If you are stumped about what to buy someone on your Christmas list, don't fret. Here are some last minute suggestions.
Turner, Ore.-based Willamette Valley Vineyards (WVV), dedicated to producing classic wines using sustainable growing practices, offers the perfect gift idea with its 2007 WVV Pinot Noir and wooden WVV logo gift box set. The 750 ml. bottle and the decorative box retails for $35. The Pinot Noir has sweet, delicate aromas of raspberries and red cherries with hints of cocoa and toast. The 2007 vintage was marked by cooler weather in late summer through fall, producing classic Oregon wines with balanced alcohol and acidity levels. And in case you didn't know, Willamette's 2007 Riesling won the Gold Medal-Food & Wine Award at the 2009 Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Competition as the perfect wine to match with food. The Riesling competed against about 1,300 wine entries from 18 countries, and the competition's results were announced Nov. 4 in conjunction with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council's Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair. (800) 344-9463 or www.WillametteValleyVineyards.com.
Chef Robert Danhi, who is an expert on Southeast Asian cuisine and one of the most delightful people in the food industry, has written "Southeast Asian Flavors," http://www.southeastasianflavors.com. Chef Danhi has spent more than 20 years traveling Southeast Asia in an effort to demystify the cuisines and bring the dynamic flavors of those countries to the American market. With 400 pages, more than 100 authentic recipes and 700 color photographs taken by Chef Danhi, Southeast Asian Flavors represents the culmination of his endeavors and is an enduring tribute to the region's heritages, cultures and cuisines.
EatSmart introduces the most marvelous educational home food scale EatSmart Precision Pro - Multifunction Digital Kitchen Scale w/ Extra Large LCD and 11 Lb. Capacity so you can calculate calories with ease, and is precise down to 1 gram. It operates with standard AAA batteries, and you can have one for about $25.00. With big numbers, it's easy to analyze the nutritional content of any food by portion size. The database stores the nutritional values for approximately 1,000 foods, which have been carefully selected to reflect fresh, whole foods Americans eat. www.amazon.com
Is someone you know domestically challenged? Are you an anxious parent nudging your precious offspring out of the nest? If so, "Lucia's Survival Guide and Cookbook," for about $10.00 on Amazon.com, is a fun and easy manual for anyone faced with the daunting task of creating their first home. Filled with helpful tips on everything from - Before you sign the lease - what to look for when apartment hunting; Laundry - surefire ways to get those whites white and make sure you don't end up with a load of pink underwear; Quick ironing tips to set you on your way to a wrinkle free life; Stocking your pantry with the staples - the ultimate grocery list this guidebook is a no-nonsense primer for all the basic tasks involved with homemaking It also includes an Italian cookbook with recipes even the first-time cook can quickly master. even the worst kitchen klutzes can make the recipes.
Two Duke University professors Scott de Marchi and James T. Hamilton offer a bold new theory about predicting choice. It's called "You are What You Choose: The Habits of Mind That Really Determine How We Make Decisions," available on Amazon.com for about $17.00. Previous books examined how we make choices, but no previous book has explained why different people have such different styles of decision-making - and why those styles seem consistent across many contexts. Based on a survey of more than 30,000 subjects, the professors say everyone possesses six core traits that shape every decision, from what to have for lunch to whether to lie on a tax return. These traits offer a new way to explain many puzzling patterns. For instance: People who recycle are more likely to get a flu shot each year. Ron Paul was a huge fundraiser despite his low poll numbers. Mac users prefer light beer. People who volunteer are more likely to try online dating.
