Dare to dream: My Christmas wish list

I do this every year, but coming up with my Christmas wish list was inordinately harder this time.

In a matter of mere weeks, we'll be welcoming our second baby and most of my shopping lists have centred on baby-related products.

That said, I wouldn't scoff at a gift certificate to my favourite gourmet grocer Pusateri's or luxury retailer Holt Renfrew. There are a few handbags I have my eyes on! (And an Alexander McQueen scarf, and a Canada Goose vest, but I digress....)

Dare to dream: Christmas wish list

Preparing my Christmas wish list has been inordinately easier than in past years because I've been keeping track on Pinterest and Etsy.

In keeping with tradition in years past, this post will only touch on the food-related items on my Christmas wish list. But you can find the whole thing here. And while you're at it, follow me on Pinterest too!


Anthropologie owl cookie jar, as seen on the show "Modern Family": Whooooo loves owls? I do, I do. Sorry, I love a cheesy pun.

Truth is, I find myself wincing when I see the plastic containers filled with homemade cookies on my countertop. I just find it ugly, and I think this owl would fit in perfectly in my retro-chic kitchen.


Cupcake Courier 36-Cupcake Plastic Storage Container: I've always wished for a multi-levelled cupcake caddy, because I hate walking around with two of my caddies when it would be easier to stack them. I don't even think I can get this in Canada, but if you know differently, let me know.

Koziol Babell tiered stand: Wouldn't this be darling covered in petits four, cupcakes, or even fruits on a beautifully decorated dining table?

I know. I want it. I love anything Koziol, often their products are plastic and not precious enough you feel you can't use them. In fact, I want two of these in different colours. I just can't decide which ones. Hot pink and red? White and turquoise? Decisions, decisions


Williams-Sonoma gift cakelet pan: Let's be honest. I'd probably never use this, because it would mean having to paint the cakelets and I wouldn't feel like getting around to it, but isn't it lovely to look at?

KitchenAid Food Processor: I've been fighting it too long. Counter space be damned.  This would make my life easier, it's true. I need one. And in a vibrant colour. I bought the KitchenAid mixer in white to save money and now I'm regretting it.

French tin that says Sucre: God knows where I can find one. But it's on my mind. And I check Etsy all the time. Maybe it wouldn't fit my retro-chic theme. Maybe it's too shabby chic. Whatever. *Insert Gallic shrug here*. I still want one. This photo is from the food blog of pastry chef David Lebovitz, whose name you've heard me mention time and time again.

Not only is he an amazing pastry chef, but he has the most perfect tin that says Sucre.



Wooden crate for food blog photography: I think this one on Sweetapolita's blog is perfect but I haven't found one that even comes close.


Glass cloche on pedestal: Wouldn't this be a nicer way to store my baking than in the airtight containers I mentioned above?

I've been looking for a glass dome that would fit nicely on top of my existing cake stands, but I can't find one. Sure enough, these ones are available on an American site that doesn't ship to Canada.




Croquembouches class: This seems like an insurmountable mountain. I'm not sure I could make these alone, but I probably could if I took the class at the Bonnie Gordon School of Confectionary Arts. Plus I would go home with my very own croquembouches, and I would have lots to share with my family and friends, hint hint.

If you're still not inspired, see my Christmas wish lists from years past: 2010, 2009, and also 2008.

Dare to Dream: My Christmas wish list

The older I get, the harder it becomes to make a wish list. Am I the only one? Namely because if I want something, I buy it. And if something is beyond my reach, I usually put it out of my head. Still, there are some things that I still dream about, because to purchase them for myself would be sheer folly. And impractical.

And I am about as impractical as a pair of double-strap Birkenstocks these days. But I'm not going to lie -- I would like to be indulged now and then. So, without further ado, here is my "Dare to Dream" Christmas wish list (ahem, hubby, you can start your shopping now!)

My Christmas wish list

One year ago at this time, I was a busy working woman who planned outings to luxury hotels for afternoon tea, regularly attended baking and cooking classes, and planned my meals on a week-to-week basis.
These days, I consider myself to be more of a human pacifier who plans one-handed meals that can be eaten without any knives or forks, like bananas, granola bars, yogurt, and toaster waffles.
My signature Chanel-and-coffee scent has been replaced by the odor of pee stains, milk spit-up, and sweat.
No, it’s not glamorous being a new mom.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t dream big.
And so here is my Christmas wish list. I crossed most of the items off last year's wish list, so why not again this year?

Kuhn Rikon stainless cookie press and decorating set: True pastry chefs will cringe to hear me say this, but there is nothing I hate more than filling a piping bag and then washing it. I've taken to buying the disposable kind but that can get expensive. Is this kit the answer to all my troubles? Will it truly live up to its expectations and let me fill it without any problem? And can I wash it easily by hand or in the dishwasher? Chances are it will let me do all these things and more, after all, it's Swiss-made and you know they don't steer us wrong.

BakerBots Baking's Giant Cupcake cake: My God, is this not beautiful? The polka dot ribbon, the cherry on top, the pink icing. I'm falling into raptures just thinking about it. I'm not sure I would eat it even if someone bought it for me to preserve its beauty. But you should buy it for me anyway.
I will put it in the middle of my dining table as a centrepiece, put candles all around it, and stare at it all day with reverence and only speak in hushed, respectful tones. Come to think about it, kind of like a shrine. Dont get your drawers all in a knot. Just saying.

Macarons tower: Forget a Christmas tree this year, I want a macarons tower in my living room. The ones to your right can be ordered from Toronto's Bobbette & Belle. You can even customize the colours. If I had one of these towers I would hoard it all to myself and eat one every single day after my morning cappuccino. So don't go getting any ideas that I would share.

Digital candy thermometer: I can't flippity flipping make any type of flipping candy or bark or caramel because I don't have a flipping candy thermometer. And no matter how many times I try to determine that my candy has reached the appropriate hard crack stage by sticking my fork tines in the liquid, or coating the back of a spoon I can't get it right. I don't know why it's taken me this long to admit defeat, but I need a candy thermometer.

Greaves sour cherry fruit spread: I buy this sour cherry jam every time we go to idyllic Niagara-on-the-Lake on a day trip or a weekend away. Well, that's not happening any time soon, and I can't find this at my local gourmet store or anywhere else in the city for that matter, so it remains the elusive fruit spread. And no, regular cherry jam just won't do. Neither will strawberry jam, so please do not suggest the possibility. My English muffins and cream cheese are lonely without it.

Bonnie Gordon School of Confectionary Arts French pastries course: I've taken one of her courses before and have often referred to that day of making and decorating cupcakes as one of the best days of my life. After my son's birth and wedding day, of course, but the fact remains that day passed in a happy blur of flour, colourful fondant, and sparkling dragees. Bliss. I sang show tunes all the way home even though there was a winter storm. So when I received the email about this new course, in which I could finally learn to make macarons and flavoured guimauves I jumped up and down in my computer chair. Until I realized it's a two-day affair and I don't have any babysitters and I probably shouldn't be spending money on treats I don't have time to make. Still, a girl can dream.

Lifetime supply of Starbucks' Holiday Turkey Sandwich: When my son wakes up after his morning nap, I feed him and pack him into his stroller for our daily walk. More often than not, I am starving and don't have anything in my fridge, so I'll stop at the neighbourhood Starbucks to get lunch or a coffee. The first time I tried the Holiday Turkey Sandwich, straight out of the refrigerator without even being warmed up, my taste buds began humming the tune from Chariots of Fire. It's genius. Roasted turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing - STUFFING! - nestled between two pieces of whole grain bread. If I have one complaint it's that when it is warmed up, the lettuce gets soggy. But I will happily stuff my complaints in my back pocket if it means eating this sandwich all year-round. Starbucks, won't you consider my humble request?

Dinner at Heston Blumenthal's The Fat Duck:
Heston Blumenthal, you are one crazy cut. The proprietor and chef of one of the world's best restaurants -- despite a food poisoning scandal this year -- is a genius. Who else would serve a garden full of edible insects at a Mad Hatter-themed tea party? Or a bowl full of meat shaped as fruit at a medieval-themed dinner party? Or edible chocolate candles and cutlery for dessert? As "mad" as his ideas sound, his guests are always appreciative not only of the concept and the fact that he can pull it off, but the fact that his food tastes delicious. Just once I'd like to sit in his restaurant.

Dinner at Solo per Due, the smallest restaurant in the world: Now this, this would be the ultimate coup. Securing a table for two at the world's smallest restaurant. In fact, it would be the ONLY table at this restaurant. Situated in the heart of picturesque Italy, about 68 km north of Rome, the restaurant is in a building which "dates from the nineteenth century and is situated in a very evocative historical location; in the grounds there are the remains of a Roman villa." Hot dayum. After a stroll through the garden or an aperitif in front of a roaring fire, you can summon the staff by ringing a silver bell and the chef will spend the evening cooking for you with local ingredients. What's on the menu? I have no idea. Nor do I really care.

A granite island:
What was it that Virginia Woolf wrote? That every woman must have an island of her own? Just kidding, I know that it was a "room of her own" and I wholeheartedly agree with her. As a writer, I need my own private space. And the same holds true when I am cooking or baking. The kitchen is my domain. Not because I subscribe to any antique notion that the woman's place is in the kitchen but because I love to bake and cook and like to be in control at all times. But I need more counter space. And my fantasy of a heavenly afternoon includes a vision of myself rolling out dough on a vast granite island. And lots and lots of cupboard space. Hubby, are you listening?

Dare I dream? My Christmas wish list

If money was no object, if time was limitless, if I had my own butler to cater to my every whim, my Christmas wish list would look something like this. But one can dream. Should any of you deign to cross any of the following off my list, however, don't let me stop you.



Honey and granola Pret Pot
Pret a Manger's runny honey, granola and yogurt Pret Pot was the snack I grabbed on the way to Angel tube station when living in London. Since my return, I've tried to recreate the Pret Pot with Ace granola, Liberte yogurt, and clover honey. But it's not quite the same.



Ladureé caramel au beurre salé macarons
Not to be confused with the coconut macaroon, the French macaron is a refined bite of heaven. Delicately crispy on the outside, decadently gooey on the inside, Ladureé is famous for its macarons. No trip to Paris is complete without a macaron to accompany your café crème.




Poilane loaf
Let's be clear. I'd like a real authentic loaf of Poilane bread. Not the stuff that's flown over to Toronto on a jet from Paris. I've had that. It's as good as bread that's taken a trans-Atlantic flight can be. Instead, I'm seeking a loaf that's fresh from the oven, one I can tuck under my arm to eat with a chunk of raw cheese.


Tealish's Sweetie Pie rooibos tea
Tea as dessert? Say it isn't so! I wouldn't have believed it before trying, either. But Sweetie Pie tea has actual pieces of almond and coconut nestled among the rooibos tea leaves, made famous by lady detective Mme Ramotswe, of Alexander McCall Smith's series. Bonus: I don't have to go far for this one. Tealish is Toronto based.



Rootham's award-winning red pepper jelly
I first bought a jar at the One of a Kind show. It's award-winning but it boasts my seal of approval too. I unabashedly walked up and down the aisles trying every kind of red pepper jelly before settling on this one. I love to eat it by slathering it in the middle of sliced camembert, topped with walnuts and wrapped in phyllo pastry, which is then baked in the oven. Serve it with apples.



Acorn cakelet pan
Imagine making mini carrot cakes in this festive acorn pan. Or perhaps using it to bake William Sonoma's pumpkin pecan pancake mix. Or even warm cornbread muffins alongside a tureen of autumnal butternut squash soup. Divine. Leave it to this specialty store to sell a pan that's strictly seasonal but oh so tempting.



'A Day at elBulli' by Ferran Adria
Ferran Adria is often referred to as "the best chef in the world." Adria is well-known for his conversational, if not controversial technique of molecular gastronomy, with which he creates culinary foam out of everyday ingredients like beets or mushrooms. No small feat. Indeed, the three-Michelin starred famed head chef of El Bulli is filling his tables faster than he could turn them over. El Bulli is open 6 months of the year. There are 2 million requests for the 8,000 chairs. Obviously, I'm not getting a table soon, but the book might be consolation enough.



Rectangular cake taker
You carry your cupcakes out the door on a foil-covered tray and place them in your car's back seat, your potluck contribution. But when you turn that corner, they go flying. There must be an easier way, right? Well, Tupperware thinks so. This cake taker fits 18 cupcakes.


Kitchen torch
If there was ever a frivolous kitchen tool, this is it. I can't justify buying it simply to make crème brûlée. But at the same time, wouldn't it be amazing to torch your crème brûlée rather than put it under your ever-inconsistent broiler?





Provence platter
I see this and my mind wanders to an outdoor soirée, under a grape-covered trellis, in the middle of a lavender-scented field. Everyone is tanned and wearing pressed white linen. There's warm pissaladiere on the table. See where a beautiful platter can take you?



Nudo olive oil stone ground with real lemons
My very own olive-oil producing tree? Well kinda, adopt an olive oil tree on a hillside in Italy and they'll send you the oil produced from its harvest, twice a year. One of the 498 trees in the Il Professore section, for example, produces olive oil with fruity and peppery tasting notes.



Elsworth poppy toaster
Yes, I already have a toaster. Yes, it's still serviceable. But how can you resist a poppy-emblazoned one? I'd be willing to put this on top of my dresser as art. But then reason sets in, and I realize it'd simply be smarter to give my original toaster away to the highest bidder. Anyone?



Le Creuset heart casserole dish
It's red, it's cast-iron, it's Le Creuset, it's heart-shaped, it's an all-in-one casserole dish you can take straight from the oven and put it on your table as a centrepiece. Every day is Valentine's Day with this show-stopper. Need I say more?





Truffle and salt
Some women want diamonds, others want soil-encrusted fungi. I'm of the latter variety. One Christmas, my mother gave me a small box. In it, a walnut-sized truffle. The first time my husband ate truffles he said "It's like a party in my mouth." Indeed.



In the kitchens of Alain Ducasse
And finally, the ultimate entry on my dream wish list. Working in the kitchen of the man referred to in culinary circles as "God" himself. The first day on the itinerary? Teas, coffees and homemade cookies by the fireplace. Pre-dinner aperitif and canapés, followed by dinner with optional-selected local wines. The digs? A converted abbey amidst lavender fields. Where do I sign up?