Beautiful Gourmet Gift Baskets

Chocolate Tower

Fruit Spread Selection

Chocolate Basket

 Not many gifts allow the giver lots of room for creative expression, are endlessly customizable, and involve the thrill of a treasure hunt. But homemade gourmet baskets do all that. They can be as small or as grand as your budget allows, and they're a great gift-giving option for so many occasions.

So, whether you pride yourself on your keen ability to choose the perfect gift, or feel at a loss before each housewarming and wedding shower, you owe it to yourself to add gourmet baskets to your gift-giving repertoire. These tips will get you started crafting memorable, personal gourmet baskets your recipients are sure to love:

• Consider Your Budget - It’ll help inform your theme, and the size of the actual basket or gift receptacle.
• Pick A Theme - A theme can help guide your selections, and lend a customized feel to the basket.  
• Make A Shopping List - Draw up a wish list of prepared specialty foods or ingredients.
• Consider Special Dietary Needs - Do they observe kosher or halal? Are they vegetarian or vegan? Do they have food allergies or any health concerns.
• Choose Non-perishables - Food safety hazards don't make very nice gifts. 
• Check Expiration Dates - make sure your gift recipient will have at least a few months to use each item. 
• Feel Free to Bargain Hunt - seek out specialty food bargains.
• Get Creative With the Holder - A serving bowl or platter, for example, gives the recipient something lasting to remember your gift by. 
• Assemble With Care - Wrapping the basket in clear cellophane can help hold everything together and keep items from shifting.

Taste of Italy

7 Cheeses

Coffee Assortment

Shortbread & Brownie Collection

Cooking with Wendy

  

 

Wendy Rahamut is a Trinidadian author, television personality and chef. She has published a number of cookbooks where she emphasizes the importance of using indigenous ingredients to create a "fresher, tastier, spicy and delicious cuisine".

She also holds cooking classes at her school, Wendy Rahamut School of Cooking, in San Fernando, Trinidad  on Saturdays (Tel: (868) 357-0927).
Website: https://www.facebook.com/wendy-rahamut-caribbean-gourmet

Her newest show "Trini Flavors on a Budget" would be aired soon on C TV.

Here's her delightful recipe for Stuffed Eggplant.

Ingredients:

1 medium sized eggplant

1/4  cup olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 small onion, minced

1 cup cooked rice

1 tomato (diced)

1 green sweet pepper diced

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp paprika

1/2 cup chopped fresh mint

Or 1 teaspoon dried

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Method:

• Cut the eggplant lengthwise and scoop out the meat leaving about 1/2-inch meat around the shell.
• Dice the eggplant meat.
• Place the eggplant shells cut side down in a large skillet with about 1/2-inch boiling, salted water.
• Cover and steam for about 3 minutes. Drain and reserve. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a sauté pan, add garlic and onion, sauté until fragrant. 
• Add eggplant and sauté.
• Add tomatoes, and sweet pepper, cinnamon and paprika.
•  Add cooked rice and stir to combine.
• Add salt and black pepper. Stir in mint and taste and adjust seasonings.
• Divide mixture into two and stuff into eggplant shells.
• Drizzle with remaining olive oil.
• Place in a heatproof casserole dish; add about 1/4 inch water. Bake in preheated 350F oven and for about 20 minutes until shells are tender.
• Serves 2 to 4

Where to Shop?

Most of the basic products needed to prepare your gourmet dishes are conveniently available at the larger supermarket chains. However, the specialized gourmet groceries offer a range of grains, cheeses, meats, frozen foods, candy, sugar free, gluten free items and fresh fruits and vegetables. They also carry a wide selection of gourmet dressings and sauces.

So if you're feeling adventurous you can check out the following shops!

In the South: The Gourmet Genie
Location: Inside SSL Building, Sutton St, San Fernando
Phone: 221-2983
Hours: Mon to Fri from 7:30am to 5:30pm
           Sat from 7:30am to 3:00pm
Parking: Yes
Email: nalini@thegourmetgenie.com
Website: https://www.facebook.com/THE-GOURMET-GENIE

In Central: Vanilla Bean Gourmet
Location: Munroe Road, Chaguanas
Phone: 223-9527
Hours: Mon to Fri from 9:00am to 6:00pm
           Sat from 9:00am to 5:00pm
Parking: Yes
Email: vanillabean_gourmet@live.com    
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Vanilla-Bean-Gourmet

In the North: Peppercorns
Location: Shop #18 & 19, Ellerslie Plaza, Maraval
Phone: 628-5573/7712
Hours: Mon to Sat from 9:00am to 7:00pm
Parking: Yes
Email: Peppercorns.ep@gmail.com   
Website: http://www.peppercornstt.com

Invest in a Few Good Tools

Quality pots and pans can make the difference between exceptional dishes and run-of-the-mill results, so they are worth spending a bit more on. It's not necessary to purchase a 20-piece set with every conceivable size of pots and pans under the sun. Base your selections on how and what you cook most frequently. 

Knives are another vital cooking tool worth investing in. A chef's knife, a paring knife and a bread knife is all most people will ever require, and although top quality knives are not inexpensive, they make the job that much easier and will last you practically a lifetime.

Not sure where to shop for these items? You can try these 3 stores.

In the South: Bel Air Store Ltd

Location: 2 Gopaul Circular Drive, Marabella         

Phone: 658-3545/0191

Hours: Mon-Fri      8:30 am - 5:00 pm

            Sat              8:30 am - 4:30 pm 

Parking: Yes                      

Email: info@belairstore.com 

Website: http://belairstore.com                                                                                                                                                             

                                                                                                                                                       

 In Central: Excellent Stores

 Location: Price Plaza, Endeavour Road, Chaguanas

 Phone: 877-1010

 Hours: Mon-Sun     10:00 am - 7:00 pm

 Parking: Yes                                                                                                  Website: https://www.facebook.com/excellentstores/

                                                                                                         

                                                                               

Kitchen Korner 2003 Ltd
                                

In the North: Kitchen Korner 2003 Ltd

Location: Long Circular Road, St James

Phone: 285-9107

Hours: Mon-Sat     10:00 am - 7:00 pm

Parking: Yes 

Email: kitchenkorneroffice@gmail.com                                       Website: https://www.facebook.com/KitchenKorner2003Limited/

                                                                            

What is Gourmet Cooking?

       

Gourmet cooking is often called haute cuisine and is usually associated with intricate preparations of food and drink and elaborate, artful presentations. However, cooking gourmet food does not mean you have to slave away over elaborate recipes for hours, or use expensive and exotic ingredients. Rather, the key is that gourmet cooks typically use ingredients that are of the freshest and the best quality.

Here are 5 Steps to help you cook like a Pro:

1. Know your techniques – for basic prepping and cooking.
2. Invest in a few good tools – quality pots, pans and knives.
3.  Take cooking lessons – cooking courses and good books can improve your skills.
4. Great Food = Great Quality – use fresh ingredients and as little processed food as possible; buy local, in season and organic.
5. Work smart - choose recipes appropriate for your skills, plan your time, read every recipe and organize all of your ingredients and tools before you begin.

What's your take on gourmet cooking?

  

Lamb chops with couscous and vegetables

Salmon and vegetables

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