With the clock running down on your Christmas gift-buying days, we here at Toque Blanche thought we would share some of our and our customers’ favorites to help you out with those hard decisions.

For the bakers out there, a must have book is Elizabeth Falkner’s Demolition Desserts.  And lucky for you and them, Ms. Falkner will be here signing copies on Night of Lights Shopping Night, Thursday December 20th.  The book is full of inspired visions, many influenced by her film background and her very playful nature. 

For the “tiny chefs” in your kitchen, What’s Cooking? A Ratatouille Cookbook is a kid’s cookbook with real recipes that are approachable, healthy, and give kids a background in some classic cuisines, without losing a sense of fun.  Some great books for this time of year, and bestsellers here, are Yummy Potatoes by Marlena Spieler– the title says it all; Braises and Stews; Everyday Slow-Cooked Recipes by Torie Ritchie -- a world tour of cold weather comfort food; and Vegetable Soups by Deborah Madison -- a personal favorite, with her Black Bean and Coconut Milk soup becoming a new standard at our house.

Everyone needs a warm drink in the morning to help clear the fog – at least in our heads, if not outside.  Capresso’s Cordless Water Kettle is a work of art, as well as a very quick way of heating water for tea, and the Finum Tea Brewing Basket is the best way to get maximum flavor out of your loose teas.  It fits right in your mug, and gives the tea leaves all the room they need to extract maximum flavor.  For the coffee lover in your life, we have it every which way but decaf!  We are now featuring the Toque Blanche Blend from Outland Java; this coffee blend has the rich, smooth sweetness from Guatemalan beans, and earthy, leathery notes from sun-dried Ethiopian Sidamo beans, creating an exquisite blend that works great both in the morning, or after dessert in the evening.  For brewing your beans, we carry French Presses from Bon Jour, the Aerobie Aeropress (from Los Altos!) and Capresso Coffee and Espresso machines. 

Some of the most innovative products we’ve seen this year have been made from Silicone.  The Chef’n Silicone Steamer Insert has been a best seller since it came out; it is a far superior product than the old metal style steamer inserts, as it won’t scratch your pans, won’t rust or break, it’s dishwasher safe, and because it doesn’t have a lifting post in the middle, you can even steam a fish filet in it.  Poaching Pods for eggs are another customer favorite, and for a truly exquisite breakfast, try sprinkling some Truffle Salt over your eggs.  My favorite Pastry Brush is by Swissmar; it won’t leave bristles in your food, and with its feathered silicone, it does a great job of picking up and dispersing both solids (bits of herbs and garlic) and liquid (egg wash, butter or oil) and is super easy to clean.  Another customer favorite is the Kuhn-Rikon Magic Cover, universal lids that can be used on the stovetop, in the oven or microwave, and create an airtight seal for storage in the refrigerator. We also have a variety of collapsible colanders, funnels and measuring cups for the spatially challenged.

Come by and our wonderful staff, Stuart, Pauline, Max and Jake will share some of their favorites with you, be it tools, cookware, food (many available for sampling) and our great selection of knives.  If after all that, you still can’t decide on something for the cooks and foodies in your life, we have Gift Cards available in any denomination.

Extended Holiday Hours
December 20th Night of Lights 9:30 AM – 9:00 PM
December 21st-22nd 9:30 – 7:00
December 23rd 9:30-6:00
December 24th 9:00-5:00

Have fun Shopping and Cooking!
Happy Holidays,
Stuart and the Toque Blanche Staff