Serving

Toaster from an alternate timeline?

As a fan of the breakfast sandwich, this product photo jumped out at me, not only because this toaster looks like something form 1950's futurism, but also because of the delicious looking croissant perched atop, seemingly just waiting for an egg, cheese, and bacon to come along.

As it turns out, the Kalorik Aztec Toaster isn't some new fangled breakfast machine (aw, shucks), but instead appears to be a pretty standard toaster, albeit with a pretty face. The grate upon which that croissant rests turns out to be a "bun warming rack", which in turn, rests … Read more

Keep fingers out of condiments

I'm guilty of occasionally sticking my fingers straight into a pickle jar to fish out a snack. It's gross when you think about how many fingers have been in that jar, but in the moment, it's easy to forget to grab a fork. Chef'N has a solution for the problem: The FridgeFork attaches to your condiment jar so that you never have to look for a fork again.

The FridgeFork has a loop that stretches around the top of a jar--the loop is attached to a holder for the fork. It comes with both a small … Read more

Serve sushi at home

While I've made a goal of learning to roll sushi myself, I like using sushi servingware even when I don't have sushi to put on it. It's perfect for small appetizers and finger food--and the limits of a typical sushi board make portion control easy. The Ming Tsai Traditional Sushi Board is particularly elegant: It's made entirely of bamboo and has a built-in well that allows you to serve soy and other dipping sauces right on the board, eliminating the need to dirty extra dishes. The Ming Tsai Traditional Sushi Board is 7 inches by 13 … Read more

LED placemats for heavenly meals

If you liked the idea of a sparkly table runner but thought, "I'm not really a table runner kind of person," you may be in luck. Sylvania doesn't want anyone to be left in the dark, so they also offer a lovely selection of LED place mats in a black or burgundy finish.

The fiber optic place mats can run for up to 20 hours on the included button cell batteries and provide a starry night effect designed to enhance special dining occasions. Just push a button to activate, and enjoy the ambiance as the lights … Read more

A table runner to light up your meals

So, the house is festive, but the table seems to be lacking that special shine? Sure, you could drape the chairs with holiday lights, but that might get a little tacky, plus all the cords could easily trip someone. Instead, why not whip out this LED table runner from Sylvania?

It's a fiber optic table runner that quickly and easily transforms an ordinary table into an illuminated party space. Charge it up, and it will shine for 10 hours and make your dinnerware sparkle. (You'll have to come up with witty repartee on your own.)

At 12 inches … Read more

Serving pieces with style

Even in the midst of holiday chaos, you can fake a little serenity with a beautifully set table. With four kids underfoot and in the way spreading good cheer around the house, things can get a little hectic here. So I'm always looking for shortcuts, which is one reason I love WiltonArmetale pieces.

These platters and other pieces can go from fridge to oven to table. So I can arrange my salad, then serve it in a bowl that will keep it freshly chilled. Or I can set up my trays of hors d'oeuvres the night before, slide … Read more

Stay warm with this hot chocolate pot

Wow. Hot chocolate season really snuck up on me. It seems as if only a few weeks ago I was complaining about the heat. Well, since I am in San Francisco, that very well could have been the case, but there is no mistaking it now: it is cold. We may have oddly timed summers around here, but winter still gets the cold treatment. Granted, not like elsewhere, but it is still definitely time for hot chocolate.

As a fan of the Bialetti stove top espresso maker, I am drawn to their version of the hot chocolate maker. Bialetti teamed … Read more

Heat up the party with a warm dip

I like parties. Maybe not so much hosting them, but going to them. At first, the reason for party-hosting-avoidance may seem obvious, as nobody enjoys the day after clean up, but there is more to it than that. I like going to parties to check out the spread.

I am always appreciative of the party treats as I table graze. With an endless assortment of snackable treats out there, the combinations can be truly overwhelming (deliciously overwhelming, that is). As I make my way past the obligatory crackers and occasional veggie, I keep my eye open for the one thing … Read more

Mix it up with floral nesting bowls

When you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, you might find yourself bored with the ordinary tasks, like mixing and other prep work. However, with the right tools, even the mundane work can be fun and exciting. After all, if you're going to spend time in the kitchen, you should enjoy it.

This set of nesting mixing bowls lends an air of elegance to your chores with a simple flower design. Stack the bowls together for a lovely centerpiece. Take them apart to find four useful bowls that still keep a distinctive look.

Choose from several colors, … Read more

Old MacDonald's waffle iron

This morning I was hungry for waffles. Not pancakes, but waffles. Sometimes I keep a box of Eggos in the freezer, but those aren't really waffle-waffles. Eggos, at least to my taste buds, are more of a buttery blueberry cookie than they are a waffle, so popping a couple of those in the toaster ain't gonna do the trick. The craving is for waffles and waffles only. Unfortunately, I only have a cheap waffle iron that produces less than stellar results. It is in this frame of mind that I go window-shopping for waffle irons.

This VillaWare V2001F UNO Farmyard Waffler … Read more