-By Joseph Tarnowski

This year’s New York International Gift Fair, held Aug. 15 to 20 at New York’s Javits Center, would have been more aptly named the New York International Everything-One-Could-Possibly-Need-For-The-Home-Plus-Gift Fair. Like every industry, sustainability factored into many products, but form and function were not lost among the innovations. You can get a taste of some of them in the New Products section of this column, and you’ll find some more unique items I came across at our blog (www.TGRBlogbites.com). And if you missed the event, you can find the full listing of exhibitors at the show site (www.nyigf.com).

Industry News

Baum Brothers Signs Wolfgang Puck License
Baum, a New York-based manufacturer of tabletop and home décor, has signed a license agreement with internationally renowned chef Wolfgang Puck, in which Baum will manufacture the Wolfgang Puck brand of ceramic and porcelain dinnerware, serveware, and oven-to-table bakeware.

“We’ve always been a huge fan of Wolfgang Puck,” said Bill Baum, CEO. “His name personifies fine dining, excellent food and high-quality cookware and appliances.”

Wolfgang Puck is a world-renowned master chef and restaurateur who operates restaurants and catering services, publishes cookbooks, and licenses products via three distinct companies: Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, Wolfgang Puck Catering and Wolfgang Puck Worldwide, Inc., known as the Wolfgang Puck Companies collectively. WP Productions and WP Appliances is the licensee for cookware, cutlery, and small electric kitchen appliances.

“Launching this new collection is the next natural extension of our brand, which already includes a complete line of cookware and appliances,” said Wolfgang Puck. “Baum carries a long-standing reputation for quality in this area; therefore, it made sense to partner with them to launch this new line of products.”
The collections will sell in high-end department and specialty stores nationwide, as well as on the Internet at Wolfgang’s newly relaunched interactive Web site (www.wolfgangpuck.com).

For more information about the new Wolfgang Puck dinnerware and serveware collections, call 212-239-0080 or visit www.baum-essex.com.


Arthritis-Friendly Cutlery
Dexter’s DuoGlide line of cutlery is a cut above the rest when it comes to arthritis sufferers. The line, which is distributed by Harold Import Co., grabbed the Ease-of-Use Commendation by the Arthritis Foundation for its state-of-the-art blade geometry and maximum sharpness, which the foundation says provides an easier cut with superior control over conventional knives.

The Ease-of-Use Commendation program was created by the foundation to encourage manufacturers to design user-friendly products and packaging. Products are tested by an independent lab experienced in the design and evaluation of products that are accessible to people with functional limitations due to the effects of arthritis.

“Early on in the research for this new line we learned that the vast majority of people affected by arthritis claimed that the arthritis symbol aided in or influenced their shopping decisions,” said Alan Peppel, owner, Dexter. “Thus, we began the process to earn the Ease-of-Use Commendation.”

The combination of the DuoGlide handle with the Dexter “Edge” blade were developed to enable users to easily glide through cutting, chopping or slicing with added comfort and less fatigue. The handles are a soft, high-impact, stain-resistant core with a textured, soft-touch grip. Blades are made from stain-free, high-carbon steel for maximum corrosion resistance, with edges that are individually ground and honed. The handles are sealed to the blade to prevent the access of germs.

The line has a standard retail price of $49.99. For more information, call 800-526-2163 or visit www.HaroldImport.com.


Mobile Managers
Culinary Software Services, a Boulder, Colo.-based provider of foodservice software, has launched a new application for its ChefTec and CorTec Software product line designed to keep managers informed no matter where they are.

Called ChefTec Remote Notifications, the application can be set to trigger multiple notifications via printer, text message or e-mail when specific events occur in ChefTec Software. For example, users can receive an e-mail when a new requisition has been sent to ChefTec. That requisition pick list can also be sent remotely to printers at various locations throughout the operation.

“ChefTec Remote Notifications liberates the user and the data in ChefTec from their PC, and gets the information where it needs to be,” said Catherine Buresh, operations manager for Culinary Software Services. “Users can send reports and requests to printers at various locations using their cell phones or e-mail.”

For more information, call 303-447-3334 or visit www.ChefTec.com.


Cuisinart Launches Facebook Group
Stamford, Ct.-based housewares provider Cuisinart has created a Facebook group to provide consumers with a forum in which to share ideas and recipes, and a quick and easy way to ask questions about Cuisinart products.

Cuisinart’s Facebook group, which already has more than 3,000 fans, encourages interactivity with a discussion board for sharing information on entertaining, cooking trends, recipe ideas and anything else food-related.

The group also gives consumers a way to access Cuisinart’s culinary expertise, while participating in an ongoing series of company contests and events. One example is the “Get Cooking! Recipe Contest” it recently held in the group, in which home cooks were invited to submit their own recipes to be created and judged by the company’s chefs, with the winner receiving a “Go Healthy & Green” Collection of products, comprised of a Vertical Rotisserie, a PowerEdge 700 Blender and a 12-Piece GreenGourmet Cookware set.

The new Facebook group is part of the company’s extensive Web marketing program that encompasses “how-to” video recipes on the Cuisinart Web site, a dedicated Stand Mixer blog (www.cuisinartstandmixer.com/blog/) and baby blog (www.cuisinart.com/baby/blog/), and an online recipe widget that consumers can download directly onto any Mac or Windows-based computer desktop for access to Cuisinart’s podcasts, recipe box and videos.

To join the Cuisinart Facebook group and become a fan, visit www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=66185294496&ref=ts

Cuisinart manufactures a full range of products, including cookware, countertop cooking appliances, blenders, stand mixers and coffeemakers, as well as food processors, toasters and toaster ovens, ice cream makers, and waffle makers.

New Products
(From the NYIGF Show Floor)


Teething in Style
Moms can be stylish while still being moms with a new innovative accessory that doubles as a stylish and eco-friendly bracelet and a teether toy for her baby. Created by Deep River, Conn.-based Roundhouse Design Collaborative, the Oh Plah! teething bracelets, which retail from $19.99 to $24.99 each, are available in clover green, hot pink, pearlescent white, peacock blue, pewter grey, sunset orange and deep plum.

“We understand that moms want to be fashion-forward,” noted co-designer Caryn Paradis. “Our new colors are based on the latest trends coming off the runway so moms can keep their sense of style while simultaneously caring for their child with the Oh Plah! bracelet. Now, instead of handing your baby a set of pointy metal keys or a germ-covered cell phone when they’re restless or cranky, moms can give them their bracelet.”

Named for the French term, “Here you go,” all Oh Plah! bracelets are free of paints, lead, latex, PVC, BPA and phthalates, and are made in the United States using socially responsible practices, according to Roundhouse. What’s more, the company will pay to have old Oh Plah! bracelets shipped back to have them recycled into new products.

In addition, a portion of the sales of all Oh Plah! bracelets goes to Healthy Child Healthy World (formerly the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition), a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to create and protect healthy environments for children and families.

For more information, call 860-581-4594 or visit www.ohplah.com.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 421


Outside In Bowls
Bambu, a Mineola, N.Y.-based designer of contemporary products for the kitchen and home created from renewable materials, is putting a new spin on one of its traditional products with its Lacquerware ‘Outside-In’ line of hand-coiled bowls.

Hand-coiled by craftspeople in northern Vietnam, these bowls are made using a centuries-old traditional craft of coiling bamboo strips. The form is then applied with a natural lacquer derived from the cashew nut tree. It is then applied with a food-safe PU lacquer, and finally a splash of color is added to the inside of the bowl.

The bowls are 4½ inches in diameter, and are ideal for nuts or snacks, a quick morning breakfast of yogurt or cereal, or for display around the home. The ‘Outside-In’ Lacquerware line is available as a four-piece set in bambu’s signature soft matte finish in four colors: Blue Curacao, Mango, Kiwi and Bubble Gum. MSRP: $12.95.

For more information, visit www.bambuhome.com.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 423


Kid Cooks
Kids are always trying to imitate their parents, and with Playful Life’s Playful Chef kits, they can now safely make meals using real cooking tools — just like mom and dad.

Available in two separate kits specific for kids 3 to 5 years old and for kids 6 years old and up, Playful Chef provides children with a fun, interactive way to learn how to plan a healthy meal, shop for ingredients and learn the art and science of cooking.

“Playful Chef was created to help leverage all of the learning lessons that cooking provides children,” said Lisa Ligon, a former Bay Area high tech executive and cooking teacher. “As a children’s cooking teacher, I can see how much cooking helps them develop healthy eating habits and a real enthusiasm and appreciation of good food. Cooking is a fabulous family activity that can teach important lessons while being fun and creative.”

Both kits feature five original recipes with instructions on how to plan a healthy meal, shop for ingredients, organize the right tools, as well as important safety tips. Each recipe card has 10 cooking steps that help teach children how to follow a process. Throughout the recipes, there are illustrations to show parents and kids what the learning lessons are for each step, including hygiene, nutrition, motor skills, science and math through measuring, seasoning, cleaning up, safety, timing and social skills. Color-coded measuring cups and spoons were designed to make learning math and fractions fun.

Recipes include: Peanut Butter Fun, Pita Pizza, Chocolate Lava Cake, Golden Chicken Nuggets and Yogurt Fruit Parfait.

The Playful Chef retails for $39.99. For more information, call 415-310-9742 or visit www.playfulchef.com.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 425