Here's the scoop
Part of German-based Rosenthal’s studio-line, Scoop china pieces look
breathtaking on the table. The plates are oddly shaped and strikingly beautiful;
the soup plate is particularly gorgeous. From top: Rosenthal Studio-Line Scoop All-Purpose Bowl,
$56.50, Soup Plate, $56.50, Dinner Plate, $63.50 at William Ashley (williamashley.com) or through www.rosenthalusa-shop.com.
– Lucy Waverman
Magnetic appeal
Finally, a gadget that really cleans my murky decanters and vases. This magnetic
spot cleaner, a great stocking stuffer, scrubs away hard-to-reach spots with the
aid of magnets, leaving glassware crystal clear. Cuisipro Magnetic Spot Cleaner, $11.95 at Degrees
Kitchen Store in Toronto (www.degreeskitchen.com) and
many other retailers (visit www.cuisipro.com for
locations). – L.W.
Sweet sensation
This syrup is so good that you’ll want to drink it straight from the bottle.
Before you do that, though, try it on pancakes, over veggies or to kick up a
sauce for chicken or pork. It also makes a tasty cocktail mix. Noble Bourbon
Barrel Maple Syrup, $32.95 at Edible Canada in Vancouver (www.ediblecanada.com) or through mikuni.myshopify.com. – L.W.
Tea temps
Made of double-walled bone china with a stainless steel cover, the Salam Teapot, designed in the 1950s by French
designer Guy Degrenne, is the best I have used
(and I am a huge tea drinker). Salam Guy Degrenne Teapot, $130 through www.amazon.ca. – L.W.
The ripe stuff
Rich and mellow without any grassy or peppery overtones, this special olive oil
is made in France from fruity ripe olives, known as fruité noir. Perfect
for saucing fish, goat cheese or vegetables. Moulin Castelas
Fruité Noir Oil,
$34.95 at All The Best Fine Foods in Toronto (www.allthebestfinefoods.com)
or through www.castelas.com. –
L.W.
Don't put a cork in it
Got leftover wine? ouring vino
from an unfinished bottle into this ingenious glass carafe by U.S.-based Savino will keep it fresh for four to seven days,
depending on the wine’s acidity and tannin content. The secret: A floating disk
acts as an oxygen barrier when the cylinder’s vertical; tilt to pour and the
disk automatically bobs to the side to let liquid through. Savino Wine Preservation Glassware, $59.95 (U.S.)
through www.savinowine.com. –
Beppi Crosariol
Cold comfort
A tidy solution to one of my life’s constant challenges: chilling a bottle in
the cab on the way to a dinner party. To use this adjustable, gel-filled jacket,
store it in the freezer, then strap it around a room-temperature bottle and it
will get the job done in five to 10 minutes. Trudeau Wine Cooling Sleeve, $7.99
at kitchenware and department stores across Canada (visit www.trudeaucorp.com for retailers). –
B.C.
A big chill
Large ice cubes (and spheres) are all the rage at fancypants bars these days because they melt
slowly and, frankly, look cool. At home, I’ll be upping my cocktail game by
serving gin and tonics in stemless Riedel
tumblers with a single snooker ball like the one shown here; it was made with an
oversized mould by Trudeau. Trudeau Ice Sphere Mold, $16.99 at kitchenware and department stores
across Canada (visit www.trudeaucorp.com for
retailers). – B.C.
Saluting Ol’ Blue Eyes
Aged in deeply charred barrels for a bolder, spicier profile, Jack Daniel’s
Sinatra Select is a special-edition tribute – only 350 cases have been
released in Canada – to the Tennessee whiskey’s most famous devotee (and my
favourite voice). I promise to sip it exclusively while wearing my tux, bowtie undone. Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select, $295
to $300 in various provinces. – B.C.
For members only
A different selection of Ontario wines, qualityvetted by experts Tony Aspler and David Lawrason, delivered to the front door each month? Nice. I like surprises all year long. This service’s two-bottle “Sommelier” plan, with better offerings than the basic plan, varies from $55 a month in Ontario to $69 a month in Newfoundland and Labrador. winerytohome.com’s Wine of the Month Club membership through www.wineofthemonthclub.ca or 1-866-254-6075. – B.C.