Holiday Shopping for Foodies

There is still time to shop and have the gifts in time for the holidays. Here's a list of gifts for food lovers ranging from $14-$112. You might want to confirm that your purchases will be delivered on time. A few years back I was severely disappointed when some of the gifts that I ordered (from a store that shall rename nameless) did not arrive on time for the holidays.



Flame Body Spray- $14 (includes shipping) This is hysterical: Burger King created a body fragrance that smells like burgers, or as they put it "flame broiled meat". For the man or woman in your life who loves burgers and has a sense of humor. This is a fun gift.


Bodum Pavina Tumblers-$19.90 for a set of 2
Love them! They are my favorite glasses. The tumblers are comfortable to hold in my hand and best of all, they are made of heat-resistant, scientific glass that can hold both hot and cold drinks. I hardly use my mugs anymore. They come in many shapes and sizes. The 12 oz. glass is under 5 inches tall. It looks like it holds a lot less liquid than it actually does. The glass is scratch resistant and can go in the microwave and dish washer. You can include some of your favorite tea or cocoa with the gift.


Fresh Oranges direct from Sequoia Orange Company-$30
Forget about expensive fruit baskets. These oranges are shipped straight from the grower, a much better deal. There are about approximately 35 oranges in 1/2 of a carton of fresh oranges. Most fruit companies charge the same for 9 pieces of fruit. You do the math. I love to arrange the fruit in a bowl and put it in my living room. It adds great color, smell and is a healthy snack.


Culture-$40
While in the Berkshires at Rubiners, one of my favorite cheese stores (that doesn't have a website), I discovered Culture, the new glossy cheese magazine that debuted this month. It is a fun gift for cheese lovers. It has a comprehensive list of cheese stores throughout the US.


Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena aged over 30 years-$112
This vinegar is a real treat. It is so sweet and delicious. I know, $112 is a lot of money for a tiny bottle. If you look at it that way it is. On the other hand, you only need a small amount so it lasts about 6 months for me. Whenever I host parties, my guests ooh and aah over the salads partly because of this ingredient.

iPhone Bacon

Everything is better with bacon, even the iPhone. A clever German company sells these great iPhone covers on their website. Foodies or any one loves bacon will appreciate this silly gift. I can't seem to find a place to buy the bacon case in the US. Drop me a line at yum@alli411.com if you find a US store selling them.

$10 Wine Tastings

For those Saturdays when you are wondering what to do, you can wander into Wally's Wine for in-store wine tastings from 1-4 pm. It's a casual vibe for $10 a person. Different wines are featured every week. See below for the schedule. Typically 5-6 wines are poured. Cheese and crackers are served. If you like any of the wine that you taste, you can pick them up for a 10-15% discount.

Jenny at the cheese counter is friendly as can be and a great resource for cheese and charcuterie. Also keep in mind that you can call Wally's up to send gift baskets for you without having to go into the store.

Fall Tasting Schedule:

October 18 - New Sake Arrivals from Japan

October 25 - Unido de los Vientos from Uruguay, with winemaker Pablo Fallobrino Machado!
November 1 - Bonterra Family of Wines
November 8 - Talbott Vineyards
November 15 - Tantara Vineyards

Wally's Wine

2107 Westwood Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90025

310.475.0606

Jamon Jamon

After years of waiting, Jamon Iberico direct from Spain has finally arrived in the US. The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills is among the first of the US stores to carry it. When I tried it there, it tasted as delicious as I’d expected. At $90 a pound, it was worth it.

Jamon Iberico is the top grade of Jamon Serrano. These acorn fed pigs are a Spanish national treasure. In Spain, you see this ham all over the place, legs hanging in shops, bars, restaurants and homes. The Spanish take great pride in their Serrano, and hand-slice the delicate meat with care. Even though The Cheese Store slices the ham with a deli machine instead of by hand, which takes training, the thin slices are still delicious, sometimes.

I’ve visited the Cheese Store twice since the Serrano arrived. The second time I tried the it was a bit of a disappointment. The man behind the counter informed me that he was opening up a new ham to slice, as if this was a privilege. He peeled off the airtight plastic wrap and started making some slices for me and my friends to taste. When he presented these little slices to us to taste, what I tasted was more like a Prosciutto than a Serrano. It was dry, almost dehydrated. He continued to cut slices and they did not improve. I asked if he could cut slices from the center and he said no. He told us to come back the next day, when they would be at the center of the ham.

I’ll be back sometime soon for that delicious ham from Espana. If you intend to purchase some, remember to try it before you buy it. The ends of hams are usually better for cooking with than eating directly. Add them to a split pea soup, eggs or even mac n' cheese like they do at Violet restaurant for a tasty treat.

The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills
419 N Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills CA 90210
www.cheesestorebh.com 310.278.2855

Host/Hostess Gifts

My fabulous friend Judy recently asked me what type of gift she could bring to her friends' house, instead of a bottle of wine. I suggested she bring a product(s) she adores. Friends often will appreciate your personal finds. Here are some of mine:

- Almond butter or Italian plum jam from loulousgarden.com
- Olive oils, such as Antoni Mateu's
- Branches Range Wildflower Honey from katzandco.com
- Tea from palaisdesthes.com - Melange du Cap, The du Hamman, The des Sables, among others.
- Gourmet salt, such as Flor de Sal d'es Trenc
-Stone Ground Mustard with Roasted Garlic & Cabernet from madeinnapavalley.com

I sometimes bring friends chocolate chip cookies, especially for my sister, dad or my friend Debbie. They love eating them. I suppose I get this tradition from my grandmother who still brings fudge or cookies wherever she goes. In this day and age, freshly baked treats go a long way. A handwritten thank you note or phone call the next day is also a nice touch.

Holiday Fruit Basket Redo

Holiday fruit baskets are so passe. Instead ship a carton of oranges, grapefruits or tangelos direct from the grower. This fruit is so sweet because it is picked from the tree, put in a carton and shipped. The 11 x 17" carton full-of-fruit is $50 which includes shipping and a gift card.

Sequoia Orange Company

http://www.sequoiaorange.com/

800-788-2551