Around Mother’s Day, I always remind my family that the only acknowledgment I need is the gift of being relieved of dishwasher duty for a day!
It’s a humble — hardly sentimental request — but my greatest joy on that Springtime Sunday is to whip up an English pea soup, minted red potato salad and lamb patties when we gather for the annual multi-generational barbeque brunch. We know it is “our” day, but most Mom’s still run the show. For me, having my girls around and the extra help in the kitchen is the ultimate expression of love! So what’s the Mother’s Day gift that will keep on giving when there are no extra, loving hands around?
How about a blender or a set of high-performance cookware in a shining finish?
While the traditional Mother’s Day profiteers urge us to honor mom with jewelry, expensive chocolates and extravagant floral arrangements, nowhere do you see commercials suggesting we surprise mom with a small appliance. Thanks to the latest trend in housewares we can now celebrate Mom with stunning editions of timeless, stylish kitchen must-haves in copper and gold which she can use every day.
Mother’s Day Gifts that Shine:
Vitamix Pro750 Heritage Blender, Copper
The family-owned Vitamix Company, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, changed the kitchen countertop when the company’s founder William Grover “Papa” Barnard launched their blender in one of television’s original infomercials in 1949. Vitamix continues to innovate with increased power and functionality for the ultimate professional performance consumers have come to expect from the brand. This edition adds the luster of a burnished copper-plated solid metal base, finished with a coating that protects against scratches and fingerprints. The hot friction-cook setting is the ultimate feature for the Mom who loves to whip up soups and sauces from cold ingredients. Perfect for my English pea soup!
KitchenAid Professional 600 Series 6 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer
Full disclosure, I have been in love with the KitchenAid family of mixers and other small electrics for years, thanks to my long association as a presenter at the original foodie festival, the Food & Wine Magazine Classic in Aspen, where KitchenAid is the lead sponsor. I host the Classic Cook-Off program where dueling chefs blend, chop and whip up miracles in minutes using KitchenAid tools. While the stand mixer comes in a candy land of colors, the burnished metal edition is a stand-out. What mom wouldn’t covet this classic copper finish: a complement to the wood paneled or high-tech kitchen? The ultimate gift that keeps on giving, the power hub fits optional attachments from food grinder to pasta makers and more. Miss the chance to surprise mom with this prized tool this year? I believe the KitchenAid Stand Mixer is the only small appliance a man can give his wife for their wedding anniversary!
KitchenAid Tri-Ply Copper 12-Piece Set
KitchenAid’s 90 years of kitchen innovation have built a massive selection of cookware best exemplified by the legendary Stand Mixer. Keep the performance and complement the copper mixer with the heavy duty, Tri-ply Copper Cookware in Satin Copper where beauty and performance meet in this 12-piece set with polished, pure copper exteriors. I can just see my red potatoes bubbling away in the generous three quart sauce pan!
Sambonet H Art Gold Stainless Steel 5 Piece Place Setting
The Entertaining Maven Mom would welcome the special addition of gold flatware to her tabletop collection. Since the mid-nineteenth century, the Sambonet Company of Italy has crafted beautiful flatware for the leading hotels of the world — setting the standard for timeless and functional pieces. The durable and long lasting stainless steel flatware are finished in a polished gold finish for a glamorous and international flare appropriate for everyday use. A special flourish is the heart shaped finish at the bottom of the handle which allows the knife to be positioned perpendicular to the table for a 5-star statement. What a great reflection of your love for Mom which she will remember every time she sets a place. Start her out with a set of five and add serving pieces and more place settings to the collection at other special occasions.
Mauviel Hammered Copper Jam Pan
It’s official, I am a Mauviel Mom or — as they say in France — Maman Mauviel because that’s where these kitchen masterpieces have been manufactured by the same family for 7 generations who consider copper “a celebration, a feast for the senses.” The stunning hammered copper jam pan is a prized tool in French kitchens from Provence to Paris for precise simmering and the transformation of fresh fruits into delicious jams and preserves. The Copper Jam Pan is ideal for breaking down high-sugar foods like caramel and other convection preparation which require a controlled, consistent heat. The piece’s reflective hammered exterior with the riveted brass handles doubles as a centerpiece or cachepot for potted violets. This more extravagant gift is one that Mom can pass on to the next generation. It’s a way of cooking and a collectible.
Mauviel Copper Potato Steamer
A copper pot brought to the table raises expectations for any meal and this potato steamer doubles as a breathtaking serving piece. The ingenious design efficiently steams any vegetables since the water boils quickly in the narrow rounded base while the domed lid collects the condensation which slides down the edges for perfect results. Master Chefs around the world count on the brand’s high performance and the support of Mauviel as a lead sponsor of the Bocuse D’Or — the culinary equivalent of the Olympics which takes place every two years in Lyon, France. Elevate Mom’s home cooking with these high-performance stunners!
Simplex No.1 Kettle
Downton Abbey set the stage for America’s introduction to the beautiful Simplex Kettles from England. Produced with the venerable company’s 1900 production methods, these new Copper Kettles for the 21st century are suitable for gas and induction cooktops. The UK remembers mom on “Mothering Sunday” during the third Sunday in Lent where high-tea is the most cherished of celebrations. But English moms know the value of sharing a cup of tea every day. Treating your tea drinking mum to the Simplex Copper Kettle Collection will help her savor life’s little moments in style and class up her kitchen in a whistle.
Coravin Model 2 Wine System
The ultimate gift to give your wine loving mother is the stylish and newest wine innovation, the Coravin. For the true wine connoisseur, it’s a must have as it protects wine from oxidation and lets you pour the wine without removing the cork! It’s not magic, but ingenuity which is changing how we consume our wine. The new gold edition (available the first week of May!) is a striking new tool. Introducing your oenophile Mom to the Coravin wine culture will make her book club the most popular in town!
