August 2012 - Oser Communications Group
Transcription
August 2012 - Oser Communications Group
SPECIAL FEATURE: BUYERS GUIDE: GIFTWARE: HOLIDAY UPDATE SMALL ELECTRICS SEE PAGE 24-25 NYIGF/GOURMET HOUSEWARES SEE PAGE 9-23 SEE PAGE 27-29 K ITCHENWARE NEWS H o u s e w, a r e s R e v i e w S E RV I N G K I T C H E N WA R E VOL UME 1 8, N UMBER 8 H O U S E WA R E S A N D TA B L E T O P M A R K E T S The Gourmet Housewares Show Returns to NYIGF BY ANA VENNE The New York International Gift Fair, running August 18-22, will host about 2,800 exhibitors and an expected 35,000 buyers from all across the globe. There are many new additions to the programming this year, including the Artisan Resource trade show, which hosts 62 companies representing 18 countries; the new NYIGF book store, which features gourmetfocused authors; and the Handmade Designer Maker division, which focuses on young designers and handmade crafts. The Gourmet Housewares Show will also A U G UST 2012 be making its return this year, featuring over 150 exhibitors and educational sessions for those in the industry. Mastrad Inc. is one of the many returning exhibitors to the Gourmet Housewares Show. Tim Morgan, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Mastrad, Inc., exhibiting at booth 3562, talks about their new products: “We will be introducing more complementary items to expand our existing lines such as bakeware, NO COOKIE-CUTTER APPROACH ...7 Continued on Page 27 NYIGF Goes “Green” with SustainAbility Exhibit BY ANA VENNE The SustainAbility: Design for a Better World® program will be returning to the NYIGF for its fifth year. The program will feature an exhibit, the Eco Choice Awards and seminars about sustainable business practices. Curated by Ilene Shaw of Shaw + Co! Productions, the SustainAbility display will exhibit 165 products from 70 companies. All products featured must meet certain criteria in order to be considered for this exhibit. “NYIGF exhibitors submit product information and photos to me several months in advance of the show. I consider several factors in selecting products for the display: eco-friendly materials, environmentallyfriendly production processes, sociallyrespectful conditions, and overall corporate responsibility,” Shaw explains. The exhibit will be presented August 18-21 in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center’s North Connector. ”Every show cycle brings new discoveries and developments in the area Continued on Page 26 Bath and Beauty Gifts Evolving to Nourish Body, Mind, Soul and Planet BY LUCAS WITMAN It is a tradition in gift giving that has followed moms, teachers, administrative assistants and other female friends, acquaintances and coworkers for decades: the soap and spa gift basket. Few women are likely to say that they have not at one time received as a gift, cellophanewrapped containers filled with colorful fragrant soaps, bath beads and lotions. These pampering packages are truly a timeless mainstay of gift giving. However, even though beauty and personal care gifts PRODUCT REVIEWS...........................8 BEAUTY IS THE BOTTOM LINE ..........30 may be timeless, this does not mean that they are not evolving. Today’s soap and spa gift basket is likely to look dramatically different from one that may have been received for Christmas or Mother’s Day even just five or six years ago. This is due to a growing trend within the industry towards health and beauty gifts that nourish not just the body, but also the mind, soul and planet. Contemporary Continued on Page 30 Courtesy of NASFT TRADE SHOW BUZZ..........................31 w w w . k i t c h e n w a r e n e w s . c o m www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 n KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW GENERAL NEWS 3 General News Surge of Energy and Inspiration this Summer in Dallas With the advent of dozens of new showrooms, more special events, exciting growth and much more, the Dallas Market Center announced on June 29, 2012 that its recent Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, held June 20-26, was bursting with energy and inspiration around every corner. The seven-day show included the Dallas International Lighting Market, FINDS Dallas Temp Show, Dallas Holiday & Home Expo and Dallas Hospitality & Contract Design Show. “The energy level was remarkable as we launched the summer show cycle,” said Bill Winsor, President and CEO, Dallas Market Center. “Supported by new tech tools such as our App and improved free Wi-Fi, buyers from across the country arrived ready for business. Reviewing more than 275 new showrooms and temps, foot traffic was heavier on the front-end of market but the serious buyers had a steady presence. Although economic challenges remain, we are seeing evidence of stronger consumer confidence in the middle of the country.” Dozens of new and expanded permanent showrooms debuted at the market with a range of new resources throughout the 5-million-square-foot campus. The FINDS Dallas Temp Show categories— Design FINDS, Fashion FINDS and Red Haute FINDS—doubled in size for this June’s show. Overall, there were more than 250 new FINDS exhibitors. The unique and on-trend offerings in Vintage Home FINDS and French Market FINDS presented products that cannot be found elsewhere. Foodie FINDS and Table & Houseware FINDS debuted during the market, complementing the newly renovated and expanded Gourmet Market. Attendance reflected the broadening buyer base attending the market in Dallas. There were the most new stores since 2006 and an increase in buyers from the Southwest, Mid-America and West. More than 100 major stores attended including: 1-800-Flowers, Bed Bath & Beyond, Cabela’s, Cost Plus World Market, Dillard’s, Harry & David, Hemispheres, Home Depot, HomeGoods, JCPenney, Jordan’s Furniture, Kohl’s, Marmaxx, NapaStyle, NM Direct/Horchow, One Kings Lane, Pier 1 Imports, Rooms To Go, Stage Stores, Star Furniture and Von Maur. While at the show, buyers participated in more than 140 special events, seminars and hospitalities and found inspiration through more displays throughout the market. A huge highlight of the show was renowned Australian Chef Curtis Stone, who presented a product and cooking demonstration to more than 500 market attendees on Saturday at the new Culinary Stage. His line, Kitchen Solutions, is represented in Source One Marketing, Trade Mart 1-1949. “Our showroom had great traffic throughout market,” said Bill Rogers, President, Source One Marketing. “All of our lines were well received—especially the launch of Curtis Stone’s Kitchen Solutions. There was a ton of buzz and excitement throughout the show.” “The debut of the Aidan Gray corporate showroom in Dallas saw one of the top performing shows in the history of the company,” said Derrick Ricketts, National Sales Manager, Aidan Gray. “Our expectations were dramatically exceeded. We were packed the entire show with eager customers who could finally see a complete and integrated vision of the brand.” “The June Lighting Market in Dallas is critical to building the DVI brand across North America,” said Robert Borg, CEO, DVI Lighting. “Buyers attending in June are very seriously committed to their business by choosing to be in Dallas twice a year. This June was the best show ever for DVI in Dallas. Buyers that attended were rolling up their sleeves and getting back to business, which we found exciting.” “Dallas is an important market for UMA, and we are thrilled that for the June show our sales grew nicely over last summer,” said David Moses, EVP Business Development, UMA Enterprises. “Dallas is larger than life—we love the city and the market center,” said Vinay Golchha, Cloud 9, Home FINDS. “We expanded with great new designer pillows that help bring fashion into the home and had a fantastic show.” “We’re very pleased with our first time at market,” said Judy Hill, JHill Designs. “Vintage Home FINDS is an outstanding way for buyers to get one-of-a-kind items. Dallas is a first-class show.” “The greatest thing about this summer’s market was the customers,” said Mark Tarner, South Bend Chocolate Company, Foodie FINDS. “There were lots of them and they were buying—a great recipe for success!” “Design FINDS was a success for us,” said Michelle Cox, Olivia Riegel. “The area was well organized with good visibility and buyers were excited about the mix of vendors. We look forward to our next appearance in Dallas.” “Congratulations to the Gourmet Market on a great show,” said Gage Meyer, Owner and President, Gage Inc. “Because of excellent vendors, a great layout, special events, superior customer service—the Gourmet Market was a destination for buyers. Dallas is on the rise in the gourmet industry!” For more information about the Dallas Market Center, visit www.dallasmarketcenter.com. 4 GENERAL NEWS www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 n KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW Jenn-Air Launches Master Class Blog on Kitchen-focused Content Continuing its ongoing efforts to provide engaging and useful kitchen-focused content for consumers, luxury appliance brand JennAir recently launched the “Master Class Blog” on masterclassblog.jennair.com. It utilizes the centralized, sharable Tumblr platform to tap a seasoned team of experts to offer insights on a range of topics that include kitchen design, cooking and entertaining. and lifestyle inspiration with posts that range from personal culinary experiences, like learning to cook the perfect cassoulet, to kitchen design topics like understanding duct-free ventilation,” notes Senior Manager of Brand Experience for Jenn-Air. “It’s meant to inspire, and to complement our current online, social media and smart phone app offerings.” “Our goal is to provide culinary, design Other content offered by the brand includes its Master Class Series of videos, which feature noted designers and chefs sharing insights designed to give an unprecedented edge on everything from throwing a great dinner party to creating a beautiful kitchen that reflects your style. Additionally, a free iPhone app from JennAir, called DesignVision, lets users instantly visualize a kitchen equipped with the brand’s luxury collection by simply selecting an appliance, positioning it over their current appliance and snapping a photo. The finished image shows the selected appliance in place of the existing one. “Whether remodeling an entire kitchen or replacing just one appliance, we know our consumers are tech savvy and will likely do research online,” notes Johnson. “Our goal is to offer content that makes the process more seamless.” Boffi Announces New Location in Chicago Boffi, the premiere interiors concept brand renowned for its kitchen, bath and storage systems, has opened a new Chicago location in the River North area. This marks a move from the company’s original Chicago location to a 2,000 square foot space within the Maxalto (a B&B Italia offshoot) studio. The new showroom opened in late June and operates as a showcase for new concepts and Chicago home to the comprehensive and evolving Boffi collections. “We look forward to being a part of the dynamic design community in Chicago, and feel that Boffi’s products offer broad appeal to design-minded homeowners in the area,” said Roberto Gavazzi, CEO of Boffi. “Our new showroom will continue to offer the highest level of service and products within the industry for the kitchen, bath and beyond.” Boffi was established in 1934 as a small kitchen furniture workshop. Art Director Piero Lissoni and CEO Roberto Gavazzi joined in 1989, and completed the first overarching bathroom concept, forging new territory, and expanding the brand’s production and distribution to garner accolades, including the prestigious “Compasso d’Oro” in 1995. The company has evolved to span a network of more than 400 retail and trade partners, including twenty-three stand-alone Boffi showrooms positioned in key cities across the globe. In 2010 Boffi partnered with Fantini to create a new concept, “Aboutwater”, a collection of modern, elegant bathroom taps designed by Piero Lissoni and Naoto Fukasawa. Within the same year, Boffi enriched the range of products with “Solferino”, a wardrobe system. Boffi continues to pursue the most beautiful forms and technological innovations to service the ultimate lifestyle, anchored by kitchens, bath and beyond; the perfect mix of modernity and tradition. The move to the new location comes as Boffi Chicago is poised to introduce new kitchen, bath and wardrobe systems. With a distinctive design philosophy, Boffi maintains an authentic aesthetic recognizable worldwide, and remains an essential resource with the trade and high-design minded consumers. For more information, info@boffichicago.com or www.boffichicago.com. email visit Potomac Edison Introduces Recycling Program for Refrigerators and Freezers The new appliance recycling program from Potomac Edison can reduce Maryland customers’ energy costs by up to $150 per year while putting $50 in their pockets when they have their old second refrigerators or freezers hauled away and recycled. Ruth Bruening of Frederick, Md., had her old refrigerator picked up for recycling. “Once you realize how much money you can save, it really doesn’t make much sense to keep another refrigerator running in the garage,” said Bruening, who was among the first customers to take advantage of the program. Second refrigerators are often used for overflow, leftovers or beverages. Studies have shown that refrigerators and freezers manufactured before 1990 can consume three times more electricity than newer appliances, adding up to $150 per year to a household’s energy costs. “These units represent a sizeable energy expense for a household and provide only limited use in most homes,” said Jim Fakult, President of Maryland Operations for FirstEnergy. “This is an excellent opportunity for our customers to enjoy substantial annual savings, and receive a $50 rebate reward.” At the Bruening home, Potomac Edison representatives presented Ruth Bruening with a $50 rebate check, and her old refrigerator was hauled away for recycling. Through the recycling process, 95 percent of the old appliance will be beneficially reused, and any toxic substances, including oil or refrigerant, will be disposed of properly, another benefit when compared to sending an old appliance to a landfill. Potomac Edison works with JACO Environmental, which removes the appliances from residents’ homes. JACO then transports the units to its recycling facility, where the old appliances are dismantled and de-manufactured in an environmentally responsible manner. “There are many ways for people to reduce their energy consumption and impact on the environment. Recycling a refrigerator ranks near the top. It works for the environment, your wallet and for conserving our precious resources,” said Michael Dunham, Director of Energy and Environmental Programs for JACO. To schedule a pickup, call 877.270.3521 or visit www.energysavemd.com. Refrigerator/ freezers and freezers are eligible for the program, and customers may recycle two units per utility account per year. Appliances must be in working order with an inside measurement of between 10 and 30 cubic feet. www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 n K ITCHENWARE NEWS from the H o u s e w, a r e s R e v i e w S E RV I N G K I T C H E N WA R E PUBLISHER H O U S E WA R E S A N D TA B L E T O P M A R K E T S Lee M. Oser Lorrie Baumann lorrie_b@oser.com EDITOR Renée Purdie renee_p@oser.com ASSOCIATE EDITORS Ana Venne ana_v@oser.com Lucas Witman lucas_w@oser.com CONTRIBUTING EDITOR A.J. Flick ART DIRECTOR Monica Boland ads@oser.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Yasmine Brown art@oser.com TRAFFIC MANAGER Selene Pinuelas deadline@oser.com SUBSCRIBER SERVICES 1877 N. Kolb Road Tucson, Arizona 85715 [tel] 520.721.1300 [fax] 520.721.6300 contents It is our pleasure to introduce to you in this issue the fine folks at The Podge, a specialty foods and kitchenware shop in Clarence, N.Y. that was founded by Roger Bickert. For more than a decade, he ran his shop in the burned-out restaurant he bought and rebuilt around a fireplace that was just about all that was left standing because he thought that, as a local landmark, that fireplace should be preserved and he was the man to do it. It's still part of The Podge. We learned about The Podge as a couple of members of our editorial staff were on the way from this year's Fancy Food Show to the Baltimore-Washington airport for the flight back home to Tucson, Ariz. One of the editors happened to pick up her smartphone to check her email and came up with a link to a Slate magazine story in praise of wooden spoons. Author Lee Havlicek noted that wooden spoons seem to have fallen out of favor in her friends' kitchens and the article sums up her thoughts on why that shouldn't be. Our two editors reacted to the news that wooden spoons have fallen out of favor with a spate of indignant comments about Havlicek's choice of friends, and they were overheard by The Podge's Co-owner and Partner Nora Drogi, who happened to be sitting immediately in front of them in the shuttle van. She turned with an apology for listening in on the conversation, although she could hardly have helped hearing it, and joined in on the defense of wooden spoons. At her shop, she gives away a wooden spoon to each customer who buys a Bialetti pan, and she sells quite a few wooden spoons as well, she said. 3 GENERAL NEWS 6 ONE ON ONE 7 RETAILER PROFILE 8 PRODUCT REVIEWS 9 24 27 PUBLISHER ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Kate Seymour kate_s@oser.com [tel] 520.721.1300 Lyle Sapp lyle_s@oser.com [tel] 520.721.1300 Kitchenware News & Housewares Review is a publication of ELM Communications, a division of Oser Communications Group, Inc. 1877 N. Kolb Road, Tucson, AZ 85715 www.oser.com PRESIDENT AD INDEX 31 UPCOMING EVENTS And now you get to be part of the conversation too, and Roger Bickert will be remembered by thousands and thousands of readers who had never heard of him before. A small kind of a miracle, really. a Lee M. Oser, Publisher b from the (USPS012-625) is published 12 times per year (Jan., Feb., Road, Tucson, AZ, 85715 (520) 721.1300. Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material or prices quoted in newspaper. Contributors are responsible for Back issue orders must be paid in advance by check. Kitchenware News & Housewares Review is distributed without charge in North America to qualified professionals I’m dreaming of holidays―somewhere tropical with umbrellas in all drinks, even water. But really, the holiday season is THE season for retailers to make a ton of money, so we might have to postpone those vacations for a while. Fortunately, this edition is absolutely crammed with great gift ideas for your customers and, dare I say, yourselves. I, for one, have already mentally spent several checks before they’ve even arrived while writing and pouring over these products. From the coolest gadgets for the kitchen to personal care products that will keep you smelling and looking fabulous while still looking after the environment, there are truly gifts for everyone on these well-stocked pages. in the retail and distribution channels of the upscale kitchenware and tabletop trade. For subscriber services, including subscription information, call (520) 721.1300. Printed in the USA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Kitchenware News & Housewares Review, 1877 N. Kolb Road, Tucson, AZ 85715. c editor Dec.) by Oser Communications Group, 1877 N. Kolb when available, cost $8 each within the past 12 months. PERSONAL CARE And that's how it happens that you get to meet The Podge too. Small miracles happen in serendipitous circumstances … Nora Drogi changes her flight home from the Fancy Food Show, and then she books herself onto the same airport shuttle as a couple of magazine editors, and then Slate magazine runs a story about wooden spoons that the editorial director of Kitchenware News & Housewares Review happens to see during that hour-long ride, and then Nora Drogi joins in on the conversation. March, April, May, June, July, Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and production, in whole or in part, without written permis- GIFTWARE 31 ing office. Kitchenware News & Housewares Review sion of the publisher, is expressly prohibited. Back issues, GIFTWARE NYIGF/ GOURMET HOUSEWARES When she clearly began to wonder how to escape from the sudden interrogation by a pair of lunatics, the editors thought to introduce themselves. Nora responded by saying that she's a regular reader of both Kitchenware News & Housewares Review and Gourmet News and that she'd be delighted to contribute by letting us profile her shop for our readers. Periodicals postage paid at Tucson, AZ and additional mail- by Oser Communications Group. All rights reserved. Re- BUYERS GUIDE SMALL ELECTRICS 30 Lee M. Oser proper release of proprietary classified information. ©2012 SPECIAL FEATURE HOLIDAY UPDATE Our editors immediately wanted to know more about her shop, and they started peppering her with questions: Where is it? What else do you sell? Do your customers like the Bialetti products? Tell us more. We want to know more! KITCHENWARE/HOUSEWARES ADVERTISING SENIOR ASSOCIATE 5 august 2012 publisher EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EDITORIAL DIRECTOR IN THE ISSUE KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW With the NYIGF just around the corner, we have also included a vast array of new products from retailers and manufacturers that will hit the spot as you prepare to travel and meet-and-greet. Batten down the hatches a bit though as you check out Trade Show Buzz, as rumors are rampant that Fancy Food Show attendees will be devastated to hear that “there's a proposal afoot to demolish Javits Center in favor of a convention center to be built somewhere other than in midtown Manhattan.” Shhhhh, don’t tell anyone, eh? Whatever you decide to do―holiday or no―count your blessings. Renée Purdie renee_p@oser.com ON THE COVER a b c STARFRIT Double Wall Thermo Glasses www.starfritusa.com ISLAND BAMBOO Solid Bamboo Cutting Boards [tel] 949.492.9921 www.islandbamboo.com ZOKU HOME Single Quick Pop Maker [email] info@zokuhome.com www.zokuhome.com 6 ONE ON ONE www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 n KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW One on One Phil Brandl President, International Housewares Association BY LORRIE BAUMANN Q: Recent news about the economy hasn’t been the best, but the housewares industry seems to be recovering well nonetheless. Do you think that perception is accurate? If so, why is that? A: All of our indicators tell us that the recovery, at least in the housewares world, is proceeding steadily, although that progress is occasionally a little bumpy in some sectors. As we speak to IHA members, they tend to concur. In addition, a number of retailers have noted recently that homegoods has been a leader in their business growth. As we have tracked sales in the housewares industry over the past 20 years, we have seen that when the economy dips, housewares traditionally does not sink as deeply. Based on our research with consumers, this seems to be based on the fact that people are spending more time at home when the economy tightens. Q: During this year’s IH+HS, there seemed to be great involvement from celebrity chefs who were present to talk about pots and pans branded with their names as well as pans and appliances for which they were spokespeople. The message was that the right equipment can help home cooks produce chef-quality results at home. Why is this such a strong message right now? A: The consumer interest in chefs seems to be at an all-time high, driven by competitions both on television and those organized locally. The number of chefs who have achieved prominence continues to grow as these chefs are recognized in all forms of media. And, of course, as authorities, these chefs offer what home cooks seem to view as meaningful advice on food preparation and food prep tools. This is not a new phenomenon but it does seem to be on the increase. Q: This comes at a time when Americans are eating at home more often and in restaurants less often. Yet Americans are still clearly interested in professional chefs, even as we’re eating their food less often. How can you explain that paradox? A: Since there is a trend toward more meals prepared at home, this may indicate a desire to replicate the restaurant experience at home. But it also seems as though many home chefs have become more adventurous as a result of their exposure to these celebrities. Plus there is the “celebrity factor.” Consumers love celebrities and if they can prepare their meals with the same cookware and utensils that their favorite chef uses, the end result may taste just as good. Q: We also saw strong interest during the IH+HS in products made in America, and that interest seems to have grown since then. Do you think that’s a strong trend that’s likely to continue? If so, what’s driving it? Is it just a matter of American patriotism or is something else at work? Is some of that interest in American products coming from outside this country? A: We have heard both from our retail community and from consumers that “Made in U.S.A.” is increasingly important in purchase decisions. We don’t have any hard data regarding their motivations, but it does seem to be a key marketing strategy for many of our member companies. In addition, there are some buyers outside the U.S. who are in countries for which “Made in U.S.A.” products carry favorable or lower duties, making them more appealing. Q: What is your own favorite new kitchen tool and what do you do with it? A: There are so many great tools currently available that it’s just too difficult to pick one. We love to cook outdoors so whatever can help us with that is great! www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 n KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW RETAILER PROFILE 7 Retailer Profile No Cookie-Cutter Approach to Customer Service at The Podge BY LORRIE BAUMANN “Think globally, act locally” is a slogan that might have been written especially for The Podge, a 1,400 or so square-foot shop in Clarence, N.Y, a suburb of Buffalo. The store competes in a global marketplace by focusing on local products and values and by giving shoppers superb customer service and prices that match online retailers for the same products. The Podge devotes about half its display space to food products and the other half to kitchenware. There’s no line down the middle of the store, though, and that proportion fluctuates through cross-merchandising displays, says Nora Drogi, Co-Owner and Partner in The Podge, along with Becky Vara-Bickert. The store’s cross-merchandising helps customers see new items and add them to their baskets and also makes the layout more convenient for elderly people who come in for related items but have trouble making their way around the floor to find them. Since the median age of the store’s clientele is 60, solving those mobility issues is a real service to a significant proportion of the customers, and that matters a great deal to the folks at The Podge, who see the way they look out for their customers’ needs as key to developing loyalty. “Most customers have been coming here for 10 years or more,” Partner and Co-Owner Becky Vara-Bickert says. “We like to consider them our friends. They’re the reason we’re here.” Most of them are women, although more men are coming in now that the word’s gotten out that The Podge carries the full line of Lodge cookware. “This time of year, the campers come in here,” Drogi says. The Bialetti Aeternum line is also so popular that it’s hard for Vara-Bickert to keep the items in stock, especially since she gives away a wooden spoon to everyone who buys a Bialetti pan. She goes through a 120-spoon case a month that way. “People love wood in western New York,” she says. The majority of the store’s business comes from within a 30-mile radius, with most of the rest of the customer base coming from within 60 miles. A few, though, find the shop from farther away through wordof-mouth that has spread The Podge’s reputation as a destination for bakers who need to find that special cookie cutter. The Podge has over 400 cookie cutter designs in stock and draws customers for them from all over western New York. About 90 percent of the cookie cutters are made in the U.S.A. and come from suppliers that include Ann Clark, Ltd., a family company that got its start in Clark’s garage and is now the largest cookie cutter company in the gift industry, and H.O. Foose Tinsmithing Company of Fleetwood, Penn. “‘Made in the U.S.A.’ is a big selling point for our customers,” Drogi says. its quarterly newsletter delivered both by email and postal mail. The newsletter also includes seasonal recipes, coupons and specials, and notes from the staff about what they’re doing in their own kitchens and how they’re using some of the great products they’ve found for their store. The shop’s Facebook page also helps the staff stay in touch with customers near and far, and customers are using it to ask quick questions about the availability of particular products or to get news about special events. It’s also being used as a tool to deliver the great customer service that helps The Podge compete with online retailers. “When you buy online, what you don’t get is personal service and product Along with the cookie cutters, bakers can buy all the sprinkles, decorating tips, fondant, flavorings and baking pans they need to create the most amazing cookies they can imagine. The cookie cutter selection draws collectors as well as bakers, and The Podge has just started a cookie cutter loyalty program for bakers who just can’t get enough different designs for their collections. Much of the shop’s inventory is as local as the clientele, with a particular emphasis on products that are made within 100 miles and often picked up at the source by Drogi herself. Those include coffee that’s roasted locally, with a portion of the profits donated to local charities, and Anchor Bar wing sauce, whose makers are credited with inventing the Buffalo chicken wing. The Podge sells honey from Appleton, about 30 miles away, and local maple syrup, both products that had previously been sold only through local farmers markets but had customers who wanted them even during the winter when the farmers markets are closed. There’s also a Podge line of locally-made products private labeled for the store. Many are made in the next town down the road, and they include mixes for soups, muffins, beer bread and pancakes as well as jellies. “We did help develop these products, but we don’t produce them ourselves,” Drogi says. The Podge lets customers know about new products as they’re introduced through knowledge,” Drogi says. Her customers often come into her store to buy because they know that along with their purchases, they can get advice on how to use ingredients that are new to them and how to get the results they’re looking for from new cookware. They’ll also get prices that are competitive with those offered by the manufacturers on their websites. Drogi points out that her customers often come out even on their transactions with her because, although they must pay New York sales tax on the items they buy from her, they don’t pay shipping charges, which can be expensive on heavy items like Lodge cast-ironware, and they get the bonus of being able to take their purchases home and start using them immediately. That doesn’t mean that The Podge hasn’t realized that some customers might still prefer to buy online. A new website is going online soon so that customers can shop The Podge from behind their computers and get the news about special events such as the recent promotion with former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Reed, who makes a cooking sauce and donates the profits to a charity that helps kids stay off drugs. “The Podge did not make any profit on the sauce that day,” says Drogi of the event. “We donated our profit to Kids Escaping Drugs.” The Andre Reed event was part of a community involvement effort designed to remind local residents to stop in, support other local businesses and help their neighbors. For instance, the shop hosted a coffee with a blend created for the event in cooperation with the Buffalo Screams film festival, which is in its third year in 2012. Buffalo Screams is associated this year with Scares That Care!—a nonprofit organization that brings horror fans together to help sick children and women fighting breast cancer. This year, a portion of all the ticket sales for Buffalo Screams will be donated to charity, and The Podge is working with Buffalo Screams to develop a special blend of coffee that’s guaranteed to keep those who drink it awake for the late-night picture show. A portion of the profits from the sales will be donated to a charity to be named later. “You wouldn’t necessarily put cooking together with a horror festival,” says Drogi, “but sure, you can.” Other community projects are designed more as cross-marketing efforts, such as the cooperation with a nearby meat market that sends customers to The Podge for their meatballers. Some of them are outright donations to some of the many fund drives that solicit help. Drogi thinks of all of them as ways to carry on a legacy from Roger Bickert, the store’s founder, who died not long ago, leaving his widow Becky and Nora behind to run the store. “Roger Bickert and The Podge have been a staple in the town of Clarence for many years,” Drogi says. “As it moves into the future, The Podge will be preserving the past and the store he built from a burnedout restaurant that had been a Clarence landmark. Roger saw that it still had potential, and he believed in preserving the past. He’s still a part of everything we do here.” The Podge is located at 10205 Main Street, Clarence, N.Y. 14031. Call 716.759.2080 or visit www.thepodge.com. 8 PRODUCT REVIEWS www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 n KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW Product Reviews JewelStik 1-2-3 Brings Old Knives Back to Life BY A.J. FLICK It’s like I have a whole new set of knives! Years ago (more years than I care to think about), my brother gave me a set of decent knives in a block—my first set of kitchen cutlery. They served me well, but—of course—over time, the blades got dull. I always intended to take them to get sharpened, or get a better knife sharpener than the one that they came with. Emphasis on “intended.” Then, over the years, I acquired various other knives that took the place of that block knife set, which got pushed into a corner of the kitchen because it was still attractive and had sentimental value. Sometimes, I’d hide the dull knives in a drawer and store other mismatched knives in the block, just for convenience. Dull knife set, meet the JewelStik 1-2-3. Pennsylvania-based Hewlett Manufacturing has proudly made diamond knife sharpeners in the U.S.A. for almost 50 years. The 1-2-3 is so named because it has three diamond grits on one handle. The coarse grit (270 mesh) sharpens the dulled blade and should be used sparingly, not as maintenance. The medium grit (600, which is the industry standard) helps maintain a consistent edge. The fine grit (1800) can be used to finehone thin blades used for slicing or skinning. So I took my once-beloved, much-used and now-dulled chef ’s knife and introduced it to the JewelStik 1-2-3, first, with the base of the knife at the top of the coarse grit side, running it downward at an angle against the JewelStik to the tip of the blade. I then repeated the process with the other side of the blade. After a couple of swipes, I rotated the JewelStik to the medium grit and repeated the process. (Hewlett advises sharpening the knives at a low angle as the JewelStik’s 3/4" sides are The Tari Slicer has serrated Japanese steel blades that are spaced so you will always get 5mm slices, and claims to be perfect for cutting tomatoes and mushrooms as well as soft fruits and cheeses. To use it, you simply place whatever you need to slice in the cutting window and squeeze it closed, which pushes your slices out through the bottom of the slicer. The Tari Slicer also features a locking mechanism to hold it closed when not in use. I found this to be a particularly useful feature as I have limited storage space in my kitchen. GEFU Tari Slicer Cuts Prep Time in Half BY ANA VENNE For an amateur cook such as myself, slicing vegetables, cheese or fruit into equal slices is almost a chore. When I got to try the Tari Slicer, I was super excited by the ease of use it promises and my family's Fourth of July barbecue provided the perfect opportunity to try it out. The first things I decided to try out were Roma tomatoes. Some were over-ripe, which caused them to squish a little (and squirt juice everywhere) while cutting, but the fresher tomatoes cut perfectly. After slicing the tomatoes I needed, I popped open the fold-out pusher bars and gave it a quick rinse. The tomato seeds and oval-shaped so users don’t need to worry about getting the angle perfect.) Despite not being a highly experienced knife sharpener, I can attest to the fact that after a few swipes on the JewelStik, my old set of knives is renewed and happily being used again. With regular maintenance, they will continue to be. JewelStik 1-2-3 comes in sizes from 5" to 12" (your sharpener should be at least as long as your blade) with suggested retail prices ranging from $34.00 to $64.95. For more information, email sharpen@jewelstik.com or visit www.jewelstik.com. juices rinsed off pretty easily, though it took a light scrubbing to get the blades completely clean. I then tried cutting a couple different kinds of cheeses. Mozzarella cut with little effort, like the packaging boasts, and if you are willing to give a little harder squeeze, you can slice harder cheeses like pepper jack or cheddar. My only issue with slicing cheeses was that you had to trim down the cheese until it fit perfectly in the cutting window or it wouldn't push through the blades correctly. Cleaning the cheese off of the blade and pusher bars was a little more challenging than just a rinse, but running it through the dishwasher did the trick. For more information about the Tari Slicer, contact GEFU at 417.459.4272 or visit www.gefu.us. Great Success with the VitaClay 6 Cup Smart Multicooker Our reviewer tested the VitaClay 6 Cup Smart Multicooker in her home kitchen. She reported that VitaClay takes less time than other slow cookers; if a traditional slow cooker recipe calls for four hours on a high setting or eight hours on a low setting, the VitaClay will cook it in two hours in its unglazed, natural clay pot. on hand, including a can of white beans. With this dish, she didn’t get the same kind of perfect results that the VitaClay gave her with the rice, although after a couple of hours of stewing in a chicken-broth mixture with beans and rice, her chicken breasts came out perfectly tender. The beans, though, sank to the bottom and got scorched. The reviewer started off by testing it with a pot of rice and was thrilled at the VitaClay’s performance. “The rice was perfectly done each time,” she said. The scorching gave her a chance to see how hard it would be to clean up the mess. The VitaClay instructions tell you in case of hard residue, soak the pot overnight. She didn’t have that kind of time, so she let the pot soak for an hour or so and was able to clean it with no problem. Emboldened by the success of the rice experiment, she checked www.essenergy.com for some of the recipes provided by VitaClay’s makers and then decided to make a white chili chicken dish with ingredients she had For a final experiment, the reviewer made a pot roast with beef and reported that after two hours, her chuck roast was tender, and her onion, carrots and potatoes were delicious. “Great success!” she reported. The VitaClay Smart Multicooker has multiple settings for white rice, brown rice, sweet rice, stew and soup with extended settings for beans, porridge and other dishes. It boasts energy savings of 50 percent over other slow cookers and has programmable settings from 10 minutes to five hours with 10-minute increments. It has a preset timer and a 24-hour clock. The VitaClay comes with a limited one year warranty and has a suggested retail price of $149.99. For more information, go to www.essenergy.com. K ITCHENWARE NEWS H o u s e w, a r e s R e v i e w S E RV I N G K I T C H E N WA R E H O U S E WA R E S A N D TA B L E T O P M A R K E T S VOL UM E 1 8, N UMBER 8 holiday update AUGUST 2012 10 HOLIDAY UPDATE FRUITSTAR VERTICAL SINGLE AUGER JUICER Tribest Corporation, a veteran of the juicer market, introduces the new Fruitstar low RPM vertical juicer. Just in time for the peak of summer, the Fruitstar will quickly get you juicing a multitude of fruits needed to cool off in the summer heat. Designed with convenience and safety in mind, the Fruitstar juicer is virtually BPA free, hosts a single vertical auger and comes with a handle for easy transportation. The powerful 240 watt motor spins at a slow 80 RPM, ensuring the preservation of nutrients while still retaining the power to be able to process a variety of fruits and vegetables. Featuring a full 10-year warranty, an innovative pulp wiping assembly to reduce clogging, a heavy duty single auger, a heavy duty ultem screen, and a 240 watt motor more powerful than many of its competitors, the Fruitstar makes for a fantastic addition to any kitchen. Tribest Corporation [tel] 714.879.7150 www.tribest.com www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 KAPOOSH KNIFE BLOCKS What do you do when you have favorite knives from several different sets—or if you’re missing knives from a favorite set and the replacements don’t quite fit in the block? For the solution, think inside the block with Kapoosh® knife blocks. The unique Kapoosh freedom rods make this knife block versatile and allows you to mix and match kitchen knives from different sets in one convenient place. The patented freedom rod technology conforms to the shape of each knife and holds it in place anywhere in the block. The rods keep knives sharper by preventing the blades from scraping the edges like traditional wood blocks. Kapoosh knife blocks with freedom rods are also more hygienic than traditional wood blocks, as they can be easily cleaned. Just remove the rods, which are attached at the bottom, from the base of the Kapoosh knife block and clean them in the top rack of any dishwasher. Give your customers the solution they need with Kapoosh knife blocks. ARY Inc. [tel] 816.767.7975 www.aryinc.com TILONIA HOME TABLE LINENS VIETRI’S NEW BOXED GIFT COLLECTION VIETRI’s new boxed gift collection includes unique items, inspired by top selling collections, perfect for gifting on any occasion. Each item, packaged in a classic Italian red pinstripe box with a gold foil logo, is nestled in rustic straw reminiscent of the original Italian packing material. VIETRI’s six boxed offerings are: an Old St. Nick cookie plate, soap dish and two-part server, an eternity gold ball toasting flute set, a Bellezza white spoon rest and white dove votive and a Lastra White Bottle Holder. VIETRI Inc. www.vietri.com Tilonia is a US-based, mission-driven social enterprise helping artisans to market their products around the world. Tilonia home table linens are hand block printed by rural artisans of Rajasthan, India using natural cotton and low-impact dyes. Honoring centuries old traditions, Tilonia home table linens celebrate the subtleties of craft and the simplicity of contemporary design. The tablecloth (60" x 90") and six napkins (18" x 18") are available in: cranberry fancy paisley, gold fancy paisley and plum fancy paisley. Suggested Retail Price: $139.95 Friends of Tilonia Inc. [email] shop@tilonia.com www.tilonia.com www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 n KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW WESTON PRODUCTS MANUAL KITCHEN MIXERS BELLA TAVOLA FONDUE & CHAFING BURNER Expand your counter space with Jonas Baker’s Cooling Rack. Not only is it great for baking, but it’s an excellent tool for arts and craft projects. The rack features four arms that accommodate various depths of dishes and may be extended for increased countertop space. The arms can be left up or used down. Each arm is able to hold up to 10 pounds and stands 13" tall in use. It folds flat to a compact size of 22" x 10" x 0.5" for ease of storage. Linden Sweden offers several handy items to satisfy any baker’s needs, including silicone pastry mats, measuring cups, whipping bowls, spatulas, piping bag kits and various rolling pins. Suggested Retail Price: $20.00 The easy-to-use, automatic ignition Bella Tavola Fondue & Chafing Burner is perfect for both professional chefs or entertaining at home. It is part of the Bella Tavola line, a butane-powered culinary tool line by Wall Lenk Corp. This compact, butane-powered burner features an adjustable flame control lever, safety mechanism turn-off stopper, built-in pressure release valve, non-tip wide base and refillable reservoir. The small, lightweight burner can last up to 90 minutes on the low setting. It is ideal for use with fondue pots, chafers, stone grills, raclette sets, soup tureens and coffee and beverage urns. It can also be used as a cooktop with the optional Bella Tavola Cooking Platform. Suggested Retail Price: $39.99 Linden Sweden [tel] 952.465.0052 [email] info@lindensweden.com www.lindensweden.com Wall Lenk Corp. [tel] 252.527.4186 www.wlenk.com www.bellatavolatools.com JONAS BAKER’S COOLING RACK Weston Products has recently introduced two essential kitchen tools that handle all your food preparation needs; including chopping, separating eggs, beating, grating and juicing. They are perfect for quick jobs or when you do not want to haul out your large, clunky kitchen appliances, but would rather use a compact, all-in-one tool to get the job done. The Manual Kitchen Kit is truly versatile, featuring a variety of attachments and components that make kitchen prep and clean up incredibly easy. It includes a mixing paddle, a dual-sided chopping blade and egg separator that fit right onto the lid. Additionally, you can remove the lid and use the juicing attachment or mandoline slicer to change the function of the kit entirely. The Multi-Function Manual Mixer comes with a three-blade chopper, two whisks, two mixers and one beater, making it the go-to tool for mixing batter, beating eggs and chopping fruits and vegetables for quick salsas and salads. The best part about both of these mixers is that you chop and mix everything in the same container, which saves you time, space and a lot of unnecessary dirty dishes. Weston Products [tel] 800.814.4895 www.westonproducts.com HOLIDAY UPDATE 11 12 HOLIDAY UPDATE www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 MINI RACLETTTE BY NOUVEL CHEF PRO ELECTRIC TORTILLA/FLATBREAD MAKERS Chef Pro has two models of electric tortilla/flatbread makers in 8" and 10" diameters. Chef Pro tortilla makers flatten, roll out the dough and cook it—so now anyone can make fresh, delicious specialty tortillas and wraps with their own choice of spices. Regular flour, corn flour and even gluten-free flour can be used to make excellent wraps and tortillas with these tortilla makers. Just make balls of dough, place them on the tortilla maker and cook one delicious wrap or tortilla every minute. Chef Pro tortilla makers are made from quality materials and have temperature controls to regulate the flow of heat. With cool touch handles, non-stick plates for easy cleaning and a ready light that indicates when to start baking, these hot appliances will make very cool holiday gifts. Mercantile International [tel] 732.650.9400 or 855.243.3776 [email] wholesale@mercantileintl.com As a party host, little else is as fun and rewarding as serving people wonderful food at holiday parties and events. Thanks to a trend that was pioneered in Switzerland in the early 1900s, guests can now be a part of that food preparation and cooking right at the table. The mini raclette by Nouvel® is powered by four tea light candles, yet can cook nearly anything in minutes. Prepare the fresh ingredients in advance, set them all on the table, and guide your guests through their own culinary exploration as everyone cooks for themselves or others on individualsized raclettes. Tabletop cooking becomes a very social and memorable event, and best of all, the host does not spend hours cooking in advance and running in and out of the kitchen. With a tabletop cooking and entertaining guide that provides ideas, recipes and shopping lists for easy party preparation, the fun and social aspect of tabletop cooking is even easier for all to enjoy. Inno-Labs is the exclusive US distributor for the Nouvel product line. Inno-Labs [tel] 620.229.9800 www.inno-labs.com CORE BAMBOO’S BUTCHER BLOCK WITH PREP BOWLS HUROM SLOW JUICER The classic white Hurom Slow Juicer has been such a hit that the company is adding two updated styles in metallic black with silver accents and silver with black accents and a stylish new smokey gray strainer along with new packaging designed for an enhanced in-store experience and a new cookbook, “100 Gourmet Recipes for the Slow Juicer.” Hurom www.slowjuicer.com What better way to kick off the holiday season than with Core Bamboo’s professional grade butcher’s block with three prep bowls! You’ll be able to prepare everything for a festive feast—from dicing vegetables to carving a holiday turkey—with this heavy duty prep board. The unique design of this butcher’s block includes three stainless steel bowls to use for preparing ingredients, holding spices and keeping sauces handy. Made of 100% organically grown bamboo, this board is well constructed and can withstand even the most intense chopping. Leave on your counter for a gourmet kitchen all year long! Core Bamboo [tel] 646.845.6000 www.corebamboo.com www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 n KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW HOLIDAY UPDATE 13 BUTCHER BLOCK AND CUTTING BOARD OIL AND BUTCHER BLOCK CONDITIONER Christmas is coming; are you ready? Celebrate Christmas with whimsical designs from LS Arts. Choose from bottle stoppers, miniature glass Christmas trees, wine charm trees or spreaders. LS Arts has all of your holiday entertaining needs at a reasonable price. For holiday gifts and entertaining, what could be better than setting the table with adorable items without breaking the bank? EPIC PRODUCTS HOLIDAY BOOT CORK CAGE Cherish holiday memories and celebrations with Epic Products Holiday Boot Cork Cage®. This whimsical, handcrafted metal boot features red and green glass embellishments with a red ribbon laced through the wire forming a playful bow, making it a perfect table or kitchen accent for storing corks or holding a wine bottle. Happy holidays! Howard Products’ butcher block and cutting board oil and butcher block conditioner will help you get more use out of your cutting boards and butcher blocks. Made of food-grade mineral oil and enriched with Vitamin E, the highquality butcher block and cutting board oil is great for use on cutting boards, butcher blocks and wooden utensils. The butcher block conditioner has added natural waxes, and is safe to use after every wash, preventing your wooden kitchen items from drying or cracking, keeping them functional and beautiful. They are both excellent addon items to any wooden kitchen utensil, bowl or cutting board purchase. LS Arts Inc. [tel] 954.722.1750 www.lsarts.com Epic Products Inc. [tel] 800.548.9791 www.epicproductsinc.com Howard Products [tel] 800.266.9545 www.howardproducts.com LS ARTS GLASS COLLECTION PRODYNE FRUIT INFUSION NATURAL FRUIT FLAVOR PITCHER Enjoy refreshing lemon water, raspberry iced tea and more with Prodyne’s Fruit Infusion Pitcher. The crystal clear acrylic pitcher has a removable fruit infusion rod that can easily be filled with cut lemons, limes or raspberries. Open slots in the rod allow liquids and fresh fruit to mix naturally and give your beverages a fruit-infused flavor. With this ingenious feature, the pitcher can continually be refilled without having to replace the fruit. It measures a generous 92 oz./2.9 qt. (80 oz./2.5 qt. with tube). Prodyne [tel] 800.822.4776 www.prodyne.com 14 HOLIDAY UPDATE www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 HIGHWAVE FLOAT/WINE PRESERVE GLOBAL AMICI’S AERATING GOBLET Global Amici’s aerating goblet allows you to enjoy your red or white wine in Italian style. This attractive wine glass is produced with a classic design of patented optic ridges on the inside of each glass. These optic ridges “agitate” the wine when the glass is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction. As the wine is agitated during the rotation process, a chemical reaction takes place that results in the release of unwanted carbon dioxide from the wine and an immediate heightening of the wine’s flavor and aroma. There is no need to decant or wait for the wine to breath. These claims are made with the backing of scientific tests performed under the direction of Professor Ceccanti at the University of Rome in Italy. Global Amici’s aerating goblet is sold in an attractive color gift box that includes a detailed instruction sheet. The generously-sized goblet is functional and chic, making it the perfect gift for the holiday season. Global Amici [tel] 858.547.6880 www.globalamici.com Highwave’s Float/Wine Preserve is a unique, new, smart tool to preserve the rest of your very good bottle of red wine. If you are just not in the mood to pump your wine or inject nitrogen to preserve the last of a very good bottle, this is the solution. Each vertical decanter and float is hand-blown and made of borosilicate glass. Simply pour what you want to enjoy some other time into the decanter. The FDAapproved silicone element mimics a drop of wine bouncing off the surface frozen in time. The float creates a blanket over the wine surface eliminating contact with air and oxidation and keeps your finest wines perfect for up to two weeks. The bird’s mouth gives a fine pour when you are ready and the hand-crafted float rides the wave when you pour that next glass of wine. The hand-crafted decanter slips perfectly into the Highwave Will Chill to keep wine chilled for many hours—until the end of a good party, for instance. The Float/Wine Preserve has patents pending from Highwave in California. Highwave [tel] 800.444.4928 www.highwave.com WÜSTHOF CLASSIC 6" EXTRA WIDE COOK’S KNIFE Responding to an uptake in sales of its 6" cook’s knives, which appeal to chefs and home cooks with smaller hands, Wüsthof now offers the 6" extra wide cook’s knife in the best-selling Classic Collection. This precision-forged, full tang cook’s knife is crafted with a wider, heavier blade compared to standard models, which helps to power through chopping, slicing, dicing and mincing with minimal effort. The wider blade also provides the perfect tool for crushing garlic and other ingredients, as well as transporting ingredients from the chopping block to bowls and pans. The handle of this cook’s knife is the same size as the larger 8" cook’s knife to ensure optimum power, while the 6" blade delivers agility and control. Also known as the chef’s knife, Wüsthof's cook’s knife is the workhorse of the kitchen, an indispensable tool that can be used for multiple tasks. All Classic knives feature Wüsthof’s patent-pending Precision Edge Technology. Using guided, state-of-the-art lasers, blade sharpness has been increased by 20 percent, and all knives now maintain their edge twice as long. Classic knives feature the company’s signature bolster/finger guard at the base of the blade, which accounts for the cutlery’s heft and solid, balanced feel. Wüsthof [tel] 203.295.3796 www.wusthof.com www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 n KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW ARTĔL GLASS’ GLACIER COLLECTION WABASH VALLEY FARMS 14" TALL JUMBO SIZE PARTY-IN-A-BOX From the company that’s been delivering premium popcorn poppers for over 30 years, Wabash Valley Farms is now introducing their new, ready-to-give, Jumbo Size Party-In-A-Box. The product was created to allow customers to be great gift givers while still shopping within their budget. This 14" tall gift set really pops and is priced to sell. The reusable popcorn container is jam-packed with all of your favorite movie night essentials, including delicious buttery popcorn, movie-sized Skittles®, movie-sized Mike and Ikes® and Twizzlers®. Every jumbo popcorn tub comes packaged with a snap-on lid for convenient stacking. Decorative, sturdy and ready-to-give, it is the perfect gift for the popcorn lover on anyone’s list. Suggested Retail Price: $19.99 Wabash Valley Farms Inc [tel] 877.888.7077 www.wfarms.com The globally renowned producer of luxury crystal couture, Artĕl, in partnership with Designer David Wiseman, is making two new shapes available in its popular glacier design. In addition to the double, old-fashioned glass, bowl and vase that have been offered since its introduction in 2006, the glacier collection now also includes a oneounce vodka glass and a large vase (13" x 10.8"). The collection is available in amber, olive, purple and smoke, as well as in clear crystal. Wiseman’s designs are known for being inspired by the subtleties of nature, and the glacier collection— featuring irregular facets of polished glass that evoke craggy ice floes in an arctic sea—is a quintessential example of this accomplished artist’s unique vision. Wiseman’s interior and product designs have been featured in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, House & Garden and Elle Décor. Artĕl Glass www.artelglass.com HOLIDAY UPDATE 15 HEWLETT MANUFACTURING JEWELSTIK DIAMOND KNIFE SHARPENER The metal on the edge of all knives eventually dulls, breaks off or wears down. Most knife sets are sold with a butcher steel, but although a necessary tool, a butcher steel will never sharpen a knife and provide a new edge for you to work with. A butcher steel will maintain the edge of a knife, but never sharpen it. Of course you can send your cutlery out to be professionally sharpened, but that process is expensive and time consuming. This is where Hewlett Manufacturing JewelStik 1-2-3 Diamond Knife Sharpener comes to the rescue. It will save you time and money and you can do it yourself. Hewlett Manufacturing has done the research to provide the perfect diamond surface to remove metal from the edge of your knife and create a new edge in just a few strokes. The entire product line is made in the U.S.A. and offers a variety of lengths: 5", 10" and 12". Hewlett also backs up their product line with a lifetime guarantee. Suggested Retail Price: $13.50 - 59.95 The Carine catalytic fragrance lamp from the Emilie Collection is designed to clean and purify the air and remove all offensive house odors—like cigarette smoke, pet odors and mildew—by the process of catalytic combustion. Wonderful, long lasting French home fragrances will bring relief from stress and create a romantic ambience. There are 36 lamps of different designs and colors, as well as 32 French home fragrances—including unscented. By using unscented fuel, the lamps can help get rid of all the odors without adding any fragrance. Each lamp is beautifully presented in a creative and appealing 8" x 6" x 6" Provence style gift box. Suggested Retail Price: $42 Hewlett Manufacturing [tel] 814.683.4762 www.jewelstik.com Les Provencales Ambiences, Inc. [tel] 609.945.1997 www.lpa-lamps.com CATALYTIC FRAGRANCE LAMP 16 HOLIDAY UPDATE www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 AMERICA FEITIAN HANDCRAFTED GLASS GIFTS WHEREVER WATER BOTTLE— LEMON WATER ON-THE-GO Franklin Chef™ will feature an exciting array of new products for the upcoming 2012 holiday season, including their 10speed, 7-function Professional Series blender (model FCB157S). Boasting almost 1 horsepower of raw blending power, this stylish stainless steel blender is an ideal fit for today’s healthconscious consumer. Available in early September 2012, the Franklin Chef™ Professional Series blender will offer consumers outstanding performance coupled with the most competitive price on the market. With its ample 50 oz., dishwasher-safe glass pitcher and powerful stainless steel blades, consumers will marvel at its 700 watts of blending power for all of their grinding, crushing and blending needs. With its modern stainless steel design, blue LED backlit functions and stylish stainless control buttons, this appliance is the perfect countertop addition. Suggested Retail Price: $59.95 When life gives you lemons, squeeze ’em, put ’em in your water and chug away! Adding fresh lemon juice to your water is a great way to make your recommended 64 ounces a day more palatable—without the added sugar, cost and waste of pre-packaged beverages. To boot, lemon is naturally detoxifying, aids in digestion, lowers blood pressure, aids weight loss and fights colds. The new Full Circle Wherever Water Bottle has a built-in lemon reamer that makes it easy to add flavor to your water. The glass container keeps your water healthier and better tasting than plastic and steel bottles, which contaminate the flavor and tend to leach. And fear not, the hour-glass shape of the bottle is protected by silicone padding and a Triton lid that absorbs the impact when the bottle is dropped, helping to avoid breakage! The 20 oz. Wherever Water Lemon Water On-the-Go Bottle by Full Circle is 100% BPA free and dishwasher safe. It comes in four stylish colors: blackberry, lime-green, raspberry-pink and blueberry. Suggested Retail Price: $19.99 Franklin Chef USA [tel] 305.403.8517 www.franklinchefusa.com Full Circle [email] info@fullcirclehome.com www.fullcirclehome.com FRANKLIN CHEF USA’S PROFESSIONAL SERIES BLENDER America FeiTian is the American division of Liao Yang FeiTian, China’s largest manufacturer of handcrafted glass gifts and decorative accessories. The company has been distributing glassware in the United States since 2002. With over 2,000 employees, the factory produces a wide range of items, including glass flowers, vases, plates, bowls, candle holders and glass figurines. All of the company’s items are proudly blown by highly skilled craftsmen with years of glass making experience. Teams of designers in China, Europe and the United States scour the markets in a constant search for the latest trends and colors, ensuring that FeiTian’s products will appeal to the most discerning consumers in home décor. As a manufacturer, they are also able to offer products at prices that reflect an incredible value. FeiTian also collaborates with other glass factories in China, allowing them to address the needs for all types of glassware products. America FeiTian [tel] 909.987.6354 www.aftglassware.com ZOKU SINGLE QUICK POP MAKER The patented Zoku Single Quick Pop Maker freezes pops in as little as seven minutes right on your countertop without electricity. Use your own healthy ingredients to quickly make striped pops, yogurt pops or flavored core pops. To enjoy quick pops at a moment's notice, simply store the compact base in your freezer. Once frozen, the Quick Pop Maker can make up to three, two-ounce pops before it needs to be refrozen. A specially designed super tool helps to quickly release the frozen treats from the mold. The Single Quick Pop Maker comes in red, orange, lime green, blue or violet. The set includes: three sticks, three drip guards, one Single Quick Pop Maker and one super tool. Dimensions: 4.5" x 4.25" x 4.6". Suggested Retail Price: $24.95 Zoku Home [email] info@zokuhome.com www.zokuhome.com www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 n KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW VITAQUICK BY FISSLER MAN LAW 5 PIECE BBQ PREMIUM WOOD HANDLE TOOL SET Since the dawn of man, there has been honor and responsibility in providing for one’s family. In order to truly appreciate this honor, all men must abide by the code that comes with it. This code is known as Man Law. Grilling is covered for life with this heavy-duty thick gauge (2.5 mm) stainless steel grilling set with premium wood handles. It includes extra long handle tongs, a fork, a knife, a silicone basting brush, and an 18.9" spatula with serrated edge and built-in bottle opener to keep you hydrated— the perfect intersection of art and science, engineering and craft, mind and spatula. The proper grilling of a $23 porterhouse is a feat to rival the erection of the Great Pyramids, the Hoover Dam and the brother-in-law’s yard shed. Grilling fish or fowl, mere hot dog or edible plant life is a serious endeavor. Grilling, thus, requires the proper tools: tools crafted and honored with the care of a surgeon operating on his fantasy team’s quarterback; tools, that blessing which long ago distinguished man from animal. The Man Law BBQ set has a lifetime guarantee and is the perfect holiday gift for the real man in your life. Man Law BBQ [tel] 763.267.7900 www.manlawbbq.com VINAROZ COOKWARE Vinaroz Cookware can inspire customers in many ways. Inspire to cook healthy, live healthy and spend quality time with family. Inspire to become a “legend in their own mind” by creating dishes made by their favorite celebrity chef. Inspire to try new recipes, perfect favorite cuisines or continue the tradition of family recipes. The variety of colors that Vinaroz Cookware offers will inspire customers to enjoy cooking more than ever and to entertain family and friends at parties and barbecues. Vinaroz Cookware [tel] 323.585.3090 www.vinarozcookware.com Fissler’s Vitaquick® is turning up the pressure this holiday season. With over 55 years of pressure cooker experience, Fissler is proud to introduce Vitaquick, a revolutionary pressure cooker that has been redesigned from the ground up. With its sleek, conical design, Vitaquick stacks and stores easily without scratching, while Vitaquick’s attractive, contemporary look in polished stainless steel, with blue accents, and cool-tothe-touch non-slip black handles, make it an elegant and classic gift idea. Unlike the pressure cookers of the past, Vitaquick pressure cookers have no unnerving rattling or hissing while pressurized and feature multiple safety mechanisms including an automatic HOLIDAY UPDATE 17 pressure valve, so cooks can relax while perfect meals are prepared in no time. The speed setting allows users to cook bean soups, stews and meat in a third of the regular cooking time. The gentle setting cooks delicate foods like fish and fine vegetables without damage. ULlisted Vitaquick pressure cookers are safe, simple to use and very easy to clean. This series is perfect for easily preparing foods of all kinds in a healthy, gentle and nutritious manner. Vitaquick is 100% made in Germany, fully dishwasher-safe and comes with a lifetime warranty. Fissler USA [tel] 888.347.7537 www.fisslerusa.com 18 HOLIDAY UPDATE www.kitchenwarenews.com 7-PIECE SWISS CLASSIC BLOCK SET WITH SWISS ARMY KNIFE Since the 19th century, cutlery by Victorinox Swiss Army has been the first choice of professionals and has consistently received high accolades in industry product testing. The edges are laser tested to ensure optimum cutting power and durability while still being lightweight and balanced for extended use. The knives are also designed to minimize wrist tension while providing a secure grip. The Swiss Classic block set introduces an evolution to the existing collection by including a Swiss Army Knife. The Swiss Army waiter tool offers all the necessary kitchen tools in one knife. n AUGUST 2012 n KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW The ergonomic, slip-resistant design is dishwasher safe, while the mirrored polish finish on the high-carbon stainless steel blade is equivalent to Victorinox’s durable commercial-grade blade. The entire collection is made to the highest sanitary standards, earning the National Sanitary Foundation seal of approval. The set includes an 8" chef’s knife, bread knife, paring knife, utility knife, Swiss Army knife, a 9" honing steel and block. For added peace of mind, there is a lifetime warranty against manufacturer’s defects. Victorinox Swiss Army [tel] 800.442.2706 www.swissarmy.com DECANTUS AERO WINE AERATING POURER The Decantus Aero™ Wine Aerating Pourer enhances wine’s flavor and bouquet like no other pourer on the market. It is all in the taste! This breakthrough in wine aerating pourers will enable you to experience softer tannins, a more aromatic bouquet and great flavor. Decantus Aero is the only wine pourer on the market to have been scientifically proven to reduce sulfites by an average of 56 percent. It utilizes the Bernoulli effect, where the reduced pressure of a stream of fluid (wine) draws an air flow through diagonal, thin tubes inside the Decantus Aero. It is the most effective decanting pourer available and does not drip. It also includes a removable top for covering contents between pours which helps preserves the wine. Restaurant owner Bill S. of Sunbury, Pa. recently stated the following: “The Decantus Aero does an unbelievable job in improving the taste of wine … We are using it every day in our operation.” The Decantus Aero is available in clear or black and is beautifully gift boxed. Suggested Retail Price: $16.99; 12 each to a counter display Franmara [tel] 800.423.5855 www.franmara.com TALISMAN DESIGNS POT PIE SHIELD This hot new shield will cover 4", 5" and 6" pot pies. Made of FDA food-safe silicone, it is heat resistant up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. It is perfect for homemade and frozen pot pies. It is reusable and easier to use than tinfoil. Simply place on top of the pie during the baking process to get perfectly golden crusts. It is dishwasher safe. Talisman Designs LLC [tel] 952.681.2866 www.talismandesigns.com 20 HOLIDAY UPDATE www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 MASTRAD’S GOURMET WHIPPERS Mastrad, creator of stylish and innovative kitchenware accessories, will showcase an array of new product offerings at this year’s New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF). The company will be presenting their full line of cream and gourmet whippers as well as nitrous-oxide chargers, whipper stand, recipe book and foldable, double-mesh strainer and funnel. These premium whippers yield four times the amount of cream poured into them, and are capable of storing fresh whipped cream in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Available in two sizes, the cream whippers have an aluminum exterior casing, enameled interior coating and a plastic head and tips. Perfect for making cold creams and mousses, the cream whippers provide a simpler and convenient way to create your favorite desserts. Offered in three sizes, the hot and cold gourmet whippers boast an enameled exterior casing and interior coating, a silicone ring inside the head and plastic tips. These gourmet whippers create delectable hot or cold, sweet or savory creams, sauces and mousses that will help replicate a professional chef’s exquisite desserts. Effective now until January 31, 2013, customers can redeem a complementary Mastrad mousse recipe book with the purchase of any whipper. Qualified retailers will receive a Mastrad whipper tear-pad to display in stores. Mastrad Inc. [tel] 800.358.0608 www.mastrad.us GOURMET KITCHENWORKS SPIRELLI SPIRAL SLICER 70-year-old German kitchenware company GEFU Kuchenboss GmbH & Co., creators of sleek, innovative, highquality kitchen tools and gadgets have done it again! The Spirelli spiral slicer has been a runaway hit in Europe, Asia and Australia since it was launched and is now taking off in America. This interesting gadget promotes a healthy lifestyle by creating “vegetable spaghetti”, endless julienne strips of long cylindrical vegetables such as carrots, cucumbers, zucchini and yellow squash. Two sizes of spiral slices can be cut (2 x 3 mm or 3.5 x 5 mm) which are perfect to create interesting salads, stirfries and pasta dishes or can be used to decorate any culinary masterpiece. It was out-of-the-box thinking along with keen attention to detail that created this new and interesting product. It is so simple yet it works spectacularly well and is dishwasher safe. Gourmet Kitchenworks [tel] 417.459.4272 www.gefu.us PARRISH MINI-RING MOLDS The Doctor Who TARDIS tea pot is a terrific gift idea for the sci-fi fan in your household. This tea pot is the latest in a cool line of novelty items from Wesco. It holds 25 ounces (750ml) of tea and is ceramic with sculpted highlights. Perfect for the holidays, Mini-Ring Molds from Parrish's Cake Decorating Supplies Inc. are ideal for baking, molding and cutting cakes, mousses, tortes or cheesecakes. They are available in round, oval, teardrop, heart, hexagon and comma shapes. All molds are made of heavy-gauge aluminum. Suggested Retail Price: $5-8 (minimum order $50) Wesco www.popcultcha.com.au Parrish's Cake Decorating Supplies Inc. [tel] 310.324.2253 or 800.736.8443 DOCTOR WHO TARDIS TEA POT HOLIDAY UPDATE 21 LE PARFAIT FRENCH JARS & TERRINES First impressions are as important in marketing products as they are in life, and nothing says “quality” like specialty glass containers that allow the consumer to easily view the contents. Whether you pack spices, jams, lotions, candies, nuts, sauces or baking mixes, the newest product offerings will catch the consumer’s eye if packaged in the sophisticated French jars knows as Le Parfait—“the perfect.” Bring your product to market using the classic Le Parfait jars and terrines—containers that have been widely used in Europe for more than 70 years and are imported by Bannex International, Inc. Products packed in Le Parfait will appeal to consumers who recognize the environmental value of this packaging; the jars can be recycled for many household storage uses and can be resealed again and again. Reusable packaging allows consumers to be proactive for a green environment as they embrace top-quality foods or other specialty items. Great products deserve great packaging, so whether yours is a new brand or one that is wellestablished, look to glass and explore its possibilities in packaging and presentation. With their wide variety of applications, Le Parfait jars and terrines are sure to make a memorable impression on your customers and boost consumption of your products. Bannex International Inc. [email] sales@bannex.com www.bannex.com SCI GARGANELLI PASTA BOARD SCI is proud to share its Garganelli Pasta Board. Garganelli is a very rare Italian pasta. This beechwood garganelli pasta board comes with a thick knurled rolling stick to get the perfect groove with ease. The board is 3.5" x 6" and the stick is 7.5" long. It is made in Italy. SCI Cuisine Internationale [tel] 800.966.5489 www.scandicrafts.com 22 HOLIDAY UPDATE www.kitchenwarenews.com International Innovations Company USA [tel] 704.882.3521 www.vacuvin.nl AUGUST 2012 n KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW VITACLAY SMART ORGANIC MULTICOOKER WITH YOGURT MAKER VACU VIN LAYERING TOOL The creation of a beautifully layered cocktail with drama and color has been primarily in the domain of professional bartenders. Not anymore. The new layering tool by Vacu Vin lets the amateur bartender create the perfect layered cocktail without special training. Party hosts and hostesses can now create colorful cocktails at home for friends and family. The design of the funnel slows down fluids as they are poured into a glass and variations in the density of the fluids create the layers. The measurements on the funnel of the tool are based on the most popular layered cocktails and are useful guides for the amateur bartender to use when creating a cocktail. The layering tool is dishwasher safe and the rubber connector on the tool can be removed for thorough rinsing after every cocktail. Suggested Retail Price: $10 n The Snapi® by KitchenHappy™ says it’s: “The fun way to serve food”—and sales definitely prove it. Rosanne Brown, who owns Venice Stationers, said she’s seen it in action during record sales at her Venice, Fla. shop. “It’s the best seller we have ever had, in 15 years of business. We’re a volume store and we’ve never had any product sell this much, this fast.” It’s hard for Rosanne to single out just one Snapi feature responsible for the record sales. She explains, “It has a great story, it shows American ingenuity, it’s well-made, the packaging is exceptional, and it’s incredibly fun and functional. Snapi’s very clever.” Though Snapi is sold throughout the United States, Snowbirds visiting Florida find that it’s a perfect souvenir. Rosanne summed up Snapi’s myriad attributes simply, “KitchenHappy did everything right, all the way.” Snapi comes in eight colors. It has a convenient open/close locking mechanism for easy storage and is BPA-free and dishwasher safe. Suggested Retail Price: Under $10 When was the last time you made a truly nutritious home-cooked meal for the whole family? What if you had the time and energy to prepare delicious, whole food meals every day? Do you think you’d need to hire a personal chef? Think again! Let VitaClay® create hearty, nutritious meals while you work, sleep or take a walk—talk about multi-tasking! Cook grains, soup or economy cuts of meat to perfection without effort, hassle or excessive expense. VitaClay’s got dinner covered! Joining the VitaClay line is the soon to be released VitaClay Smart Organic Multicooker, featuring a yogurt maker―or low temperature cooker― designed to preserve important nutrients and vitamins and keep enzymes active throughout cooking. Now you can make your own favorite yogurt at home with no fuss. Are you tired of non-stick coatings? Are you looking for perfect rice, grains, steel oats, broth, beans and stew every time? Discover the wonder of clay: no need for added water or oil; the clay naturally preserves texture, flavor, vitamins and taste. Whether cooking for a few or the whole crew, your nutritious, whole meal is just minutes away with VitaClay. KitchenHappy [tel] 248.453.5177 wholesale.kitchenhappy.com VitaClay [tel] 877.877.9121 www.vitaclaychef.com KITCHENHAPPY’S SNAPI ISLAND BAMBOO SOLID BAMBOO CUTTING BOARDS Carve, chop, mince and slice on Island Bamboo’s new solid bamboo cutting boards, then flip them over for serving. Handcrafted from solid culms of Moso bamboo, the finish is beautifully smooth with nodes that are naturally characteristic of bamboo. The solid bamboo cutting board series features a no glue surface and is available in four sizes: bar – 8" x 6"; utility – 11" x 9"; cutting – 14" x 11" and carving – 18" x 12". The lightweight bar board has a hole for hanging so you can display it near the prep sink or bar while the carving board has a larger ergonomic handle to carry meat and poultry. The utility and cutting boards are lightweight and double sided with gravy grooves on one side and a smooth surface on the other that is perfect for serving. Island Bamboo™ cutting boards are safe for fine chef’s knives, are naturally antimicrobial and, with proper care, will not warp, stain or split. Add the specially formulated Bamboo Renew to your order—an add-on sale sure to help your customers maintain the luster and beauty of their bamboo kitchenware. Island Bamboo has the largest selection of bamboo kitchenware, products that are thoughtfully produced for everyday use, gift giving and entertaining. Island Bamboo [tel] 949.492.9921 www.islandbamboo.com PREPARA ICE BALLS Prepara presents Ice Balls, an ingenious alternative to the typical ice cube tray. These spill-proof spherical molds make perfect 2" round orbs of ice and also become the starting point for an endless list of fun and original homemade, ice-infused recipes. Put the fruit or the herb of choice in the Ice Ball, close it up, fill it with water, juice, or any other beverage through the convenient opening seal on top, throw them in the freezer and voila— the perfect “ice-breaker” for a holiday party!Since the ice they produce is completely sealed and won’t absorb odors from the freezer, Ice Balls are the easiest way to create fresh and pristine ice. Additionally, Ice Balls can be conveniently and simply stored, individually or snapped together, for easy organization. Ice Balls come in four fun and stylish colors: lime, lemon, raspberry and tangerine. Suggested Retail Price: $9.99 (pack of 4) The Wahaus Collection by Vita Craft is a true gem. This six-piece set of cookware is not only beautiful and classic, but versatile. This deep, stainless steel chef set can go from range top to tabletop in minutes. The Wahaus Collection is made up of a set of three Deep Chef Pans, an 8" Deep Chef, a 10" Deep Chef and a 13" Deep Chef. The series comes with stainless steel covers with optional stainless steel knobs and flame guards. Glass covers are also available. The Wahaus Collection features waterless, greaseless cooking and carries a true Vita Craft Lifetime Warranty. This fine cookware is made in the U.S.A. Prepara [tel] 888.878.8665 www.prepara.com Vita Craft [tel] 913.631.6265 www.vitacraft.com VITA CRAFT WAHAUS COLLECTION BOUCLÉ BY CHILEWICH Chantal introduces new colors for the Travel Mug. The single-touch button allows you to drink from any side and you can rest easy knowing that a silicone seal will prevent spills of any kind. The vacuum insulation means this thermal mug will actually keep a beverage hot or cold for up to seven hours. It is BPA-free with a 15 oz. capacity and is available with two new color bands: chili red and emerald green in addition to the original blue. Bouclé features a very rich texture that provides visual interest without the pattern being too dominating. The original concept for the design was the desire to interpret the luxury of fine knitwear into a woven textile that was durable, modern and easy to clean. Perfect for indoor and outdoor use, the textiles are available in five colors: salt, pebble, grey, coffee and ink and two sizes: 14" x 19" rectangle placemats and a 14" x 72" table runner. They are made in the U.S.A. Chantal [tel] 800.365.4354 www.chantal.com Chilewich | Sultan LLC [tel] 212.679.9204 www.chilewich.com CHANTAL TRAVEL MUG HOLIDAY UPDATE 23 DEXAS TURBO FAN SALAD SPINNER-DRYERS The Turbo Fan Salad Spinner-Dryer from Dexas looks radically different from other salad spinners on the market. It features a multi-blade “turbo fan” and air intake system that spins up quickly to pull large volumes of air into the spinner, while more thoroughly drying greens. At the base of the outer bowl, there are large air and water exit ports, for in-sink spinning, which completely expels dirty rinse water. The result is cleaner, drier greens that are ready to serve in less time. Consumers are still trending toward preparing more foods at home, while seeking more fresh fruit and vegetable preparation options, so this innovation is sure to hit the spot. Leafy, dark greens like kale and spinach provide the maximum nutritional benefit among all greens. The Dexas Turbo Fan Salad Spinner-Dryer also features a push-button brake and a large 5-quart capacity inner basket. The Turbo Fan blades are easy to take apart for handwashing and the entire spinner/dryer is BPA-free. Both the outer bowl and the spinner basket are dishwasher-safe. Dexas [tel] 800.527.5197 www.dexas.com GAMAGO'S TELEPHOTO KITCHEN TIMER Culinary and photography aficionados will rejoice at this new kitchen timer styled after a camera lens. This timer is incredibly detailed and will be sure to make every meal picture-perfect. The Telephoto Kitchen Timer comes packaged in a nifty clear box so you can view the design without having to take it out of its packaging. The timer measures 3.25" x 2.5" in diameter and will be available August/ September 2012. Suggested Retail Price: $14 GAMAGO [tel] 415.626.0213 www.gamago.com 24 BUYERS GUIDE www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 n KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW BUYERS GUIDE Franklin Chef Professional Series Blender small electrics Franklin Chef™ will introduce an exciting array of products for the 2012 season, including their 10-speed, 7-function Professional Series blender. Boasting almost 1 horsepower of raw blending power, this blender is an ideal fit for today’s health-conscious consumer. Available early September 2012, the Professional Series blender will offer consumers outstanding performance, with its ample 50 oz., dishwasher-safe glass pitcher and powerful stainless steel blades, as well as 700 watts of blending power for all grinding, crushing and blending needs. With its modern stainless steel design, blue LED backlit functions and stylish stainless control buttons, this appliance is the perfect countertop addition. Franklin Chef USA [tel] 305.403.8517 www.franklinchefusa.com Mastrad Thermo-Sensor Spoon Mastrad, the French-based company specializing in inventive and functional kitchen products, has revolutionized the cooking world yet again—with the Thermo-Sensor Spoon, a high quality version of a basic kitchen necessity. Sleek and as easy on the eyes as it is to use, the Thermo-Sensor Spoon makes time spent in the kitchen simpler for recreational and professional chefs alike. Featuring a one-of-a-kind design and various cooking applications, this new kitchen accessory is high quality and convenient. The Thermo-Sensor Spoon is a combination of a removable spoon―perfect for stirring food―and an electronic kitchen thermometer that digitally calculates the temperature of the food to the exact degree and constantly monitors its temperature while it cooks. Perfect when used separately or as one piece, the Thermo-Sensor Spoon is a must-have item for any cook. Suggested Retail Price: $30 Mastrad Inc. [tel] 800.358.0608 www.mastrad.us Vita-Prep 3 by Vita-Mix The Vita-Prep 3, trusted by chefs and culinary schools worldwide, provides unmatched performance when puréeing, grinding, chopping and more. Variable controls and the patented accelerator tool allows for easy processing of dense ingredients at exactly the right speed. The Vita-Prep 3 creates a vortex, forcing ingredients up from the blades and back down the center into the blades again for perfectly blended results. With a removable lid plug, all ingredients can be added while blending for ultimate speed and convenience. The advanced cooling fan and sound reduction pad lessens noise irritation and overheating. Vita-Mix [tel] 800.848.2649 www.vitamix.com Chef Pro Wet & Dry Grinder Chef Pro is pleased to announce the arrival of a new powerful grinder that can grind dry and moist food in only a few seconds. Grind ingredients like coffee beans, flaxseed or spices to make unique spice rubs. It can also be used to crush nuts—to, for example, make peanut butter at home—purée basil to make fresh pesto sauce or grind garbanzo beans to make fresh hummus. Whip up many exotic foods with this very versatile wet and dry grinder. A musthave for every kitchen, the Chef Pro wet and dry grinder is made of stainless steel and has a powerful 350 watt motor. The stainless steel cup does not retain odors from previously ground foods and the grinder cup and cover are removable and dishwasher safe, making clean up easy. The grinder has three speeds: pulse, low and high. The clear cover allows for visibility, and the motor does not turn on until the lid is locked into position for added safety. Suggested Retail Price $79.99 Mercantile International [tel] 732.650.9400 or 855.243.3776 www.chefprousa.com Tribest Personal Blender As versatile as it is portable, the Tribest Personal Blender allows you to blend, grind and mix multiple recipes in the perfect portions. Whether it’s a fruit smoothie to jump-start your day, a mix of salsa to kick off kick-off, or the perfect grind of coffee beans for a nightcap, the Personal Blender can accommodate. The Personal Blender comes portioned with 8 oz., 16 oz. and 23 oz. blending containers allowing for minimal mess, easy clean up, and the ease of taking your drink on the go—a perfect addition to any kitchen. With the Tribest Personal Blender, life’s a whole lot tastier. Tribest Corporation [tel] 714.879.7150 www.tribest.com Waring Pro Vero Barista Espresso Maker Enjoy lattes, espresso or cappuccino at home with the Waring Pro Vero Barista Espresso Maker. The espresso maker features sleek chrome housing, 15 bars of pressure, a 42 oz. removable clear-view water tank, dual steam wand and hot water dispenser, a removable drip tray for easy clean up and a tamping tool. It also includes a pod filter holder and ground filter holder for different types of espresso. The large cup warming plate allows for an optimal espresso-drinking experience. The unit includes a limited five year motor warranty. Waring Pro www.waringpro.com www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 BUYERS GUIDE 25 BUYERS GUIDE small electrics VitaClay Smart Organic Multicooker with Yogurt Maker Let VitaClay® create hearty, nutritious meals while you work, sleep or take a walk—talk about multi-tasking! Cook grains, soup or economy cuts of meat to perfection without effort, hassle or expense. Joining the VitaClay line is the soon to be released VitaClay Smart Organic Multicooker, featuring a yogurt maker—or low temperature cooker— that is designed to preserve important nutrients and vitamins and keep enzymes active throughout cooking. Now you can make your own favorite yogurt at home with no fuss. Whether cooking for a few or the whole crew, your nutritious, whole meal is just minutes away with VitaClay. VitaClay [tel] 877.877.9121 www.vitaclaychef.com Professional Advantage Vacuum Sealer Weston Products has partnered with Celebrity Chef Michael Symon to create the “Live to Cook” Professional Advantage Vacuum Sealer. With a 210 watt, fan-cooled motor; this premium vacuum sealer delivers 23" HG vacuum strength, and is designed not to overheat for consistent, reliable sealing. It is equipped to meet any home chef’s needs, featuring marinate, manual seal and accessory modes and the brushed stainless steel finish makes it an attractive addition to any countertop. Accompanying the vacuum sealer is a line of vacuum canisters and bags in attractive retail packaging for a complete merchandising solution. They are ideal for quickly marinating fresh foods and flash pickling. Suggested Retail Price: $199.99 Weston Products [tel] 800.814.4895 www.westonproducts.com Fagor Slow Juicer Fagor America is pleased to unveil the newest addition to its small electrics family—the Fagor Slow Juicer. It is extremely efficient, easy to use and is quieter in comparison to its predecessors. It uses a 2-step process in which the juice is extracted from the fruit or vegetable twice before it enters your glass. The auger, the main component of the unit, precisely squeezes the food without shredding or grinding it, preserving antioxidants and helping you to get more juice in your glass. Fagor America www.fagoramerica.com CUISINART ICE CREAM & GELATO MAKER Make lusciously rich gelato and ice cream right at home! The Cuisinart Ice Cream and Gelato Maker has a commercial quality compressor-freezer, so it’s always ready to go. Separate paddles for gelato and ice cream, and fully automatic operation with a 60-minute countdown timer, ensure perfect consistencies and professional results. Cuisinart www.cuisinart.com 26 MARKETWATCH www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 n KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW Marketwatch sustainability Green (Cont. from Page 1) of sustainability, and I’m excited to share this curated collection with retail attendees,” Shaw continues. “A variety of products will be exhibited in the summer display ranging from organic teas, to tabletop accessories, to personal body care. If the materials are organic, non-toxic, recycled or recyclable, and the manufacturing processes follow fair trade standards and the suppliers are socially responsible, you will find these products on display,” says Shaw. Among the wide variety of products selected for SustainAbility are: the Box Play for Kids LLC sets which transform used boxes, milk cartons, etc. into playthings, with stickers made with 100% recycled uncoated paper; the Moss Terrarium Bottle™ by Potting Shed Creations, Ltd., which utilizes recycled restaurant wine bottles; the Drink Chillers stay-cool coasters by Sea Stones LLC made of natural stone, recycled glass, and recycled rubber; the Vapur Element “antibottles” from Vapur, Inc. made of FDAapproved polyethylene and nylon; and the stylish line of table runners from CAKE Vintage Table & Home made of recycled kraft paper. “Sustainability means responsible and conscious manufacturing and buying habits,” explains Shaw. “It means a respect for our planet and local environments through the use of intelligent renewable material and energy resources. Sustainability means support of the world’s labor force with fair wages and working conditions. It means contribution and dedication to charitable endeavors. Ultimately, sustainability means educated, concerned and responsible decisions and choices made with awareness to the wellbeing of ourselves and others.” The SustainAbility display will showcase sustainable materials and production processes from various exhibitors participating in Artisan Resource™, a new GLM-managed trade show matching artisanal craft producers and production resources with U.S.-based volume importers, direct import retailers and wholesalers, which runs concurrently with NYIGF, August 19-21, at Pier 92. The SustainAbility display is complemented by a two-part seminar focusing on “green” topics. On Monday, August 20, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., Dirk Olin, Editor of Corporate Responsibility Magazine, will moderate “Social Responsibility: The New Metrics for Sustainability.” This program presents an overview of social responsibility and its seven core components, measurement techniques and principles of philanthropy. Panelists include Nathan Gilbert of B Lab; Madeline Kreider Carlson of the Fair Trade Federation; and Susan Inglis of the Sustainable Furniture Council. On Tuesday, August 21, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., the Fair Trade Federation presents “Mythbusting: Fair Trade & Your Customer.” The discussion will address what fair trade is, and more specifically what fair traders do to make a difference in the lives of craftspeople. The panel will be moderated by Fair Trade Federation Program Director, Madeline Kreider Carlson, and will include representatives of Fair Trade Federation. Tickets for each session are $20 in advance and $25 on site. Advance registration is available online at www.nyigf.com/programs. “If we do not live in a sustainable way, this earth will not sustain,” says Shaw, on the importance of sustainability. “We have no choice.” HENRI THE OWL MOONLIGHT CLOCK Re-Play is a unique line of children’s tableware made in the USA from recycled milk jugs. Re-Play has received high praise from families looking for an earth-friendly alternative that is durable, affordable and safe. The recycled plastic used for all Re-Play products is specially selected and cleaned to meet the FDA’s strict purity standards so not only are they stylish and colorful, Re-Play is sustainable, with materials and manufacturing being mainly in the southeast. They currently offer divided plates, bowls, utensils and no-spill cups in four colors: aqua, pink, green and orange. Re-Play is also top rack dishwasher safe. Suggested Retail Price: 3-pack divided plate-$6.49; 3-pack bowl-$4.99; 2-pack cup-$6.99; 8-pack utensils-$3.49 Legnomagia (through their US agent, Arbiter) presents a new collection featuring their baby owl mascot named Henri, who lives in an imaginary forest inspired by the art of Henri Rousseau. Moonlight is a wall clock in the shape of a tree in which Henri is perched under the moonlight. The hours are indicated by copper nails and silver-colored metal hour hands. On the top is a glittery mirror moon. It is available in either natural walnut or beech. All of Legnomagia’s products are handmade utilizing sustainably harvested European hardwoods finished with beeswax or non-toxic finishes or colors. All packaging is recycled. Re-Think It Inc. [email] sales@re-play.com www.re-play.com Arbiter [tel] 314.963.1919 www.arbitercollection.com RE-PLAY’S CHILDREN’S TABLEWARE SEA STONES SERVES UP COOL CORDIALS When it’s time to serve up chilled spirits, there’s no need to water things down. Take this solid granite tray of elegant cordial glasses out of the freezer and serve your favorite drinks chilled and undiluted by ice. The handmade set securely houses the heavy-bottomed glasses in holes bored into reclaimed granite slabs. The slabs have plenty of thermal mass to hold the cold long enough for leisurely sipping and the recycled rubber jacket protects surfaces. The glasses are perfect for flavored vodkas, liqueurs and other spirits, as well as chilled miniature desserts such as mousse. Suggested Retail Price: $40 Sea Stones www.sea-stones.com POTTING SHED CREATIONS TERRARIUM BOTTLE Combining smart design and sustainable materials to create a modern interpretation of the classic terrarium, these indoor garden collections contain everything needed to grow a woodland moss-scape or tapestry of sedum in a handmade 8.5" x 3" repurposed wine bottle. The terrarium includes moss: a mix of dormant broom, cushion and sheet moss; or sedum: a dwarf sedum blend. It also includes OMRI listed soil, recycled glass pebbles for drainage, a bamboo “chopstick” tool and base, a ribbon band for the base and directions. Suggested Retail Price: $38.00 Potting Shed Creations Ltd. www.pottingshedcreations.com BAMBU BAMBOO & CORK SALT CANISTER bambu continues with its innovative “renewable ideas” concept by bringing together two sustainable materials into one design solution. The bamboo and cork canisters are handsomely designed, making this “double green” salt cellar at home on the kitchen counter or on an elegantly laid table. The cork lid fits snuggly, making an airtight seal that is still easy to remove with one hand. The bamboo and cork salt canister is a featured product in the SustainAbility: Design for a Better World exhibition in August 2012. Suggested Retail Price: $14 bambu www.bambuhome.com www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 GIFTWARE 27 Giftware nyigf/gourmet housewares Housewares (Cont. from Page 1) drinkware, kitchen gadgets and accessories, and serving products. We are always designing and redesigning kitchen products for the home and professional chef!” Morgan also offers predictions about what he thinks will be popular at the show, saying the trend is: “Bright, bold and eye-catching; innovative, yet practical kitchen products and gadgets seem to be what the current customer is looking for, along with quick and healthy ideas for gourmet cooking which fits greatly into the Mastrad line.” Sharing the floor with Mastrad at the Gourmet Housewares Show is OnOurTable, a new exhibitor at booth 3676 that specializes in hand-crafted wood cutting boards and butcher blocks. “We are thrilled to show our work for the first time. We are debuting our collection of cutting and charcuterie boards, handmade in solid walnut and maple,” says Geoffrey Lilge, Founder and Designer for OnOurTable. “The collection has been in the works for two years and we feel we're ready to put it out into the world.” Overall, the show's organizers expect great things from this year's show. “The Gourmet Housewares Show at NYIGF is both larger and sold-out for its second annual edition, and excitement and expectations are high for summer 2012,” says Christian Falkenberg, NYIGF Director and GLM Vice-President. “We hope to attract more specialty kitchenware retailers who are seeking a concentration of key brands, as well as a wide range of complementary resources offered throughout NYIGF. Our exhibitors know that the show affords them access to thousands of smaller independent gift and home retail outlets who they might not see at other markets.” The Gourmet Housewares show runs August 19-22 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. HARRY BARKER HELVETICA COLLECTION GOURMET SEA SALT COLLECTION Reflecting the expanding palate for food flavors from throughout the world, The Spice Lab’s award-winning Gourmet Salt Collections offer unique sampler gift packs and are offered in 4, 6 or 11 test tube sets, filled with exotic sea salts from all corners of the earth. Each Pyrex test tube with all-natural cork stopper holds a different specialty salt, attractively displayed in an American-made, handcrafted wooden base constructed from recycled lumber. Tubes contain from 0.6 to 1.3 oz. of salt, depending on its density, with most having over 1 oz. of sea salt. A reference card offers suggestions on which salts go with which dishes and a bamboo salt spoon is also included. The Spice Lab’s Sea Salt Collections have earned a coveted Silver sofi Award as Outstanding Food Gift from the National Association of the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) and a Scovie Award. They have also been featured in numerous magazines, including leading the O List in the June 2012 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine. Suggested Retail Price: $24.95–59.95 While the Helvetica type font was designed in 1957, it remains the ultimate emblem of modern design. It’s a contemporary classic! And now Harry Barker, the global pet product company, has introduced a new Helvetica Collection: Harry Barker’s Helvetica Collection. This collection applies the famous font to a wide variety of products, including bowls, food canisters, treat tins, beds and play balls. When buyers see them, they’re going to say, “I want what Harry’s having!” Harry Barker creates, manufactures and distributes innovative and cheerful products for dogs and cats. The company’s commitment to sustainable practices and materials has been honored by numerous awards, including NYIGF’s prestigious Sustainability3 Award. Products include collars, leashes, beds, toys, treats, food storage canisters, bowls, treat tins and dog spa products. Harry Barker was founded in 1997 by its president Carol Perkins, a former Ford model and fire eater. The Spice Lab [tel] 954.275.4478 www.thespicelab.com Harry Barker [tel] 800.444.8779 www.harrybarker.com 28 GIFTWARE www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 n KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW Giftware nyigf/gourmet housewares MASTRAD’S GOURMET WHIPPERS STARFRIT’S DOUBLE WALL THERMO GLASSES HIGHWAVE WINE TIME CAPSULE™ Now you don't need that bulky ice chest to keep a bottle of chilled wine for an evening concert in your hot car all day long! The innovative Highwave Wine Time Capsule holds your 25 oz. bottle of chilled wine or water in a suspended temperature vacuum for up to 10 hours, and keeps it perfect for travel or serving where glass is not allowed or appropriate. The wine time capsule doesn't sweat, and very little temperature change occurs, leaving your wine just as good as when you put it in. Keep your room temperature red wine at room temperature and take it poolside easily and with style. Available exclusively from Highwave of California, the wine time capsule is available in three colors and is sold bulk with product labels. Highwave [tel] 800.444.4928 www.highwave.com Canada’s leading purveyor of kitchen preparation products introduces the whimsical double wall thermo glasses, a classic glass collection that brings summer drinks experience to another level! Made of quality borosilicate glass, the double wall thermo glasses are supremely stable and perfect for any hot or cold beverages. The isolation barrier of the double wall thermo glasses keeps beverages at an optimal temperature longer than any other standard glass can. This barrier of air also prohibits the glass from “sweating” and leaving a river of condensation on the table top. The glasses are perfect for chilly desserts or warm appetizers. The collection offers a wide range of glasses, including Swizl soda glasses, martini glasses, wine glasses, tea cups, espresso cups and beer mugs, just to mention a few. The collection also features a coffee mug with silicone lid and ring. These coffee mugs are designed for easy coffee-to-go. The silicone ring provides a better grip to prevent slipping and breaking. They are currently available in green, purple, blue and red. To add luster to their shine, these beautiful glasses are also dishwasher safe. Suggested Retail Price: starting at $8.99 Starfrit www.starfritusa.com Mastrad, creator of stylish and innovative kitchenware accessories, will showcase an array of new product offerings at this year’s New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF). The company will be presenting their full line of cream and gourmet whippers as well as nitrous-oxide chargers, whipper stand, recipe book and foldable, double-mesh strainer and funnel. These premium whippers yield four times the amount of cream poured into them, and are capable of storing fresh whipped cream in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Available in two sizes, the cream whippers have an aluminum exterior casing, enameled interior coating and a plastic head and tips. Perfect for making cold creams and mousses, the cream whippers provide a simpler and convenient way to create your favorite desserts. Offered in three sizes, the hot and cold gourmet whippers boast an enameled exterior casing and interior coating, a silicone ring inside the head and plastic tips. These gourmet whippers create delectable hot or cold, sweet or savory creams, sauces and mousses. Effective now until January 31, 2013, customers can redeem a complementary Mastrad mousse recipe book with the purchase of any whipper. Qualified retailers will receive a Mastrad whipper tear-pad to display in stores. Mastrad, Inc. [tel] 800.358.0608 www.mastrad.us TALISMAN DESIGNS GET REAL NATURE BEECHWOOD UTENSILS Talisman Designs’ Get Real™ beechwood utensils are made of solid beechwood. Each utensil is 12" long and produced from a responsibly managed forest. They are specially handcrafted with a theme that features the natural beauty of nature, such as little singing birds, wide-eyed owls, delicate tree branches and fully bloomed flowers. Each unique design is permanently etched into the wood and will never fade. The utensils will not scratch or damage non-stick cookware and are hand-wash only for a lifetime of beauty. Talisman Designs [tel] 952.681.2866 www.talismandesigns.com CHEF PRO PEPPERMILLS SCI has reinvented cast iron pans. Preseasoned to save you a step, with even heating and long-lasting heat retention, they easily provide consistent results. Not only are these pans easy to use, but cleaning them is even easier. New styles and shapes are available now. Barbara Shaw Gifts creates bold, bright designs for the Jewish home and family. Fun patterns and witty sayings grace useful products in textile, ceramic and glass; updating tradition with designs that will make you smile. This set of four hand-printed and sewn table napkins features a repeating graphic of fresh Jaffa oranges that will bring a great pop of color to any table setting. The 19" x 19" napkins are packaged with a wide ribbon and gift tag, making them ready for easy gifting. Suggested Retail Price: $35 Chef Pro Peppermills have an ingenious automatic base that opens when you twist the peppermill to grind and closes automatically when you stop grinding. The peppermills have convenient covers on the top for easy refilling, which helps to keep tables free from spills. The ergonomic design allows for grinding by twisting back and forth. The peppermills feature a ceramic grinding mechanism and seven patented coarseness settings that are precise and easy to use—perfect for grinding peppercorn, salt or dried herbs. Chef Pro peppermills are available in plastic and stainless steel. Suggested Retail Price: $19.99–Plastic; $29.99–Stainless Steel SCI Cuisine Internationale [tel] 800.966.5489 www.scandicrafts.com Barbara Shaw Gifts [email] barbshaw@gmail.com www.barbarashawgifts.com Mercantile International NA [tel] 855.243.3776 www.chefprousa.com BARBARA SHAW GIFTS TABLE NAPKINS PRE-SEASONED CAST IRON PANS www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 n KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW GIFTWARE 29 Giftware nyigf/gourmet housewares FULL CIRCLE’S SMART RACK JOY STEMBER CANDLESTICKS This pair of candlesticks is a great addition to any home. They are fabricated from pewter and brass and come with two sets of brass inserts— one for standard-sized Shabbat candles and one set for traditional tapered candles. The texture is embossed using a rolling mill. Other textures are available to accent any home décor or table setting. No matter what your political standings might be, we’re sure you can all agree—these 2012 limited edition Democrat donkey and Republican elephant bottle stoppers deserve your vote! Each piece is uniquely handcrafted by skilled artisans and individually gift-boxed, making it the perfect gift for the political junkie on your gift list. The Smart Rack adjustable and foldable dish rack is a one-of-a kind innovation that makes using your dish rack possible for any combination of pots, pans, glasses, dishes, and virtually anything you clean in your sink! The four rows of prongs collapse to cater to the different shapes and sizes of all your kitchenware. Slide the drying tray out from underneath for glasses and mugs, collapse all 4 rows for pots and pans, or stack dishes, cups, bottles, and more—all at the same time. The rack completely folds into itself for quick and convenient storage. The Smart Rack comes in two nature inspired colors: grass green and bright graphite. Suggested Retail Price: $34.99 Joy Stember Metal Arts Studio [tel] 215.885.2930 www.joystember.com LS Arts Inc. [tel] 877.929.1414 www.lsarts.com Full Circle [tel] 718.305.1754 www.fullcirclehome.com VITAQUICK BY FISSLER With over 55 years of pressure cooker experience, Fissler presents the next step in “fast food”: Vitaquick®, a revolutionary pressure cooker, redesigned from the ground up. Cooks will love the German innovations that make pressure cooking more userfriendly by increasing speed, improving appearance and eliminating old pressure cooking fears. With its sleek design and innovative construction, the Vitaquick pressure cooker line is perfect for both newcomers to pressure cooking and pros alike. The UL-listed Vitaquick pressure cookers are safe, simple to use and especially easy to clean. Unlike the pressure cookers of the past, each Vitaquick pressure cooker is silent under pressure and features multiple safety mechanisms including an automatic pressure valve so you can relax while the cooker prepares perfect meals for you in no time. This series is perfect for easily preparing foods of all kinds in a healthy, gentle and nutritious manner. With the Fissler Vitaquick, consumers can feel good about eating more “fast food.” With both speed and gentle settings, even delicate foods like fish can be pressure-cooked quickly and easily— without damaging the food. Vitaquick is 100 percent made in Germany, fully dishwasher-safe and comes with a lifetime warranty. Fissler USA [tel] 888.347.7537 www.fisslerusa.com LS ARTS REPUBLICAN ELEPHANT & DEMOCRAT DONKEY BOTTLE STOPPERS 30 GIFTWARE www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 n KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW Giftware personal care Bath and Beauty (Cont. from Page 1) personal care products are re-imagining what it means to be pampered. The move toward aromatherapy products was perhaps the first major evolution in personal care gifts. Aromatherapy emphasizes the health and wellness benefits inherent in certain aromatic compounds. Bath and beauty companies are introducing specialized ingredients such as tea tree oil, rosewater, chamomile and lemongrass into their products in an effort to improve consumers’ cognitive, physical and emotional wellbeing. However, aromatherapy was really only the beginning of a larger industry move towards producing hygiene and beauty products that stretch beyond their expected tasks of cleansing, perfuming and beautifying the body. Today’s consumer has grown to expect a product that actually promotes health, longevity and mental acuity. A whole range of holistic personal care products available today claim to do everything from growing hair to preventing aging and detoxifying the skin. Many of today’s most popular personal care products and soap and spa gifts are in fact designed with spiritual benefits in mind. Consumers today can celebrate a stressed out coworker’s birthday with the gift of specially designed spa soaps, body oils, balms, lotions and creams, purportedly created from ingredients that promote revitalization, balance, harmony and bliss in life. New York-based Anjolie Ayurveda is one company that is transforming bath and beauty gifts from products that merely serve to pamper the recipient into products that revitalize and nourish both body and soul. The company’s offerings are designed around the traditional Hindu therapeutic practice of Ayurveda, the sister science to yoga. Whereas yoga focuses on the physical, ayurveda employs holistic and internal treatments to cleanse, soothe and revitalize. “What we focus on is we use ayurvedic herbs and oils that are therapeutic grade,” said Meryl Gabeler, co-owner with her mother Cary of Anjolie Ayurveda. “You’re healing the skin naturally.” Anjolie Ayurveda employs therapeutic grade essential oils and exotic herbs like Neem and Neroli in creating their signature line of soaps, body oils and body butters. The result is a pampering bath experience that combines aromatherapy and holistic medicine to nourish the skin, relax the mind and rejuvenate the spirit. As a number of personal care product companies are striving to design products that create a more therapeutic experience for the consumer, there is also a movement within the industry towards creating products that are good for the planet as a whole. Companies today are focusing on creating items that are manufactured from organic and all-natural ingredients, often obtained through sustainable farming practices, and are designing their offerings without animal testing. In many cases, these companies are even contributing in unique ways to the communities where ingredients are gathered and products are manufactured. Social and environmental sustainability is an essential element of Anjolie Ayurveda’s business model. “We started our business with the idea that we wanted to have a fair trade social enterprise,” said Gabeler. “We really wanted to promote fair trade and support women’s enterprise in India.” Anjolie Ayurveda is committed to a fair trade business practice, sourcing all ingredients not produced in the company’s own nursery directly from Indian farmers at above market price. The company promotes sustainable farming and irrigation practices and supports the communities abroad where the company operates in other ways, providing microloans to female entrepreneurs and creating new opportunities for children to go to school. For Gabeler, an important element of bath and beauty gifts today is that the user feels good using them, knowing that they are not only good for her body, but also for the planet as a whole. She said, “When you’re pampering yourself, the feeling is even greater when you’re giving back to somebody else.” LILY ORGANICS FARM FRESH SKIN CARE Lily Organics Farm Fresh Skin Care’s Balancing Facial Toner is filled with beneficial plants and herbs to make your skin radiant! Many of the ingredients are grown on Lily’s own USDA certified organic farm near Brighton, Colo. The products are then handcrafted fresh in their own USDA certified organic laboratory. The pioneers in Colorado Organic skincare, Lily Organics has been growing and making their products this way for over 26 years. Lily grows, and uses in the balancing toner, comfrey, which contains necrotic properties to help remove dead skin, tannins to reduce inflammation, mucilage that pulls severed and wrinkled skin back together and helps new skin grow, and allantoin which increases the cellular reproduction needed to make the mend. It is cells proliferate. What could be a better ingredient to use in a skin care product? The balancing toner has over nine herbs in its formulation used to clean, heal, nourish and balance the skin. Just apply with a cotton ball to remove all of the day’s stresses and residue. Lily Organics Skin Care [tel] 303.455.4194 www.lilyorganics.com VERMONT SOAP ORGANICS ORGANIC FOAMER GIFT BAG HUMIO HUMIDIFIER & NIGHT LAMP WITH AROMA OIL COMPARTMENT Evriholder recently launched Bamboo Naturals, a new product line of ecofriendly health and beauty accessories made from super soft bamboo fabrics. Featured items include a dual-sided washcloth, a naturally soothing headband, a super soft solange poof and ultramoisturizing socks—all made of earthfriendly bamboo fabrics. All items are available in bamboo green and natural taupe. These items are great for holiday gifting, everyday pampering and creating the ultimate spa experience right at home. Suggested Retail Price: Start at $5.99 Vermont Soap Organics takes Organic Castile Liquid Soap and makes it come out of the dispenser as a foam, like shaving cream. No propellants or chemical are used in the process, which forces the soap through a series of fine screens and mixes it with air. It has a wonderful feel and a smooth luxurious lather. Warning: foaming hand soap is a highly addictive organic product! You will quickly become accustomed to the luxurious feel of pure vegetable oil liquid soap foamed to perfection in a handy refillable dispenser. The gift bag includes a 7 oz. foamer and a 16 oz. refill. Suggested Retail Price: $17.67 The Tribest Humio Humidifier and Night Lamp, with aroma oil compartment, is elegantly designed to offer a soothing and relaxing ambience of shaded colors that softly illuminates and adds style to any room’s décor. Dispel stress and physical strains through subtle hints of lavender or eucalyptus essential oils. With no filters needed, the Humio helps ease the symptoms of dry skin, throat, nose and lips by improving air quality—one room at a time. Users can breathe easy and bask in the silence and serenity of the ultrasonic cool mist as they enhance the level of comfort at home. Suggested Retail Price: $99.95 Evriholder Products [tel] 800.975.0335 www.evriholder.com Vermont Soap Organics [tel] 866.762.7482 www.vermontsoap.com TribestLife [tel] 714.879.7150 www.tribestlife.com EVRIHOLDER BAMBOO NATURALS www.kitchenwarenews.com n AUGUST 2012 n UPCOMING EVENTS KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW Upcoming Events Trade Show Buzz 31 ADVERTISER INDEX America FeiTian.................................................14 A MONTHLY UPDATE ON THE GOINGS-ON AT INDUSTRY-RELATED SHOWS BY LORRIE BAUMANN Queens location has been mentioned. As I write this, I’ve just returned home from the Summer Fancy Food Show, which was blessed by nearly perfect weather for evening strolls through downtown Washington D.C. in search of culinary delights beyond those presented in the exhibit hall. You can read about the sofi award winners in Gourmet News, so I won’t belabor that here other than to extend warm congratulations to all the winners! I look forward to reading more about you and your products in future issues of Gourmet News. What I heard throughout the show from exhibitors and attendees alike was a sigh of relief that next year’s Fancy Food Show will be back in Jacob Javits Convention Center after the completion of renovations that should correct the leaky roof and lighten up the building’s interior. Exhibitors are hoping that the return to New York City will bring more visitors to the show, and everyone will be glad to be navigating Javits’ more convenient floor plan. NASFT relocated the registration area into the main lobby of the south building of Walter E. Washington Convention Center this year, but there was no way to eliminate the trek between the two sets of exhibit halls occupied by the show or the bottle-necking at the narrow escalators leading down into the underground exhibit halls. Fancy Food Show attendees will be devastated to learn that there’s a proposal afoot to demolish Javits Center in favor of a convention center to be built somewhere other than in midtown Manhattan. A TRADE SHOW This is all very much in the talking stages, but the idea has Governor Cuomo’s support, since he thinks he can get a new convention center built outside Manhattan by a private developer at no cost to taxpayers. Under the proposal he floated in his January State of the State address, Javits would be demolished to make the real estate available for redevelopment. The producers of trade shows that are now being held in Javits, which is the busiest convention center in the country, are aghast, particularly since the renovations that displaced the Fancy Food Show from Javits for the past two years are nearly finished and the extension of the subway to a new station across the street from Javits is well under way. You’ll be hearing much more about this from me in upcoming news pages of Gourmet News and in this column, but right now, the developer that had offered to build a new convention center as part of a giant casino complex in Queens has apparently backed away, and the state may be looking for bids from other gaming industry developers. In any case, Javits will still be standing next June and the Fancy Food Show crowd is grateful to be returning. In other show buzz, David Heilbrunn of Coffee Fest reports that the June show in Chicago was a tremendous success, and he’s looking forward to future June shows in the city. Actual attendance this year was 1,805 people who sampled products from 190 exhibitor booths. Christopher “Nicely” Abel Alameda of Handsome Coffee 12-15 CGTA Gift Show Toronto International Centre & Toronto Congress Centre Toronto, Canada, 800.611.6100 www.cgta.org 18-23 New York International Gift Fair + Gourmet Housewares Show Jacob K. Javits Convention Center New York, NY, 800.272.SHOW www.nyigf.com 19-22 Alberta Gift Show Northlands Agricom Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 877.281.0005 www.albertagiftshow.com 26-29 Montreal Gift Show Place Bonaventure Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 877.281.0005 www.montrealgiftshow.com S EPT EMBE R 201 2 8-10 Dallas Total Home & Gift Market Dallas Market Center Dallas, TX, 800.DAL.MKTS www.dallasmarketcenter.com Bannex International.........................................16 Bella Tavola/The Alison Group .....................12 Chef Pro/Mercantile International................25 Cook Pro Inc.........................................................6 Core Bamboo .....................................................27 Dexas International ...........................................13 Courtesy of NASFT EPIC Products ...................................................17 Essenergy Inc. .....................................................20 Fissler .............................................................11, 19 Franklin Chef USA ...........................................25 Franmara..............................................................15 Full Circle............................................................12 Global Amici ......................................................21 Hewlett Manufacturing....................................10 Lindén Sweden Inc............................................14 Roasters in Los Angeles took home the first-place trophy in the Coffee Fest 2012 Latte Art World Championship Open. Kenny Smith of Sunergos Coffee in Louisville, Ky. won second place, and Nick Van Slett of JP’s Coffee and Espresso and Midwest Barista School in Holland, Mich. won third. Congratulations to all! CALENDAR AU G UST 2 0 1 2 3-6 Kansas City Gift Show Gift Mart of Kansas City Kansas City, KS, 913.687.8059 www.giftmartofkansascity.com ARY Inc. ..............................................................23 30-Oct. 2 Fall Gift & Home Market L.A. Mart Los Angeles, CA, 800.LAMART4 www.lamart.com www.californiagiftshow.com OCT OBER 2 01 2 5-8 Kansas City Gift Show Gift Mart of Kansas City Kansas City, KS, 913.687.8059 www.giftmartofkansascity.com LS Arts Inc. .........................................................29 Mastrad ................................................................32 Parasia International............................................6 Parrish’s Cake Decorating Supplies................18 Prodyne................................................................21 R.S.V.P. International ..........................................3 SCI Scandicrafts ................................................27 Starfrit ..................................................................20 Talisman Designs .................................................4 Tribest ..................................................................23 Victorinox Swiss Army........................................2 21-23 Atlanta Fall Gift, Home Furnishings & Holiday Market AmericasMart Atlanta Atlanta, GA, 800.ATL.MART www.americasmart.com 21-23 Chicago Market Merchandise Mart Chicago, IL, 800.677.6278 www.shopchicagomarket.com 9-12 New York Tabletop Market New York Showrooms, 41 Madison, 7 West 34th, 230 Fifth Ave. New York, NY, 212.686.1203, 212.279.6063, 800.698.5617 www.41madison.com, www.7wnewyork.com, www.230fifthave.com 13-18 International Home Furnishings Market High Point, NC, 336.869.1000 www.ihfc.com Vinaroz Cookware.............................................10 Wabash Valley Farms.........................................29 Weston/Pragotrade ...........................................16 Wilshire Industries ............................................19