HOLIDAY GIFTS
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We haven’t begun holiday shopping yet. But we’re not worried. Our list isn’t huge; and since no one we know needs any material possession we can afford, we long ago settled on disposable gifts—i.e., food. This year we have three favorites (and might we add, we’re gifting all three to ourself, as well). We received a gift of a Honey Baked Ham from the producer, and now proclaim it our favorite ham (photo #1). There is no saltiness; salt in our opinion plagues many hams on the market. Instead, there’s a very light dusting of brown sugar, a perfect complement to the rich, juicy ham. Hams are available in five sizes, from 6 pounds (serves 8-10) to 10 pounds (serves 18-22). The hams are spiral cut on the bone. Not only is serving a cinch, but the bone is a bone-us (bad pun) waiting to be used in cooking beans, collards and kale, hearty soups, even Asian congee. Lean cuts of premium pork are slowly roasting over hardwood chips for more than 20 hours. They are finished with the sweet-and-crunchy signature HoneyBaked Ham glaze. We’re now a devoted customer, and promise that any ham-lover you gift one to will be most appreciative. The hams are available at select retailers, but we find it convenient to buy online. You can send a ham or a gift card. Head to HoneyBaked.com.. A gift of Moët & Chandon champagne is always welcome. But as a holiday special, the vintner has created a limited edition bottle cloaked in gold (SRP $39.99). The Moët Impérial Golden Sparkle Bottle contains the ever-popular Impérial Brut champagne, dressed up for the holidays. Tip: Buy as much as you can. You’ll want your own supply for New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day. The bottles are available at stores nationwide, along with a selection of gift boxed bottles and See the entire selection at US.Moet.com. You can never go wrong gifting a good bottle of Burgundy, but how to you choose among the many bottles on the shelf? The venerable house of Joseph Drouhin has been bottling fine burgundies for 130 years. There are some 90 appellations—no wonder it’s so hard for the less-than-expert to buy burgundy. We suggest starting with a bottle of from the appellation Chorey-Les-Beaune, a commune in the Côte-d’Or department in eastern France, northeast of the city of Beaune. This luscious, supple red wine is moderately tannic and full of character. The nose is dominated by small red fruits (raspberry, Morello cherry) and black fruits (blackberry). Its well-rounded structure leaves an aftertaste of fruit on the palate. When you buy it, it’s ready to drink. |
 [1] The most delicious ham you can buy, from Honey Baked Ham.
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Very adaptable, Chorey-Les-Beaune can be paired with everything from cold cuts and cheese to main dishes. It loves roast chicken and boiled beef. Casual eaters can enjoy it with pizza or Tex-Mex cuisine. Find it at retailers nationwide. Depending on the store and the vintage, it’s about $25 a bottle. Discover more at M.Drouhin.com. |
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