The December Issue of Gift, Gourmet & Decor is Now Available

Dear GGD Reader,

Welcome to the December digital issue of Gift, Gourmet & Decor Magazine.


This Month's Featured Content:
• Show of Shows
• Gear Guide
• Game On
• Neutral Spring Rugs

• New Scent Products
• Dining Standards

• Calendar

New Feature:
Enchanced Page Zooming Feature Now Available-Zooming is now easier then ever!

Please Note:
GGD Digital requires NO special downloads or applications to view in its entirety.

Please click HERE to begin reading now!

We hope you enjoy this issue and all future digital issues of GGD. Feel free to contact us with your thoughts and feedback at gwnplus@talcott.com.

Sincerely,
The GGD Team

Editor's Choice: Italian Foods Corporation

I’m part of a food lovers’ book club, and we read, as you might expect, memoirs and other books about food. At our last meeting we read Garlic and Sapphires, Ruth Reichl’s memoir about her adventures as the restaurant critic for the New York Times, a book I first read — and loved — a couple years ago when I actually was a dining critic for a newspaper in Washington.

Our next book is The Man Who Ate Everything, by Jeffrey Steingarten, and it aims to hit close to home as well. After being named the Vogue food critic, Steingarten attempted to turn his dislike for certain foods, like clams, into love. This premise will carry over into our book club dinner party — we each have to make a dish that we hated when we were kids but now love.

While our dinner is still some time away, I’ve already begun thinking about what to make. Today’s product, a bell pepper and eggplant spread from the Italian Foods Corporation, has reminded me of a food that I used to avoid but now go out of my way to eat – peppers.

While I’m still not sold on green peppers (and this is something I’ve learned I’m not alone in), red peppers are one of my favorite foods. Served raw or roasted, they can be sweet or smoky, and they’re versatile ingredients. I regularly buy them at markets with no purpose in mind and create recipes around them.

So when this product landed on my desk a couple weeks ago, I took it home that night to try it. The spread is made from Italian bell peppers and eggplant in La Spezia in the Liguria region of Italy. I’ve used it to top slices of baguette and mixed it with spaghetti, and it’s delicious in both. It would be ideal on an antipasto tray, or used as a condiment on an Italian-inspired sandwich. My jar is just about empty, so I’m going to have to track down another one pretty soon. While I’m still not sure what to make for the dinner party, I think I’m on the right track.

— Amy

Innovation Headquarters At The 2011 International Home + Housewares Show

Building on the more than 500 new exhibitors at the 2010 Show, the International Housewares Association (IHA) has announced a broad range of new exhibitors slated to appear at the 2011 International Home + Housewares Show, to be held March 6-8 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

Well-known suppliers returning to the Show after a brief absence include Haier America; Lava Lite LLC; The Onecare Company; Stonewall Kitchen and Viking Range. Other returning companies include Adesso, Inc.; Gio’Lifestyle SpA; Kehe Food Distributors; Lynk, Inc.; Swiss Army; Tervis Tumbler; Viola Imports and Waechtersbach USA, Inc. Exhibiting in the new Discover Design category will be Adhoc; Blomus; Museum of Robots; Prinz Ltd. and SKS USA.

“The Show’s retail audience will welcome back these key exhibitors,” said Phil Brandl, president of IHA, which sponsors and manages the Show. “The retailer audience also told us that last year’s new exhibitors along with the thousands of new offerings from long-time exhibitors made the Show innovation headquarters for our industry.”

Among the nearly 200 new exhibitors scheduled to date are:

• Clean + Contain Expo exhibitors: Olivet International; Starmaid International and Taymor Industries.
• Dine + Design Expo: Kehe Direct and UBIFRANCE/French Trade Commission.
• Dine + Design Expo, Discover Design category: Chilewich, LLC; Cose Nouve; Denby; KOR Water; notNeutral; Stelton, Inc.; Vynebar; Wabnitz-Royal VKB and Robert Welch.
• Wired + Well Expo: Ligo Electric; Kids Line LLC; DPI, Inc.; Twin-Star International, Inc.; Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf; Elettroplastica S.p.A.; Relief POD International; Baby Brezza Enterprises, LLC; GMJ USA Inc. and Spectronics Corp.

To register for a no-charge Show badge or download a complete list of exhibitors, visit www.housewares.org.

Editor's Choice: Spicy Nothings

I'm a sucker for Indian cuisine, and a good curry is usually my take-out meal of choice. But after receiving samples of Spicy Nothings curry sauces here at the office, I might start neglecting my usual Indian joint (sorry, Marigold!) and start cooking ethnic cuisine at home.

 I brought home a jar of the Coconut Curry sauce and gave it a try the next time I was in the mood for a spicy meal. (I didn't have to wait too long... ) Preparation was simple: I boiled a few cups of rice, sauteed a cut-up chicken breast, then poured in the sauce to simmer for 10 minutes. I topped a plate of rice with the chicken/curry mixture and dinner was done.

The curry flavor was undeniable, which is a pleasant surprise from a jarred sauce. And one jar made plenty of curry — I happily had enough for two days' worth of leftovers for lunch. Next time, I'll consider mixing the curry with a bit of cream or chicken stock — I like my sauces more on the thin side. (Unusual, I know.) I'm excited to try the rest of the curry line, particularly the Spicy & Tangy Curry and the good old Classic Curry. And the sauces leave plenty of room for customization. You can add your own veggies, experiment with different proteins and even use it as a dip. The company's website, www.spicynothings.com, has plenty of recipes and suggestions for getting creative with your curry.

—Melody  

123rd Philadelphia National Candy Gift and Gourmet Show Jan. 9-11

The Philadelphia National Candy Gift and Gourmet Show will be held January 9-11, at the Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City New Jersey. Organizers say it is the most significant event that is focused exclusively on the products, services, and technology of the confectionary industry. All this is at no cost to you when you pre-register to attend. You’ll find:

* A focused and comprehensive exhibit floor, showcasing the latest products, equipment, and supplies for the gourmet confectionery industry.

* Buyer’s Drawing: At the show when you receive your Hall Badge and Show Guide you will also receive a card containing Sponsoring Exhibitors. All you have to do is visit each of the exhibitors listed on the card and have that exhibitor stamp the card. Once you’ve seen all the sponsoring exhibitors and have a fully stamped card you will place the card in a drum next to the Retail Confectioners Association of Philadelphia Booth (Booth #1 on the Floor Map). The drawing will take place on Tuesday, January 11. There is also a second chance drawing when you make a purchase from one of the sponsoring exhibitors. Prizes will be announced at the Show.

* Free seminars & demonstrations to attend before and during show hours. Including: Candy 101, Ganache Basics, The Art of Tempering, What every Retail Confectioner needs to know about advance lawsuit protection, Tax Reduction and Real Estate Planning, Basic Chocolate Molding, Ice Cream & Gelato Seminars, Confectioners Sculpting Contest, Old Fashion Taffy Demonstration to name a few.

For more details and to Register for the show visit www.phillycandyshow.com or call 888/CANDY-89 (888/226-3989).

Editor's Choice: Jelly Belly

Like probably many people, jellybeans are a favorite of mine. Growing up, they were always a special part of our Easter treats. And over the years the flavors keep expanding and they have become a year-round enjoyment.

The latest product to arrive in the office, however, takes this enjoyment to a whole new level. It is Jelly Belly Jelly Beans Chocolate Dips (www.jellybelly.com). And, yes, it is just what the name implies, jelly beans covered in chocolate — dark chocolate, to be precise. The combination is inspired and delicious.

The flavors include Very Cherry, Orange, Raspberry, Strawberry and Coconut. In the interest of accurate reporting, I sampled almost all. The chocolate taste blends perfectly into the fresh fruit taste. I found myself going back for more throughout the day. I’m told the Coconut was also delicious and also resulted in return visits. And the best part, each
jellybean is just under four calories.

The 4.15 oz. gift box would make a great gift for any occasion. There’s also a 2.8-oz. bag, for more of a take-along or office drawer snack.

—Barbara

Editor's Choice: Bigg Riggs

We all love tastes that remind us of home, so for my first editor’s choice blog, I chose two products from Bigg Riggs, a West Virginia-based company that sells jams, BBQ sauce, apple butter and other items at farmer’s markets in Northern Virginia. I hadn’t tried the products before, but I have a fondness for that part of the country, since I lived in Washington, DC for four years before relocating to Chicago this summer. I love the southern-tinged tastes you can find in that area, plus the company has a great back-story, making it a no-brainer to sample the products.

Bigg Riggs is the brainchild of Calvin Riggleman, who would reminisce about his family’s farm in Hampshire County, West Virginia to his army buddies while he was stationed in Iraq in 2003. The farm has been in the Riggleman family since the 1940s, and Riggleman’s fellow soldiers gave him the idea to jar fruits and sell them at farmers markets. Soon he added vegetables and the product line grew, eventually being sold at Whole Foods stores in Northern Virginia.

I started with the Hot Pepper Jelly, which comes in a 12 oz. jar. The jelly is the number one selling Bigg Riggs product, and with good reason — it’s a delicious concoction of sweet and heat that’s perfect slathered on a cracker with a bed of cream cheese. It’s accessible for different palates, so you’ll still appreciate it if spicy food isn’t your thing.

I also tried the Strawberry Biscuit Fixer, a charmingly named classic jam that has as many uses as you can think up. I tried a bite right out of the 12 oz. jar, and it has a fresh-made taste that isn’t too sweet. Try it on morning toast, in a nostalgic peanut butter and jelly sandwich or even as an ice cream topping. Jams are made with pure cane sugar and all Bigg Riggs products are made with all-natural ingredients.

Each jar is $6, and you can learn more about Bigg Riggs on their web site.

— Amy