With wedding season in full swing, here are creative gift ideas for the culinary couple. The prices range from affordable to extravagant.
German His & Hers Flask set from The Hour Shop $200
VINTAGE BARWARE
THE HOUR SHOP
German His & Hers Dual Flask Set - $200
Stitched black and red leather case stamped His & Hers in gold lettering with cross snap closure.
D. Thorpe Sterling Band Goblets - $ 700.00
Eight mid-century trumpet goblets designed by Dorothy Thorpe.
The Hour Shop has a sizable barware collection from the 1920s to the 1970s that was made in the US by companies that no longer exist. They also have lots of new glassware and bar items, such as trays, coasters, napkins, cocktail picks, whisky stones and large ice cube molds.
Whimsey Libbey Collins Glasses $175 at The Hour Shop
"You'll be rewarded by this well-curated vintage glassware and cocktail gear store. One of the best in the country."
Derek Brown of Eat the Rich, Columbia Room, Mockingbird Hill
"This is the coolest vintage cocktail shop around. It's kind of an ode to a bar and definitely one of the coolest shops I've ever been to in my life."
Bartender Todd Thrasher of PX and TNT
"They carry a remarkable collection of gorgeous vintage glassware."
Bartender Adam Bernbach of 2 Birds, 1 Stone
1015 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
T: 703.224.4687 | thehourshop.com
Photograph courtesy of Cocktail Kingdom | The Stirred Set
NEW BARWARE
COCKTAIL KINGDOM
The Stirred Set - $88.75
Contains a premium Julep Strainer, Matte Finish, a stemless Yarai® Mixing Glass, ice cub tray, Hoffman barspoon and a Japanese-style jigger.
Tucked away on the fifth floor in a Chelsea office building, you can find everything from stemless Japanese mixing glasses to artisan bitters, unique syrups, and rare cocktail books.
"This is a personal favorite for pretty much anything needed in the bartending industry. It is a temple to all things cocktail. The shop includes a vast selection of bartending tools and quite possibly the largest library of cocktail books in the world"
Bartender Erick Castro of Polite Provisions and Boilermaker
36 West 25th Street, New York, NY 10010
T: 212.647.9166 | www.cocktailkingdom.com
UMAMI MART
This housewares boutique is owned by two Japanese women who source much of what they sell directly from Japan, as well as a few European countries.
Photograph courtesy of Umami Mart
The Goldfinger Set - $200
Gold-plated Cobbler shaker, Jigger, 2 coupe glasses, a Queen Elizabeth swizzle stick and two gold circle cocktails pin all made in Japan.
"They sell a cool combination of Japanese barware, kitchen equipment, and beautiful teaware."
Chef Russ Moore of Camino
815 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607
T: 510.575.9152 | umamimart.com
TEA SET
Photograph courtesy of Umami Mart
UMAMI MART
Mint Moss Matcha Gift Set - $100
The set contains Mizuba Tea Co.'s Daily Matcha Powder, hand-thrown Studio Arhoj bowl from Copenhagen, and a chasen whisk and scoop.
"I love Japanese pottery and tea cups and coffee cups and the attention to detail on all things Japanese. Combine that with the gentleness of the ladies that own it and it's really amazing."
Bartender Scott Baird of Trick Dog Bar
815 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607
T: 510.575.9152 | umamimart.com
HOUSEWARES
HEATH CERAMICS
Chef and restauranteur Alice Waters is known for her commitment to serving impeccable, locally-sourced ingredients, but her attention to detail not only goes into what is served on the plate, but also the plate itself. Her choice for dinnerware is the sustainable Heath Ceramics, made in nearby Sausalito, CA.
Photographs courtesy of Heath Ceramics
Dinnerware Sets - $80 to $234
"What is amazing about it is that she got this specific recipe for clay and the glazes are fired at a lower than normal temperature and they are very strong. It’s that perfect balance for ceramics."
Chef Charles Phan of Slanted Door
"It's sturdy and attractive pottery."
Chef Anne Quatrano of Bacchanalia, Floataway Café, Star Provisions, W.H. Stiles Fish Camp
FOOD
SAXELBY CHEESES
Photograph courtesy of Saxelby Cheeses
Gift Sets + Cheese of The Month Club
$25 - $800
From $25 to $260, you can give the gift of artisanal cheese. They sell gift packs which include the cheeses, jams, crackers, and a board. They also have a Cheese of the Month Club with prices that range from $115 to $800.
"Anne Saxelby is single-handedly bringing American farmstead cheese to the people."
Cheesemakers Betsy Devine and Rachel Mark of Salvatore Bklyn
"It is a really fun cheese shop with ton of great local offerings."
Chef Bryce Shuman of Primrose
120 Essex Street, New York, NY 10002
T: 212.228.8204 | saxelbycheese.com
Photograph courtesy of The Meadow
THE MEADOW SALTS
This unique boutique showcases over 100 salts from around the world, 700 artisan chocolates, 280 cocktail bitters, seasonal flowers, and housewares trinkets like salt dishes and pepper mills.
The Meadow Set + Salted - $60 - $80
Includes 6 premium salts and James Beard award-wining book Salted: A Manifesto written by owner The Meadow Mark Bitterman. The book profiles over 150 salts and includes 50 recipes.
"It's like a discovery for me and it's all very interesting, high quality, small production craftsmen that are really putting their best effort in. I'm like a big kid when it comes to stuff like this."
Chef Paul Liebrandt
523 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
T: 212.645.4633 | themeadow.com
LA BOITE SPICE BLENDS
Chef Lior Lev Sercarz is the wizard of spices with his masterful spice blends used by every chef in New York that is worth their salt.
Lior's Spice Box | Photograph courtesy of La Boite
The Global Voyager Set
The Global Voyager Set - $145
This is a collaboration between chefs Lior Lev Sercarz of La Boite and Eric Ripert of Le Bernardin. Includes 9 spice blends and 9 recipe cards by Eric Ripert.
Lior's Spice Box - $275
Includes The Art Of Blending cookbook by chef and master spice blender Lior Lev Sercarz of La Boite and 12 of his unique spice blends.
"If you're a food geek, this is a must. It was created by Lior Lev Sercarz, who is an amazing chef. He is the man every chef and every restaurant goes to for their spices. He does wonders with spice blends, like you wouldn't believe."
Chef Seamus Mullen of Tertulia
"At Le Bernardin, we only get our spice from Lior. He is a true magician with spices."
Chef Eric Ripert of Le Bernardin
724 11th Avenue, New York, NY 10019
T: 212.247.4407 | laboiteny.com
COFFEE GEAR
Technivorm
Technivorm - $335
"The coffee brewer I use when I have people over. It’s designed in a way that brews with water that is the proper temperature.”
Barista Eileen Hassi Rinaldi of Ritual Coffee Roasters
"I really enjoy a simply and well made Technivorm brew -- delicious."
Barista Michael Phillips of Blue Bottle Coffee
Duetto Espresso Machine
Alex Duetto Espresso Machine - $2,395
"For espresso at home a dual boiler system is the most important thing because you are not trying to steam milk and brew espresso with the same temperature water.”
Barista Eileen Hassi Rinaldi of Ritual Coffee Roasters
WINE & LIQUOR
Old Cappellano Barolos | Photograph courtesy of Chambers Street Wines
CHAMBERS STREET WINES
This is one of the best wine shops in the country. Buy a bottle of fine bubbly to celebrate their wedding or buy three bottles to be opened on their first, fifth and tenth anniversaries.
Wine Clubs - $194 to $700
Includes 12 bottles and the clubs are geared towards different interests like natural wines, obscure varieties, grower Champagnes and Grand Cru bottles picked by Chambers.
"Chambers is the preeminent wine store in America. I know these are big words, but they have a point of view and committed to it before it was trendy, after it was trendy and while it was trendy."
Sommelier Lee Campbell
148 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007
T: 212.227.1434 | www.chambersstwines.com
ASTOR WINES & SPIRITS
If you've heard of it, they have it. For the boozy couple, you can explore their deep selection to buy antique spirits like a unique amaro, vermouth, or a whisky from the 1970s or Armagnac from the 1930s. Don't be intimidated to ask for guidance from the knowledgable staff.
Wine Clubs - $30 to $125 per month
"There isn't a better booze wonderland than Astor Wines & Spirits. A very well curated and exceptionally extensive spirits selection, but also plenty of hard-to-find items."
Bartender Alex Day of Death & Co
399 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10003
T: 212.674.7500 | www.astorwines.com
EXPERIENTIAL EVENTS
Outstanding in the Field Dinner in The Berkshires | Photo Credit: Find. Eat. Drink.
OUTSTANDING IN THE FIELD
Outstanding in the Field is a traveling theatrical dinner event where people sit at one long table in the middle of a field. Founder Jim Denevan matches a local farmer and chef to create a unique open-air dining experience for up to 200 guests. They do the dinners in many countries around the world, including Japan and Australia.
Dinner in a field by a chef and farmer - $190 per person
Includes a reception with wine, beverages and passed appetizers, a farm tour, four seated courses with wine pairings, and all gratuities.
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