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The 2007 Gourmet Housewares Show in Orlando brought independent specialty retailers to a focused, one-of-a-kind setting that exposed them to more than 400 companies in the housewares marketplace. As retailers crowded the aisles to get a glimpse of the latest cutting-edge innovations, we asked our Retailer Advisory Board members to sort through the thousands of products aisle by aisle to obtain a firsthand assessment of the latest products.

Judged on their own merits for our readers who were unable to attend the show, and for those who attended but did not have a chance to experience it all, the following winning results should prove informative, interesting, and profitable.


Booth: 6380
Product: Lappers
Company: Archer Innovations
Address: 1714 Carter Avenue
Columbus, GA 31906
Phone: 706-289-5736
Company representative: Ashley Hatcher
Judge: Becky Moore
Murphy's Department Store
Stillwater, OK
Comments: I think this product is functional yet stylish. I am most impressed with its design and adaptive ability to help those who are physically challenged to be more independent.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 930


Booth: 5886
Product: Kapoosh Knife Block
Company: ARY Inc.
Address: 10801 Hickman Mills Drive Suite 110
Kansas City, MO 64137
Phone: 816-537-7800
Company representative: Robert Livergood
Judge: Jennifer Baron
A Cook's Companion
Brooklyn, NY
Comments: Put your knives where you want — no limit on width! A good variety of block styles that fit into any kitchen. Interior rod system is dishwasher-safe.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 902


Booth: 5771
Company: Capresso
Address: P.O. Box 775
Closter, NJ 07624
Phone: 800-767-3554
Product: Super Automatic Coffee Center
Company representative: David Shull
Judge: Paul Fricke
Cooks'Wares
Cincinnati, OH
Comments: New shape and size, good demo program.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 904


Booth: 6049
Company: Harold Import Company
Address: 747 Vassar Ave.
Lakewood, NJ 08701
Phone: 732-367-2800
Product: Measuring pour device for bottles
Judge: Terry Monroe
Murphy's Department Store
Stillwater, OK
Comments: It is a measuring pour device for bottles that allows pouring exact portions without need for pouring into a measuring spoon or cup.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 931


Booth: 6371
Company: KAI
Address: 18600 SW Teton Ave.
Tualatin, OR 97062
Phone: 503-682-1966
Product: Shun U-2 Knife
Company representative: Dennis Epstein
Judge: Paul Fricke
Cooks'Wares
Cincinnati, OH
Comments: Good addition to their line, it will go nicely with the Santoku Knife by Shun.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 905


Booth: 5985
Product: All Orka Products
Company: Mastrad
Address: 7461 Beverly Blvd., Suite 301
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: 800-358-0608
Judge: Becky Moore
Murphy's Department Store
Stillwater, OK
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 914


Booth: 5183
Product: Fasta Pasta
Company: McMahan Enterprises
Address: 8475 Jaclyn Ann Dr.
Flushing, MI 48433
Phone: 810-659-1000
Company representative: Steve McMahan
Judge: Terry Monroe
Murphy's Department Store
Stillwater, OK
Comments: Microwave pasta cooker makes pasta quickly in smaller portions. Should be a good item with college students, an important portion of our trade area.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 926


Booth: 6965
Product: The Aerochino
Company: Nespresso USA
Address: 650 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY
Phone: 888-NESPRESSO
Company representative: Bethany Christakos
Judge: Paul Baron
A Cook's Companion
Brooklyn, NY
Comments: This product doesn't use steam to froth milk into a rich foam. Rather, it has a small spinning whisk and a heating element. Small and elegant, the foam is remarkably rich and smooth. Excellent design and the price point will not be an issue for most urban dwellers.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 917

Booth: 6388
Product: Frisper Freshkeeper
Company: Oliso
Address: 1095 Folsom Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: 415-864-7600
Judge: Doug Huemoeller
Kitchen Window
Minneapolis, MN
Comments: It is a very innovative and cost-effective approach to vacuum sealing. The machine is small and compact yet has a very powerful vacuum. The compact unit uses a single round hole for the vacuum port instead of the entire side of the bag, thus the sealing machine is very small. It can easily fit in any drawer in your kitchen. The zip-strip resealable bags preserve the overall bag size and are very easy to open.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 919


Booth: 5686
Product: Playful Chef Cooking Kit
Company: Playful Life
Address: 1355 Bay St. No. 6
San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone: 408-858-8859
Company representative: Tara Anderson
Judge: Karen Abrams
Foxfire Gallery and Kitchen Shops
Greenville, SC
Comments: This is a great gift for a child to begin learning cooking skills and techniques. There are 11 learning lessons included along with safety and nutrition tips.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 925


Booth: 6849
Product: Herbsavor
Company: Prepara, Chef's Performance Tools
Address: 247 Centre Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10013
Phone: 516-551-1117
Company representative: Evan Dash
Judge: Karen Abrams
Foxfire Gallery and Kitchen Shops
Greenville, SC
Comments: Extending the freshness of herbs helps consumers save money and have the product available for longer use times.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 909


Booth: 5576
Product: Self-Locking Tongs
Company: Rosle
Address: 41 Gesner Avenue
South Nyack, NY 10960
Phone: 845-353-6734
Company representative: Patrick Lobo
Judge: Paul Baron
A Cook's Companion
Brooklyn, NY
Comments: Other than simply being a well-finished and substantial cooking tool, the locking feature is absolutely unique. Point it downward to open, point it upward to close. Once you figure it out, you'll continue to be amazed.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 912


Booth: 6585
Product: Ice Cream Container
Company: Sweet Bliss Containers
Address: 1561 Catherine Court
Suwanee, GA 30024
Phone: 404-218-6390
Company representative: Jennifer McMullan
Judge: Jennifer Baron
A Cook's Companion
Brooklyn, NY
Comments: I've had several requests for a product like this. The packaging is fun and the product is innovative.
CLICK VENDOR LINK NO. 901