VALENTINE GIFT: Red Moka Pot

The classic moka pot dons a red coat. Photo courtesy IMUSA USA.   Here’s a no-calorie Valentine gift for someone who loves strong coffee: a red moka pot. You can purchase the six-cup version at Macy’s for $14.99; it also is available in pumpkin orange and cobalt blue. A three-cup version is available at Kohl’s.…
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VALENTINE GIFT: A Different Take On Chocolate Kisses

Chef François Payard is making it easier to send kisses this Valentines Day. Check out his Dark Chocolate Raspberry Lips. Packaged in a red clutch-shaped box, the chocolate lips are filled with chocolate ganache that has a hint of ginger, and are packaged with with a white chocolate raspberry lipstick—a real lipstick that is both…
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CHINESE NEW YEAR: Godiva Chocolate For The Year Of The Horse

Lady Godiva rides in for the Lunar New Year. The image is larger than the actual chocolates. Photo courtesy Godiva.   Some foodies end the Christmas-New Year holiday season in anticipation of Valentine’s Day. But don’t forget about Chinese New Year, celebrated by Chinese, Koreans and Vietnamese, who follow a different calendar than Western cultures.…
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RECIPE: Cranberry Baked Brie

Baked Brie in pastry with dried cranberries, honey and almonds. Photo and recipe courtesy Zabars.com.   Here’s a recipe to serve with your favorite bubbly. It’s a favorite of Olga Dominguez, cheese buyer at Zabar’s in New York City. For the holidays use dried cranberries; for Valentine’s Day substitute dried cherries or strawberries. This party-size…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Double-Crème And Triple-Crème Cheeses

Serving bubbly for Christmas or New Year’s Eve? The perfect cheese to serve with Champagne or other sparklers is a double-crème or a triple-crème. Double- and triple-creme cheeses have a distinctive texture (very creamy) and flavor (buttery). Extra cream is added before the curd is formed, creating the heavenly richness.     DOUBLE CRÈME CHEESES…
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