5 kitchen gadgets for holiday giving
DeLonghi toaster. Toasters are often banished to appliance garages or empty cabinets, but this new line from DeLonghi is meant to be front and center, thanks to fearless colors and retro styling. They're packed with features, too, such as wide slots (for bagels), and a rack that lets you check on doneness mid-browning and bring warm goods straight to the table without doing the hot-toast juggle. (DeLonghi kMix toaster, $99.95, at Bloomingdale's, Macy's, and delonghi.com.)
DeLonghi toaster. Toasters are often banished to appliance garages or empty cabinets, but this new line from DeLonghi is meant to be front and center, thanks to fearless colors and retro styling. They're packed with features, too, such as wide slots (for bagels), and a rack that lets you check on doneness mid-browning and bring warm goods straight to the table without doing the hot-toast juggle. (DeLonghi kMix toaster, $99.95, at Bloomingdale's, Macy's, and delonghi.com.)
- Ashley Primis
Kershaw Shun knives. There's an old superstition against giving knives as gifts (thus, the tradition of also giving a penny). But these razor-sharp Japanese blades from Kershaw are so gorgeous, with a feathered steel finish, palm-friendly D-shaped pakka wood grip, and perfect balance for control - this is the kind of gift best cooking buds are made of. Go for the 7-inch santoku for the most versatile choice, with hollow-ground dimples in the blade to minimize drag and maximize slicing pleasure. (Kershaw KAI Shun 7-inch hollow-ground santoku knife, $139.99, Fante's, 1006 S. Ninth St., 215-922-5557; www.fantes.com.)
- Craig LaBan
Vitamix blender. The Vitamix, the supercharged favorite of chefs and culinary groupies, is making inroads in home kitchens. It's pricey, but this baby can handle almost anything you throw in it: quartered oranges and apples, skin and seeds and all, kale, carrots, celery, even pineapples (do remove the outer skin, but leave the core). You can get your 5 fruits and veggies all in a single smoothie! Also makes killer gazpacho and other pureed soups and sauces. Do I need to mention frozen margaritas? (Vitamix 5200, $449 plus shipping at Vitamix.com. Also available at other retail outlets.) - Maureen Fitzgerald
Clou & Classic glass. The German porcelain maker known for its timeless fine bone china has a line of glass dinner and salad plates that will brighten your holidays with harmonic shades of apricot, bordeaux, and tomato red; or nougat, caramel, vanilla, and chocolate. (Available locally at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the dinner size is $10.95 and the salad, $8.95. www.philamuseum.org/stores. 215-684-7962; retailonlinestore@philamuseum.org.) - Dianna Marder