GeekNUZ

The Pessimist's Mug

    Oh boy do I know someone who would love this mug.  My cynical friend, Ian, is going to be getting one in the mail veeeeeery soon.  Via Engadget Via Despair.com.

For Mom (Idea #5)

    If there was ever a baking gadget (aside from the oven) this would be it.  It's a nonstick aluminum baking pan in the shape of a beehive.  Simply pour in the batter, bake, and press the two halves together when they're done and voila!  It's even adorned with cute little bees.  Shouldn't all Geeks have this in their kitchen?  Saw it here at Williams Sonoma.

The Healthy Alternative (Mother's Day Gift Idea #4)

    Okay, so I know these look cheesy and all, but I actually had one last night!  Someone brought one in at work and we devoured it in less than 5 minutes.  I was pretty impressed when I first saw it in person-it looked very nice (not at all corny like this picture).  I don't think the concept really translates well via photography.  Anyhow, the fruit was sweet, fresh, and delicious.  Check them out here: Edible Arrangements.  (Not recommended for diabetics)

Mother's Day Gift Idea #2

     CocoaBella is a fairly new San Francisco-based chocolatier that opened in 2004.  They don't actually make any of their chocolates, but rather, they import chocolates from small, family-owned artisan chocolatiers from around the world.  The majority of their chocolates are Belgian, French, Swiss, Italian, or American.  After trying almost thirty varieties (and spending a lot of $$$) I have discovered an AMAZING treat - the chocolate covered kumquat.  It's a tangy, aromatic, rindy whole kumquat, soaked and marinated in a mild liquor, then covered in a dark bitter-sweet chocolate that melts in your mouth with a heavenly citrus explosion.  SO GOOD.  Check out their website for online orders and directions to their San Francisco locations: CocoaBella.

Mother's Day Is Coming!

    So I'm going to be posting some ideas in the next couple of weeks that I think would make good Mother's Day gifts...beginning with these delicious (or so I hear) petits fours from Dragonfly Cakes of Sausalito, California.   A good friend of mine recommended these to me awhile ago, hence it was forgotten, until I came across them two days ago on the Charles & Marie: "The Quintessential Life Navigator" site.  Their petits fours are made fresh daily and shipped out via two day mail.  Each meticulously made confection contains a layer of marzipan sandwiched between three layers of moist cake.  They come in various flavors and the decoration can be designed to your liking!  Stop by or order online  at www.dragonflycakes.com.  I just ordered a box for my mother  and myself  as well  (I couldn't resist).  So I will post an update when I finally taste them.

Just Say "Toofu"

            So I've discovered a new obsession: fresh soy milk the way my mother makes it - with a whole grains twist.  Why I love it?  It reminds me of the soy milk I used to drink when I lived in Taiwan, not like the kind you buy here at the grocery store.  Even the soy milk you get at Asian grocery stores nowadays taste bland and sickening sweet.  Enter Toofu,  A bay area nouveau alternative.  They travel to various bay area farmer's markets making fresh "toofu" and soymilk.  What's the catch?  No preservatives, no artificial flavors, no cholesterol, and totally yummy.  So much so that I have to blog about it.  Check out the TOOFU WEBSITE, and see you at the Mountain View farmer's market next weekend!

Don't Miss It!

    It's almost time for my weekend ritual...the Mountain View Farmer's Market!  I would say this is the best farmer's market in the South Bay.  There's a wide variety of fresh vegetables and fruits from over fifty vendors, with a good representation of Asian vendors selling everything from fresh bitter squash and mustard greens to golden chards.  There's also a multitude of prepared foods ready for you to sample.  My favorite is the sausage guy who always says, "Don't be shy, don't walk by - once you try, you can't deny!"  Last week there's was a new organic soymilk vendor there making fresh soymilk with organic grains.  That was quite delicious and very flavorful.  My usual stops are the Russian bakery for piroshkis, the Chinese hand-made dumplings shop, and the tamales vendor for corn and pineapple tamales.  There are some great plants to peruse as well.  Last week I got a beautiful South African plant called the Spring Starflower (see picture).  There's also an orchids dealer that has some beautiful fragrant orchids that smell like vanilla and chocolate.  Don't worry if you've got kids.  This place is totally kids friendly-there's live music and even a balloon artist.

The MV farmer's market runs year-round on Sundays from 9am to 1pm in the MV CAL Train parking lot.    

Angelina Chocolate No More

     This post is a tribute to my last bag of Angelina Rumpelmayer hot chocolate mix.  If you've been to Paris, then perhaps you may have stopped by the Angelina tea salon for a cup of their famous hot chocolate.  As you can see from the picture, the chocolate comes in tiny granules which can be put into almost anything.  Today I tried it with soy milk...mmm.  It's bitter (85% cocoa I believe) with a hint of sweetness.  After doing an internet search just now I've realized that it's hard to find outside of Paris.  The nearest supplier of the authentic mix I could find was the Café Society in Napa; 1000 Main St., (707)256-3232.  Also, try the San Francisco Bay Trading Company 415-331-3804.

Make Your Own Wine...Virtually

    Well, it had to happen some time, and where else would it happen but here in the SF bay area.  If you're a wine lover that's ever dreamed of being a vintner (that's a winemaker to you and I) but don't have millions in the bank to start your own vineyard, no problem.  All you need is a relatively paltry $5-10K.
    San Francisco-based Crushpad specializes in "virtual winemaking."  Once you pay your dues you become a vintner via internet and make all the decisions about the wine you want to make.  From the style of the wine, which grapes to buy and from where, when and how to blend and bottle your wine, you decide it all.  You can even go hog-wild designing your own labels.  What's more, you see it all happen from your cush living room couch.  Webcams let you to see the crush happen when the grapes arrive, and live chat with the winery staff let you play boss.  If you care to make a non-virtual visit to the winery to see your alchemistic brew in person, by all means.  Now you have no excuse NOT to make wine, even if you live in Fargo.
 

The Egg Cuber

Why are eggs oval?  Why can't they be cubed you ask?  Well, now they can be.  Just put your hard boiled eggs into the egg cuber, twist it a few times and voila!  Cubed eggs!  I'll bet they taste better cubed too.