A Slice of Life from the International Home and Housewares Show

Posted by Nancy Reed Krabill  www.flavorsfromafar.com/blogfromafar

 

We are glad to be here.  At a time of economic distress, it's easy to hunker down, hide inside, and wait out the outcome.  That's exactly the wrong approach.  At this show, we've found new inspiration, new ideas, and lots of energy for facing the year ahead.  What we loved about the vendors:  smart, savvy people who seem to be more than "salespeople".  They seem invested in the outcome.  What we loved about the show:  the consultants who gave us an hour of their time for free.  We've got action items to go home and implement from a numbers, a marketing, and a social networking standpoint.  What we loved about Happy Hour?  Guitarola, shown above, who play at the Stanley/Aladdin booth at S1800 in the evening (we hear that the bass player was part of Survivor).  These guys are so gracious and into their music that they don't even appear to care that their audience is more into socializing than the music (which is, of course, wrong!).  This is a good place to be, and we are glad to be here, in Chicago, at this show, focusing on the future.  We know that we have challenges today, and that we must work through today to get through to the other side.  But here, today, we have found new and exciting products, we have a plan to implement them in our store, and life is good!

Going to the Source: Meeting Olive Oil Producers Face to Face

OlioCapitale, Trieste, Italy March 6-9 2009

 

Posted by Nancy Reed Krabill www.flavorsfromafar.com/blogfromafar

 

As gourmet retailers, it seems to us that we could spend the entire year at trade shows.  There are several each month, each one clamoring for our attention.  We both need and want to go:  to get new ideas and inspiration, particularly in these troubling times.  In addition to the shows stateside, there are conventions overseas as well, where you can potentially meet producers directly and get a sense of the environment in which they are produced.  Is it worth the trip?

We recently attended Olio Capitale in Trieste, Italy.  It was a three-day fest of everything olive, where you could meet producers first-hand, learn about the production methods, and experience the difference in flavors in what some Americans consider to be a commodity. 

The city of Trieste is in itself a wonderful discovery; many Italians have never ventured here.  Its allegiances flickered back and forth in the aftermath of WWI, and it only became a permanent part of Italy in 1954.  It retains a grand, somewhat "foreign" European feel, gazing a bit towards the East to Slavic traditions, and north to Middle Europe. The Fiera Trieste convention center, where Olio Capitale takes place, is located away from the historic city center, in an area of town with more of an urban vibe.  Though not as glitzy as trade centers in some larger cities, once you're inside, the fair is run in a manner every bit as professional and organized as any trade show in San Francisco or New York.  An important part of the package is the fact that Fiera Trieste supplies an interpreter from the local university to help visitors understand not only the language, but also the culture.  These young "20-somethings" are professional, helpful, and fun.  

 

Upon our arrival, we received a "matchmaking" schedule of meetings, sort of a speed dating program whereby visits are arranged with producers in intervals of 20 or 30 minutes each, from 10am to 7pm, with a half hour break for lunch.  We were a little daunted by the prospect, but, nonetheless, started the day with an interesting program on olive oil tasting.  Unfortunately, it lasted an hour over its scheduled time and made us late for our first two appointments!  Off to a crazy start!

So we began our meetings.  Each booth represents a microcosm of a family, a particular place in the world, with stories, certain olives, hopes and plans.  Everyone wonders about the economy, which doesn't seem to have affected everyday Italians yet.  However, a common theme seems to be "we will do the right things, be strong, and get through this", not unlike our sentiments about our own small retail store in Dallas.  The meetings quickly settled into a pattern; we sat down, received brochures, and the telling began.  We learned the stories, and of course tasted the olive oil.  It's amazing how olive oil from the same region and type of olive can taste so different, based on geography and type of cultivation.  Although we have visited many trade shows in the past and tasted a good bit of olive oil there, here it's a different experience entirely, more focused and informative.  If the amount of olive oil that you taste gets a little "heavy", shall we say, you can always squeeze in a break and check out one of the informative seminars.  We tried "Olive Oil with Bread", "Olive Oil with Chocolate", even "Olive Oil with Ice Cream"!.

Back at the hotel room, the culling process began.  In a sense, the "matchmaking" terminology is apt.  After hearing the stories and tasting the oil, we had to make choices and it almost felt like breaking a relationship.  We focused on regions.  We liked the oil from Liguria (delicate, encased in gold foil to protect it from the light) along with the pesto and tapenade from the region.  The strong olive oil and pates from Sicily are a wonderful contrast.  The oil from Umbria is round and full, a nice partner with our olive oils we already carry from neighboring Tuscany.  Some olive oils are best tasted with food, such as those from from Puglia, with its distinctive bite. We also enjoyed finding producers who sold not only olive oils but pates, tapenades, and veggies in oil typical to their region.  One critical point to keep in mind:  the producers at the fairs generally do not have a distributor in the United States.  They may not yet have FDA approval for all of their products.  Therefore, unless contact is made with a shipping agent/customs broker, and unless you plan to order relatively large quantities, you may not be able to purchase the products you fall in love with.  On the other hand, the cultural immersion and insights gained from being with so many producers at ones may well be worth the cost of the trip.

It's interesting to see the efforts made to preserve the Italian character of these top quality oils and to market them to the US.  Some companies include information on the label describing the farm, the olives, and the cultivation, with handwritten lot numbers identifying down to the tree, to the exact olives (or so we're told) the origin of the oil.  Some companies know that the taste of their olive oil is more bitter than the taste preferred by Americans, so they are trying blends with milder or rounder tasting varieties.  It's hard to know how to feel about this.  On: the one hand, it seems they are denying who they are, which is what we love so much about the Italians, to please us.  On the other hand, it may be a smart move from a marketing perspective.

In the end, after making selections of those products that we felt would best fit our shelves, we left with a greater understanding of the process from beginning to end that takes a simple fruit and transforms it into a product that first flowed throughout the Mediterranean basin and now enriches the lives of people whose cultures could never sustain an olive tree.  When we put these products on our shelves, it will be our turn to tell the stories, explain the differences and uses, and become part of the tradition in our own unique way. 

If you’re going to Trieste:

Hotel:

We stayed, with several other convention-goers at the Hotel Roma in downtown Trieste, a clean, completely serviceable hotel within a few minutes’ walk of the city center and train station.

Restaurants:

Trattoria ai Fiori:  wonderful, traditional fare.  Focus on seafood.  A little pricey, perfect splurge  www.aifiori.com

Mascalzone Latino:  pizzas and food Naples-style.  “Foreign food” in Trieste.  Try the pizza dough chips, fried mashed stuffed potatoes, and of course pizza.  www.mascalzonelatino-food.com

Da Pepi Buffet:  down-home Austro-German food arrives on a shared platter with mustard and sauerkraut as sides.  Unbelievable.  Via Cassa di Risparmio 3 Tel. 040/3666858

Drinks and People Watching

Caffe degli Specchi:  in Trieste’s generous Piazza Unita.  Sit outside on the square, or inside with the locals.  www.caffespecchi.it

Birreria Kofler Paulaner:  Take a little trip over to a restaurant that feels like it’s in Germany for some fine beer.  We did not try the food, but will be back.  Riva Nazario Sauro 14, Trieste Tel. 040/317912

Posted by:  Nancy Reed Krabill

www.flavorsfromafar.com

www.flavorsfromafar.com/blogfromafar

Housewares Here We Come

With just days to go before the 2009 International Home + Housewares Show (IH+HS), exhibitors are making final preparations for presenting their new product lines to more than 20,000 buyers from around globe who are expected to attend the Show. Held March 22-24 at Chicago's McCormick Place, the event is sponsored by the International Housewares Association.

Buyers can still register for a no-charge badge through the Show’s website at www.housewares.org. The Show features thousands of housewares and homegoods products from high-end international design to trend-setting basics, products range from kitchen electrics and small appliances to gourmet specialty foods and cookware, from bakeware and kitchen tools to home decor, space organizers and more.

Here's a preview of just some of the new products that will be on display starting this Sunday:

 

Grow Your Own Veggies With AeroGrow

AeroGrow has launched the new VeggiePro, which allows consumers to grow their own vegetables, herbs and flowers indoors year-round with no dirt, weeds or pesticides. The VeggiePro, which retails for $179.95, can grow full-size vegetables in addition to herbs and lettuces. In concert with the VeggiePro, AeroGrow introduces its County Fair line of seed kits with full-size vegetable offerings. They include: Ruby Heirloom Tomatoes, Bell Peppers and Mega Cherry Tomatoes. Each retails for $19.95, and works with any tall 6-Pod AeroGarden®. Come by the AeroGrow booth at the Housewares Show and enter for your chance to win a $500 American Express gift card. Drawing for the American Express gift card will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2009.  Your presence is not required to win.

 

WMF Debuts New Designs and Functionality

WMF Americas, Inc. will showcase an array of products at the IH+HS from its barware, coffee and tea accessories to its kitchenware and Kids Worlds Collection lines. WMF is also celebrating 150 years of WMF flatware design. The European market leader in product development and fulfillment for consumer and institutional food service markets, WMF continues to offer artfully designed upscale products that appeal to consumers in style and function. At the show, attendees will have the opportunity to get a first glimpse at a range of products including: The WMF BarStyle Set, Champagne Cork Opener, Crown Corks & Screw Caps Opener and Atelier Decanters. In coffee and tea accessories, check out the WMF Barista Collection, Sugar Shaker and Tea Infuser. Kitchenware items on display will include the WMF Profi Plus Thermometer, Vario Comfort kitchen organizing system and Ceramill Electric Mill. A world of kid-friendly items await, as WMF shows off its Kid’s Cooking Scissors, Chopping Board and Cook Set. A full range of WMF flatware also will be on display. All items will be available for preview at WMF Americas’ booth # S3428. 

 

Presenting the Capresso Café Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Machine

The new Capresso Café Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Machine from Jura-Capresso features a handsome new look and a state-of-the-art design that fits snuggly into a corner on the counter, saving space while serving up great espresso. The highly efficient ThermoBlock heating system offers 16 bars of pressure to create perfect high-pressure brewed espresso time and again.  The handy self-locking filter holder has a thumb guard for safe and secure placement. The Capresso Café comes with two filter sieves to produce one or two thick crema espressos at a time.  A concealed storage compartment holds one sieve so it never gets lost. Operation is easy and intuitively obvious, with pictographs highlighting each step on the control panel.  The easy-to-use selector switch allows the user to choose espresso/cappuccino or steam/hot water functions. Its large 48-ounce water container produces 35 espressos before refilling. The Capresso Café, in black with silver accents, comes with a one-year limited warranty. It is available for shipment June 2009, with an actual retail price of $159.99. For more information, visit the Jura-Capresso booth # L11102 at the IH+HS.

Gaggia Announces New Specialty Retailer Programs, Product Demos
Importika, the exclusive U.S. importer of Gaggia, Teaposy and Handpresso will unveil its new Gaggia Specialty Retailer Program and pricing at the International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago next week. The new program will include: espresso machines, grinders, cups, coffee, signage and a complete line of accessories.

Live product demonstrations of the Gaggia espresso machines also are on tap for the IH+H Show. Visitors interested in learning more about the specialty retailer program or watching product demos can go to booth #L12715 on Sunday Mar. 22 to meet Tiziano Boezi from Italy as he demonstrates the Gaggia espresso machines and explains how they have evolved from 1938.

A Dry Idea from CDN

CDN, the Time and Temperature Company, expands its precision timer line with the new Waterproof Timer (TMW1).  Featuring a highly durable waterproof design and both audio and visual alerts, it counts up or down for up to 100 minutes in minutes and seconds. The Waterproof Timer is also shatterproof.  It continues to function with accuracy if it becomes wet or is accidentally immersed in water, and it can withstand moisture and humidity.  It comes with a display stand and magnet for easy attachment to kitchen appliances. The compact Waterproof Timer (TMW1) will be available for shipment in April 2009, with a suggested retail price of $21.99. It uses two AAA batteries, included. For more information, visit booth #S1435 at the IH+HS.

 

William Bounds Presents PepArt Posy Mills

The new PepArt Posy Mills from William Bounds Ltd. feature a whimsical design with a round top, gently curving body and scalloped tulip base. Made of high-quality birch wood, and painted in bright colors, spots and stripes, the new mills feature the patented William Bounds ceramic milling mechanism that crushes sea salt and peppercorns, producing consistent results to ensure maximum flavor release. Because there are no interlocking parts, the mill is guaranteed to never jam or wear out. A fully adjustable knob at the top of the mill allows users to choose a grind from extra coarse to extra fine. Designed by artist Robert Wilhelm, the Posy Mills are available in three bright color combinations: Green/Blue, Red/Black, Yellow/Orange. The mills have a suggested retail price of $60 each.  For more information, visit booth #S1443 at the IH+HS.

 

How Food Gatekeepers Influence Sales.

More than 70% of cooking decisions in the home are made by nutritional gatekeepers according to a Cornell University study. Gatekeepers influence what is cooked (and purchased at stores). Cornell Food and Brand Lab researchers have identified 5 personality types for nutritional gatekeepers:

1. Giving Cooks. 22% of the market
2. Methodical Cooks. 18%.
3. Competitive Cooks. 13%.
4. Healthy Cooks. 20%.
5. Innovative cooks. 19%.

Take the following test and see what your gatekeeper personality is at www.nytimes.com /well.

The study and test reveals insights about the nutritional gatekeeper personalities of your customers.  I found that I’m a cross between a Competitive and Innovative Cook.

Ron Jakubisin

jakubisin.com

If you are in San Diego today...

The Family Winemakers of California association is holding a tasting at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The event is open to the public from 3 - 6pm, and tickets can be purchased at the door. 200 wineries should be there, so it is certainly a "don't miss" event! For more information, visit:

http://www.familywinemakers.org/

They are also holding a tasting in Pasadena on Tuesday, if you can't make it today's awesome show.

Look for an article regarding the event soon. I hope to find some new favorites, and I promise to pass along the information to you as well.

Happy Sunday!

Amanda

Did you know...

...that Zinfandel is believed to have originated in Dalmatia, Croatia? It swung over to Italy and established (well, cloned) itself as Primitivo before making it to California- thanks to the gold miners- in the middle of the 19th century.

This discovery was made possible through DNA analysis by two doctors from the University of Zagreb in Croatia and my hero, Dr. Carole Meredith of my alma mater, UCDavis. Mike Ggrich had a hand in the find, too, by funding Dr. Meredith's accomodations during her trip.

For more information, check out Dr. Meredith's study at http://www.zinfandel.org/uploads/Looking%20for%20Zin%20in%20Croatia1-02.pdf

Yelp Us Please!

Everyone can become a national critic these days including your customers who are telling the world about their shopping experiences in your store. Reading online reviews for hotels and restaurants is commonplace fueled by those links that say “read customer reviews” next to the hotel we just found on Expedia.  And who hasn’t clicked there only to discover that a hotel we almost booked was infested with roaches or was next to an oil refinery. 

 

Web portals like Yelp are tapping into our online voyeuristic passions by offering review categories that include doctors, movers, retail stores, auto repair and even gourmet shops!  In San Francisco, Yelp can make or break many new retailers and restaurants.  Some merchants there say that they get as much as 40% of their sales from Yelp reviews, according to an article in the New York Times (March 8).

 

Regular folk are now driving opinion thereby creating opportunities for retailers to be recognized for their great products and services.  Of course there are some negative reviews--- and people make petty comments like, “They didn’t like the fact that I tried so many samples and didn’t buy anything.”   Or thoughtful observations, “Their prices are higher, but I still shop there because the food is so much better than I’ve found elsewhere.”

 

A great feature of the Yelp system is that you can contact a reviewer through Yelp, and in the case of a negative review, do some customer service--- which often results in the reviewer posting a note along the lines of-“They spoke to me about my concerns and offered to replace the product.  I really liked the way they helped me.”

 

Unlike the local paper or TV station that does consumer alerts once a week, Yelp gives more people access to a broad platform to air their opinions and complaints so it’s important for merchants to monitor reviews.  You can google reviews of your shop by typing “reviews" and the name of your shop or go to Yelp.com or Zagat, or your local city guide.  There are dozens of review sites.

 

Oh—you might be tempted to have your friends and relatives write positive reviews to boost your ratings.  Review sites have filters that can detect this--- and they move reviews around and tend to favor reviews posted by participants with many reviews to their credit first. Yelp it up!  

Ron Jakubisin

jakubisin.com

More Chicago Housewares Show

The countdown to the International Home + Housewares Show this Mar. 22-24 at Chicago's McCormick Place continues. Here's more of what's new this year.

 

Champion Swiss Barista at Jura-Capresso

Daniel Heiniger, the award-winning Swiss barista, will turn espresso into art with creative coffee classics, dazzling coffee cocktails and tasty dessert coffees at the Jura-Capresso booth. 

A professional coffee roaster and certified barista, Heiniger has won first place in the Swiss Latte Art Championship for the last two years. He also has served on the jury of the Swiss Barista Championship.

 

Heiniger will demonstrate how Jura-Capresso Automatic Coffee Centers make it easy for anyone to be their own barista at home, for a bean-to-cup experience with a unique sense of style. Heiniger will appear in the Jura-Capresso IH+HS booth # L11102. 

To learn more about Jura-Capresso, visit www.capresso.com. 

 

Chef Nancy Ferriss to Demo CIA Professional Series at Vita-Mix

Nancy Ferriss, an accomplished chef and honors graduate of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), will demonstrate an array of appealing recipes that can be made in minutes using the Vita-Mix CIA Professional Series at the Vita-Mix booth.

Chef Ferriss has worked at leading restaurants in Germany, Switzerland and the U.S.

 

Her years in Napa Valley, both as a private chef and working for celebrated restaurants including Rose and LeFavour, Miramonte, Model Bakery and Auberge du Soleil, have deepened her understanding of American culinary trends and tastes.

The CIA Professional Series has the power, control and options to perform a variety of functions. For more information, visit the Vita-Mix booth # L12225. Learn more about the line at www.theprofessionalseries.com.

 

Capresso Expands Infinity Grinder Collection

Capresso is expanding its Infinity Conical Burr collection with a new SKU in ABS plastic with an attractive Stainless finish. This premium model features commercial-grade conical steel burrs that maximize flavor and aroma while yielding a precise grind.

 

Jura-Capresso now offers three choices in its Infinity Burr Grinder collection: one in Die-Cast Stainless Steel, one in classic Black, and the new ABS/Stainless Steel Finish SKU.

 

Designed for home use, the Infinity Burr Grinder features the same solid steel burrs found in Jura-Capresso’s automatic coffee centers. They grind precisely, with 16 grind settings from Turkish fine to Percolator coarse. The Infinity features a special gear-reduction motor that enhances flavor and aroma by operating with less friction and heat than most other burr grinders.

 

The new Infinity Conical Burr Grinder in ABS with a Silver Stainless Steel finish is available for immediate shipment, with an actual retail price of $99. For more information, visit www.capresso.com.

 

Pressurized Rice Cooker

New from Zojirushi, the Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker & Warmer. The company’s most high-end rice cooker to date, this advanced system uses precise heat control and three pressurized cooking settings to cook rice to varying degrees of firmness. Induction Heating (IH) directs the heat into the inner cooking pan, which is vacuum-insulated, helping to distribute heat more efficiently with less energy use. Available in 5.5-cup and 10-cup capacities. MSRP: $515 for the 5.5-cup and $550 for the 10-cup. For more information, visit www.zojirushi.com.

 

Fissler Introduces the CookStar Induction Pro

Grill kabobs at the dinner table or make chili beside your barbeque, all while saving energy, with the new CookStar Induction Pro from Fissler. Perfectly suited for the kitchen, dining table, buffet, or patio, the stylish black cooktop features an ultra sleek profile with a frameless glass ceramic surface that makes cleanup a breeze. One-touch features include “booster” and “keep warm” functions for speedy cooking and buffet serving. The multi-functional CookStar Induction Pro is powerful enough to boil water in less than a minute. For more information, visit www.fisslerusa.com.

Thanks Yes Thanks!

The upside to the downturn is that some companies are enhancing their relationships with customers with improved communications including thanking people…  I know, we all are customer focused and it’s our job to make sure the customer is always satisfied, so it comes as a surprise that shoppers often feel their patronage is taken for granted.

I frequent a blues concept restaurant, and the owner came by my table one day and invited me to party she was having for her regulars.  First it was great to be recognized…  if I didn’t go, the gesture of being part of the inner circle of regular customers itself was flattering.  Second, I didn’t have to “buy one and get one free” like you see in newspaper ads– the offer was to join a “nice group of people” for cocktails and appetizers. Thirdly, she said she wanted to thank me for always coming in and hoped I could make it.

I went, had a great time and met many nice people.  It was memorable and left me with a positive feeling about the restaurant.

Usually promotions are focused on things that benefit the business and not the customer. And people are now starting to think about what they buy and why.  Saving money is a nice benefit to offer but it doesn’t build relationships with our most profitable customers--- the ones who love us for what we offer everyday, the knowledgeable service and character of the shop and our merchandising. They come in often and tell their friends about us.  Those customers might like to hear that we love them too. (Or get invited to a party just for being a regular customer)!

Ron Jakubisin

Chicago Housewares Show Sneak Peak

With the International Home + Housewares Show just a couple of weeks away, we can't wait to walk the halls at McCormick Place and see the latest innovations, technologies, colors, and creativity the industry has to offer. Here is a sneak peak at just some of what you will find in Chicago this Mar. 22-24. For more new products to be featured at the Housewares Show, be sure to check out our IH+H Show Tips in both the February and March issues of The Gourmet Retailer magazine.

 

Prepare for Fresh Herbs

Prepara now offers a full range of products that conveniently enable the consumer to enjoy fresh herbs--from quickly growing an indoor gourmet herb garden, to storing those harvested herbs, prolonging their freshness and even using them in oil infusions. On the growing side, Prepara's Power Plant line offers the consumer two options for fast fresh herbs: A windowsill grower and a larger, enhanced countertop unit. Additionally, Prepara's new Power Grow Lamp works with both Power Plant growers and is even equipped with a plant stand for use with potted plants or propagation trays. Its full-spectrum "sunlight" bulb produces outstanding growing results. Prepara's partnership with the Burpee Seed Company allows it to offer the best quality gourmet seeds selected especially for indoor gardening.

 

On the storage side, Prepara's new Herb Savor Pods are designed to complement its best-selling Herb Savor. Each Pod is smaller in size but uses the same proven principles to triple the life of fresh herbs and asparagus. The Pods will be sold individually for an MSRP of $19.95 or as a value set of three for $39.95. The original Herb Savor retails for $29.95.

 

Prepara's new Tabletop Mister is the first BPA-free, sterilizable glass mister with a patented filtering system that allows the user to create his or her own flavored oils by infusing fresh herbs, spices or even ingredients like chili peppers and garlic, without clogging the sprayer. Find out more about Prepara Chef’s Performance Tools by visiting: www.prepara.com.

Delicious No-Calorie Nougat

Emile Henry presents a new addition to its Urban Collection -- Nougat, a creamy color that adds warmth and contrast to the table. When mixed with other colors in the Urban Collection, such as sand and slate, the tableware and ovenware become a feast for the eyes. Crème nougat, a confection made from sugar and nuts, has been popular in France

since the 18th century. Like the confection for which this new Emile Henry hue is named, Nougat is sophisticated, elegant and lovely -- a delightfully simple color that goes with everything on the table. Like the traditional Emile Henry table and ovenware, the Urban Collection is made in the heartland of  France from Burgundy clay, which is known for its superb heat diffusion and retention. Emile Henry pottery transmits an even, steady heat, and retains it sufficiently to keep foods hot longer at the table. Emile Henry products are not only strong enough to withstand the abrupt temperature changes of freezer-to-oven cooking, but are also beautiful enough to join the dinner party. The Urban Collection ovenware and tabletop items range in retail price from $7 to $60. For more information, visit www.emilehenryusa.com.

Microplane^® Introduces New POP Displays

Microplane expands its assortment of eye-catching, well-designed retail point of purchase (POP) displays with the unveiling of a new full-line Floor Display (model 36080) to best showcase the company’s growing line of specialty kitchen tools and hand-held graters, along with a new compact Countertop Display (model 36081) to stir impulse purchase of kitchen graters and other hand-held tools. The new POP displays will be shown at the 2009 International Home + Housewares Show at booth #S657.

Tall and slim for convenient placement in any retail environment, the new Microplane floor display provides lower shelving to accommodate larger products, such as the Adjustable Slicer and award-winning Box Grater, as well as other specialty kitchen tools. Further up the display, two bands of hooks provide the ideal setting to showcase Microplane graters. A sturdy, stainless steel side pocket keeps product brochures neatly on hand. The new Floor Display is priced at $370.00, however during the Housewares Show, the display will be offered free with a minimum order of $1,000.

Perfect for stimulating impulse purchases of Microplane’s hand-held rasp and paddle-shaped kitchen graters, as well as smaller, hand-held specialty tools, such as the colorful Ultimate Citrus Tool, the new portable, Countertop Display holds up to 20 items on eight sturdy hooks (four on each side) in a highly compact and visually effective unit.  A stainless steel side pocket is roomy enough to hold a handful of brochures. Priced at $95.00, during the Housewares Show, the display will be offered free with a minimum order of $350.00. For more information, call 800-555-2767.  

 

Go Bold, Go Moroccan, Go Taste la Différence

Taste la Différence, the French cookware and tabletop collection, will introduce several bold new designs at the IH+H Show, including new additions to its Expert line from Appolia. Made entirely in France, the Appolia collection modernizes the traditions of grilling and stewing with innovative ceramic accessories, like those found in its Terre et Flamme series. With the Morrocan tajine and French cocotte, for example, Appolia has updated the classic stovetop-to-table stewing favorites with features like non-stick surfaces and wide round corners for easy scooping. The cover balances upside down on the extra-large, flat cover handle. This solves the age old problem of what to do with a dripping hot top while stirring the food. To cook with more moisture and less fat without adding water and diluting juices, the chef can place ice cubes inside the hollow handles. The temperature difference will create additional condensation dripping inside the hot cover. The Taste la Différence collection is distributed in the U.S. by Arceau Marketing. For more information, visit http://www.arceau.com.

New Chef Knife From Ergo

The new 10-inch Chef Knife from Ergo Chef has an ergonomically angled handle that offers superior positioning of the hand, wrist and forearm, which in turn provides natural comfort, less strain and better control. This fully forged knife has an 18 degree precision sharp blade that has been heat treated to stay sharp longer, and yet is easy to maintain.  The knife edge was engineered for smooth rocking to match the comfort of the seamless POM angled handle. The steel is high-carbon, durable German stainless. The 10-inch Chef Knife has a suggested retail price of $124.99. Check it out at the IH+H Show booth # S2287. For more information, visit www.ergochef.com.