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Luxury Products

Pink House Alchemy – Syrups, Shrubs, and Bitters

Pumpkin Butternut Spice - Pink House Alchemy

We loved "discovering" Pink House Alchemy (PHA) and using their small batch handcrafted flavored simple syrups and shrubs in our cocktail and culinary recipes. Their Simple Syrups include Cardamom, Dark Cherry Grenadine, Ginger, Hazelnut, Mexican Chile Syrup, Pumpkin Butternut Spice Syrup, and many more, and inspired Shrubs include Pineapple Rosemary, Pineapple, and Ginger. Whether you opt to use it in cocktail or culinary recipes, the possibilities are endless.

Jacques Pepin: Art of the Chicken

I first met Jacques Pépin in April 2005 at the James Beard House in New York when I interviewed him on receiving their Lifetime Achievement Award. Throughout the years, I have watched this kind and talented Master of the Kitchen and Master Artist charm and delight students, audiences, and readers of his many books. He has taught us not only how to cook, but how to have fun and take delight in the kitchen as well as in ourselves. His latest book, Jacques Pépin: Art of the Chicken - A Master Chef's Paintings, Stories, and Recipes of the Humble Bird is filled with wonderful stories and his impressive artwork and makes a wonderful gift for yourself or your favorite chef.

We love using herbal teas and floral infusions in our cocktail and culinary recipes and were delighted to "discover" Pixie Doodle Farm, based in Brooklyn, New York with a farm in Upstate, New York in Bethel. Owned by herbalists Joe Dale Harris and Erika Boudreau-Barbee, Pixie Doodle Farm has a diverse assortment of teas, infusion kits, and more, all creatively, and gorgeously, packaged making them a perfect gift for your favorite tea lover, cocktailian, or chef. Whether sipping their inspired blend of healthful teas or using their products to create cocktail or culinary recipes, the products delivered very tasty results.

Seriously Good Chilli Cookbook by Brain Baumgartner

When I think about chili, I think of cold weather comfort food, Sunday afternoon football, tailgate parties, après-ski, sledding, or skating, and if you need a little chili recipe inspiration, Seriously Good Chili Cookbook - 177 of the Best Recipes in the World by New York Times Best-Selling Author Brian Baumgartner is sure to inspire. For his cookbook, Brian Baumgartner, who many know from his role as "Kevin Malone" on the NBC Emmy-winning TV series, The Office, compiled his recipes along with contributions from award-winning chefs, celebrity chefs, and cooks from across the country. I was delighted when my recipe, Righteous Three-Bean Vegetarian Chili was included in his cookbook. Bon Appetit!

Tuscan Women Cook Nonnas, Memories, Recipes by Coleen Kirnan with Rhonda Vilardo

Did you ever wish that you could learn to cook like an Italian grandmother (nonna)? With the cookbook, Tuscan Women Cook, Nonnas. Memories. Recipes by Coleen Kirnan with Rhonda Vilardo you can! With tasty recipes that range from Antipasti (hors d'oeuvre) to Zuppe (soup), Carne (meat), Dolci (dessert), Bevande (drinks), and more, the cookbook is filled with recipes that are easy-to-follow and include beautiful photographs of the food along with a great story for each of them, that will have you cooking like a nonna in no time at all. Mangia Bene!

A Return To Ireland by Judith Mcloughlin

A Return to Ireland - A culinary journey from America to Ireland by Judith McLaughlin published by Hatherleigh Press, Ltd. is like taking a sumptuous trip to Ireland via the palate with 100 mouth-watering recipes, stories of traveling from Ireland to America, and through the stunning photography by Gary McLaughlin that is gorgeous eye candy. The cookbook is a treasure of photographs and cookery that bring the best of the Emerald Island into your home. Sláinte!

Sandra's Wine Lief: Find Your Wine Identity by Sandra Guibord

We recently went to a wine tasting party at a friend's house, where we blind tasted five different types of wine. What was interesting was that we learned many of the guests regularly only drink one type of wine. That got us thinking; are you "stuck" in a wine groove? Sandra's Wine Life: Find Your Wine Identity written by Sandra Guibord is fun, informational, approachable, and gets you to think differently about your wine selections; by type, by region, by taste, and by season. She also has great recipes to pair with the wine to make you a star at your next gathering no matter what the season or occasion. Cheers!

Anti-Aging Dishes from Around the World - by Grace O

With longevity on the rise, we were intrigued by the cookbook title, Anti-Aging Dishes from Around the World written by Grace O published by Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. and released in August 2022 and decided to give it a read. The cookbook features a collection of 250 great recipes along with nutritional information, guides, and resources. It is the perfect manual for healthy living, and while the recipes are certainly healthy, they are also mouth-watering delicious, which is a great combination. With recipes designed to: "boost immunity, improve skin, promote longevity, lower inflammation, and detoxify," it is easy to start the journey to healthier eating.

Fabulous Modern Cookies by Chris Taylor and Paul Arguin

We love cookies, but then again, who does not? Cookies are perfect eat any time, take along treats, and the holidays would not be the same without offering our guests a wide variety of cookies to enjoy. Always on the prowl for new recipes to tempt our guests' palates, as well as our own, we were delighted to "discover" the perfect cookie cookbook, Fabulous Modern Cookies: Lessons in Better Baking for Next-Generation Treats written by Chris Taylor and Paul Arguin. This delectable cookbook has 100 recipes perfect for any holiday, but why wait?

America's Test Kitchen: Modern Bistro, Home Cooking Inspired by French Classics is a treasure trove of wonderful recipes that will have you cooking like a French chef in no time. The recipes are detailed enough to encourage less experienced home cooks, as well as inspire more experienced ones. The cookbook has a wonderful "Welcome to America's Test Kitchen" section, followed by "Getting Started" which is a handy reference for ingredients commonly used in Bistro cooking. Chapters cover everything from Sauces to Appetizers, Mains, Vegetables, and Desserts, and everything in between. Bon Appetit!

Cask and Kettle – Hard Coffee Cocktails

Do you love coffee cocktails but hate the time it takes to make them? We found Cask & Kettle (Hard Coffee Cocktails) the perfect solution for easy to make, easy to love cocktails that are also wonderful travel companions. With five delectable flavors, (Irish Coffee, Spiked Dry Cider, Mint Patty, Hot Blonde Coffee, and Mexican Coffee), to choose from, cocktail hour or weekend Brunch just became a whole lot easier. Serve hot or over ice and wait for the compliments. Cheers, its cocktail time!

K Bloody Mary Mix

Khia Nelson owner and creator of K Bloody Mary Mix is a self-confessed "Bloody Mary Snob," and her no-alcohol drink-ready K Bloody Mary Mix is downright delectable. Khia used her years of hospitality experience to create her small-batch Bloody Mary Mix made in Brooklyn, New York that is not only delicious, its vegan, organic, and gluten-free. Add vodka, tequila, mezcal, sake, or gin, or serve K Bloody Mary Mix on its own and you have the makings for a great party. For us, holidays and brunches would not be the same without our tradition of Bloody Mary cocktails as they are the perfect go-to cocktail, however in addition to creating cocktails with K Bloody Mary Mix, we also used it as a base for some very tasty culinary recipes. Cheers and Bon Appetit!

With the growing culinary trend towards more plant-based, vegan, and gluten free recipes, we wanted to learn more and read Easy Vegan Home Cooking by Celebrity PBS Vegan Chef Laura Theodore. Chef Theodore is an award-winning cookbook author, the host of the Jazzy Vegetarian on National Public Television, as well as the host of radio shows and podcasts. Her new cookbook, Easy Vegan Home Cooking features over 125 delicious plant-based and gluten-free recipes. Published by Hatherleigh Press and distributed by Penguin Random House, this cookbook is a great introduction to vegan and gluten-free cooking and baking.

Jooki – The Music System for Children

Luxury Experience readers know that we are huge music fans; we love listening to our enormous collection of music, writing about music and about music performances, and when it comes to buying gifts, we love to give the gift of music. When we "discovered" Jooki (pronounced "jukey" like jukebox), a music system designed for children to use and operate, we were instantly smitten. Designed in Belgian by three dads in 2014 with toy and technology experience, Jooki is a screen-free WIFI streaming and Bluetooth player for children ages 3 and up. How exciting is that! We cannot wait to see our little nephew Asher's face light up as he discovers music - his way, with his Jooki.

The Art of Picnics - Seasoned Outdoor Entertainment - by Alanna O'Neil.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "picnic" as "a meal that is eaten outdoors especially during a trip away from home; a trip or party that includes a meal eaten outdoors; something that is pleasant or easy." Professional photographer, designer, and home cook Alanna O'Neill's debut cookbook, The Art of Picnics - Seasonal Outdoor Entertaining published by Yellow Pear Press a division of Mango Publishing, beautifully captures that feeling with inspiring recipes and stunning photography. Let the picnicking begin!

The Complete Quinoa Cookbook by Catherine Gill

With the growing trend towards plant-based food, vegetarian and vegan diets, we were excited to "discover" The Complete Quinoa Cookbook by Catherine Gill published by Hatherleigh Press, as a great motivator to learn more about this highly nutritious whole-grain that is rich in protein, dietary fiber, minerals and vitamins. Who knew quinoa (pronounced KEEN-waa) was so fabulous? Catherine Gill's book is filled with valuable information and over 100 recipes that cover the gamut from Breakfast to Desserts. Now that is something to cheer about.

The Complete Autumn and Winter Cookbook by Americas Test Kitchen

Cooler weather tends to bring out the inner cook in all of us when we want to spend more time in the kitchen creating special meals for ourselves, as well as for family and friends. Always on the lookout for inspiration, we fell in love with The Complete Autumn & Winter Cookbook by America's Test Kitchen, which has over 550 recipes that will dazzle the senses and provide plenty of inspiration for everyday meals, holiday meals, breads, brunches, festive drinks, desserts, lovely food gifts, and much more. Beautiful photographs and easy to follow recipes make this cookbook a showstopper. Happy cooking!

A Chefs Book of Favorite Culinary Quotations by SG Seguret.

Whether you are looking for a bit of culinary inspiration, wisdom, or humor, A Chef's Book of Favorite Culinary Quotations - An Inspired Collection For Those Who Love To Cook And Those Who Love To Eat compiled by Susi Gott Séguret and published by Hatherleigh Press, Ltd Is a perfect read for yourself, or for your favorite foodie. The book features over 200 memorable quotations from Auguste Escoffier, Irma S. Rombauer, James Beard, Julia Child, Jacques Pepin, Alton Brown, Virginia Wolf, and many more.

ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE

We do lots of cooking and baking that require very precise, exact temperatures where a degree or two higher or lower can mean the difference between success or failure. Throughout the years we have used many cooking thermometers to ensure accuracy, and recently "discovered" the ThermoWorks Thermapen® ONE, which has the added benefit of producing fast one-second digital readings! Cooking and baking just got a lot easier. With holiday shopping just around the corner, the ThermoWorks Thermapen® ONE is a perfect gift for your favorite chef or foodie or to gift yourself as well. Bon Appetit!

BE Chocolat, Fairfield, CT, USA

BE Chocolat - assorted - chocolates - photo by Luxury Experience

BE Chocolat, named for Master Chocolatier BEnoit, opened in January 2021 in the historic district of Fairfield, Connecticut, and if you thought "Willy Wonka" had fun creating chocolates, wait until you see and taste what BEnoit is creating at their gorgeous atelier. Mouthwatering, high-quality Callebaut fair trade finest Belgian chocolate is the base for BEnoit's amazing creations with inspired flavors that tempt and tantalize the palate and are as beautiful to look at as they are tasty to eat.

We love excellent quality coffee to start our day, an espresso or iced coffee in the afternoon, as well as used in cocktail and culinary recipes. We recently "discovered" Java Love Coffee Roasting Co., and while new to us, they celebrated their 10-year anniversary on May 1, 2021. With their widely diverse selection of high-quality coffees, you can break out from your usual coffee routine and take your palate on a trip around the world with their exotic coffees from Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, and Sumatra, as well as enjoy one of their domestic blends. In addition to their coffee, they also carry an extensive line of teas available online and at their 4 locations in New York and New Jersey.

Cooking With Truffles by Susi Gott Seguret

Whenever I think of memorable dinners that Edward and I have enjoyed throughout the years, truffles are always involved. Decadent, earthy, exotic, and expensive, a little goes a long way to add flavor. Cooking With Truffles: A Chef's Guide written by Susi Gott Séguret and published by Hatherleigh Press, Ltd. delves into the intriguing world of truffles and provides both insight and 150 delectable truffle recipes designed for the professional chef as well as the home cook. Bon Appetit!

Soul Sweet Boutique - Newark, NJ - Cakes in a jar

We recently "discovered" a fabulous Brazilian gourmet confectionary named Soul Sweet Boutique located in Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, which also sells online and ships throughout the United States. Owned by Thatiana Rangel, Soul Sweet Boutique carries a wide selection of traditional Brazilian desserts along with modern sweets to tempt your palate. Since the pandemic curtailed our annual trips to Brazil, in addition to missing our "family" and friends, we missed the sweets of Brazil and were thrilled to find Soul Sweet Boutique.

The SAMBA Montclair Cookbook by Chef Ilson Gonçalves is a glorious celebration of authentic Brazilian homestyle cooking. Originally from the state of Santa Catarina in the south of Brazil, Chef Ilson Gonçalves makes his home in Montclair, New Jersey where his creative cuisine has dazzled patrons with restaurant, SAMBA Montclair, since it opened in December 2010. His cookbook takes the reader on a visual and taste bud tour of Brazil with his delectable recipes ranging from appetizers to desserts. It is the perfect "souvenir" to remember past trips to Brazil, for lovers of Brazilian cuisine, and for foodies looking to experience other cuisines.

Always on the lookout for interesting products to incorporate in our recipes, we tried and loved Marabissi Il Panforte Torta Amerene e Peperoncino (Sour Cherries and Chili "Cake") imported by Italian Products & Beyond. The Sour Cherries and Chili Cake is like a fruit and nut pâté, that also has cocoa, almonds, and honey is a delectable accompaniment to serve with cheese as well as incorporate in baking and savory culinary recipes. We used it to create our recipe for Luxury Experience - Grappa Sour Cherry Almond Chicken. Buon Appetito!

Monopoly Game – Greenwich Edition

Cold and rainy weather will soon be here making it the perfect time to stay inside and play family board games. I grew up playing epic, marathon games of Monopoly with my sister Joanne and brother David. As young children we spent many countless happy hours playing this game of skill, luck, and strategy, which was permanently installed on the games table in the family room of our home. When I learned that Top Trumps USA Inc. was introducing a new Monopoly Greenwich (Connecticut) edition, it brought a smile to face and my heart raced with anticipation of playing their new game. For the Greenwich edition, Monopoly has replaced the famous properties of my youth with Greenwich landmarks.

If you love wine, history, and formal dinners, you are going to love the book Wine and the White House: A History by Frederick J. Ryan, Jr. I fell in love with this stunning book filled with interesting anecdotes about the Presidents of the United States of America from President George Washington through President Donald Trump, and provides an in-depth look at the history of wine served at the White House through the years. For gastronomy lovers, the book is also interesting as it includes menus from the dinners and the wines that accompanied each of the courses. More than a gorgeous coffee table book, it is also a wonderful reference book for yourself or to give as a gift.

The Trentasette Collection Organic EVOO

High-quality extra virgin olive oil, affectionately known as EVOO, is like liquid gold for professional chefs and dedicated home cooks. With a rise in the organic farm movement we were thrilled to find The Trentasette Collection Organic EVOO, which is USDA Organic certification, OU Kosher certified, and is Non-GMO imported from Italy by the company, Italian Products & Beyond that is the perfect complement to your organic farmers markets finds. Used for dipping, drizzling, cooking, sauteing or finishing, we loved the results using this very tasty EVOO.

What I found especially interesting about the book Vincent van Gogh A Life in Letters edited by Nienke Bakker, Leo Jansen and Hans Luijten published in September 2020 by Thames & Hudson, Ltd is that Vincent's story is not told by someone else, rather his life deftly unfolds by Vincent himself through his letters to his brother Theo van Gogh (1857 - 1891) providing the reader with new insight into the mind and world of the artist.

MarieBelle New York – Luxury Chocolates

Chocolate is one of life's delectable sweet little pleasures, and New York-based Chocolatier Maribel Lieberman owner of MarieBelle New York shares her passion with her luxurious chocolate offerings. Whether your chocolate preference is dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate, MarieBelle New York has the perfect chocolate to appeal to diverse palates. We loved sampling our way through the tasty offerings.

Frantoio Di Santa Tea Olio Extra Vergine di ooliva

As professional chefs and home cooks know, a great source for high-quality culinary ingredients is worth its weight in gold. We recently found and fell in love with the company Italian Products & Beyond that is an incredible resource for high-quality culinary ingredients. Their extensive collection of EVOOs, vinegars, truffle products, pates, pesto, tomatoes, coffee, fish, salts, nuts, sweets, and so much more, are the stuff of culinary dreams! We especially love the Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oils (EVOOs) from Gonnelli 1585, Frantoio Di Santa Téa Olio Extra Vergine Di Oliva. Happy Cooking!

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