Category: Serving

Ice In Wine, No; Wine In Ice, Yes

Exaco Nice Ice Cooler

It may be a faux pas to put ice in wine, but there’s certainly nothing wrong with putting wine in ice. Especially when it looks this good. A big chunk of ice is always impressive, and sticking a bottle of wine through the center of it makes it even more so. That’s exactly what the Exaco Nice Ice Cooler can do for you. Part mold, part centerpiece, the contraption creates a tall cylindrical ice sculpture with room for a bottle of wine. Melting into the included base over a period of 6-hours (in a 70-degree environment), the novel wine cooler should (one would hope) last a lot longer than that bottle of wine it is meant to chill.

Bring The Buffet Home

Maxi-Matic EWM-6622 Elite Gourmet Double Buffet Server and Warmer

Who doesn’t like a buffet? Hot food, ready to go, just waiting to be scooped out for eager diners. Take what you want—as much as you want—and come back for seconds when ready. It’s a great concept, and one that doesn’t make the jump to home use nearly enough. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

At $39.99, the Maxi-Matic EWM-6622 Elite Gourmet Double Buffet Server and Warmer is affordable enough to pick up for everyday use. Measuring 17-inches by 18.5-inches with a depth of 5-inches, the dual 2.5-quart stainless-steel serving device tempts those around the party spread to pile their plates high. Or, you know, for you to keep an endless supply of mashed potatoes and gravy on the counter.

Shake It Up, Don’t Clean It Up

Heritage Mint Lock & Lock Small Sauce

Making a homemade salad dressing is easy enough: just select some ingredients and shake it up. Except it is not so easy when all that oil and vinegar splashes to the floor due to improperly sealed containers. As much as cutting corners is a time-honored kitchen tradition, sometimes it just doesn’t make sense; especially when there are alternatives available.

The Heritage Mint Lock & Lock Small Sauce is a 17-ounce container designed for easy (and safe) salad and sauce making. Featuring a 4-hinge locking lid system that effectively prevents accidental spills, the dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe container makes it easy to whip up homemade salad dressing even for the most enthusiastic of shakers.

A Party Tray For The Undecided

Party Traveler Set

Many people have one party treat that is their go-to creation for potlucks. And then, some people can never make up their mind. Whichever side of the fence one happens to fall on, the last thing anybody wants is to be restricted by equipment. When it comes to party treats, oftentimes that means getting the hors d’oeuvres to the party. (After all, there is a reason those crazy cake challenges on TV require the elaborate creations to be carried across the stage.) No matter what creation you’re inspired to bring, the Party Traveler Set can help you get it there.

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Magma Hot Plate Keeps Its Cool

Magma Hot Plate

One aspect of preparing a meal that always requires some coordination is the capability to keep hot food, well, hot. After the juggling act is completed, and all the elements of a dish survive hot and ready to be served, there is one last thing to consider: seconds.

Reaching across the table and grabbing a second pork chop is made much more enjoyable if that chop is hot. But if you’re going to keep a hot serving platter on hand while dining, a trivet of some sort is necessary to protect the table. Might as well make it one that helps to keep food at a serving temperature. With a 2-3 minute spin in the microwave, the Magma Hot Plate absorbs enough heat to be kept at the table as a warming device. A heat-resistant base protects tabletops, making this hot plate/trivet combination an easy choice for doing double duty at the dining table.

Win Friends With Salad

Oxo Good Grips Salad Dressing Shaker

Homer Simpson, the sage of a generation said, “You don’t win friends with salad.” While this sentiment might be all well and true, perhaps it is time to consider the salad dressing as the source of all the missed connections. After all, the stuff you find in a bottle at the supermarket in no way compares to homemade. The problem is, while it may be easy to whip up a batch of oil and vinegar, storage and serving usually requires a little more effort.

The Oxo Good Grips Salad Dressing Shaker may not actually win you any friends, but you certainly won’t lose any either. Featuring a wide opening on top, and cup, milliliter and ounce measurements marked on the sides, the salad shaker makes it easy to make your own salad dressing. For serving and storing, the watertight accessory has a flip top lid that lets you shake, serve and store all with one container. And of course, you could always use it as a marinade shaker for meats.