Party News and Ideas

Gift baskets are out of date!  Or is it that they’re just boring?  My fervent hope is that you’ll eventually come to the conclusion that both statements are wrong.  I’m actually a gift food merchant.  Kind of has a special ring to is, doesn’t it?  While I agree that it’s not quite the same as being a test pilot or a neurosurgeon, it’s an honest way to pay for tuition for my grandson.  Or at least it would be a good way to do so if more of you bought my products.

I can read your mind: “All of his gift problems are solved; he just gives the same boring baskets year after year to everyone.”  I want to disabuse you of your smug attitude!  I actually have the same problems you have in deciding what gift is best for everyone on my list.

I do not give food filled bundles of joy to my entire gift list.  However, even if I did, the choice would still not be easy.  At my store, we offer scores of fruit baskets, gourmet meals, wine gift baskets and far more than that, even.  (I know what you’re thinking right now, “Please, oh please, just tell me where this wonderful paradise is located so that I can go there to buy your most expensive offerings for everyone on my gift list!”  A little patience is called for on your part.)

Before you bribe me (or threaten me) to share my store location with you, I want to tell you about my own decision making approach.

My first step is to decide on the appropriate category of gift from the many choices.  If Uncle Milton has his drinking problem under control for the first time in ten years, I should not even consider the wine baskets.  Instead, I’ll opt for a fruit basket with something seasonal.  After years of ignoring the nutritional value of what he consumed, he could use a few extra servings of fruit in solid form.

Dear, dear Aunt Mildred is a great wine talker.  I don’t think she truly enjoys sipping her wine, but she loves to try to impress everyone with what she knows about it.  She loves to let everyone know the best vintage years, the kinds of grapes that are used in various blends and, most of all, how much she spent on the wine you just spilled all over her new carpeting ( a square yard).  I’ll give her one of my better wine gift baskets, but I refuse to give her the best stuff.  Sure, I get it wholesale, but I still have to pay for it!

Everyone in our family, except me, says that my nephew Alfred finally made his girlfriend an honest woman.  I, on the other hand, never doubted his girlfriend’s honesty, but I have some reasons to suspect Alfred.  In any case, they finally got married.  Frankly, it’s about time.  It took him eight years to decide that she was worth parting with enough money to pay for a diamond and another five when he found out that it is customary to pay the minister who performs the ceremony.  What he wants is a check.  There’s no way that I’m satisfying that desire.  His wife wouldn’t get a dime of it.  Instead, they’re getting a meal of live lobsters and the trimmings from me.  Actually two, of course.  My thinking is that this is the only way to get his bride out of the kitchen.  Alfred would never pay for a restaurant meal, so, in a sense, I’m sending the restaurant to them.

Second, I decide how much I’m willing to spend on these losers.

My grandson is getting the latest video game system.  Let’s face it; he is truly special.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Technorati Tags: food gift, fruit basket, gift basket, gift idea, gourmet meal, wine gift basket

You know that guy in your life who never seems lucky in love or in life, in general.  Certainly you have such a friend; it seems that all of us do.

The gift recommendation that I’m about to make for him is rather expensive, so be prepared.  I assure you, though, that you will discover it’s a very good investment on your part.  Maybe it’s your son, or nephew, or uncle or your roommate who just refuses to leave.

Try giving him a truly romantic dinner without having to leave the house or apartment.  Hopefully he’ll be able to find some date with whom to share it.  Let’s face it, nothing sweeps a potential partner off his or her feet quite like a private, romantic, home made dinner.  I really do have a particular friend in mind as I write this, and he needs all the help I can give him, and I’m sure your similar friend does, too.  You may need to be very specific when you give him your gift and the instructions to go with it.  Remind him to light candles, choose the music for him and suggest he pick up his dirty socks.

Start with a gift of a gourmet cheese for the beginning course  If he is capable of slicing a couple pears or apples, suggest that as well.  He can serve this course as a finger food or at the dining table as the formal beginning of the meal.

The second course should be a fine, gourmet lobster dinner a different seafood dinner or perhaps a combination of steak and lobster.  Since this man needs so much help, you will want to be certain that the lobster is as fresh as possible.

Tell him to cap off the evening with a magnificent, gourmet turtle cheesecake.  Or, if he does not like chocolate, then select the more traditional New York cheesecake, decorated with a sprig of fresh mint.

If he drinks alcoholic beverages, do not trust him to choose the wine for the dinner.  Lobster is sufficiently robust that it is perfectly safe to offer a bold wine.  He might consider a Burgundy or Merlot, although if he is not very adventurous, then perhaps a Chardonnay would be better for him.

Now, sit back and wait for the inevitably coming wedding invitation.  If it doesn’t arrive within six months, just find another friend.  That will be much easier.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Technorati Tags: fresh lobster, gourmet cheese, gourmet cheesecake, gourmet dinner, gourmet meal, imported cheese, live lobster, lobster, lobster dinner, new york cheesecake, turtle cheesecake

We all have at least one friend who is completely worthless in the kitchen.  Actually, if you don’t have a friend like that, read on, because I have enough friends who meet that description to share at least one of mine with you.

I probably should tell you in advance that you better be very fond of this friend, because the gift idea that I’m going to offer is a bit on the costly side, although worth every penny.  Perhaps that nameless man is your roommate, your cousin or even your own son who you can seem to get to move out of your house, even after you paid for four years of college.

Try giving him a truly romantic dinner without having to leave the house or apartment.  Hopefully he’ll be able to find an appropriate date with whom to share it.  Let’s face it, nothing sweeps a potential partner off his or her feet quite like a private, romantic, home made dinner.  I really do have a particular friend of mine in mind as I write this, and he needs all the help that I can provide, and I’m sure your similar friend does, too.  You may need to be very specific when you give him your gift and the instructions to go with it.  Remind him to light candles, choose the music for him and suggest he pick up his dirty socks.

He can begin the evening with the first part of your present, a fine gourmet cheese for the beginning course  If he is capable of slicing a couple pears or apples, suggest that as well.  This course can actually be a nice appetizer, before they are actually seated at the dining table.

For the main course, present him with a certificate for a fine lobster dinner a different seafood dinner or perhaps a combination of steak and lobster.  As noted, this guy needs plenty of help, so the fresher the lobster the better.

End the evening with a delicious, turtle cheesecake.  Or, if he does not like chocolate, then select the more traditional New York cheesecake, decorated with a sprig of fresh mint.

You might also recommend a fine wine, if he consumes alcoholic beverages.  Lobster is sufficiently robust that it is perfectly safe to offer a bold wine.  He might consider a Burgundy or Merlot, although if he is not very adventurous, then perhaps a Chardonnay would be better for him.

Now, sit back and wait for the inevitable wedding invitation.  If it doesn’t arrive within six months, just find another friend.  That will be much easier.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Technorati Tags: fresh lobster, gourmet cheese, gourmet cheesecake, gourmet dinner, gourmet meal, imported cheese, live lobster, lobster, lobster dinner, new york cheesecake, turtle cheesecake

Giftbaskets are soooo last year!  Or is it last decade?  Actually, I hope the correct response is neither.  (Lock it in; that’s my final answer.)  You see, I make my living by selling gift baskets (among other food gifts).  While I agree that it’s not quite the same as being a test pilot or a neurosurgeon, it’s an honest way to pay for tuition for my grandson.  Or at least it would be a good way to do so if more of you bought my products.

I can read your mind: “All of his gift problems are solved; he just gives the same boring baskets year after year to everyone.”  How dare you think about me in that way!  In fact, I face the same dilemmas that you face during any gift giving, decision making crisis.

I don’t give only baskets of joy to my loved ones.  However, even if I did, the choice would still not be easy.  At my store, we offer scores of fruit baskets, gourmet meals, wine gift baskets and far more than that, even.  (I know what you’re thinking right now, “Please, oh please, just tell me where this wonderful paradise is located so that I can go there to buy your most expensive offerings for everyone on my gift list!”  Please be patient.)

Before you bribe me (or threaten me) to share my store location with you, I want to tell you about my own decision making approach.

First, I decide on an appropriate category of gift.  If Uncle Milton really has managed to eliminate his drinking problem after a decade of trying, then the wine gift baskets are out of the running.  Instead, I’ll opt for a fruit basket with something seasonal.  After years of ignoring the nutritional value of what he consumed, he could use a few extra servings of fruit in solid form.

Dear, dear Aunt Mildred is a great wine talker.  I don’t think she truly enjoys sipping her wine, but she loves to try to impress everyone with what she knows about it.  She loves to let everyone know the best vintage years, the kinds of grapes that are used in various blends and, most of all, how much she spent on the wine you just spilled all over her new carpeting ($95 a square yard).  She’ll get a simple wine gift basket, but I’m not going to spring for the champagne!

My nephew, Alfred, recently married his long time girlfriend.  To tell you the truth, even I agree that it’s about time.  Alfred spent the last eight years trying to decide if she was worth the cost of a diamond ring.  (I suspect that he eventually settled on crystal, which, considering Alfred, would be thought of as generous.)  What he wants is a check.  Well, he’s not getting that from me.  I’m sending them a chef-prepared gourmet meal for two.  I figure it’s the only way to get that cheap guy’s new bride out of the kitchen for an evening.  (They honeymooned by visiting me!)

My second step, after choosing a category is to select a price range that I’m willing to spend on these people.  Then my wife makes me double that amount.

My grandson is getting the latest video game system.  Let’s face it; he is truly special.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Technorati Tags: food gift, fruit basket, gift basket, gift idea, gourmet meal, wine gift basket