Drinkable vegetable soups are a healthy
snack option. Photo by Daniela Cuevas |
THE NIBBLE.

But what if you don’t have the time to bring fresh fruit, carrot sticks, hard-cooked eggs and other healthy snacks to the workplace? How can you avoid the chips, candy and other temptations?

Donate some space in your locker or office for a stash of tasty, healthy foods that require no refrigeration. They’ll be there when you have the munchies; and healthier munchies give you more energy.

Check out our article on healthy snacks and plan for healthier snacking at work.

In his honor, two baconeers from Atlanta are making Sir Francis Bacon Peanut Brittle.

The brittle is produced in small batches in copper kettles. Buttery, salty, smoky and crunchy, this all-natural confection will find fans among everyone who likes bacon.

The sweetness is kept at a sensible level, so there’s no “cloy factor.” The chocolate bacon brittle is a kind of yummy bacon buttercrunch.

The packaging looks like it could come from the 17th century—except for the pig snout mask that Sir Francis sports.

What wine to serve with bacon brittle? Champagne!

Send Sir Francis Bacon Brittle to dads, grads and bacon lovers everywhere.

• Read the full review.

• Find more of our favorite candy in our Gourmet Candy Section.

Recipients will squeal after their first bite of
bacon brittle. Photo by Katharine Pollak | THE NIBBLE.

One of our favorite single malts is Bowmore,
but not everyone likes the peaty Islay
style. Photo courtesy Laphroaig.

No matter how much you think you know, you can use a consultation with a single malt expert. Michael Jackson’s Complete Guide To Single Malt Scotch covers some 800 single malts (by the way, pairing the book with a bottle is a great idea). So were do you begin?

We begin by asking someone who’s had almost as many single malts as Michael Jackson. Park Avenue’s proprietor Jonathan Goldstein, a single malt expert and a Keeper of the Quaich,* offers this advice:

1. Like? First, does Dad even like Scotch? Have you seen him drink it before? You would be surprised how many people come in, notes Goldstein, and ask for a single malt because their father drinks Wild Turkey—which is a Bourbon! Ignorance is no reason for embarrassment, but it is a reason to consult a professional who wants to help you make the right choice.

*Quaich is pronounced kwaych with a gutteral “ch,” as in the Scottish loch or German ach and ich. The traditional shallow-bowl drinking vessel of Scotland, which has two or three handles, dates to the Druids. At parties and clan gatherings, large quaichs filled with whiskey were passed from person to person.

3. Budget? How much are you willing to spend and how many bottles do you want for your money. Do you want one super bottle? Do you want a variety of bottles so Dad has a “collection” to compare and contrast? Your expert should be able to find excellent choices in all price ranges, and knows about special new releases.

4. Collector? Is Dad a serious collector of single malts? Many distilleries create investment-worthy bottles (a recent bottling of The Macallan, a 57-year-old single malt Scotch in Lalique Crystal, retails for $19,100). An alternative for collectors are “exclusive” bottlings, handled by a few specialist shops. Park Avenue’s exclusives start at $67.

• For single malt help, call Park Avenue Liquor Shop at 1.212.685.2442.

• To learn how whiskeys differ (Bourbon, Canadian, Irish, Scotch, Tennessee, etc.) and beef up your whiskey terminology, see our Whiskey Glossary.

The next time you need munchies to go with cocktails or beer, try Scandinavian crispbread. It’s tasty, relatively low calorie and whole grain.

In large rounds (about 11 inches in diameter), it makes an impression on a platter.

Made only with whole grain rye flour, yeast, water, and salt, the product is all-natural, vegan and fat-free. Plus, large round crispbreads are fun. Snap off any size piece and nibble with cheese, olives or spreads.

Crispbreads are also a treat when served with soups or salads, and can be served for breakfast or snacks with jam. You can find Swedish crispbread from Siljans and Leksands in specialty food stores or on Amazon.

Try it, you’ll like it! Photo courtesy Amazon.com.

Discover more special breads in our Bread Glossary.

Buy me some shortbread and Crackerjack.
Photo courtesy CooperstownCookie.com.

The shortbread is shaped like baseballs, of course! As the company says, it’s the best baseball you ever ate.

Shortbread cookies and mini “bunts” are available in tubes, tins, tins commemorating one’s favorite MLB team and collectible “stadium tins” showing Camden Yard, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field and the original Yankee Stadium.

See the entire line at CooperstownCookie.com. Use discount code 5OFF50 to save $5.00 on orders of $50.00 or more.

The only caveat: Get the large size, because these shortbread cookies will disappear faster than a hit out of the park. See the full review.

• See more of our favorite Father’s Day gifts.

• See reviews of our favorite cookies.