Wednesday, November 20, 2002

Holiday gifts for food enthusiasts

Toys are for tots, tunes are for teens ... and cooking tools are for people who like to cook. This holiday season select a culinary gift your favorite home cook, foodie friend or party host/hostess will love.

"For anyone interested in cooking, good cutlery is an essential tool of the trade," said David Burke, executive chef of Park Avenue Café in New York City and Chicago, and a culinary advisor to Cutco Cutlery, the largest manufacturer and marketer of high-quality kitchen cutlery and accessories in the United States. "After all, one can't be a good painter without great brushes. The same principle holds true for home cooks; they will need high quality cooking equipment and utensils."

One of the most impressive things at a holiday table, according to the national chair of the American Academy of Chefs and Cutco Cutlery Culinary Advisory Board member Fritz Sonnenschmidt, is "a confident presentation of carving skills." Get the head of your table off on the right foot with a Petite Carving Set (a 6 3/4-inch petite carver and a 10 7/8-inch turning fork). Give the gift early so the carver has a chance to rehearse, and then watch as your host gracefully and skillfully slices through anything from a small turkey to rib roast.

For the party-thrower on your list, the Entertainer Pak includes an ice cream scoop, vegetable peeler, pizza cutter and cheese knife. From wine and cheese to pizza and beer, these entertainment essentials will be the life of the party!

The right cutlery helps make a perfect meal. The Essentials Set (a turning fork, a 6 3/4- inch carving knife, a 7 5/8-inch chef knife, a spatula spreader and 2 3/4-inch paring knife) offers basic epicurean equipment in an oak storage block to make cooking and serving a pleasure for novices and seasoned gourmands alike.

Help add a whimsical touch to holiday entertaining with the Folk Snowman Relish Tray Gift Combo, featuring a 2 3/4-inch paring knife, trimmer and vegetable peeler, and a decorative folk art serving dish. Hosts will enjoy displaying crudités, dips and hors d'oeuvres at their next gathering -- be it a holiday party, Super Bowl get-together or just a casual winter evening at home with friends.

Those with sweets to bake or big-dinner leftovers to eat will love the Spatula Spreader. Perfect for everything from icing, slicing and serving a favorite dessert to making the perfect sandwich with holiday leftovers, the Spatula Spreader is a unique all-in-one tool that anyone who spends any time in the kitchen will use all the time.

With a forever guarantee and free sharpening services these tools from Cutco Cutlery will last for generations to come. So, when the weather outside is stormy and the holiday shopping lines seem endless, look no further than the kitchen for all the gift ideas you'll need this season.

For more information, and to receive a free kitchen guide "How to Choose & Use Cutlery," featuring handy tips for carving, vegetable and fruit cutting, chopping and more, call toll free (800) 828-0448 or visit the Web site at www.cutco.com.

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