I've been to plenty of wine pairing dinners but what about a dinner based around vodka. The Zyr Vodka Maker dinner at WIld Thyme in Southampton, NY on May 16 offers an entire meal that uses the vodka infused with a variety of flavors. It starts with hors d'oeuvres paired with a classic martini; followed by a martini of scallop ceviche paired with cilantro and jalapeno infused Zyr; curry seared Ahi tuna with a cucumber peanut relish with is paired with a peanut infused Zyr; American red snapper with white asparagus spears, brown butter and pistachio paired with Zyr infused with lemon zest; seared duck breast and foie gras with peppered melon and black olive vanilla sauce paired with an aged infusion of cantaloupe and pepper Zyr martini; a sorbet of wildflower blossoms; and finishes with a caramelized banana and chocolate spring roll with roasted almond ice cream paired with something they call a banana transfusion, a puree of banana blended Zyr digestif. This unique meal costs $85 and the phone number for Wild Thyme is 631-204-0007.
I've personally always loved the idea that years ago on the farm the ringing of the dinner bell is what would call in the kids from the yard to eat, and whether these days you have a big group to summon together or just like the nostalgic decor value of a nice bell, this set of copper dinner bells will make a sweet addition to your kitchen. The set includes 3 brass bells in 3 shapes and 3 colors: and copper-finished onion bell, a silver-finished tulip bell, and a gold-finished trumpet bell. $325
Designer Eero Saarinen believed there were too many "legs" on things in the average American home, and awhile back (in 1956) he created a collection to help remedy that situation. Out of that effort came the Saarinen Dining Table, which as you can see has but one pedestal for support. It goes well with it's Tulip chair relatives, and altogether they project a very simplistic, pure energy.
The Saarinen tables are available in a variety of colors and sizes, the dining table shown here goes for $1,342.
Now here's a concept that takes the idea of "a unique dining experience" to a whole new level, literally. Created from an idea by Belgian chef Quentin Jadoul, Dinner in the Sky is one of those things that is exactly what it sounds like: it's a large dining table that seats about 20 people and gets hoisted high up into the sky on a crane --there's even room in the middle for the waiters to come along! And surprisingly, even though it's based in Belgium the table is mobile and travels around Europe for different events and occasions, and the menu can be adjusted to accommodate tastes for pretty much anything.
For somewhere around $20,000 you can have your own "Dinner in the Sky" party, just pray for good weather and hold onto your napkin!
The Beastro Pet Table was styled after a more conventional bistro bar, then scaled down topped with a couple of dog-sized serving bowls. The table is handcrafted from "layered Baltic birch" and retains the natural, attractive wood grain pattern even though the various stains that can be added to it. Not only is the table good for Fido's meals (raising the bowls is said to help with digestion), but this one has a built-in cabinet for storing food, pet supplies or anything else that a pampered pup needs. The table comes in three sizes for medium, large, and extra large dog breeds, but is not available in very small sizes because the utility of the cabinet would be compromised. Prices start at $525 depending on size and choice of finish.
While some want to limit their choices to one type of wine, and others don't pay too much attention to the pairings beyond whether they like the wine or not, picking the wine to accompany a holiday meal can make or break the dinner for others. Red and whites both go with roast turkeys and either is a fine choice for Thanksgiving. Reds work better with hearty beef dishes. Forbes has come up with a few suggestions for the best wines to serve at a holiday dinner, which include: Beaune, Clos de Mouches, Premier Cru, Domaines Joseph Drouhin 2003 ($80); Guidalberto 2003 ($50); Rodney Strong Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 ($41); Hugel Gewurztraminer Jubilee 2003 ($41); Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noir ($20); and Champagne Alfred Gratien Brut Millesime 1997 ($99).
One of their other excellent suggestions is to serve the good wine first, before all the "holiday cheer" has gone to people's heads, and keep the selection simpler for larger groups.
If you're a pepper fan, you probably always had a little thing for those giant pepper mills that some restaurants equip their waitstaff with. This 10-inch Greek Pepper Mill may not quite have the size of those models, but it makes up for it in style. Made in Greece, the pepper mill is made of brass and is modeled after traditional brass coffee mills that were once hugely popular in that area of the Mediterranean. The mill's grinding mechanism cracks the peppercorns before crushing them, which exposes more surface area for a more consistent grind and releases more flavor. The grind is adjustable and the handle/lid are removable. Price: $80.
For some reason, specialty Thanksgiving platters and serveware tend to be rather cheesy, with little pictures of pilgrims or cornucopias adorning them in the worst examples and an overly rustic look on the slightly more stylish side of things. Thankfully, there are at least a few good-looking serving implements out there, like these Chromed Turkey Lifters, which are simple, functional and attractive. They are made out of chrome-plated zinc and measure 4"x9.5". They will give you the support needed to lift even heavy turkey from the roasting plan to a serving platter, then can also be used to serve the individual slices to guests. Price: $18.
Ignacio Ruiz Gutierrez H. is only 20 years old and already seems to be heading towards something great if his fans are to be believed. His works show a lot of creativity and have a smoothness to them that makes each piece very pleasing to the eye. The Seniora Fork Chair is one that would make a fantastic set of dinner chairs, though the design does not yet seem to be available for that purpose as of yet. The chair is made of wood and is, essentially, a giant curved fork. It took 3rd place at the 2006 Andreu World International Design Competition, so as the designer gains recognition, we should start to see more of his works available for purchase.
Sold in a set of four, these lovely Ink Blot Plates can be the entertainment as well as the tableware at your next dinner party. Each plate has a unique blot at its center, along with a "haiku-like saying," such as "Dueling Roosters", "Compassion Among Species" and "Unlikely Event." The sayings are meant not to caption the blots, but to provoke further thought about what the designs might contain. The plates are made of porcelain in the US and were designed by Kathleen Walsh .
One additional bonus of using these at a party is that your guests will be sure to clean their plates to reveal the ink blot design in full. Price: $220.
BusinessWeek has an interesting look at where the business elite - executives at some of the country's most successful companies - go to eat. You might think that their favorite spots would be restaurants like Per Se, Alinea or any number of Vegas hotspots, and while they do eat (and enjoy) some meals there, it turns out that they like just about any place that has good food and a friendly atmosphere. For some, it's a neighborhood diner or an unpretentious steakhouse, while others do prefer more upscale eats, but the staff always plays just a big a role as the food. So, you don't have to be an executive to eat like one - and chances are good you've already had a $3 diner breakfast - you just have to recognize and appreciate some of the finer things in life, wherever they are.
The James Beard Foundation is hosting a benefit, Spain's 10 Cocina de Vanguardia, on October 12th in New York that will give guests a chance to experience the cooking of the chefs at the forefront of Spanish cuisine. The evening will include tapas, wine and sherry tastings and a live and silent auction. Some of the auction packages will include a private tapas party for 24 prepared by chef José Andrés, a gourmet tour of Spain for two, a month-long opportunity to learn Spanish and work in the kitchens of three of Spain's top chefs (Adrià, Arzak, and Berasategui) and an all-expenses paid luxury trip for two to Valencia for the America's Cup. Seats are $1000 per person or a group of eight can be seated at a table with Ferran Adrià, Juan Mari Arzak, or Martín Berasategui for $35,000-$50,000.
When it comes to high end dining, most consider the food, rather than the tableware. At Berkeley's Chez Panisse, chef/owner Alice Waters worked with Heath Ceramics to design custom place settings. Her reasoning was that since her food was locally sourced, her tableware should be, too. While you can buy the full range of Thomas Keller's tableware, Heath Ceramics has only released a 4-piece set, along with some serving dishes, for home use from their Chez Panisse Collection. The set is available in a neutral almond/ginger color. Price: $146.
Once you have silver containers for serving your ice cream, it is a good idea to get something other than the standard supermarket fare to serve in them. Laloo's Goat Milk Ice Cream is low fat, low in lactose, has no artificial ingredients and contains only fruits and flavorings that are locally produced in Sonoma County, California. The advantage to goat's milk is that it is naturally lower in fat that cow's milk, so the ice cream will still taste rich, and not "watered down"; reviews say that it mimics the taste and mouthfeel of ultra-premium cow's milk ice creams, like Haagen Dazs. Flavors include Vanilla Snowflake, Black Mission Fig, Deep Chocolate, Strawberry Darling, Molasses Tipsycake, Lemon Chiffon, Pumpkin Spice and the seasonal Chocolate Cabernet. Orders are a minimum of 4 pints at $8/pint, excluding shipping costs (it is also sold at some Whole Food's markets). The ice cream must be shipped overnight and will be packaged with dry ice to keep it ready to eat.
The little paper cartons that ice cream is packaged in are not terribly attractive, especially if you intend to include ice cream as part of your dessert when company is around or during a party. Since few things are more refreshing than a sorbet on a summer evening, to create an elegant presentation, most people resort to individually plating their ice cream desserts. You can slip the full cartons into one of these elegant silver-plated ice cream containers, however, and serve away. The container measures only 4" tall, but it will still make an impression at the table. Price: $95.
The Beastro Pet Table
While some want to limit their choices to 
Ignacio Ruiz Gutierrez H.
BusinessWeek has an interesting look at where 
