Kitchen Obsession: L'Econome Knives

Living within a stone's throw of the Broadway Panhandler is a dangerous thing. Though I'm not particularly skilled at kitchen arts, I've got a thing for the gadgetry, and BP, purveyor of all things kitchen-related, lures me in to peruse its wares at least once a  month.  Nevermind that I've no use for half of the items currently cluttering my cupboards -- I just seem to like amassing collections of Things I Might Need Someday. My most recent cute-but-wholly-unnecessary acquisition: an assortment of adorable L'econome knives. Crafted in Thiers, France, they've been around for almost 200 years. I love the colorful wooden handle. After a few washings, it's started to fade just a bit, which only makes them lovelier.

I bought two different paring knives, a spreader, and a peeler. They run about $8 a pop, but unfortunately, aren't available through BP's online store and I was only able to find the red paring knife on Sur La Table's website. If you're not local, you can try your luck at Sur La Table or Williams-Sonoma brick-and-mortars, or put yourself on the waitlist at World Knives.

Serve it Forth has a review and a close-up of the cute little label:

Photo credit:
1) moi
2) www.serveitforth.com

Truffleupagus: A Hoarder of Truffles

Last holiday season, I gifted a couple of very lucky friends with pink champagne truffles from Charbonnel et Walker. It was with great reluctance that I parted with the fancy confections, as I wanted so badly to keep them for myself. More than the rich, flavorful chocolates, I coveted the beautiful boxes that housed them.  A year later, I've hatched an ingenious plan: I intend to bring them to work to dole out to coworkers, but will tuck the tins away so I can bring them home later. My cupboards need a stack of round boxes in candy colors.

I've decided on a trio of Mint, Dusted Lemon, and Bucks Fizz flavors. They're available at Saks (spent my last birthday on the shoe floor at Cafe Charbonnel, watching a parade of tasty treats whiz by on a conveyor belt) and Bergdorfs. $23 per box.

 

Photo credit: www.bergdorfgoodman.com

Holy #%@$, My Friends Are Having Babies

My friend Naveen just gave birth to a baby boy! She's the first of my inner circle to have a baby, and I think I might be more freaked out about it than she is. The next time I go to LA, there will be a brand new, tiny little person to meet, and since I want to make a good impression on him, I'd better come bearing a kick-ass gift. Some ideas:

This one is as much a decorative piece as it is a plaything. Scandinavian Rocking Horse, $190 @ Acorn.

Flensted Happy Whales Mobile, $29 @ Design Public.

 Georgie Giraffe, $24 @ Anthropologie.

Polar bear suit, $24.50 @ Crazy 8.

Photo credit:

1) www.acorntoyshop.com

2) www.designpublic.com

3) www.anthropologie.com

4) www.crazy8.com

Whiskey and Rum-Inspired Gift Ideas

How to get a guy's guy to embrace scent in his home and on his person without inducing fear of a floral, feminine takeover? Just add alcohol. Two ideas:

Portland General Store is the great little Etsy shop of Lisa Brodar, and she has this whiskey-scented old-fashioned shaving jelly that sounds awesome. $8.95 on Etsy, but if you live in SF, you can pick it up at Rare Device.

If modern is more his style, this Rum Candle from Malin + Goetz has a rich (but not overpowering) and subtly masculine scent, inoffensive gender-neutral packaging, and lasts forever. $48 @ Barney's.

Photo credit:
1. www.raredevice.net
2. www.barneys.com