Blowing the Gift Card

I visited Attrezzi this afternoon to spend down the cool gift card that's been burning a hole in my purse since the nuptial event. I didn't have anything particular in mind when I went in. I asked myself, "what do I buy for the girl who has everything?"

The practical: a cooking fork and a mezzaluna chopper, both by Rösle and far east down east by Bruce deMustchine of Newburyport

The indulgences: I'd struggle with paying for this stuff with my own swag, but since it's a gift...Alaea Hawaiian red sea salt, smoked kosher salt, white truffle oil, and Vidalia onion cranberry pepper jelly from Lollipoptree (support local vendors!)

I rounded it all off with a handmade Belgian chocolate bar with pecans and ginger from Cacao in Kittery (road treat), and a 1 oz. Scharffen Berger Nibby Bar (for later).

6 pounds of chocolate helped save my dad

dad had surgery at portsmouth hospital last week - I did the only thing I could think of when stressing out - I bought chocolate for the staff. pounds of it, which was devoured in seconds. I'd like to think that it fueled the nurses and surgical team to reach new heights of medical greatness. what's important is that dear old dad is on the mend.

Many thanks to portsmouth hospital for getting dad back in fighting shape and to byrne & carlson chocolates for putting several boxes together on the fly - including the pecan turtles for the nice lady in the icu waiting room.