Shopping for Luxury Food, Beverage & Entertaining Gifts - Part 1

OakStreetMan.com Viking Professional Cookware:
8-Quart Stock Pot - $330
Pasta Insert (9.5") - $170
Steamer Insert (8") - $120
Newly launched online retailer OakStreetMan.com offers discerning men an impressive array of high-end gadgets, gear and even experiences, although some of what this site offers would be equally appreciated by women as well. Case in point is the company's line of Viking Professional stainless steel cookware. I myself have - and absolutely adore – the Viking Professional 8-Quart Stock Pot, along with the manufacturer's Pasta and Steamer Inserts that are sold separately at OakStreetMan.com. Boasting 5-layer ply construction and brushed surgical grade 18/10 stainless steel interior and exterior surfaces, Viking Professional's sturdy 8-Quart Stock Pot stock pot is built to last...and perform. Meticulously handcrafted in Belgium, this pot is engineered for use on any cooking surface, including induction, and is oven-safe up to 600°F. An aluminum core facilitates lightening fast and incredibly even heat distribution for exceptional cooking control. Its ergonomic stay-cool handles are designed to create leverage under the forearm for a safer and more comfortable grip, and the dome lid (designed to minimize dripping) also has an extra-large handle providing increased clearance for fingers.

Viking Professional's 9.5" Pasta Insert also available at OakStreetMan.com, which is designed to fit snugly into the 8-Quart Stock Pot, is absolutely terrific for straining and draining pasta of any kind, potatoes, corn on the cob and other such items. You'll forego having to dump the contents of a large, heavy pot full of boiling hot water into an unstable strainer resting precariously in the sink. This top-of-the-line insert, also made of 18/10 stainless steel and constructed with large, ergonomic, stay-cool handles, is a far more functional and safer alternative. Viking Professional's 8" Steamer insert is also an extremely handy, high-quality tool that works nicely with the 8-Quart Stock Pot. A rubber seal ensures that steam is conducted through the vents and into the food rather than escaping up and around the sides. It's also large enough to steam sizeable portions of meats, veggies and other victuals. As with all Viking Professional Cookware, which incidentally is also dishwasher-safe, all three of these items carry a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects. (www.oakstreetman.com)

TY KU White Sake: - $150
TY KU Sake Bomb Kit - $27.99
Premium quality sake and soju purveyor TY KU Asian Wine and Spirits has a truly fabulous selection of gift items available this year sure to make the holidays merrier. My unequivocal favorite of the lot is TY KU White – a top-of-the-line Japanese sake heralding pure, high-quality ingredients and a gorgeous award-winning bottle. Only a select amount of TY KU White is made every year, giving it grand appeal for those who covet exclusivity and elite ultra premium spirits. Each numbered bottle of TY KU White pours the ultimate Junmai Daiginjo, which is handmade in small batches from hand-polished Yamada Nishiki rice grains milled over 50% that's harvested only one a year, soft water from the glaciers of the Fiji mountains that springs only every 50 years, proprietary yeast from the edo period, and hand-made koji. This elegant elixir, which is actually best served slightly chilled rather than hot like other sakes, conveys tantalizing fruit and spice notes and a fabulous mouth feel that enchants. The 750ml bottle, is packaged in a lovely bamboo box with sliding glass front door, all etched with floral design, and is and tied with a ribbon. This gift will let the recipient know how "premium" he or she really is.

For those who like to lighten things up a bit is TY KU's Sake Bomb Kit, which features a 750ml bottle of TY KU Super Premium Junmai Ginjo Sake hand crafted in the traditional Japanese method (also best enjoyed chilled), 2 black TY KU branded sake cups and 4 black chopstick-esque stirrers all set in a fierce black dragon-inspired gift box that'll have the recipient saying "Kanpai" upon opening. How to make a sake bomb? Just fill the sake cup full of TY KU sake, position the sake cup ently on stirrers reesting on a glass of beer that's three-quarters full, yell “Kanpai", slam your fist on the table causing the sake cup to drop into the beer glass, drink and enjoy. A sushi party favorite for sure! (www.trytyku.com)

EdibleGiftsPlus.com Lobster Dinner - $97.50
Now here's a gift that almost anyone would love. A complete Maine lobster and seafood dinner for two from EdibleGiftsPlus.com – a company offering a dizzying array of gifts and goodies for all occasions. This holiday, spoil a friend or family member with a Maine lobster and seafood bake-in-a-bag feast they'll remember – not only for how fabulous it tastes but also how quick, easy and mess-free it is to prepare. The lucky - and hopefully hungry - gift recipient will receive on their doorstep an ice-packed cooler filled with a seafood bounty: two lobster tails, a dozen thoroughly cleaned mussels (no grit!), eight perfectly deveined shrimp, eight sea scallops and two small ears of corn all drenched in a flavorful herbed lemon butter sauce. All of this is neatly packaged in a large heavy foil bag that is simply placed either on the grill (35-40 minutes) or in the oven (50-55 minutes). When ready, just cut open the foil and serve. The portable pack is perfect for a beach-side bar-b-que or top-tier tailgate! With a 9-month freezer shelf life, diners also have the option to freeze the bag to eat at a later date. When a hankering for some stellar seafood hits, just thaw, heat and eat. (www.ediblegiftsplus.com)

Bar-B-Que Vivabox - $90
Get someone fired up this season with a Bar-B-Que Vivabox. My readers already know how much I love the Vivabox concept, which essentially combines a traditional themed gift from a giver with freedom of choice for the recipient who may custom-tailor the Vivabox gift to his or her liking. There are seven types of Vivaboxes, such as Wine, Coffee Talk and Spa Beauty.

For its part, the Bar-B-Que Vivabox gift box arrives with phase 1 of the gift experience - a selection of Urban Accents spice blends and rubs to be enjoyed immediately - Kansas City Classic Rub, Cajun Street and Chicago Steak & Chop. The Bar-B-Que Vivabox also contains a Phase 2 gift card redeemable for a selection of meats from leading meat purveyor Omaha Steaks, including filet mignons, boneless strips, rib eyes, the international, the dynamite duo and backyard bonanza. Or, if the recipient prefers, instead of the Omaha Steaks he or she may opt for ethnic-themed spice sets from Urban Accents. Options include the American BBQ Gift Set, Latin Fever Gift Set, Asian Fusion Gift Set or the Indian Heat Gift Set. To redeem, recipients simply log on to the Vivabox Web site, enter their gift card number and choose from 10 available gift options where prompted. A tasty gift, indeed. (www.vivaboxusa.com)

- Merilee Kern
JustLuxe.com's "The Luxe List" Executive Review Editor

The Luxe List product, service and travel review editor Merilee Kern scours the luxury marketplace for new and captivating “musts." Submissions are accepted via e-mail at Merilee@JustLuxe.com. View all of Merilee’s Luxe List articles from here (scroll to page bottom).

Related Topics: Food & Spirits, LuxeList, Gifts