WEDDING BELLS are ringing across the land, signaling the start of another summer season of taffeta and tulle, showers and champagne, toasts and tuxedos, Mendelssohn and the Macarena.
It also means a mad scramble for wedding gifts that are clever, useful, and memorable.
Here are some ideas, both budget-minded and blow-out, that are sure to please.
The Scanpan Classic Nonstick Double Burner Grill straddles two stovetop burners, gets hot enough to make handsome grill marks on meat, chicken, fish and vegetables, and is a breeze to clean. Made in Denmark of heavy cast aluminum that’s coated with ceramic-titanium non-stick surface, it’s durable and especially suited to cooking with minimal fat. Pair it with a copy of BBQ guru Steven Raichlen’s book “Indoor! Grilling.” The Scanpan brand is available at most upscale home stores and at Amazon.com. At about $145, the Grill is a splurge, but one that will be appreciated by the bride and groom for decades to come. The paperback cookbook costs about $13.
- Once upon a time, only fancy-schmancy wines from older vintages ever
saw the inside of a decanter. But today’s containers are larger,
roomier, more casual affairs. And wine lovers are rapidly learning that
every wine can benefit from a vigorous dance in a decanter. One of my
favorites is the Luigi Bormioli Captain’s Decanter from Target. It contains 68 ounces, costs just $22.49 and does a masterful job of “opening” up a wine and making it shine. Target also carries the Accademia decanter for about 15 bucks. If you’re looking to spend more, check out the elegant crystal decanters from Riedel. The top of the line decanters from this Austrian company look like graceful swans and cost anywhere from $150 to about $400.
Latte lovers on your shopping list? You can’t go wrong with the Froth Au Lait, an electric milk frother that does the job better than the most skilled barista…even the most skilled Italian barista. It’s $52.99 on Amazon.com. A budget-conscious alternative is the BonJour Automatic Milk Frother
that doesn’t take up as much counter space and costs just $15. The slim
batter-operated wand comes with a countertop storage stand. It’s widely
available in stores and on-line.
- They’ll fall in love with this Culinary Herbs Pasta Bowl Set that is so bright and realistic you can almost smell the rosemary! The sleek contemporary bowls are hand-painted ceramic and cost $35.99 for a set of four at Target’s on-line Web site (not available in most stores).
- Flummoxed by the vast array of pots and pans dangling in front
of you in the housewares department? I can’t really tell you a single
pan that will fit the needs of each individual cook. But I can tell you two pans on my rack that I could never live without: The All-Clad 12-inch Stainless Steel Fry Pan
which I like for its sloping sides, its durable surface that lets foods
brown well, and its easy clean up. Also available in 8-inch and
10-inch, they cost between $80 and $150. On the other hand, my 12-inch
KitchenAid Red Nonstick Stir Fry Pan costs only about $40 in most
department stores and on-line. Don’t think that
this is just for Asian stir-frys. I use it for everything and love the way foods move around in the pan, browning evenly and easily.
- Everything looks better by candlelight. The Lolli Candleholders from Crate & Barrel come in six colors, accommodate standard tealights and votives and cost just $6.95 each. Or give a single elegant Cabochon Votive from wedding princess Vera Wang. The shimmering crystal holder costs about $45 at Bed Bath & Beyond, Macy's and Amazon.com.
- Borrowing an idea from ancient Chinese philosophers – “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” – consider giving the lucky duo a hands-on cooking class. Most cities offer a variety of classes at such stores as Macy's and Sur La Table. In San Diego, there's an extensive selection of classes at the popular Great News! Cooking School in Pacific Beach. Wrap up a store gift certificate with the latest class catalog, and let them choose from such tantalizing subjects as “Foodies Night Out: Mediterranean Style,” “Paella Perfection,” “Tapas and Sangria,” and “Thai One On.” Most classes are held in the evening, run about 2 ½ hours, provide enough samples to be considered dinner (and wine), and cost about $50 per person. If you’re looking to make a splash, consider pairing Katherine Emmenegger’s class “Basic Knife Skills” with one really good knife. My pick: The Wüsthof Classic 8-inch Chef’s Knife which goes for about $100.
Young people are particularly enchanted by the Riedel “O” Collection of wine glasses. The stemless, egg-shaped glasses look cool, feel great in the hand, and facilitate the swirling routine that brings out the best in a bottle of wine. Several shapes are available, each designed to maximize a varietal’s flavor: Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot; Chardonnay/Viognier; Pinot Noir; Shiraz/Syrah; Sauvignon Blanc/Riesling; etc. They cost about $10 each and come in sets of two. Widely available, including at Bed Bath & Beyond and on Amazon.com.
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