Category: Great Gifts !

A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

Here are a few of our favorite gifts for the wine lovers in your life. Of course, you could start your shopping list with wine.

We have a bit of advice for anyone buying wine as gifts. As a general rule, don’t buy any wine you see in an ad on television. We have an earlier post about this that includes a great suggestion for the holiday season. Buy a great value wine by the case for gift giving, entertaining, and for your own enjoyment.

On a recent visit to Bauer Wine & Spirits, we noticed additional half bottle offerings in the sparkling wine section. As those who follow along with our resolution to start each month with a glass of bubbles know, we love sparkling wine and enjoy trying many types. Having a few half bottles means you are always ready to celebrate major or minor victories! And, these little bottle make wonderful gifts.

Our Favorite Wine Chiller

We told you about this in September in our post, “This Wine Chiller Works for Both Champagne & Skinny Bottles.” We highly recommend it. It’s called a Rapid Ice Champagne Cooler and has become a popular item on our Amazon buyers list. Someone recently bought eight of these, perhaps for holiday giving. We have two of them!

Quirky Wine Opener with Hidden Assets

Here’s our Quirky 4-in-1 Wine Opener. The 4-in-1 in the Amazon description is because this opener has hidden assets.

The two silver colored items on the top of the handle come out, and you have a pourer and a plastic cork for your wine bottle. Opener, cork, pourer, and number 4 is a couple of tiny circular blades in the base that cut the foil on the bottle. Cut, open, pour, and seal all in one sturdy, easy to work cork remover. We may add a second one to our travel kitchen bag.

The Food Lover’s Guide to Wine

It’s been quite a while since we reviewed this book. It has stood the test of time and we still love The Food Lover’s Guide to Wine and pull it off the shelf for help in matching food and wine quite often. It’s a staple for our food writing research.

Cilio Campagne Sealer

The other day a friend said she doesn’t drink as much sparkling wine because you have to finish the bottle or lose the bubbles. And, most wine bottle stoppers don’t work all that well for sparkling wine.

We use the Cilio Champagne Sealer to cap the bottle and save the rest for another day. While you can stick the cork back into a bottle of still wine, these folks make one for that size as well.

Friends often ask us for gift suggestions and we keep meaning to turn some of these ideas into posts. We’ll try to fit in a few more in the days ahead. If you have a question about something we’ve featured or just want to ask about our favorite books, kitchen items, photography equipment, or dog gift ideas, you can write a comment below or add @BostonZest to your question on Twitter.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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November 28, 2014
North Bennet Street School Open House in Their New Facility

We've told you about the open houses held at North Bennet Street School in the past. This Boston treasure trove is a place that turns dreams into reality. We have November 14 & 15 marked on our calendars because we can't wait to see the new facility at 150 North Street.

They say:

"Aspiring furniture makers, bookbinders, carpenters, jewelry makers – or those merely curious about the process of making beautiful things by hand – are invited to a special behind-the-scenes look at one of America's oldest schools of craftsmanship during a two-day open house at North Bennet Street School’s new facility at 150 North Street in Boston's historic North End."

We say:

This is a great way to spend some time meeting people who have gone after their dreams. Who knows, a door may open for you and you'll become a student. Or, perhaps you'll decide to explore one of the fine crafts they teach at a workshop or short course.

Or, you may decide to put someone's feet on the path to their dream with a North Bennet Street School gift certificate as a holiday gift.

Everything You Need to Know to Visit

As always, when the school provides us with information for an upcoming event, they think of all the little details that make it easy for our readers to get there and enjoy their visit.

Who: North Bennet Street School

What: Annual Open House and Open Studios

Where: 150 North Street, Boston, MA 02109 (North End, just off the Rose Kennedy Greenway)

When: Friday, November 14, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm; Saturday, November 15, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Cost: FREE

Handicap Access: Yes

Parking: Limited street parking (metered) and discounted parking at the Parcel 7 garage – http://www.nbss.edu/about/the-boston-area/visit/index.aspx#

Nearest T stop: Haymarket (Orange, Green lines)

Directions: via Google maps – http://goo.gl/maps/97sY4

More Open House details: www.nbss.edu/openhouse

More about NBSS full-time programs and workshops: http://www.nbss.edu

Contact: 617-227-0155 and admissions@nbss.edu

What's on your Artistic Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your arts & craft needs, and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: by Maureen Cotton, Courtesy of North Bennet Street School

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November 14, 2014
Edible Boston’s Fall 2014 Issue Is Available

You'll find copies of the fall 2014 Issue of Edible Boston with its dark, moody cover photo of apples at some of the best places for local food and drink in the area. The arrival of my preview copy always brings a smile to a busy day.

As reader's know by now, I'm a devoted fan of this publication and especially the photography and photographers selected by this team. Like editor Ilene Bezahler, I have apples on my mind this time of year.

This issue is filled with photos like this one that speaks of the days of less light that are on their way to our Boston area lives.

News and Deeper Coverage

The fall issue also has a portrait of Kate Stillman. It leads into the article, Taking Control: Stillman's at the Turkey Farm Builds an Abattoir. Those of us who chat with Kate on a regular basis have heard step-by-step the long, difficult process that led to having her own facility to slaughter and process some of the animals they raise. Author Andrea Pyenson and photographer Katie Noble have told the story for everyone who enjoys Stillman's meat.

If you've always dreamed of a backyard brick oven, they have a feature for you – From Beehive to Barrel: A Tale of Two Ovens.

And back to those apples. This issue offers a feature on Far from the Tree Cider.

How do you support a publisher like Ilene Bezahler and her remarkably talented team?

First, pick up a copy of the magazine at one of these locations. In fact, pick up two copies and share one with a food loving friend or leave it where someone might discover it among lesser publications and become a new fan.

May I suggest that you let their sponsors know you saw them in the magazine and grab an extra copy and get it to someone else who cares about supporting the local food movement. Also, if you have a blog, twitter account, or facebook page, write about them, link to them, follow them, retweet their tweets, like them on facebook, and in general, spread the word about this great asset to our community.

And, to be sure you never miss an issue, you can subscribe over on their website!

You can also buy the Edible cookbook! Edible: A Celebration of Local Foods as a bargain book or find more local food in the The Boston Homegrown Cookbook.

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Artwork: Courtesy of Edible Boston

September 29, 2014
This Wine Chiller Works for Both Champagne & Skinny Bottles

We love this wine chiller! We found it when we were searching for a larger chiller for our beloved sparkling wine bottles. It's called a Rapid Ice Champagne Cooler.

We were delighted when we realized it was also the perfect chiller for oddly shaped and skinny wine bottles like the rosé shown in the photo above. That little drawstring with a button lock lets you snug the chiller tightly around the neck of any bottle. That means you can lift and pour without removing the bottle from the sleeve.

We like it so much, we've bought a second one. That means it can make a wonderful gift for a host or hostess or a thank you gift for a wine lover. Even if someone has one, they can use another!

Want to learn more about wine? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site! Here are three of our favorite wine books.

The Food Lover's Guide to Wine

The New Wine Lover's Companion

The Wine Bible

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino

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September 25, 2014
Raspberry Infusion from Silferleaf Farm in Concord

I fell in love with the Raspberry Infusion Sweet Vinegar from Silferleaf Farm in Concord back in the early days of Boston Organics. They used to have it as an add-on item and I ate a lot more salads when I was making my favorite raspberry vinaigrette with this important ingredient.

I have tried other raspberry vinegars but they are not loaded with rich, thick raspberry goodness the way this one is. I decided to track it down and a quick email to Jeff Barry at Boston Organics set my feet on the right trail.

A call to the farm and a conversation with farmer Tom Johnson gave me the details. If you call ahead, you can pick it up at the farm while supplies last. I happened to mention on Chowhound that I was looking forward to going to the farm to pick up some of this special vinegar and a regular poster, PinchOfSalt, wrote,

"That raspberry infusion is sooo good. My favorite way to use it is in salad dressings (with almond oil, some salt and pepper, maybe something like some thyme). However you don't have to go to the farm to buy it. I have seen it (very recently) at the Fresh Pond Whole Foods (almost wrote Bread & Circus!), by the refrigerated salad dressings."

I found it right where PinchOfSalt described but I'll still be going to the farm to pick up a large supply. This has always been a favorite gift item for me to have on hand.

The dressing I was making in the top photo was used on a salad of lovely greens dropped off by a friend and neighbor. (Thank you Margaret!) Her greens, some scallion, along with bacon, eggs, and avocado made a fabulous supper.

Here are more of our Local Food/Farmers' Market posts.

What's on your Food Lover's shopping list? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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August 11, 2014
Raspberry Infusion from Silferleaf Farm in Concord

I fell in love with the Raspberry Infusion Sweet Vinegar from Silferleaf Farm in Concord back in the early days of Boston Organics. They used to have it as an add-on item and I ate a lot more salads when I was making my favorite raspberry vinaigrette with this important ingredient.

I have tried other raspberry vinegars but they are not loaded with rich, thick raspberry goodness the way this one is. I decided to track it down and a quick email to Jeff Barry at Boston Organics set my feet on the right trail.

A call to the farm and a conversation with farmer Tom Johnson gave me the details. If you call ahead, you can pick it up at the farm while supplies last. I happened to mention on Chowhound that I was looking forward to going to the farm to pick up some of this special vinegar and a regular poster, PinchOfSalt, wrote,

"That raspberry infusion is sooo good. My favorite way to use it is in salad dressings (with almond oil, some salt and pepper, maybe something like some thyme). However you don't have to go to the farm to buy it. I have seen it (very recently) at the Fresh Pond Whole Foods (almost wrote Bread & Circus!), by the refrigerated salad dressings."

I found it right where PinchOfSalt described but I'll still be going to the farm to pick up a large supply. This has always been a favorite gift item for me to have on hand.

The dressing I was making in the top photo was used on a salad of lovely greens dropped off by a friend and neighbor. (Thank you Margaret!) Her greens, some scallion, along with bacon, eggs, and avocado made a fabulous supper.

Here are more of our Local Food/Farmers' Market posts.

What's on your Food Lover's shopping list? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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August 11, 2014
83 Charles Street Is Now Fastachi, But in 1965 It Was…

The brand new Fastachi shop at 83 Charles Street is filled with bins of nuts, gift packages, nut butters, and all the wonderful sweet and fruity gourmet goodies we've grown to love at their farmers' market stands and their original Watertown shop.

Back in 1965, this address was the home of Ski Hut as you can see in this photo from the City of Boston Archives.

When Penny found this photo, the Beacon Hill Fastachi was just in the planning phase. She saved it to share with fans of this fabulous, family business when the shop finally opened.

Bins of nuts welcome you when you step inside this address today.

They also carry our favorite almonds roasted in their shells. We are addicted to these!

And, at the back of the store are some of the nuttiest chocolates you'll find anywhere.

Today, 83 Charles Street is a must-see stop. Drop by when you need a gift, to stock up on healthy snacks for home, or to pick up a scoop of freshly roasted nuts to take on your walk through the Boston Common, Public Garden, or the Charles River Esplanade.

Thanks to everyone who clicks over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support. It doesn't cost you any more but they put a few coins in our tip jar.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012-2014 Penny Cherubino, 1965 photo from the City of Boston Archives used under this creative commons license.

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March 13, 2014
83 Charles Street Is Now Fastachi, But in 1965 It Was…

The brand new Fastachi shop at 83 Charles Street is filled with bins of nuts, gift packages, nut butters, and all the wonderful sweet and fruity gourmet goodies we've grown to love at their farmers' market stands and their original Watertown shop.

Back in 1965, this address was the home of Ski Hut as you can see in this photo from the City of Boston Archives.

When Penny found this photo, the Beacon Hill Fastachi was just in the planning phase. She saved it to share with fans of this fabulous, family business when the shop finally opened.

Bins of nuts welcome you when you step inside this address today.

They also carry our favorite almonds roasted in their shells. We are addicted to these!

And, at the back of the store are some of the nuttiest chocolates you'll find anywhere.

Today, 83 Charles Street is a must-see stop. Drop by when you need a gift, to stock up on healthy snacks for home, or to pick up a scoop of freshly roasted nuts to take on your walk through the Boston Common, Public Garden, or the Charles River Esplanade.

Thanks to everyone who clicks over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support. It doesn't cost you any more but they put a few coins in our tip jar.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012-2014 Penny Cherubino, 1965 photo from the City of Boston Archives used under this creative commons license.

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March 13, 2014
83 Charles Street Is Now Fastachi, But in 1965 It Was…

The brand new Fastachi shop at 83 Charles Street is filled with bins of nuts, gift packages, nut butters, and all the wonderful sweet and fruity gourmet goodies we've grown to love at their farmers' market stands and their original Watertown shop.

Back in 1965, this address was the home of Ski Hut as you can see in this photo from the City of Boston Archives.

When Penny found this photo, the Beacon Hill Fastachi was just in the planning phase. She saved it to share with fans of this fabulous, family business when the shop finally opened.

Bins of nuts welcome you when you step inside this address today.

They also carry our favorite almonds roasted in their shells. We are addicted to these!

And, at the back of the store are some of the nuttiest chocolates you'll find anywhere.

Today, 83 Charles Street is a must-see stop. Drop by when you need a gift, to stock up on healthy snacks for home, or to pick up a scoop of freshly roasted nuts to take on your walk through the Boston Common, Public Garden, or the Charles River Esplanade.

Thanks to everyone who clicks over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support. It doesn't cost you any more but they put a few coins in our tip jar.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012-2014 Penny Cherubino, 1965 photo from the City of Boston Archives used under this creative commons license.

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March 13, 2014
Nigl Brut de Brut – A Gruner with Bubbles!

While on the lookout for a worthy sparkler to ring-in December, as part of our Sparkling Resolution, we discovered a Gruner Veltliner with bubbles – the 2005 Nigl Brut de Brut.

Since Gruner has been a long-time favorite with us, the addition of fizz, and in this case Chardonnay, seemed like an interesting marriage. Well, we’re here to say, “It’s wedded bliss!”

These new "wine" glasses were inspired by running out of glasses to share a wine with neighbors on a recent Ptown vacation. We substituted a martini glass that worked well and was fun!

This Austrian sparkler is definitely food-friendly, but also very enjoyable all by itself. Followers of wine site CellarTracker said it best, tasting “…flavors of tart apple with peach,” calling the Nigl Brut de Brut “…dry, crisp, with racy acidity,” "…quite spirited and fun to drink,” and “…a very nice alternative to Champagne.”

Choosing a sparkling version of a familiar wine might not always be this satisfying, but we’ll try it again. In fact, if you’re looking for a holiday gift for someone who likes wine and has a favorite grape, see if there’s a sparkling version?

We found our bottle of 2005 Nigl Brut de Brut at The Urban Grape, South End.

Here’s a peek at Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List!

…And, Sunday Dog will return to this spot, next week!

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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December 1, 2013