Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Gifts for the food, drink and coffee lover in your life
or the foodie on your holiday list — or just people who might appreciate a good tequila or pie pan — we offer a gift guide. It’s got coffee machines, books, chocolate truffles and a fabulous tote to carry it all away.
For the entertainers:
Opinel Cheese Knife and Fork Set , $45
Opinel is an iconic French knife maker. They are recognized and famous for their picnic “pocket” knife which is made the same way today as it was in 1890 when Joseph Opinel invented it. This compact set of an interlocking fork and cheese knife is made from stainless steel and a blond beech-wood handle. The set of two is perfect for anyone who entertains and loves cheesewhich pretty much means all of us!
JK Adams Cherry Cheese Server with Double Handles , $75 plus
If you are a fan of cheese and charcuterie boards, this Pumpkin pie baked in a Revol Les Naturals Soft-Cream Pie Pan, atop Baking Steel. This 9-inch porcelain pie dish from Revol is the perfect pie-pan upgrade and steel’s thermal conductivity is 18 times greater than a pizza stone, which means that it stores the heat and transfers it 18 times quicker than a stone will. JK Adams Cherry Cheese Server is a must have. JK Adams is located in Dorset, VT, and has been making high-quality wood products for 72 years. The cheese server is beautifully made from a solid piece of cherry wood and sports handles on either side for easy transport. The burnished edges give it a more finished look and the teak oil finish brings out the natural beauty of the wood. A gift giving plus is that the board can be personalized with either initials or a custom message for a small upcharge. This is a great holiday gift and a special way to commemorate a milestone.
Lodge Heat-Treated Mini Triangle Server , $16 each
The best thing about these triangle mini-server cast iron dishes from Lodge is that they are pre-seasoned andhold your hatdishwasher safe! But besides that, I love the triangular shape that lets you fit this dish into small spaces on a table. Finally, you can have lots of little dishes filled with nibbles and not be concerned that your dishes are too big for your bar or coffee table. They are also oven-safe as all cast iron is, and you can bake the cutest individual wedges of cornbread, cobblers, pie, pot pies or cornbread-topped chili. Because each dish is triangular, you can bake the individual portions and present them in all kinds of shapes.
Cristel Tulipe 8-Piece Saucepan Set with 1 Long Black Handle , $299 for the set
Cristel, made in France and designed by a former Peugeot car engineer, is sleek and functional. The heavy-duty stainless-steel cookware is tailor-made for conserving space and small kitchens with detachable handles, and pots and pans that nest inside each other. The handles are removable, and also come in fun colors (those are sold separately). More importantly, Cristel performs masterfully. The bottom of every piece has a thick base of heat-conducting metal that works on any stove including induction. This is the best stainless-steel cookware that I have used. You would think all this comes with a steep price tag. And you would be right, except that now Cristel is making a new collection exclusively for Home Depot. The collection is charmingly called “Tulipe” referring to the slight outer curve on the bottom of the pan.
For the spirts lover:
Herradura Selection Suprema Extra Anejo Tequila , 750 ml bottle $295-$412
First introduced in 1995, Selection Suprema is reported to be the first extraanejo or “extra aged” tequila in the industry. It is distilled twice and aged in American white oak barrels for four years before being bottled. When you pour the extra anejo into the glass, you first notice the deep amber color that is produced naturallyno caramel coloring is added. Next, you smell a floral freshness and caramelized sugars from the cooked agave. Finally, you taste the soft, round, rich flavors of vanilla and dried fruit with a spicy finish. This complex extraaged tequila will appeal to any fan of smooth high-end brown spirits.
Paradiso by El Tesoro 750 mL bottle $119.99
Paradiso is a mash up of Mexican tequila production and French cognac blending. The herbal nose gives way to scents of caramel and butterscotch, and the flavor is sweet and oaky with a smooth elegant finish that you would expect from tequila that has been aged for five years in cognac barrels. This is a tequila that you want to sip on after dinner or on a cozy day when time is on your side.
Volcan De Mi Tierra Blanco , 750 mL bottle $45
Volcan De Mi Tierra (a.k.a. land of volcano) is one of the newest members of the super-premium tequila club. Born at the foot of the Tequila volcano, the volcanic land provides rich , soil and a sense of history for this new brand. The distillery combines old-world traditions with contemporary technique and mixes 75 percent slow-roasted lowlands agave with 25 percent highlands agave. The mixture is distilled twice, once in a copper still, and once in a stainless-steel still where it rests for a month before being bottled. All that is to say, that the result is a perfectly balanced, fresh, fruity, clean and slightly floral spirit that you can sip on all night long.
Riedel Ouverture Tequila Glasses , $29 for a pair
If you are a fan of wine and spirits, you know that George Riedel has devoted his life to creating glassware that enhances the wine and spirit. The glass is reminiscent of a champagne flute and it does make a difference both in the taste and the enjoyment of sipping tequila. This is the perfect glass to use with any sipping tequilas, or any others that you like to sip neat — no ice allowed.