Great gifts under $25

Occasionally life hands you lemonade when you thought you only had lemons … right?

When we started testing oil pump spray bottles, we looked at several and, after testing, made our choices … you’ve seen those we’ve recommended and have bought many ….  but there was one other pump sprayer out there that we wanted to recommend, but it was too expensive: the “Quality/Value/Price” algorithm just wasn’t right … until now ….

With more of us printing recipes off the internet (maybe even some from Colbrook Kitchen!), someone had to come up with an elegant solution for getting the recipe off the counter and into an upright, readable position...and someone did!

Trivets are essential tools for handling or serving any hot dish, to protect your countertops or your dining table. If you have ever forgotten to use one, then you’ve never forgotten the damage a hot dish can do, especially to wood. Everybody has some sort of trivet, or maybe a few trivets, or maybe even a collection …but simple is better: “X” marks the spot, with the blomus® Knik™ Trivet.

There are many dishes that can benefit from some grill-time - right? But either they’re too messy to put directly onto the grill - think anything with a saucy marinade - or the ingredients are too small and will fall through the grill - like scallops or vegetables - or they need to be cooked quickly but will stick to the grill - think fish or chicken breasts .…

But using aluminum foil isn’t a good solution for several reasons: it doesn’t let the flame through to impart flavor or grill marks, it doesn’t let liquid evaporate and can lead to steaming instead of grilling, our turner or tongs are just as likely to cut the foil as to lift the protein cleanly when done, and all that fussing takes time, which can lead to burned or overcooked food.

With the recent rush away from glutens, we have been looking for appetizing alternatives to wrap our food for easy eating.  We love a nice warm corn tortilla; our favorite filling is Carnitas topped with Pico de Gallo and other traditional accompaniments, but there are so many choices: both traditional and adventurous. This does, however, present a couple of challenges. First, how do you warm the tortillas? And then how do you keep them warm, especially for a crowd? Many approaches to these issues have been less than satisfactory, until now.

Don’t you love it when you go to a restaurant, and they serve a beautiful olive oil with herbs to dip your bread in? It’s so simple, yet so good, and it’s healthier than butter. Of course, you can easily do this at home for the pleasure of you and your guests. So what takes this simple preparation of herbs and oil (and we like to add some grinds of smoked chili) to the next level? What makes you feel that you’ve been transported to a cafe in Provence or Tuscany? It’s a bit of old world charm that comes from a hand-crafted olive wood bowl in which to serve it.

And this beautiful bowl can be used for any number of small condiments, nuts, olives, crackers or anything else that you want to show off!

We love serving whole grains of salt at the table--you get a burst of flavor and a great crunch... and for those watching their salt intake, you use less because what you're using has such intense flavor.

There are many salt dishes out there: we have a small collection of beautiful glass and silver pieces, dating from the 19th Century (it really wasn’t THAT long ago!). But the major issues for all these pieces is the oxidizing effect of salt on metal spoons left in the salt, and on metal bowls left filled with salt. It’s a damaging toxic mess waiting to occur.

That can all be avoided with the Olive Wood Salt Dish and Spoon from Carré.

The plethora of non-stick surfaces in all our kitchens require a variety of non-metal utensils. Wood is the traditional go-to material, and there are many choices, from bamboo, to oak and cherry. But for beauty and durability, olive is the choice. And as many old olive groves around the Mediterranean go out of production, local artisans are discovering that making olive wood utensils also is the sustainable choice. These are being executed in both traditional and innovative designs, with exceptional functionality … Cool Tools, each and every one!

When Kennedy and I started Colbrook Kitchen, we each found a tool that to us epitomized the concept of a Cool Tool: high design, high functionality and unique--something that in all our years of prowling cookware shops, we had never seen. For Kennedy, it was the Joseph Joseph Garlic Rocker, and for me it was the Charles Viancin Lily Pad Lids. And it seems that you all agree, because these are our two best selling Cool Tools.

A few months ago, when I was making a strata that needed to sit in the refrigerator overnight in a rectangular glass dish, I wondered why the Charles Viancin silicone lids couldn’t be made in squares and rectangles to cover the glass dishes that we all use. So I emailed Charles and asked. I wish I could take credit for turning this idea into a product, but in fact, as great minds run along the same paths, he had already thought of this.

When Kennedy and I started Colbrook Kitchen, we each found a tool that to us epitomized the concept of a Cool Tool: high design, high functionality and unique--something that in all our years of prowling cookware shops, we had never seen. For Kennedy, it was the Joseph Joseph Garlic Rocker, and for me it was the Charles Viancin Lily Pad Lids. And it seems that you all agree, because these are our two best selling Cool Tools.

A few months ago, when I was making a strata that needed to sit in the refrigerator overnight in a rectangular glass dish, I wondered why the Charles Viancin silicone lids couldn’t be made in large rounds, squares, ovals and rectangles to cover the glass dishes that we all use. So I emailed Charles and asked. I wish I could take credit for turning this idea into a product, but in fact, as great minds run along the same paths, he had already thought of this.

Colanders are a necessity in every kitchen … and the use of the plural form is intentional! But they take up so much storage space! The old-style metal versions, and even some of the newer versions in plastic or silicone, are just “too big” to go easily from sink or counter to the refrigerator, and they don’t stack conveniently, unless you have all the same models, and that almost never happens! And even the newest collapsible silicone models aren’t always the slimmest tools in your kitchen!

And all they do is simply “be a colander” … they only serve a single purpose and don’t always do that well. Does your model have holes in the bottom only? Or do the holes go all the way up the sides? Does it drain efficiently? Or does water collect in the bottom, even though it was supposed to drain out? Does it do its primary job well? And can you do anything else with it? And how much space does it take up?

Finally, we have a colander that answers all these questions, and more, in all the ways you would hope for … and of course it’s from Charles Viancin, whose designs are Inspired by Nature™ … this new design is no exception to his high standards of beauty and functionality.

Charles Viancin has launched another new and innovative design: this new Citrus design has the cool zing to fresh citrus, with the same great functionality!

Almost every Charles Viancin Design evokes a wonderful season or holiday … and so we’re excited to bring you the Clover … a symbol for St. Patrick’s Day, especially as it is celebrated here in the US. We have 4 products in this design - two for food and two for drinks: a seemingly appropriate 50/50 division for this holiday. These are lovely and effective tools, and make great gifts!

Charles Viancin has launched another new and innovative design: this new Crystal design is the first silicone lid with Charles Viancin style coupled with the ability to see through lid to your contents inside.

Can't decide which size you like best? Join the crowd! Order our Bundle of all the Crystal lids at a savings!

Money saving bundle:

• Crystal Bundle: 1 large 11", 1 medium 9", 1 medium-small 8" and 2 XSmall Drink Covers 4.5" (~$47 value) = $44.99

Charles Viancin's launched another new and innovative design: this new Dahlia design has mavelous detail on the petals!

Can't decide which size you like best? Join the crowd! Order our Bundle of all the dahlia items at a savings!

Money saving bundle:

• Dahlia Bundle: 1 Oblong, 1 large, 1 medium, 2 x-small pink, 2 x-small blue, and a set of Glass Markers (~$62 value) = $56.99

There are certain times when you really need a double boiler--any time when what you’re cooking is too delicate for direct heat. Melting chocolate or butter are only two examples; my super easy zabaglione from my single days (for each person use 1 egg yolk, ½ egg shell full of sugar, and ½ egg shell full of marsala, and whisk for a long time--until doubled in volume--in a double boiler over simmering water; serve over fresh strawberries) is another.

The function of a double boiler is necessary in any well-equipped kitchen, but the downsides are that it takes up a lot of space, it can be used only on a cooktop and the shape usually makes it difficult to get all of whatever you’re cooking in it, out of it … even with the best spatula skills. Well, not anymore….

Charles Viancin has launched another new and innovative design: this new Fruit Stand design has a different fruit for each size, each with great detail

Can't decide which size you like best? Join the crowd! Order our Bundle of all the Fruit Stand items at a savings!

Money saving bundle:

• Fruit Stand Bundle: 1 large 11" Raspberry, 1 medium 9" Strawberry, 1 medium-small 8" Blackberry and 1 Small 6" Blueberry (~$40 value) = $38.99

Charles Viancin's launched another new and innovative design: this new Grape design has mavelous detail on the leave section, and grapes to grab!

Can't decide which size you like best? Join the crowd! Order our Bundle of all the grape items at a savings!

Money saving bundle:

• Grape Bundle: 1 large, 1 medium, 1 medium/small, 2 x-small, 1 wine stopper, and a set of Glass Markers (~$53.50 value) = $49.99

Bold and beautiful: those are the only words to describe Charles VIancin's Poppy Collection. Gorgeous fire engine red with a black center...these certainly won't get lost in your refregerator and they'll make a great statement if you're taking a dish to a pot luck gathering.

Can't decide which size you like best? Join the crowd! Order one of our Bundles, and get a nice assortment at a savings!

Money saving bundles:

• Bundle 1: 1 large, 1 medium, 1 medium/small, and 1 small (~$44 value) = $39.99
• Bundle 2: 1 large, 1 medium, 1 medium/small, and 2 x-small (~$44 value) = $39.99
• Oblong Big Bundle: 1 10"x14" Oblong, 1 large, 1 medium, 1 medium/small, 1 small, 2 x-small, and 1 wine stopper (~$73 value) = $68.99