Put a little sugar in your gift giving! Our staff picks for holiday presents put the focus on sweets for the sweet, books for bakers, and other gifts sure to thrill your dessert loving friends and family.
Worth Its Salt Artisan chocolatier/owner Karalee LaRochelle of Cocoa Locoa has found the perfect balance of sugar and salt in her Salted Honey Caramels. Luxuriously textured, each perfect square is accented with rare American firewood honey from the Pacific Northwest and hand-dipped in 72% dark chocolate before getting a sprinkle of Fleur de Sel de Camargue. The combination is addictively divine. www.cocoalocoa.com, $12 for a six-piece box, – J.W.
Measuring Made Easy Reduce the clutter of your drawers with Chef'n Sleekstor measuring cups. These flexible heat-resistant cups measure both liquids and solids and then collapse for easy, compact storage. www.surlatable.com, $19.95. – D.K.W.
The Original Celebrity Chef Way before Molto Mario and the Barefoot Contessa, there was Julia Child. In 1963, her groundbreaking series The French Chef shook America out of a period of culinary confusion (think lots of Jell-O and boxed cake mix) by empowering us to cook French, and to do so with authenticity and gusto. In this, the first of three DVD box sets released by WGBH, get your vintage Julia fix with 18 half hour episodes that combine serious technique and instruction with her characteristic gaffes and bloopers. www.amazon.com, $31.96. – R.B.
Shiny Happy People Want to see someone's face light up? You're sure to catch a grin from ear to ear in the reflection of Lunare's shiny polished aluminum ice cream holder with matching silver scoop. Guaranteed not to chip, crack, or tarnish, each posh container holds one pint in cool style. For an added surprise, fill the stunner with Häagen-Dazs Cool Gift gift certificates for free pints of this editor's favorite, Sticky Toffee Pudding. www.target.com, $38.99 and www.haagen-dazs.com, $16 for 4 gift certificates, –J.W.
Chocoholism Delivered? For those who believe brownies should never be had in moderation, give the gift of perpetual chocolate: a subscription to the Brownie of the Month club from Allison's Gourmet. Each month your loved one will receive a tray of fresh organic brownies in yummy varieties such as Mexican chocolate, cherry chocolate, and amaretto almond. Allison's Gourmet also satisfies the vegan chocolate lover on your list with her famous vegan brownies, chocolates, and fudge. The first Monday of the month never tasted so good. www.allisonsgourmet.com, $31.81 each month. – A.M.
For The Aspiring Molecular Gastronome What to get the serious cook who already owns the latest and greatest gadgets? Willpowder, of course! Will Goldfarb, pastry chef/owner of Manhattan's Room 4 Dessert, has launched a product line that will bring out your friend's inner food scientist, including some of the newest ingredients used in modern professional kitchens that can't be found in small quantities. For the cook that probably had a little too much fun with that first chemistry set and singed a few eyebrows, wrap up a bag of agar agar, methylcellulose, or xantham gum and see what they can whip up in the kitchen. www.willpowder.net, $10 to $15 for 2-ounce packages. – A.M.
It's All About the Bean Do you have a friend who's anxious about vanilla? Does he or she plot usage months in advance or obsessively comb through recipes, marking some "bean" and the others "extract?" Beans can be pricey (and for good reason since growing and harvesting pods is a time- and labor-intensive process). Spoil your favorite baker this holiday season with a full one-quarter pound (18-26 count) of whole Bourbon, Mexican, or Tahitian beans. We guarantee this will be one precious gift never forgotten, plus you might be rewarded with a vanilla flavored treat in return. www.vanilla.com, $45 to $95. – R.B.
The Big Chill What's the secret to rolling out perfect cookies and pastries? Cool dough, of course! With the Stay Cool Rolling Pin, a stainless steel pin you fill with ice water, you can reduce the surface temperature making dough easier to roll. And because of its large diameter, this rolling pin can cover a greater area so you'll be snacking on cookies in no time. www.crateandbarrel.com, $39.95. – D.K.W.
A San Francisco Treat
If you've traveled anywhere near the Bay area in the last few years, you're sure to have heard of Tartine, a beloved neighborhood bakery and café worthy of the hype. In Tartine, chef/owners Elizabeth Prueitt and Chad Robertson share their know-how for creating the kind of desserts you'll want to make and eat again and again. Recipes include memorable standouts such as apple nougatine tart, chocolate-oatmeal-walnut cookies, and lemon bars on brown butter shortbread to name just a few. With a forward by Alice Waters, inspiring photography, and easy-to-follow recipes in American volume, imperial, and metric measurements, this instant classic is sure to be a well-worn reference for many years to come. www.ecookbooks.com, $21, – J.W.
Springtime, Southern Style Wine and dine and indulge in the sweet charm and low country fun of South Carolina at the 9th Annual Charleston Food and Wine Festival, March 1st through 4th. Give the gift of BBQ, historic seaside sights, and wine tasting with a gift certificate redeemable for tickets to any of the scheduled events. Or go big with the weekend pass—which may be more bubbly and BBQ than you or your friends can handle—and stay in the heart of Charleston at the Wentworth Mansion, where you can take in spa treatments, European-style breakfast, and, of course, tea, befitting a true southern lady or gent. www.charlestonfoodandwine.com, gift certificates in any amount, $550 for a Grand Weekend pass. - A.M.
Put Chocolate to Work Here's one for that coworker who's an extreme chocoholic. You know the one! This chocolate-scented organizer does triple duty as a pencil cup, a note holder, and a visual—as well as olfactory—reminder that it's time to take a short break for a chocolatey snack. www.fredflare.com, $14. – R.B.
Pup-Pies for Puppies Trixie + Peanut's Mini Gourmet Pup-Pies look so tasty you best not leave them unattended for long lest grandpa eat one or two by accident before realizing they're for Fido! Each four-inch soft and chewy gourmet pie is handmade using only the finest all-natural, dog-friendly ingredients and are wheat-, corn-, and soy-free. Mouth watering flavors include raspberry bombe topped with carob frosting, Boston crème with carob and yogurt drops, and strawberry shortcake with yogurt icing . Your lucky dog will be beggin' for more. www.trixieandpeanut.com, $6 each, – J.W.
You Are What You Eat (And Wear) Do you have a friend with a serious pie addiction? Or a sibling that can never get enough mac 'n' cheese? Help your food loving friends and family express their true epicurean spirit with T-shirts printed with slogans like "Pie Power" and "I was Raised on Mac 'n' Cheese." Choose from a wide variety of food fashion statements available in a range of sizes and colors to satisfy every taste. www.cafepress.com, $18.99 to $25. – A.M.
Fondue Redo Are you fonda fondue? We are too, but most of the pots on the market are a little too ho hum for our taste. The Chocolate Bar, New York City's hippest chocolate shop, offers a chic take on fondue for two created by modernist potter and interior designer Jonathan Adler. The hand thrown pot comes with two fondue forks, a recipe card, and two bittersweet bars to get the party started right. www.chocolatebarnyc.com, $60. – R.B.
Just Name It Make your holiday treats extra special this year with personalized food and drink labels—the perfect accessory for those delicious homemade treats. With My Own Labels you can customize your gift bags of cookies, jars of jam, or tag your own bottle of brew. Choose from an assortment of templates in numerous shapes, colors, and sizes,supply the text, and My Own Labels will produce professionally designed labels in small quantities with no minimum order. www.myownlabels.com, prices begin at $9. – D.K.W.
Let them Make Cake (and Tapas, and Bread, and…) Are they ready to kick it up a notch? Let them become a star in their own kitchen with a cooking class from The French Culinary Institute and Italian Studies program. Choose from many great amateur classes—with topics like chocolate, cake decorating with fondant and royal icing, bread baking, tapas, Italian cooking, and wine pairing—that teach cooking skills that will last a lifetime. And knowing everyone's busy schedule, some classes teach incredible pastry and culinary skills in as few as three classes. Give the gift of cooking and the chef in your life can say they studied at The famous French Culinary Institute in New York City! Gift certificates can be purchased at www.frenchculinary.com, $650 to $5,875. – K.B.
