BUYING TIMES
I’m sitting between piles of books and piles of menus. I’m looking through my book notes, thoughts scribbled as I tested recipes and read text, and making my final decisions about which cookery books of 2007 to include in my annual favorite books roundup. The photo shoot for the books is Tuesday, so I’m in Serious Selection mode. The menus are from some of the better restaurants I’ve reviewed this year and I’m sort of doing the same there, though I do have a few weeks left before I have to narrow down those selections for a year-end Dining Companion column.
Hmm. Meanwhile, I’ve taken home printouts of e-mails, questions from readers wanting info on restaurants, recipes, recommendations of food products. One e-mail jumped out at me, mostly because it’s so off-the-beaten-question course.
“Where do you shop for holiday gifts if they’re not food gifts?” the reader wants to know. How funny. How indicative, too, that these are Buying Times. We’re all in a what-to-get mind-set and looking for advice anywhere we can get it.
Well, I’m hardly an expert and, frankly, really believe my shopping strength is in the edibles category. I’m not a huge clothing person and, other than a pottery habit that I satisfy at craft fairs and shows (such as the one this coming weekend up at the Art School at Old Church, in Demarest), I probably spend more money at the Hungry Puppy pet shop in Howell than anywhere else.
But I love Jesse on Main Street in Manasquan, where Donna, the owner, always has beautiful handmade objects at reasonable prices. (Her new collection of scarves, both fuzzy and warm and funky and artful is terrific. She also has the greatest totes and bags around, tapestry-type oversize ones that could be used for travel or everyday.) I adore the clothing at Dreamkeeper, which is on Morris Avenue, off Third, in Spring Lake, though I haven’t been there in way too long (Terry, the wise and witty owner, is probably super-mad at me, but I’ve honestly been too busy wearing all the clothes I’ve bought there to shop!). Dreamkeeper is always filled with unusual, extraordinarily wearable things. It’s also a more than reliable shop, I’ve found, for the kinds of dressy duds I need for special dinners and events.
Where else? Well, like I said, I’m not a huge shopper. My girlfriends are going to the new Anthropologie at The Grove in Shrewsbury. If I had a spare afternoon, I’d haul it out to B. Adorned, a magnificent jewelry store in Lambertville. Evelyn, who owns B. Adorned, is the single most talented jewelry designer I know and everything she makes is out-of-the-ordinary and eye-catching.
That’s really about it. I seem to do my best shopping under the supervision of my buddy Alison Cook, the restaurant critic of the Houston Chronicle – if you haven’t tapped into her blog, Cook’s Tour, you’re missing one of the great voices in food. Whenever Alison and our mutual eat-for-a-living pals travel together, we always try to steal a couple of hours to check out local stores. Come to think of it, Alison once told me she finds great gloves and mittens at dollar stores. “Since I always lose them, I don’t want to spend more than a dollar on them,” she reasons. Since I’m desperately in need of gloves and mittens, I’ll have to give that a try. Anyone know of a good dollar store?
Cheers,
Andy
11.25.07
Hmm. Meanwhile, I’ve taken home printouts of e-mails, questions from readers wanting info on restaurants, recipes, recommendations of food products. One e-mail jumped out at me, mostly because it’s so off-the-beaten-question course.
“Where do you shop for holiday gifts if they’re not food gifts?” the reader wants to know. How funny. How indicative, too, that these are Buying Times. We’re all in a what-to-get mind-set and looking for advice anywhere we can get it.
Well, I’m hardly an expert and, frankly, really believe my shopping strength is in the edibles category. I’m not a huge clothing person and, other than a pottery habit that I satisfy at craft fairs and shows (such as the one this coming weekend up at the Art School at Old Church, in Demarest), I probably spend more money at the Hungry Puppy pet shop in Howell than anywhere else.
But I love Jesse on Main Street in Manasquan, where Donna, the owner, always has beautiful handmade objects at reasonable prices. (Her new collection of scarves, both fuzzy and warm and funky and artful is terrific. She also has the greatest totes and bags around, tapestry-type oversize ones that could be used for travel or everyday.) I adore the clothing at Dreamkeeper, which is on Morris Avenue, off Third, in Spring Lake, though I haven’t been there in way too long (Terry, the wise and witty owner, is probably super-mad at me, but I’ve honestly been too busy wearing all the clothes I’ve bought there to shop!). Dreamkeeper is always filled with unusual, extraordinarily wearable things. It’s also a more than reliable shop, I’ve found, for the kinds of dressy duds I need for special dinners and events.
Where else? Well, like I said, I’m not a huge shopper. My girlfriends are going to the new Anthropologie at The Grove in Shrewsbury. If I had a spare afternoon, I’d haul it out to B. Adorned, a magnificent jewelry store in Lambertville. Evelyn, who owns B. Adorned, is the single most talented jewelry designer I know and everything she makes is out-of-the-ordinary and eye-catching.
That’s really about it. I seem to do my best shopping under the supervision of my buddy Alison Cook, the restaurant critic of the Houston Chronicle – if you haven’t tapped into her blog, Cook’s Tour, you’re missing one of the great voices in food. Whenever Alison and our mutual eat-for-a-living pals travel together, we always try to steal a couple of hours to check out local stores. Come to think of it, Alison once told me she finds great gloves and mittens at dollar stores. “Since I always lose them, I don’t want to spend more than a dollar on them,” she reasons. Since I’m desperately in need of gloves and mittens, I’ll have to give that a try. Anyone know of a good dollar store?
Cheers,
Andy
11.25.07
posted by Andrea Clurfeld at 12:50 PM
4 Comments:
When is the cookbook article going to be in the Press or on the website? Want to make sure I don't miss it since cookbooks make great Xmas presents. I could use some tips for buying.
You are right about Jesse. Great store!
The dollar store in shrewsbury is pretty big - it's back where the burlington coat factory used to be.
By the way, thanks for the tips on the red wine - I will definetly buy and try the Spanish reds!
I had a decent Pinot Noir with my thanksgiving meal - it was good. It may take a while, but sooner or later perhaps I'll make the swtich from White to Red....
I remember a collection of stories you wrote a number of years ago featuring James Peterson's cooking tips and recipes for all the holidays, all fall and winter long as I recall. Remembering this, I saw a book by Peterson online called COOKING and ordered it last night. It sounds like a comprehensive reference book for cooking and since I found that holiday series very useful, I decided to get COOKING. If you have not considered this new Peterson book in your book story, I would like to know what you think of the book COOKING.
Saw your cheese soup recipe in the Press this morning. Looks grest! I'm makng it tonight.
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