Except for the William-Sonama printed signature (I would prefer something like Bon Appétit!), I really like the look of this white porcelain plates that are perfect to serve a sandwich, a single serving cheese plate or a small tray of antipasto.

The plates can also act as a message board. A customer commented on the W-S site that she writes notes or her menu on them with dry erase markers. A simple wash will clean up the remaining marks. It is a good alternative to the chalkboard.

And I would love to receive for Christmas a set for 8 of Laguiole Flatware in ivory ($79 for 5-piece place setting).

+ French Pantry Appetizer Plates $20 for 2

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Bodum products are typically built to last, perform well and look good. Three good reasons to like them and to not be afraid to add them on your holiday shopping list. If you are looking for gift ideas for cooks or the hostess, you may consider:

+ BODUM Round Automatic Gravity Operated Salt and Pepper Grinder $29.95 USD
+ The TWIN salt and pepper grinder with a ceramic grinder $29.95 USD
+ The NERO Coffee coat really works. I bought one last week. I wish that I got my thermal neoprene french press coffee coat sooner. 8-cup $14.95 USD 12-cup $19.95 USD
+ The double wall tea press COLUMBIA in shiny stainless steel $69.95

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Every Holiday season, one cooking tool is under everyone’s Christmas tree. This year, the brie baker seems to be what retailers have bet on. I saw the brie baker being well in display, next to the Goat Cheese Baker, in almost every gift ships I visited last week.

If you ever served a baked brie, you know how messy it can become once people start eating it. This is why many people wrap their bake brie in puff pastry. Since it is so good, you do not wish to lose any bites. The advantage of the brie baker is that you can use it as the serving dish. The maker provides a spreader to avoid burns. Plus the brie stays warmer longer.

The goat cheese baker leaves you more roam to remove the warm cheese, if you need to.

I saw these cheese bakers at Indigo, Arthur Quentin, Linen Chest and Zone. The brie baker is available in cream and in red. The goat cheese baker also comes in blue. They made wonderful gift ideas under $25. I bought the cream brie baker and the goat cheese baker. I cannot wait to try them out.

+ Photos: Petite Maison by Wildly Delicious

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When Jean-Luc Bouchard of Urban-Butik, the North American distributor of Magisso products, offered me a sample of the new Magisso Cake Server I accepted immediately. I like the concept but I was curious to see if it really works. After all, the practicality of a single serving ware piece instead of the typical cake knife and server set is appealing.

I first discovered the Magisso Cake Server through a NYC Gift Fair report done by Maxwell of Apartment Therapy. But the video posted on AT did not convince me because Miika served a sponge cake at the fair. Too easy! I wanted to make sure it cuts through more demanding cakes before introducing the Magisso Cake Server on my blog.

To simplify my life, Jean-Luc offered to bring me a cake. He showed up at my door the next day with the co-owner Anne Foged. They brought me a soft interior cake with an icing top similar to what you get on a mille-feuilles minus the pastry. This is more what I was looking for. Plus, the cake was delicious.

How the Magisso Cake Serve Works

The curve side down, you start on an angle by pressing at the center of the cake and move the cake server flat to neatly cut a cake piece. You squeeze a little bit the handle while you transfer the cake on a plate. Release. Voilà! It is super easy and it works every time. Your kids will be able to do it.

Get one for yourself and stock a few for your Christmas gifts. Your friends and family should appreciate it.

SOURCING:
+ Magisso Cake Server – you can buy it online $69.95 CAD

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Why it is so hard to find a restaurant that serves tea in style? I want my tea served with a porcelain teapot or an iron cast model. It seems that most restaurants skipped the memo about the current tea popularity.

PHOTOS by Kim Vallee:
+ Awesome teapot at Art Java on President Kennedy in Montreal – some coffee shop owners get it
+ Sugar pot at DNA restaurant in Old Montreal

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I received several requests about the stylish square glass containers with the cucumber water that I shown you last June. I asked my friend Isabelle who works at Fairmont Hotels to find out where they bought it. She found that they are manufactured by Cal-Mil, a brand that cater the food service industry.

Browsing their catalog, I also found more elegant models. Each one has the ice cube insert that will not water down your drinks. They also carry an eco-friendly line made from recycled glass.

Budget between $390 and $420 USD which is not more expansive than a few dispensers I showcased before. I do not know if they sell to the public.

SOURCING:
+ Cal-Mil

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Some quick links to start the week.

+ First Sunday Suppers shows us how to preserve lemons, a must in Moroccan cuisine. You can find their twist on the lemon chicken tagine. Their recipe has preserved lemons, green olives and golden raisins.

+ An original moving announcement from FPO (for print only). The recipient can cut the pieces and assemble a moving truck. You can carry it on your purse and get it out when you need something to get your kid occupied. Via Snippet & Ink and Oh So Beautiful Paper

+ The last thing fits the color palette of my blog. It is fun tableware that I wish I knew where to buy. Antrepo designed  this salt and pepper shaker set as two rechargeable batteries. Because of the cool concept, I forgive them for putting only one hole on the pepper shaker. Via Death by Kerning and Lovely Package

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Since I will be in Boston this August to attend PodCamp Boston 4, I started a shopping list. I scheduled visits to stores that we do not have here in Montreal. I will go to Lekker naturally. Another store that I affection is Anthropologie. Their vintage, granny, Bohemian chic look is really distinctive.

I am a fan of their tea towels, potholders and mitts. I wish that their dishtowels were not as expensive. That Fleur de Lys pitcher is awesome. This Provencal pitcher is definitely on my shopping list.

SOURCING:
+ Tweeting Tea Party Dishtowel $24 USD
+ Painted Garden Serving Bowl $72 USD
+ Fleur de Lys Pitcher $28 USD
+ Yellow Birdie Bungalow Dishtowel $18 USD
+ Red Sea Potholder and Red Sea Mitt $12 USD each

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Most tea services are quite feminine. Since my husband is a huge tea drinker, I went on a search for the ultimate tea pot for a man. I found two.

Potter tea pot designed by Jehs & Laub for Stelton

The first thing that caught my eyes is the color choice of the Potter tea pot: soft black and soft midnight blue. Then, they got me with the non-drip spout. A tea pot that will not stain my table every time I use it is a must when I buy a tea pot.

Potter is the latest creation for Stelton by the duo Jehs & Laub. They won a reddot design award in 2009 for Potter. The handle shape and position delivers more balance. It makes the tea pot extraordinarily easy and comfortable to pour from. A special tea strainer is included. I found no picture of the stainer.

Sorapot designed by Joey Roth

If you are looking for a piece with architectural appeal, go with Sorapot. Made from stainless steel, borosilicate glass (Pyrex), and food-grade silicone, the ritual of tea undertakes a modern transformation due to the unique feature of Sorapot. Unlike standard teapots that confine tea leaves in a small mesh basket, the tea leaves run freely over the entire Sorapot’s interior. In theory, your tea will taste better. One thing for sure, Sorapot’s design will start a conversation.

SOURCING:
+ Potter tea pot designed by Jehs & Laub for Stelton $147 USD at Unica
+ Sorapot Mirror Polished $250 USD (198 EUR, 312 CAD)
+ Sorapot Brushed Polished $200 USD (158 EUR, 250 CAD)

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Sagaform has a collection that they call Letter. The concept behind Letter is that you can send your housewarming gift using the small parcel postal service. I do not know if the box dimension fits the postal rules of USPS or Canada Post but still, it is a good idea.

Two products of the Letter collection that I would like to have are:

• #1. The Walnut folk, spoon and serving spoon designed by Transformer. It is so cool that can hang on jars.
• #3.  A great space saver in your kitchen drawer is the two-piece stainless steel salad server set that lies flat when not in use.

#2 is not from the Letter collection. What special about this Sagaform Club Cocktail is included the modern bar tools: a stainless steel measuring cup, a cherrywood muddler and a cherrywood citrus reamer. Add a shaker and you are all set for making the best cocktails in town.

SOURCING:
+ Sagaform
+ Sagaform Letter Serving Set $12 CAD – ships in USA and Canada
+ Sagaform Club Cocktail 3 Piece Set $29.95 USD
+ Sagaform Cocktail Shaker $39.95 USD

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I added sage pasta bowls to my dinnerware collection. You may recall that I departed of my formal entertaining set for a more casual look last year. I did it because I realized that I never used my formal dinnerware. I am so happy with that decision.

I want to replace my pasta bowls. I grow tired of the traditional Italian drawings inside the bowls. I spot at The Bay this afternoon that pasta bowls from Sophie Conran for Portmeiron. I selected sage, instead of white. Since it is an unusual color for dishes, I only bought 2 bowls. I am always worried that my meal will look less appetizing when placed inside colored plates and bowls. My grilled Italian sausages and vegetables dish looks tasty. As a precaution, I will cook a couple pasta dishes this week to be certain of my choice.

Before You Buy New Dinnerware

The first thing I checked when I like a model is to look at the extent of the serving ware collection. This is the main reason why I opted for Sophie Conran for Portmeiron. The product range is huge and it is always expanding.

I own the cereal/salad bowls, the rim soup bowls and now, the pasta bowls. I often used the rim soup bowls and the pasta bowls to serve my first course or my main course. Using the shallow bowls instead of plates adds an unexpected touch to your dish. You should always put a larger plate under your bowl.

I also bought this afternoon a large pitcher (3 pints – 1.7 l) that will be great for serving water, orange juice or ice tea. The medium oval plate, in white, is on my wish list. I think it will be great to serve grilled vegetables or braised beef.

If you are on the market for a new dinnerware, I invite you to read my Seven simple tips on buying a dinnerware set.

SOURCING:
+ Portmeirion Sophie Conran Oval Platter 14.5″ Sage $28.99 USD
+ Sophie Conran by Portmeirion 3-Pint White Pitcher $35.75 USD

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The Netherlands are a country where talented and creative designers flourish in a good number. Sadly, most of their design products do not cross the Atlantic Ocean. In fact, most of the Dutch products are exported when a dedicated retailer wishes to carry them and import the goods directly from The Netherlands. This is the case of the UK retailer Dutch by Design. And it is good to know that Dutch by Design will ship their orders internationally.

I was looking for cool and unique design products for Father’s Day when I thought of revisiting Dutch by Design online store. I like what I see. They have affordable stuff that will impress and please your dad. My favorite gift ideas are:

+ Back in Time Radio/Alarm Clock $40 USD
+ Cheese Board $16.50 USD
+ Sandwich Bread Board $16.50 USD

More Gift Ideas for Everyone and All occasions

+ Tree Watercan $20 USD
+ Love Birds Salt & Pepper Set $21 USD

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