Posted on Mon, 21 Nov 2011

Kitchen-Love This X’mas!

Gifts for the kitchen are always a hit – at least in my books. Here are some lovely ideas that we have received.

KITCHEN AID - KitchenAid brings in it’s Platinum collection with a Stand Mixer that comes in 8 new colours and a Blender in 5 new colours and a Coffee Maker in Contour Silver – all just in time for Christmas. The metal finish originally meant as a limited edition 90th Anniversary collection gathered such a positive response that a new collection was designed with the same features in new colours and a rich, metallic finish. The new Stand Mixer has a glass bowl with a pour spout and measurement markings, unique Flex Edge Beater for more thorough, faster ingredient incorporation, a tilt-head design for easy bowl access and a bowl capacity for eight to nine cups of flour plus a 10-speed slide control ranges from a very slow stir to a fast whip and a 67-point planetary mixing action spirals to 67 different touch points within the bowl for quick, complete mixing and the highest beater-to-bowl coverage in the industry. Every model includes three basic accessories: a flat beater for mixing batters or mashing potatoes; a dough hook for kneading everything from soft dough to stiff pizza dough; and a wire whip for beating egg whites and whipping cream. See www.kitchenaid.com

BOBBLE FAMILY – For the whole family there is the Bobble, a stylish, reusable, patented water bottle that filters water as you drink. Made in the USA and designed by renowned industrial designer Karim Rashid, bobble features carbon filters that are a proven, powerful chemical absorbent. As water passes over them, the negative ions of contaminants are drawn to the carbon granules, where they remain. This removes chlorine and organic contaminants from public tap water, leaving the filtered water with a cleaner, crisper taste with a quality that meets or exceeds NSF International Standard 42, the standard that governs public and private drinking water globally. There is something for everyone in the family, size-wise this year from the mini to the large bobble. Available at GOD, City Super, ThreeSixty, Great, Bookazine, Jason’s Market Place, Log-On, Jusco, Homeless, FrancFranc, Bals Tokyo, Gigasports and California Fitness outlets or online at www.waterbobble.com.

COFFEE BEAN LOVER – There really are still many people who are not capsule converts which means that the bean lover will like German brand Severin’s latest coffee machine which has partnered with Hong Kong’s Pacific Coffee to launch a line of coffee makers authentically made in Germany, which will be available for purchase at selected Pacific Coffee outlets around Hong Kong. Prices start at HK$700 for the basic Cafe Style maker which makes 10 cups of coffee and the premier model the Cafe Caprice Thermoline goes at HK$1600 and makes 8 cups. Sold separately are the induction Milk Frother at HK$1200 and Coffee Grinder HK$500. From 1 to 31 Dec, get a pack of Pacific Coffee Beans (whilst stocks last) when you buy one of these beauties. See: www.severin.com

BAILEYS® LATTE MUGS - I have been hunting down the Bailey’s Fondue Set which came in two years ago with the Bailey’s Christmas collection and I guess what they say about you snooze, you lose applies because if you like collectibles, don’t wait on this one. Bailey’s has two lovely cafe latte mugs that come free with your favourite Winter warmer (at least, it’s mine). Make a cup of caffe latte by adding heated milk into hot coffee, then pour in 50ml of BAILEYS® Original Irish Cream and serve it in one of the BAILEYS® Latte Mugs or pour BAILEYS® Mint Chocolate can be poured on top of vanilla ice-cream, creating a complex yet smooth flavour for a Christmassy after-dinner treat.

GO NUTS - If you know a nut lover, here’s the ultimate gift a Stephen James Gift Basket filled with luxury organic goodies including Energy Bars, Volcanic Pili Nuts and Saffron-Pink Himalayan Salt packaged together with a bottle of Moet & Chandon champagne. Email: info@sjluxury.com or phone +852 2522 1095.

SMOOTH SOUNDS TO SEVVA – You had a great time at Sevva atop the 25th floor of Prince Building in Central .. you loved the cakes, you loved the view and you just wanted to wrap the whole thing up and bring it home. Well now you can as Sevva has launched its own CD entitled SEVVA Sounds Volume 1, a collection of sophisticated mood tracks with pop, funk jazz and bossa nova with artists like Toco, Pamela Joy, Tony Desare right up to Aaron Neville, Mousse, Club des Beluga and Tony Galla. This first edition of SEVVA sounds mark a return to the music scene for SEVVA’s owner Bonnie Glokson who in the mid 90s hosted a popular local radio and released a sought after alum of her favourite songs. Perfect to set the ambience at home when you use all your new kitchen toys above to play host!