The Mod City Mom’s are taking a brief hiatus over the holidays. Before we saunter off to eat, drink, and be merry, we wanted to recommend some of our favorite websites to purchase gifts. Many are from previous obsession articles, others are newly discovered, but all are sure to satisfy that special someone in your life. Peace and joy to all of our readers over this holiday season!
Gifts of Wine
www.pelotoncellars.com
This small vineyard makes quality wines from lush soil in the Paso Robles wine region located in California. Order 4, 6, or 12 bottle shipments.
www.robertsinsky.com
Organic vineyard located in Napa delivering terrific wines, recipes, and cookbooks. Order a bottle or join the club.
Gifts of Yummy Eats
www.zingermans.com
Delicious deli and bakery food gifts including their famous Reuben sandwich making kit.
www.boccalone.com
Tasty salted pig parts…who wouldn’t like that? You will salivate just looking at their website. YUM!
www.loumalnatis.com
Chicago pizza delivered right to your door!
www.mrspeters.com
Smoked Fish…delish!
www.graeters.com
Irresistible, creamy ice cream since 1870 delivered and packed on dry ice. Perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth!
Gifts of Relaxation
www.smallflower.com
Unique herbal remedies, homeopathies, and natural bath and body care.
Gifts of Clothing, Accessories, and Textiles
www.sosillystuff.com
Darling, one-of-kind graphic shirts for the little ones.
www.heathceramics.com
Beautifully handcrafted tiles and tableware for the pottery enthusiast in your life.
www.twotreedesigns.com
Whimsical, practical, unique bags at mind blowing prices!
Gifts of Playfulness
www.littleotsu.com
Our favorite small press shop, delivering one-of-a-kind journals, zines, and prints.
www.mimoco.com/shop/mimobot-designer-usb-flash-drives/c-3po.html
How about a USB flash drive in the shape of Hello Kitty or C-3PO?
www.etsy.com/shop/pixelparty
Pins, cufflinks, and barrettes for the digital geek! Don't miss out on the Yoshi and Pacman-featured items!
www.breadandbadger.com/glassware/mustachepint.html
For the person who has everything but a mustache and a pint glass.
Upon a visit to San Francisco, our dear friends told us to check out Rosenblum Cellars, a winery that specializes in big, robust zinfandels. After a visit, Rosenblum has become a favorite wine for house-warming gifts, for party favors, and for simply accompanying a great meal. You don't have to plan a trip to California to drink a Rosenblum wine, simply visit your local Trader Joe's or other specialty grocer to pick-up a bottle—Rosenblum is distributed in every state throughout the country, affordable and available. Details: www.rosenblumcellars.com.
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We recently discovered that old, family friends have their fingers in a wine venture, Peloton Cellars. After my in-laws had a reunion with these friends, they brought back a rich bounty of Peloton Cellar beauties.
Peloton Cellars, located in California's Paso Robles region, creates high quality wines at an affordable price. We were able to enjoy their full bounty, including a crisp and invigorating Sauvignon Blanc, deep and intense Cabernet Sauvignon, and a full-bodied Zinfandel.
Join their wine club, order individual bottles, or take adventage of their newly announced "Economic Stimulus Package" to stretch your wine-purchasing power a little further. Either way, it's easy to raise a glass to our new-found Peloton-obsession! Cheers! Details: www.pelotoncellars.com.
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When my sister came to visit, we spent long afternoons basking in the sun, spinning tales, giggling like we were young again, and drinking white wine spritzers. Now, when I manage to squeeze in a little r & r, my mind immediately wanders to this devilishly refreshing aperitif. Simply fill your favorite white wine glass half way with ice; 2/3 full of your favorite, crispy white wine; a dash of sparkling water; and a few citrus rounds. Let your lazy afternoon party begin!
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Fighting my way through the holiday shopping crowds last week, I caught the tail-end of NPR's Fresh Air in between stops. Wall Street Journal's famed wine columnists and most-charming married duo, Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher, offered wine recommendations for gifts (and for supping) that are under $10. It was just the counsel I needed to leave the rabble and tension behind.
Favorites include Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon from Chili, Torrontés and Malbec from Argentina, or the bubbly Cava from Spain. Details: online.wsj.com/article/SB122851645400383923.html or stream their delightful conversation at www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=97946959&m=97948976.
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I love to explore and travel—it is one of the reasons my sister and I embarked on this website journey in the first place. There are many places that I want to see before I die and Las Vegas is not one of them. For starters, I hate crowds—the idea of hoards of people crammed into a small space does not appeal to me. I am also not a fan of tourist traps or any travel option that bills itself as a Disneyland-esque experience. That being said, you may find it odd that several weeks ago, I decided to venture to Vegas with my husband for the weekend. He has been there on several occasions and has tried to convince me that I would be amazed at the Vegas food scene. Being a skeptic and a foodie, I usually raise my eyebrows when the subject comes up. However, over the past several years, I have read many-an-article on the evolving food scene in Las Vegas. You can barely pick up a magazine or newspaper without reading about the famed chefs who have invaded the desert—turning a once over-the-top cheesy, buffetland into a foodie’s paradise. So we went for the weekend to relax, drink lots of wine, and eat our way through sin city.
There are hundreds of restaurants to go to in Las Vegas, but this article is about one—one that ranks supreme on food quality, atmosphere, and service—Bouchon. Dining at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon will make you forget that the congested streets, neon lights, and ringing slot machines lurk beyond its doors. From the moment you step into the restaurant, you feel like you are in an authentic Parisian bistro—leather booth-lined walls, warm lighting, and a bustling atmosphere that would make any Francophile proud. Since we had not made our way out of Chicago (alone) since our son was born, we wanted to share a really great bottle of red wine to compliment our dinner. The house sommelier, Paul Peterson, offered many different options and varieties. He also recommended his favorite entrées to pair with the wine we chose. I have worked in many restaurants and have dined out enough to be able to say that this sommelier really knew his stuff. Everything he suggested was perfect—he even brought a glass of white wine to go with our oysters while our bottle decanted.
The meal that followed went like this: Delectable beet salad with horseradish vinaigrette, classic frisee with lardons and a perfectly poached egg, flawlessly executed juicy roast chicken with a beautifully crispy skin, and mind-blowing braised pork shoulder with root vegetables that left me wanting to lick the plate. Every morsel of our dinner was tastier and more mouth-watering than the bite before. We finished our meal with a crème brulee that was the best I have ever had in my life—creamy on the inside with a perfectly hard, caramelized shell on top.
As we sat at our table savoring our last drops of Chateauneuf du Pape, obsessing about our amazing meal, I couldn’t help but think that maybe I would return to Vegas every year just to immerse myself in the delectable food world of Thomas Keller. Through Bouchon, I now have a new affection for Las Vegas. As Keller’s website describes, Bouchon is “a casual place, a social place, a place where people come to relax and eat. A kind of home.” Details: www.bouchonbistro.com.
