GIFT PICK: Gourmet Chocolate Advent Calendar & A Wine Advent Calendar

WHAT’S AN ADVENT CALENDAR? Advent, from the Latin word adventus, means “coming.” It’s a time of waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus, on Christmas Day. A tradition begun by Lutherans in Germany, the first known Advent calendar dates to 1851. Its purpose: to count down the 24 days of December…
Continue reading “GIFT PICK: Gourmet Chocolate Advent Calendar & A Wine Advent Calendar”

TIP OF THE DAY: Serve A Cranberry Mocktail

[1] This spicy cranberry mocktail, with muddled jalapeño, easily converts to cocktail. [2] Ocean Spray Cran-Cherry is also available in a diet version (both photos courtesy Ocean Spray).   For non-alcoholic drinking during the holiday season, offer something more exciting than club soda or cider. Cranberry mocktails are especially popular during the holiday season, their…
Continue reading “TIP OF THE DAY: Serve A Cranberry Mocktail”

GIFT: Our Favorite Chocolate Christmas Gift From Michel Cluizel

Photo #1: Michel Cluizel’s WinterLand chocolate in dark, milk and white. SEE THE LARGE PHOTO BELOW. The pieces in the box (photo #2) assemble into the holiday scene (photos courtesy Michel Cluizel).   We will write about other chocolate gifts this holiday season, but this is our favorite: the WinterLand Chocolate Box from French chocolatier…
Continue reading “GIFT: Our Favorite Chocolate Christmas Gift From Michel Cluizel”

TOP PICK OF THE WEEK: Rare Artisan Fruitcakes From Robert Lambert

[1] Robert Lambert’s artisan fruitcakes are available in dark and white (shown) styles. The candied fruits are made by hand (all photography courtesy Robert Lambert). Three vintages of Robert Lambert fruitcakes: 2018 at top, 2017 in the center and 2016 at bottom.   Some people cringe at the word “fruitcake.” That’s because their experience is…
Continue reading “TOP PICK OF THE WEEK: Rare Artisan Fruitcakes From Robert Lambert”

TIP OF THE DAY: Gingerbread Mustard (Pain d’Epices)

Bring the flavor of fall to your mustard: gingerbread-spiced mustard. You can buy it or make it. French brands such as Pommery make it, and you can find it on Amazon. Its French name is Moutarde au Pain d’Epices: moutarde (moo-TARD) is mustard and pain d’epices (pan day PEACE) is gingerbread. Gingerbread is one of…
Continue reading “TIP OF THE DAY: Gingerbread Mustard (Pain d’Epices)”