Cookaholics Bulletin Board

So,

Loot check! What cooking items are among what you got or gave for the holidays?

I am now the proud owner of a 6qt electronic pressure cooker which I need to find space for.

Nada this year, unless you count a Denby teapot which I'm not going to keep. I've wanted one for years but in the last 2 months have mainly switched over to the silk teabag herbal teas or loose teas. So the $200 for the teapot is just not worth it.
Chris and I did buy a Nespresso before Christmas though since it was a great deal.

I struck gold!

Modernist Cuisine at Home and a molecular gastronomy "chemistry set" full of tools & ingredients to play with !
2 different ravioli molds and 2 deep dish ceramic pie plates.
And a bunch of other stuff not food related.

I got a half pint ISi Whip. My poor husband ordered the 1 pint gift set, it never arrived and he called everywhere he could think of locally and no one had it in stock and no one online was in stock for shipping before Christmas. There seems to be a shortage of them out there for some reason. He ended up at the mall yesterday buying the 1/2 pint one. I hope it isn't too small for an appetizer plate of foams, and I definitely need to do some experimenting.

He also got me a cheesemaking kit which mostly included rennent and Citric Acid, both of which I have in the house (shhhhh), but it does have some chevre culture, so it will all get used.

--Lisa

The book, BEST FOOD WRITING 2013, edited by Holly Hughes - this features Kenji and at least 40 others plus a Cuisinart dish drying mat (lays flat, super absorbent) perfect for drying glasses; unusual - no wine

I received a present with a colorful insert that says,

COOK'S magazine is back and better than ever!
And, we accept no advertising.

I am shocked, shocked to inform you that the present was top rated by Cook' Illustrated. It seems that the company making this top-rated product accepts advertising from Cook's Illustrated!

I still love my new Thermapen.

Tim

Tim,

For years now I have found advertising inserts for CI tucked into all sorts of product boxes including KitchenAid appliances, All Clad cookware, the chefs choice knife sharpener, and my Thermapen too. I think my Vitamix might have had something as well...but I am less sure on that front. They may accept no advertising in the magazine, but there is a clear tie in with their top rated brands to send out ads with subscription offers along with the merchandise. Hard to believe there's no quid pro quo there.

Mostly stuff for my business: An hors d'oeuvres sized pâté mold, a stainless triangular mold which will be great for frozen desserts, flan rings (for plating, mostly), cornet forms, a couple of silicone molds, a tuille stencil and a copy of Daniel.

Amy

My daughter brought me some Splenda back from the US. That is the extent of food related gifts.

Mary

I got a Joyce Chen Carbon steel wok, a cookbook I've never heard of- the Chinese Takeout Cookbook, a new slipat, a new microplane, a bubble and brown pan, a silicone pastry brush.

My favorite non food present is linen sheets from restoration hardware. They are supposed to wear like steel.