Holiday Gift Suggestions, Chapter 2: Gadgets and Appliances (podcast as well)

Posted on December 9, 2008 by Don Genova

Green Pan Stockholm Skillet It's time once again for my annual kitchen gadget parade for holiday gift giving.  And once again major thanks go to Fontaine Wong at Ming Wo Cookware in downtown Vancouver for some excellent suggestions.

It's a long list this year, but here we go, along with some suggested retail prices. I've tried to put in as many items as we talked about on the air and in my podcast,(listen to the podcast here) apologies if some are missing, contact Ming Wo for further details.

Greenpan Skillets: Greenpan brings you the latest development in non-stick cookware. Thermolon coated cookware.   In contrast to classical PTFE-based  non-stick technology, “Thermolon” non-stick coatings contain NO toxic substances that could be released at high temperatures.Skillets available in several sizes   7 ½|”- 11”  Priced  $59.99 – $89.99

Epicurean Recyled Boards Epicurean Boards:  These boards are made with recycled cardboard, giving them a warm, natural nutmeg appearance.

Knife Friendly,  Stain and Heat resistant
Dishwasher safe and NSF approved
$21.98 – $39.98

Epicurean Gripper Boards Epicurean Gripper Boards
Perfect solution for working on smooth or damp preparation surfaces. Corner Silicone grippers elevate the board off your countertop while securing it in place and preventing it from slipping under the knife. The grippers are removable and the boards dishwasher safe.

Variety of sizes and gripper colors
$28.98 – $42.98

Smood Masher Red Smood Masher  from Dreamfarm

·    Coiled like a spring, this masher creates smooth mash in seconds effortlessly.
·    Food is trapped and forced thru the thin gaps between the collapsing stainless steel coils.
·    Unique spring design absorbs any pounding impact and eliminates jarring on the wrist.
·    Silicone scraper makes it easy to clean the pot or bowl and is heat resistant to 260’C.
·    Soft multi-grip handle and is ergonomically designed to be held in several comfortable positions

Great for potatoes, avocado, baby food and even pumpkin.
$29.98  

Cdn 2 in 1 Probe Thermometer 2 in 1 Probe Thermometer   
Perfect for all types of roasts, meat and poultry
Oven and grill friendly
·    Pre-programmed & Programmable settings for different meats & tastes
·    Instant readout of internal temperatures during cooking
·    Two probes, one flip down on unit, one probe with sensor cable 39”/ 1 metre  Heat resistant
·    Big Digit Readout
·    Dual progress display
·    Color coded scale : for meats, rare to well done
·    Batteries included 2 Triple A, 5 year limited warranty
·    Malfunction alerts if the probe is disconnnected

$49.98 

Microplane Citrus Tool Green Microplane Ultimate Citrus Tool
Three in one zester, Garnish cutter and Scoring blade
Versatile tool features:
·    surgical grade stainless fine microplane blade to zest  flavourful and aromatic peel of citrus fruit. 
·    Two decorative garnishing blades large and small to make restaurant style garnishes in seconds.
·    Whimsical colors to brighten up the kitchen, yellow, lime and orange. Add a little zest to your entertaining and cooking. For avid cooks and cocktail enthusiasts.
$19.98

Silicone Pinch Holders

Silicone Pinch Holders from Trudeau   
Secure non-slip grip / thumb and finger guard
Silicone Heat safe to 482 degrees F
Ideal for handling hot plates, grabbing items out of the microwave
$3.98

Animal Potholder Animal Pot Grips
Silicone Grips for handling hot casseroles, pot handles, utensils.
Fun Animal shapes, Monkey, Frog, Pig 
Heat resistant up to 500’F/260’C   Dishwasher safe
$5.98

Hutzler Purple Onion Saver Onion Keepers
Contain food odours while keeping them fresh and moist.
Made to look like the food item, eg Onion,
Keep your onions fresh and never lost or forgotten in the fridge.
Made of plastic, simply twist the top and bottom to attach.
Airtight and dishwasher safe.  (Garlic keepers available as well)

$4.98 each

Good Grip Containers Filled
Good Grip POP Containers
-    Are airtight, stackable and space-efficient.  Keeps your kitchen organized and your dry foods fresh.
The Containers have a unique push-button mechanism that creates an airtight seal with just one touch.  They’re designed for modular stacking.
Comes in assorted square and rectangular sizes and can be used in all areas of your home or office.   BPA FREE

 
Mu Dish cloth w scrubber Mu Scrubber Dish Cloth
·    combines a high quality microfibre dishcloth with a durable built in scouring scrubber.  
·    Lifts and traps food for faster clean-up
·    Quick drying -10 X faster than standard cloths, reducing bacterial growth< Environmentally friendly
·    100% microfilament polyester
·    12 x 12”    Asstd Vibrant colors $6.98

Mu Tea Towel

Mu Tea Towel
·    Ultra soft and lint free, Quick drying Microfibre
·    Super absorbent – holds 7 X its weight in liquid
·    Non-abrasive and safe on virtually any surface
·    Cleans and polishes   $8.98

Tovolo Spatulart

Silicone Spatulas
·    Sturdy enough for mixing heavy batter, curved edge shaped to
Fit mixing bowls and straight edge to scrape sides of pots
·    Heat resistant up to 600’F/315’C    Foodsafe
Asstd colors & logos,   Hot Stuff Red Chili, Yummy Pink Ice Cream
Hot Stuff Red Chili,  Yummy Pink Ice Cream 
$11.98      

Breville Die Cast 4 Slice Smart Toaster

And now a couple of appliances.  Stuff that you use every day should be well-designed and durable.  Here are two that fit that bill:

Breville Die Cast Toaster
2 or 4 slice
Intelligent one-touch auto lowering
Dual Independent Toast Control  ( on 4 slice model)
Toasting Progress LED panel
Variable Browning control
Auto Life & Look, A Bit More Control
Defrost, Bagel, Cancel features
$109.99 – $149.99

Cuisinart Convection Oven Tob 195
Cuisinart Exact heat Convection Toaster Oven Broiler
Features:
Precise Temperature Control
Convection Bake  Cooks 33% faster than conventional method
Conventional Bake : capacity can hold a 12" Pizza
Broil
Toast feature up to 6 slices
.6 cubic foot capacity
$189.99

Posted in Holiday Programming, My Podcast | 5 Comments

New Postings to FoodTV.ca

Posted on December 8, 2008 by Don Genova

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 I  have two new postings up at FoodTV.ca for you two check out.  One features Anthony Sedlak of The Main on Food Network Canada, (pictured at left) and the other posting is about the West Coast Christmas Show recently held in Abbottsford.  If you are ever looking for any of my older postings at FoodTV.ca, just click this link and you will be taken to a search page on that website that will list all of the stuff I've written for the site.

Posted in FoodTV.ca | 1 Comment

Holiday Gift Suggestions, Chapter 1: Food

Posted on December 2, 2008 by Don Genova

Cracker Today on BC Almanac my chat and phone-in with Mark Forsythe is all about food gifts and tips for the holidays.  I wanted to concentrate on as many local products as possible, so here are the links to the products I featured:

Crackers from Lesley Stowe Fine Foods and Gone Crackers.
Those are both BC companies.

Artisan Crisps from Ace Bakery in Toronto.

Bees Honeys from Honeyview Farm in Rosedale, BC.
Albacore tuna antipasto, chutneys and spreads from Artisan Edibles in Parksville.

I'm all about flavour this year.  Cut down the quantities, increase the quality, go for intense flavours and you don't need to eat so much…try lots of little things so you get variety and can compare different foods in the same vein.

Cheese Cheese…head to a good cheese shop where you can get a little taste of the cheese before you buy a larger chunk, and then purchase in 100 or 200 gram chunks.  A little bit of strong flavoured cheese will go a long way.

Some of the shops I know quite well include:
Les Amis Du Fromages, in Vancouver.
Hilary's, in Cowichan Bay, Vancouver Island.
And McLean's Specialty Foods in Nanaimo.

Cm023 Cured meats:  Wow!  Sky is the limit here.  If it's one thing I learned in Italy is that a little cured meat can go a long way.  Some of them can be quite pricy, but for something like prosciutto di Parma, you ask to have it sliced paper thin and you'd be surprised how many slices you get in 100 grams and how much flavour there is in each slice.

Olives…You will be a popular person if you bring a selection of olives or serve them.  Again, you can buy them in small packages with widely varying tastes, oil-cured, brine cured, dried, Italian, Spanish, Moroccan.

Breads:  Seek out the local bakery and get different kinds of baguettes made with different kinds of grains, do the same with crackers….talk about locally made and Canadian crackers.

Vinegars and Oils:  Again, there's a huge range here with lots of opportunity to score points with a gift, or as a host, to make up a 'tasting station'.  Don't restrict yourself to olive oil, you can now try avocado oil, and some good quality nut oils to dip into bread.  Vinegars, go beyond balsamic to sherry vinegar, some of the Chinese red and black vinegars. But don't forget the Vancouver Island-made Venturi-Schulze balsamic vinegar.  Buy direct from the winery to cut your costs.

Chocbar180x1201 Chocolate…lots of places have little sampler packs with different flavours, or now, different countries, single plantations, variety of cocoa mass. Milk to dark to DARKER!

Patronize your local chocolate makers as well as your local coffee roasters…they are popping up all over the province.

Coconut Marshmallows from Butter Baked Goods in Vancouver.

Ebean Ethical purchases:  Fairly traded coffee from places like Ethical Bean and chocolate, dried fruits.  A share in a future side of beef or locally raised pig?

Home made gifts:
Spiced nuts.  Easy.  If you are in places like the Okanagan, Fraser Valley or parts of Vancouver Island, you can find local nuts.
Simmering pot pourri – Take the zest from lemons, limes, oranges, cut into thin strips, let dry.  Mix with cardamom pods, star anise, broken cinnamon sticks, cloves.
Chicken liver pate.  Better than it sounds
Small batches of jams made with frozen fruit you stored in the summer
Apple chutney made from local apples
Homemade cranberry sauce
Put some of these together in a gift basket…or just get a neat looking plate or bowl from the Thrift Shop and dress it up with some bright winter foliage.

Next week:  Kitchen Gadgets and Appliances

Posted in Announcements, Current Affairs, Food and Drink, Holiday Programming | Leave a comment

Christmas Programming Begins….now!

Posted on December 1, 2008 by Don Genova

IMG_0585 Time to get those martini shakers shaking and those cocktails pouring!  …and baking and eating and shopping, and all those good things associated with the holidays.

For the next four Tuesdays, beginning Dec. 2nd, I'll be appearing live on CBC Radio's BC Almanac with tips and suggestions to get your through the food part of the holiday season.

Tuesday, Dec. 2nd, 1pm:  Food gifts and food entertaining suggestions.

Tuesday, Dec. 9th, 1pm: Kitchen gadget and appliance picks.

Tuesday, Dec. 16th, 1pm:  Cookbook and food literature suggestions.

Tuesday, Dec. 23rd, 12:30pm (time on this one to be confirmed):  How to live a sustainable food life in 2009.

Make sure you come back to this blog to get the details on my suggestions and links to appropriate websites. There will also be new All You Can Eat podcasts with more in-depth coverage of my suggestions.

Posted in Announcements, Food and Drink, Holiday Programming | Leave a comment

The Kitchen Diaries, the Final Chapter: It’s finished!

Posted on November 30, 2008 by Don Genova

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Dear Mike…Before and After.  You must have thought the whole project imploded or exploded or something, since it's been so long since I provided an update.  Well…whatever.  Things inched along, and then rapidly moved to completion, and it has been a struggle ever since to get the kitchen (less so the bathroom) into a place where we can work in there having everything just where we want it and remember where we put everything!

There is still a whole bunch of crap in our pantry downstairs that used to live in the kitchen area upstairs.  Over the next month we are going to go through it.  If we haven't used it or thought about it in the almost two and half years that it has been packed away, it's going to get jettisoned.  Of course I won't be getting rid of my mother's teacup collection and a few other things, but we honestly don't have that much room left in the new space, and we're really trying to keep clutter to a minimum.  That being said, I still have a whole wish list of new things that would finish off the kitchen, just so.

Oh yeah, and the bathroom.  It's really difficult to do the bathroom justice in two photos, so I have posted a whole bunch of before and after photos of the kitchen and the bathroom and captioned them in order in a Facebook album.  You don't even have to be a member of Facebook to look at them.  Just click here, and ALL will be revealed.  Including how much the project went overbudget.  But all in all, we are EXTREMELY happy with the way things have worked out.  Come and visit, and you'll see!

Posted in Kitchen and Bath Renovations | 2 Comments

Why I Like Living in Vancouver, sometimes…

Posted on November 26, 2008 by Don Genova

For the past 8 weeks I've been coming to Vancouver just for Mondays and Tuesdays to teach my writing class at UBC.  Wednesday mornings I'm on an early ferry back home to Vancouver Island. It doesn't leave much time to enjoy the city.  This week, however, I'm spending the whole week in Vancouver because of an assignment in Abbottsford on Sunday.  So today I took the opportunity to get my eyes tested, which I hadn't had done in at least 3 years.  I walked to the eye doctor since I knew I would be getting my pupils dilated and didn't want to make even a short drive slightly 'impaired'.

The test went fine, my eyes haven't changed that much so I don't have to spend another $800 on new glasses.  I decided to take my time heading back home, seeing as how I was still quite dilated and didn't want to sit in front of the computer squinting at a bright screen.

So I went into the Book Warehouse and squinted at books, picked up Julia Child's autobiography about the time she spent in France in the 40's and 50's, and an Ian Rankin Inspector Rebus mystery.

IMG_0102Second stop:  A Chinese food restaurant, a 'step above' hole in the wall. I bought a big bowl of glistening slices of bbq pork, served in noodles bathed in a mild broth, accented with a couple of spears of just-cooked bright green broccoli, and a carefully sliced sprinkle of green onions. ($6.95)  The best part of this multicultural adventure was that I could sip on a bottle of Belgian Stella Artois ($3.50)to enjoy with my Chinese food, read how Julia learned about the pedigrees of various French butters, and ogle a young Japanese woman who took the whole Catholic schoolgirl look to an anime extreme!

Then my iPhone rang.  Much to my surprise, it was a charming representative from BC Ferries!  I had filled out an online survey complaining about lack of a 'frequent user' discount or incentives, lack of info on upcoming fare discounts, and lack of a good system to keep my profile on file for ease of making reservations.  She reassured me that they are looking at a frequent user program, the planned discounts (30%) for December and January are happening, but they can't do anything about the reservations profile.  Hmmm…2 out of 3 ain't bad.

IMG_0104 After picking up a few groceries, I decided to walk home through 'The Forest'. This is part of the University of British Columbia Endowment Lands and a path I had never been on before.  It was amazing! Pools of water reflecting moss and salal and ferns, mushrooms all over the place, although none edible.  I did come across some boletes, (edible) but they were well past their prime, their spongy caps riddled with worms and slowly decaying back into the forest floor from whence they came.

This part of the forest is amazing, you can see the huge stumps of trees that were cut down probably 80 or 100 years ago, scars in the trunks where loggers cut notches to insert boards so they could balance on them to start cutting where the tree wasn't so thick.  So many of them have rotted from the inside out, so all you see are the eerie hollow shells of the scarred trunks.

I tried taking some photos with my iPhone, (here's the album) but between the low light conditions and my blurry vision, I'm afraid they didn't turn out that well!

Still, I think they give you the idea of the wild nature of the forest….which was spoiled a little bit by being able to glimpse the UBC Golf Course just off to the north.  At a certain point nature started to call, the kind of nature I wanted to take care of in a warm apartment, so I whipped out my iPhone once again at the next trail intersection and took a more direct path back to civilization.

As it happens My day was made complete by meeting Ramona for an evening event featuring Mary Lou Finlay of CBC Radio and Television fame talking about her book about her years on As It Happens.  Ah, Vancouver!

Posted in Current Affairs | 2 Comments