Culinary Muse

Twelve Days of Gift Giving: Days Ten, Eleven, Twelve

Okay, so we are cheating just a wee bit. We are combining the last three days into one because somehow time got away from us and we are doing our best to maintain our culinary cool. This is that point during the holiday season where I throw up my hands and say ‘who cares if not every gift has a bow on it?’ (Both dog and husband run for cover). Quickly followed by the phrase ‘my glass is empty, please fill it’.

The gift I am proposing for these last three days is the gift of peace and calm that only you can give yourself and the ones you love. I promise, no one will really notice if the gift doesn’t have a bow on it. And if you haven’t had time to get the gift, give them a call and tell them you love them.

Have a great holiday, dear readers. Cheers.

Twelve Days of Gift Giving: Day Nine

On the ninth day we take a nap so that we can stay up late and spend the evening listening to ONLY WILD WOMEN GET THE BLUES on KCSM 91.1 FM radio. This is the 15th year that Alisa Clancy and Kathleen Lawton have hosted this rowdy evening of blues and jazz. Always scheduled for the Friday before Christmas, the program begins at 9 pm. Put the kids to bed first as it can get raucous once these gals have had a couple glasses of fake pink champagne. While you are there, why not make a donation to support this commercial free jazz station -a great present for the jazz lovers on your gift list.

Twelve Days of Gift Giving: Day Eight

On this eighth day of gift giving we would like to suggest that you get yourself over to the WARMING HUT at Crissy Field and check out their wonderful gift selections. Especially in the chocolate area. Hot Fudge sauce by FUDGE IS MY LIFE, the new 2008 Chocolate Guide to the Western United States (check out page 120 for my funny tale of paying for a cab ride with chocolate), and an assortment of chocolate packaged in beautiful tins depicting scenes from San Francisco.

Twelve Days of Gift Giving: Day Seven

For the truly devout chocolate lover may we present a very special offering from our dear friends at Holy Orders? The CHOCOLATE GIFT BAG contains the following:
-One 1 pound box of Chocolate Fudge Royale made by the Brigittine Monk in Amity, Oregon
-One 14 ounce box of Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Meltaways made by the Trappistine Nuns of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey, Dubuque, Iowa
-One 9 ounce box of Chocolate Coated Caramels made by the Trappistine Nuns of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey.

Have you heard of HOLY ORDERS? They offer a variety of quality products (not just chocolate) made with love at monasteries around the world. Treat yourself to a ride around the LABYRINTH with Sister on her red tractor while listening to a Gregorian Chant. Sister is happy to be able to help her Bay Area friends by offering UPS Ground next business day delivery.

Twelve Days of Gift Giving: Day Six

For those of you who will be spending this chilly weekend Christmas shopping in Palo Alto, why not treat yourself to a very special ‘Warm Me up’? QUATTRO RESTAURANT AND BAR in the Four Seasons Hotel has just introduced their Chocolate Bliss menu of hot chocolates for the holiday season to be served along with the lunch and dinner dessert menus. You sit back, relax and choose from six different housemade chocolate truffles using an assortment of the world’s finest chocolates. The truffle is served on a looped handled spoon next to an empty hot toddy cup. You place the truffle in the cup and your server pours in hot, rich milk. Stir and sip. With combinations like Amedei Toscano Couverture 29% White Chocolate with a hint of peppermint and crème de menthe you will be ready to face those long shopping lines.
And if you can't get there this month the menu will be offered through the end of January.