1/8 to 1/2 cup (or two to nine tablespoons) with a slide of the thumb. This gadget is ergonomic, unbreakable, stain resistant, and snaps apart for easy dishwasher cleaning. While you might not want to throw out your measuring cups and spoons just yet, a magnet on this handy gadget lets you conveniently place it on the fridge for easy access and to save space in those crowded cabinets. www.broadwaypanhandler.com, $11.95. – K.B.

Canine Candy
Who wants a truffle? Raise your paw! Ruffles, doggy truffles, are made with wholesome whole-wheat cake crumbles rolled in dog-safe carob chips, peanut butter crumbles, and coconut flakes. These all-natural gourmet treats, made by Three Dog Bakery, let you share some sweetness with your furry friend. Woof woof to that. Stop by one of their 35 bakery locations throughout the country or order them online at www.threedog.com, $12.95 for a box of one dozen. – J.W.

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open… Ouch!
Chestnuts—so delicious, and yet so perilous! Spare your fingertips the inevitable nicks, scrapes, and gouges to be gotten from scoring these precious little nuggets with the amazing Chestnutter. Just stick a chestnut in the chamber and press down on the handles. It emerges with a little "x" formed on one end of the shell, ready to be popped in the oven. It's quicker and safer than using a paring knife, and, best of all, no more embarrassing Band-Aids in your holiday photos. www.chestnutter.com, $19.95. – R.B.

Let the Kids Eat Cake (and Bake It Too)
People just can't seem to get enough of those cupcakes. Well, can you blame them? Wrap up this imaginative cupcake book for the little baker on your gift list. Clare Crespo, author of The Secret Life of Food, shares her unique and wacky cupcake style in Hey There, Cupcake. This book provides 35 cupcake recipes for all occasions in an easy to read format for kids. Cupcake styles range from koala bears and sushi to butterflies and hamburgers. Watch their eyes pop as younger bakers see what crazy creations they can whip up. www.ecookbooks.com, $16.95. – L.E.

Loop It! Stuff It! Roll It! Cook It!
If you ever find yourself fumbling with cooking twine and toothpicks, check out the newest silicone kitchen product: thefoodloop. These heat-resistant silicone loops are perfect for trussing, binding, and generally holding things together. Each package comes with six reusable loops that are tough enough to handle the oven, microwave, freezer, or dishwasher (mesh bag included for easy cleaning and storage). From holiday meals to everyday foods, thefoodloop takes the frustration out of making a neatly compact roast or bundle of asparagus ready for cooking. www.thefoodloop.com, $14.99. – K.B.

If It's Good Enough for Britney & Kevin, It's Good Enough For Me
Sure, money can't buy happiness but money can buy you your own private island for a week! Fiji's Turtle Island resort in the South Pacific can be yours alone or for 13 of your closest friends. Your home away from home will be a traditional (but super luxurious) thatched roofed cottage or "bure" complete with indoor jet spas and other modern amenities. Explore the pristine white sand beaches and crystal-blue waters made famous in The Blue Lagoon (You be Christopher Atkins. I'll be Brooke Shields.) or try scuba diving, horseback riding, deep sea fishing, or contemplating the meaning of life while eating gourmet meals under tropical island breezes. www.turtlefiji.com. A mere $250,000 for 7 days of paradise. –J.W.