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Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Drink

Workplace gift ideas

Posted by Cecelia Messina on Wed, Dec 5, 2012 at 1:17 PM

MARTIN MILLER

Gift-giving at the workplace is one of the toughest challenges of the holiday season. Giving your neighbor or yoga instructor hand-knitted toe-warmers is fine but giving knitted doilies or toilet roll covers to your co-worker or boss just isn’t going to win you any brownie points. It’s a nice hobby but really, keep it out of the workplace.

What to give? Wine, chocolates, liqueur, spirits or imported foodstuffs: these categories fall into workplace acceptable gifts. Attach a little explanatory note and now your gift is personalized.

Frangelico Hazelnut Liqueur—Made from hazelnuts, this Italian liqueur is a lovely gift for anyone who likes to have after-dinner drinks. It can be served with chocolate, pumpkin or apple pie or with crème brulée. If there’s a foodie on your list, Frangelico is perfect for them to spice up their pecan pie or cheesecake recipes or to stir into dressings or glazes. (P.S.: Up the ante and pair this gift with a box of Frangelico chocolate ganache truffles).

Emmi Roth Swiss Imported Cheeses — The herb rind of these Swiss cheeses takes you on a delicious escape to the Swiss Alps. Made from the finest herbs picked from the Alpine slopes and pressed into the maturing cheeses as they age, the edible rinds offer a balanced flavor combination. The panorama is tangy semisoft cheese and the Bellevue is a hard, full-bodied and mature cheese. (P.S. Place the cheeses in a small basket with a bottle of the Georges Duboeuf 2012 Beaujolais Nouveau. The wine is not only a nice touch but is a lovely pairing for the cheeses.)

Emeril’s Holiday Party Sampler — You know the adage “Tis better to give than to receive?” Not when you’re giving the Holiday Party Sampler. This is way better to receive. It has six mini bottles in the box allowing you the chance to leisurely enjoy six different wines. Included in the box are tasting notes and food suggestions. The cool thing though is opening up the box and seeing six little bottles facing and begging you to “try me first.” Order here.

Martin Miller’s Gin — This really is Martin Miller’s Gin; there’s guy named Martin Miller who decided to make his own gin. And is it ever good! It’s soft on the palate (I tried it straight first) giving cocktails pure flavor. Ever have a cooking recipe that calls for Juniper flowers? Weird, yes; but if you come across one, use this gin. It has that floweriness to it plus all the alcohol gets cooked off. At least, that’s what they say. This is for the person who lives on the edge and mixes life up with a shake and not a stir. Get cocktail recipes here.