19-Piece Godiva Flower Ballotin Chocolates
By admin | July 16, 2008
Given the choice between buying someone a pocket watch and buying them a box of chocolates, I’m nearly always going to choose the chocolates. In fact, sometimes I’ll just send chocolates out of the blue. Since they’re not something that most people buy for themselves, they make people feel particularly special (assuming you’re not just sending them as a random business associate).
If you’re not the kind of person who talks about feelings, a random box of chocolates can be an excellent way to send the message that’s in your head without the awkward conversation - not that your recipient wouldn’t like hearing your thoughts, too, but at least with chocolate, they can eat them.
This 19-Piece Godiva Flower Ballotin set is perfect for a “just because” gift, a summer birthday, or a “thanks for an amazing first date, let’s do it again” gift. And yes, ladies, you can send one to a guy, too - just don’t send the sappy love poetry or the sheet of paper where you’ve doodled your name with his last name. Stick to the chocolates.
Godiva Flower Ballotin, 19-Piece
Abloom with springtime bliss, this golden box of chocolate is just another reason to love the season. Filled with an exciting assortment of Godiva’s rich, decadent chocolate, it’s sealed with an adorable blossom-topped bow.
Topics: Chocolate | No Comments »
Mikasa Flame D’Amore Wine Glasses
By admin | July 11, 2008
Although we generally try to stick to things you can eat here at Food & Candy Gifts, we occasionally come across food or drink accessories that are just too great to ignore. These Mikasa “Flame D’amore” Wine Glasses fall into that category. I saw a set in use at a party about a week ago, and when the light caught the filled wine glasses, they had a very dramatic look.
I’m the kind of person who would never have plain crystal wine glasses in the traditional, plain styles. Even still, I don’t want something so off-the-wall that it impacts usage. The Mikasa “Flame D’amore” Wine Glasses are the perfect compromise between crazy and beautiful.
Additional note: I’m looking for hotel deals in Boston. Anyone know of anywhere that’s both nice and affordable?
Mikasa “Flame D’amore” Wine
Throughout the world, the name Mikasa is synonymous with unparalleled taste and quality in fine tableware, giftware, and collectibles. The Flame D’amore bar and stemware collection brings Mikasa style to your formal entertaining, in a contemporary and dramatic frosted design on clear crystal.
Topics: Wine Accessories | No Comments »
Gluten-Free Old Time Biscuit Mix
By admin | July 11, 2008
I’ve known a couple of people restricted to gluten-free diets, and it always seemed to me that when it came to food, they had simply given up. One girl ate very little outside of popcorn, which she knew to be safe. It never occurred to her that there might be other options (of course, it didn’t help that her mother also fed her popcorn all the time as a child because she couldn’t be bothered to cook special meals). Since she ate so little, she looked like a Hoodia addict.
If you know someone who suffers from a similar food issue, be sure to let them know that there are plenty of great products that suit their needs, like this Old Time Biscuit Mix. Bread-like products are such a staple to most of us that it can be hard for gluten-free individuals to adapt to the need to quit eating them. It’s nice to know that someone has taken the time to formulate and market biscuit mixes, breads, and more.
Really Great Food - Old Time Biscuit Mix
Price: $4.75
Sensational! Outstanding! Trust us - You won’t be able to tell the difference from a wheat biscuit. Very light and delicious.
Topics: Gluten Free | No Comments »
Banana Cake by Omaha Steaks
By admin | July 10, 2008
I’ll be honest - I don’t order a lot of food from Omaha Steaks. Everything I’ve ever ordered from them was exceptionally delicious, but also relatively expensive. I’m too much of a cheapskate to buy frequently.
This Banana Cake is definitely on my list for next time, though. At a relatively reasonable $19.99, you get almost two pounds of carb-laden goodness. If you eat the whole thing, you may need to install some flattering Hinkley lighting to hide the extra pounds you gain…
Banana Cake
Price: $19.99
1 (25 oz.) Omaha Steaks Banana Cake
Topics: Baked Goods | No Comments »
Country Living Farmhouse Pie Baker’s Kit
By admin | July 9, 2008
I absolutely love baking pies, but the effort involved means that I don’t get to do it very often. I have time for grocery store pies, but it’s tough to carve out hours for homemade crusts and fillings. This Country Living Farmhouse Kitchen Pie Baker’s Kit is a nice compromise - you get everything you need to bake a good pecan pie, without having to resort to a frozen brick of pie from the grocery store.
Of you could just buy air tools, but you can’t eat those.
Country Living Farmhouse Kitchen Pie Baker’s Kit
Bake up a blue ribbon recipe without all the work. This kit gives you a delightfully sweet head start, providing all the essential tools and ingredients you’ll need to create an irresistible country-style pecan pie.
Topics: Baked Goods | No Comments »
Gluten Free Banana Cake Bread Mix
By admin | June 22, 2008
I used to associate gluten-free diets with the kind of people who wear long skirts and handcrafted jewelry, but I’m starting to change my mind. Looking over the numerous websites that cater to gluten-free dieters, it looks like they actually have some pretty appealing options these days. Granted, they still can’t buy a whole lot at the grocery store, but who knows - maybe stuff like this Banana Cake Bread Mix makes up for it.
Really Great Food - Banana Cake Bread Mix
Price: $5.95
This banana cake is the Chef’s favorite choice and it will be yours also.
Topics: Healthy Options | No Comments »
Chocolate-Covered Bing Cherries
By admin | June 21, 2008
I’ve never understood why cherries don’t get more attention. They’re attractive, delicious, and versatile fruits. They’re great on their own, with chocolate, in pies, in tarts, as a garnish…So why is it that people are always eating apples and bananas, but almost no one runs around with a Ziploc full of cherries?
Still, perhaps the relative rarity makes cherries an even greater indulgence. I know I’d certainly be happy to receive this set of Chocolate Covered Bing Cherries. The next time you’re thinking about getting someone a new tie or some golf equipment, just don’t. Get something delicious instead.
Chocolate Covered Bing Cherries
Price: $34.95
A true luxury: a whole pound of our famous cherries. Enjoy them right out of their Pan Dan woven reed gift box.
Topics: Chocolate | No Comments »
Apple Cider Pork Loin Dinner
By admin | June 11, 2008
I’m a big fan of sending meals to people who are having a tough time or a major event in their lives, so I spend a lot of time browsing the Home Delivery website. I recently got the chance to try out their Pork Loin in a Reduced Apple Cider Sauce, and it was every bit as delicious as you might expect.
At $10.95, it’s still cheaper than a lot of restaurant meals, except you can eat this kicked back in your home theater chairs.
Pork Loin in a Reduced Apple Cider Sauce
Topics: Gourmet | No Comments »
Prosecco & Chocolate Gift Set: Nothing Better Than Wine & Chocolate
By admin | June 9, 2008
If you want to make a good impression on someone, there’s no need to buy them Roger Dubuis gifts (although they are nice). This Prosecco & Pure Chocolate gift set is not only classy, but delicious. It comes with a regular milk chocolate bar and Rocky Road chocolate mini-slab, along with two small bottles of bubbly Prosecco sparkling wine. What could be nicer for a quiet evening with someone you love - or just a decadent afternoon alone?
Topics: Chocolate, Liquor | No Comments »
The Jelly Belly Gumball Machine: Your $25 Retirement Plan…or Not
By admin | June 2, 2008
There’s a store in the mall here (and probably every other mall in the country) that sells a delicious assortment of candy and jelly beans. every time I go, I end up spending $30 on Jelly Belly Jelly Beans that will then sit on my coffee table until guests finish them off. The downsides? I’m spending $30 on Jelly Belly Beans on a fairly regular basis, and I have to get run over by kids in skate shoes every time I go to the mall to get them.
Luckily, the nice folks at the Popcorn Factory have come up with a solution to both problems. They sell a coin-operated Jelly Belly Machine that will let me recoup my investment, keep my jelly beans fresh, and avoid the mall all at the same time.
Time: The Jelly Belly Gumball Machine-Enhanced Future
Place: My Living Room
As my free-loading friends come over for the first time since the Jelly Belly Machine, they’re mesmerized. “What a cute machine!” they say. “Wow, now your overpriced jelly beans will be fresh,” they say. Graciously, I thank them.
As a friend tries to turn the knob, the expression on his face changes. “Wait, there’s a coin slot on this thing.”
“Yes,” I nod.
“Do we actually have to PAY for our jelly beans??”
I nod again. As he fishes around in his pockets for spare change, I think to myself, “Thanks, Jelly Belly Machine. I’m going to be rich.”
Topics: Sweets | No Comments »
Low Fat Bread Bowl Soup & Stew Sampler
By admin | May 27, 2008
When you’re buying a get well gift, there are times when the typical assortment of flowers and balloons just don’t seem appropriate (all of the time, in my opinion). Really, what does a person DO with a vase of flowers? Most of us would be better served with something like this Low Fat Soup Sampler.
Home Bistro carries a number of these bread bowl and soup sets, but this basic set sounds perfect for a sick friend:
- 2 Chicken & Rice Soups with Bread Bowls
- 2 Savory Vegetable Stews with Bread Bowls
- 2 Bison Chilis with Beans in aBread Bowl
- 2 Fire Roasted Tomato Soups with Bread Bowls
Instead of sending flowers that will have to be tossed out, you can send these simple meals that your sick friend can simply heat up and enjoy. Now THAT is a caring gift. Because they’re also low-fat, they won’t have to OD on diet pills to get back on track later, either.
Topics: Healthy Options | No Comments »
Gourmet Chocolate & Chocolate Chip-Covered Pretzel Rods
By admin | May 26, 2008
Chocolate-covered pretzels are good, but these Mrs. Prindable’s Gourmet Pretzel Rods look like they would put garden-variety chocolate-covered pretzels to shame. The set includes:
- 3 pretzel rods with caramel and triple chocolate chip
- 3 pretzel rods with caramel and peanut butter/milk chocolate chip
- 3 pretzel rods with caramel and milk chocolate crunch chips
They sound like Pretzel Flips on steroids, and I love Pretzel Flips. I’m tempted to buy a pencil cup and fill it with these pretzel rods instead of pencils. Of course, with my luck they’d melt all over the place and I’d end up spending all my money at furniture stores trying to replace everything I ruined with the chocolate. Maybe I’ll just hold off on that plan for a little while…
Topics: Junk Food, Sweets | No Comments »
The Summer Entertaining Gift Basket: Spice Rubs, Gourmet Salsa, & More
By admin | May 23, 2008
There are some food gifts that are about as fun as a natural acne treatment. Sure, they’re functional, but no one’s going to care. Things like crackers and mustard feel that way sometimes. This Summer Entertaining Gift Basket is quite the opposite. Instead of boring recipients with the usual, uninspired items, this includes chili mix, BBQ spice rubs, gourmet salsa, raspberry lemongrass tea, mango peach tea, and three different kinds of bean dips (Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Mexican). That’s a party (or more than one party) in a basket! Just add alcohol.
Topics: Gourmet, Appetizers, Gift Baskets | No Comments »
Gluten Free Muffins & Breakfast Products
By admin | May 22, 2008
I have a friend whose younger cousin requires a gluten-free diet, and she was recently in charge of babysitting the child for the weekend. For those of you following along, that’s a minimum of about 6 meals over the course of 2 full days. She was understandably nervous, and decided she would just feed the child large bowls of corn. Because that’s a balanced meal, right?
Fortunately, I talked her into doing a little research online and she came across a few delicious-sounding gluten-free products. Because breakfast was the hardest for her (think of all the wheat most of us eat at breakfast), I’m posting some of the gluten-free breakfast finds below:
ANDI - Bar - Blueberry Muffin
Price: $2.79
These might be intended for special diets, but anything with the phrase “blueberry muffin” catches my eye. It’s also quite healthy, with stuff like calcium, vitamin D, and flax.
Glutino - Premium English Muffins
Price: $6.37
I didn’t even know this was possible. If anything would have to contain gluten, I’d think it would be muffins. I guess not, though!
Really Great Food - Apple Spice Muffin Mix
Price: $5.35
Again, this one sounds delicious even for those of us on a normal diet. I could easily see this being a favorite in mixed-diet households.
In the end, the weekend went great and my friend’s cousin ended up feeling super special to know that her older cousin had done all that research just for her. I think she liked it even better than if she had come over to find a whole house full of toys.
Which, of course, brings me to another point - food is more than just sustenance. By carefully choosing, preparing, or gifting food to friends and loved ones, you’re also sending the message that you care deeply. There’s no reason we can’t all do little things like this from time to time. Even if large gift sets aren’t in your budget, cook dinner for your friends or pick up your significant other’s favorite candy bar next time you’re in line at the checkout - the message is still the same.
Topics: Baked Goods | No Comments »
The 16 Bottle Wine Refrigerator
By admin | May 20, 2008
It seems like wine refrigerators are becoming more and more common these days. While they’re a little expensive to give as a gift to just anyone, they make a perfect gift for a newly retired couple or for empty-nesting parents. I’ve considered getting one for my own parents, but I’m not sure that they drink enough of any kind of alcohol to make it worthwhile (much less wine).
In shopping for wine refrigerators, I did come across a 6-bottle model, but given that the price was only $40 less than the $195 16 Bottle wine refrigerator, it didn’t seem like a good value. If I get one, it will definitely be the 16 Bottle Wine Refrigerator. If my parents drank a little more, I might go with the 28 Bottle Wine Refrigerator instead, as it also appears to be a reasonable deal for the money.
Topics: Liquor | No Comments »
Thick & Juicy Beef Jerky
By admin | May 19, 2008
While most beef jerky is about as flat as laptop memory, this Beef Jerky from Omaha Steaks looks undeniably juicy and delicious. While the price certainly seems higher than common brands like Slim Jim and JackLinks, the quality also appears to be much higher. Coming from Omaha Steaks, I’d expect nothing else.
You probably shouldn’t buy dad flowers and heart-shaped chocolates for Father’s Day, but this Beef Jerky is perfect. What dad doesn’t love dried meat products??
Topics: Meat | No Comments »
Delicious Thank You Pastel Cupcakes, Delivered
By admin | May 14, 2008
There are few mail-order food companies that I love more than Mrs. Beasley’s. Every month or so, I’ll place an order with them and find a delicious package at my doorstep. I’ve purchased their cupcakes for several friends and relatives and they’ve all been crazy about them. Between the creamy icing and the soft, fluffy cake, they’re absolutely heavenly.
These Mrs. Beasleys Thank You Cupcakes are available for delivery in sets of 12 or 6 - The six pack is less than $30! Did your boss give you a raise? Send him cupcakes. Did your husband take you out for a romantic evening? Have cupcakes delivered. Did your kid’s baseball coach lead them to victory? Obviously, cupcakes are in order. They’re much tastier than baseball trophies.
Available at:
Topics: Baked Goods, Sweets | No Comments »
Bride & Groom Chocolate-Covered Strawberries Wedding Favors
By admin | May 8, 2008
If you’re the kind of person who oohs and ahhs over things that are made to look like other things, you’ll love these Bride & Groom Chocolate Dipped Strawberries. If you own a hotel, these would make a great way to greet newlyweds. Even cheap hotels can be dressed up with a simple gesture like that. If you’re planning a wedding reception, they’d make great wedding favors. And of course, if you’re a guy planning to propose, these chocolate-covered strawberries could be a cute way to help get the message across…
Topics: Chocolate | No Comments »
David’s Cookies Key Lime Tart with Raspberry & Mango Sauce
By admin | May 4, 2008
Even if you’re not a fan of lime, you’ll probably like these Key Lime Tarts from David’s Cookies. It comes in a butter cookie shell and the filling itself is thick and rich. The tart weighs in at more than 1 pound, which is pretty amazing considering how thin tarts are usually made. Due to the richness, the Key Lime Tart feeds 12.
These Key Lime Tarts sound a lot better than alcohol rehab.
Topics: Baked Goods, Sweets | No Comments »
Cinco De Mayo Pińata Filled With Candy
By admin | April 30, 2008
Sure, not everyone celebrates Cinco de Mayo, but those who don’t are about as much fun as a life insurance quote. If you haven’t started planning for your party yet, check out this Bull Pinata With Candy. Although I usually prefer to fill my own, this makes it particularly easy for the procrastinators of the world. Now all you need is a bag of tortilla chips and some margaritas and you’re good to go.
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
