Zabar's Blog

Tea Time while the guys watch The Avengers

Ok, so I've seen The Avengers. Once. Yes it was awesome, but perhaps that's enough for me. I know however, that when his friends roll into town my husband is ready to see it again, and perhaps again. Which I love. Time with my girlfriends is a wonderful thing. If I had it my way we'd be sipping tea on the patio with warm sunny weather, a cool breeze, and delicious snacks.

Here's what I have compiled to start this weekend with:

Zabar's Loose Tea
This is delicious, fresh, hand packed loose tea. Whenever possible I can the bags and go with loose tea. I never knew how wonderful this was until a co-worker turned me onto using tea pots (rather than a tea ball). During warm weather my favorite flavors are August Peach, Lavender, Roobios Red and Darjeeling India. I do still start every day with English Breakfast.

OmniWare Tea Pot
This is the teapot I use daily. It is perfect, bright, cheerful, and the perfect size for one to enjoy. I love the brew basket, it takes a second to clean and looks great on my shelf when not in use. 

Prodyne Fruit & Tea Infusion PItcher
Since not everyone drinks tea, this is my latest addition to my brunch. It's like being at a spa, you know, where you get that delicious cucumber water. Here you can make it at home: lemon, orange, cucumber, mint (so easy to grow on your patio garden). Just add the fruits, water and enjoy!

And for snacking, I never forget:
Zabar's Traditional Biscotti Di Prato, Zabar's Homemade Cookie Assortment & Zabar's Bundt Cakes (3 lbs feeds the whole party!)

Takeya 66oz Fruit Infusion Jug

I recently enjoyed reading JD's post "All About Chumley, My New Favorite Thing" on The Yapper about Tracey Zabar's book, One Sweet Cookie: Celebrated Chefs Share Favorite Recipes. There are a few things that got me. First JD's enthusiasm for Tracey's book:

"To be as blunt as humanly possible, I’m obsessed with this book.  Zabar compiled 70 cookie, or cookie-esque, recipes from some of the New York restaurant world’s biggest figures as well as some of her own creation to create 192 pages of heaven."

I have to agree. I also have the book and have really enjoyed working through some of the recipes (and of course the tastey results). One thing I haven't done is photographed my creations. I love the pictures that are included in the odyssey to create a chumley. Now this is what I will bake next!

Shop for Tracey's book
Read it on The Yapper

Tea Caddy Offer extended

There was such enthusiasm for our free Tea Caddy Offer that we've decided to extend it throughout the month of May!

Just purchase a Tea Pot by Price Kensington at Zabars.com and receive a free matching Tea Caddy as our gift to you. They will ship and arrive together so they make a wonderful Mother's Day gift, end of the year teacher gift, hostess gift or buy one for yourself! Just $12.98!

These classic teapots have been reintroduced by the legendary Price Kensington company. Excellent for hot and cold items but mainly meant for a delicious cup of tea for two. They come in a variety of vibrant colors. The perfect companion to the Price Kensington tea bag and spoon holder.

Today is the LAST DAY to get a free Tea Caddy

Today is the LAST DAY to get a free Tea Caddy when you purchase a Tea Pot by Price Kensington at Zabars.com:

These classic teapots have been reintroduced by the legendary Price Kensington company. Excellent for hot and cold items but mainly meant for a delicious cup of tea for two. They come in a variety of vibrant colors. The perfect companion to the Price Kensington tea bag and spoon holder.

This week's 50% OFF Zabars.com Deal of the Week

50% off savings on a different Zabar’s product each and every week!

This Week's Deal
Wusthof In-Drawer Knife Organizer

NOW JUST $19.99 - Regularly $19.98
Through Sunday 4/29, at Zabars.com

Wusthof In-Drawer Knife Organizer, 7 Slot. The perfect way to store and protect all your cutlery from Wusthof. This safe, convenient way to store knives also saves valuable counter space. 4-1/4" wide x 3" high. Holds 7 knives. Requires 17" drawer depth, front-to-back. While supplies last.

And don't forget - if you live within Zabar's Home Zone and order $49 or more your shipping is FREE! Find out if your shipping address is within Zabar's Home Zone on our home page.

 

Free knife sharpening on Saturday at Zabar's

Join us on Saturday, April 21st, 2 - 4 PM in Zabar's Housewares Mezzanine for a Free Knife Sharpening Clinic.

Chef's Choice will be joining us to demonstrate their knife sharpeners (which you can pick up at Zabar's Mezzanine) and will be sharpening any two knives you bring in for free. 

So join us, shop and leave with an improved tool for your kitchen. And if you don't already own quality knives you can pick up Zabar's knives with a fantastic 20% discount!

Note: They won't be sharpening any serrated knives and won't be held responsible for any damages that occur to knives. Sale excludes items already on sale. 

One Sweet Cookie: A little more about Tracey Zabar

We've had the pleasure of posting a few recipes (see the list below) from Tracey Zabar's wonderfully beautiful cookbook, One Sweet Cookie: Celebrated Chefs Share Favorite Recipes. It's a delightful book with recipes for the beginner, novice and skilled cookie baker.

I've tried a number of these recipes myself and have been in love with the clarity of her recipe writing as well as the tasty results!

Recently I really enjoyed getting more insight into Tracey and her history in The Wall Street Journal's article "A Zabar Does Cookies". Read the entire article here.

From The Wall Street Journal
"A Zabar Does Cookies"
By Ralph Gardner Jr. 

"I'm not a chef or baker by profession," she explained as she plied me with one of Mr. Ansel's DKA, short for Dominique's Kouign Amann. It resembles a caramel-coated croissant and ought to be on everyone's bucket list. However, she added: "I'm an amazing baker. I know I am."

Ms. Zabar's charm is that such lines usher from her mouth sounding almost modest, so infused are they with enthusiasm for whatever it is she's discussing. "My goal," she added, "is if you find a chocolate-chip cookie recipe, you want to make a chocolate chip better than anybody in the world and then you're done."

Read the entire article here.

One Sweet Cookie Cookbook By Tracey Zabar - Author Signed Copy
Beautifully photographed book. A delicious collection of cookie recipes from extraordinary chefs, pastry chefs, and bakers, including Lidia Bastianich, Daniel Boulud, Terrance Brennan, Dorie Greenspan, Thomas Keller, Jacques Torres, and Laurent Tourondel. A great gift sure to delight anyone who loves to bake!

Buy it at Zabars.com

 

Visit recipes from One Sweet Cookie:
Orange Cookies by Lidia Bastianich of Lidia’s Italy 
Milk Chocolate Brownies by Nick Malgieri of the Institute of Culinary Education
Sugar Valentines by Tracey Zabar

The Toas-Tite Grill is back and reviewed in The New York Times

The Toas-Tite Grill is back! This replica of the 1949 original is made of die cast aluminum, with steel rods and hard wood handles. Just like the Original, packaged in a retro box with reprints of the 1949 Instruction and Recipe booklets, this old time favorite can be used on gas and electric stoves, over a BBQ, fire pit, fire place or camp fire. The Toas-Tite Grill makes a luscious sealed-in drip proof Toas-Tite sandwich. Start a family tradition, the kids will love them!

How to use them:
Just fill it with two slices of bread and your desired filling and over the stove, fire, flame it goes! Toasty and delicious!!

   

Read Florence Fabricant's review in The New York Times

"Before we knew about panini machines, there was the Toas-Tite. This throwback is an efficient device for making pressed grilled sandwiches that some people may remember from decades ago, just as Janice Feigenbaum and her sister, Susan Caldwell, do. They grew up in the Chicago area eating sandwiches made with the gadget, whose brief life ran from 1945 to 1953. Recently, they learned that the company had gone out of business and that the patent had expired, but after buying a Toas-Tite on eBay, they “reverse engineered” it to figure out how to make it again. They now have the contraption made in China, and have trademarked it and reproduced the original packaging. Lightly grease the domelike cast-aluminum forms, place a slice of bread in each, add a filling, close the device and place it on a burner or grill for a minute or so. Turn it over, and in another minute you have a toasted sandwich. It demands cheese. Vintage Toas-Tites cost as much as $95 on eBay, so the replica is a relative bargain."

"The Return of the Toas-Tite"
By FLORENCE FABRICANT
Published: February 14, 2012  

Wusthof Sale Now at Zabars.com

These knife sets would make wonderful gifts. Compact, the perfect size for tight kitchen spaces, but with all the essentials for preparing a gourmet meal.

Choose from:

Wusthof - Gourmet Studio Set
Now $59.98 - Was $159.98

Wusthof Gourmet knives are precisely cut with the latest state of the art laser technology, manufactured from one piece of steel (Chrom Molybdenum Vanadium) and are very comfortable to use. Synthetic handle, full tang handle for all blades longer than 12cm. Sharp. Includes the following.
• 6" Cook's Knife
• 4.5" Utility Knife
• Pairing Knife
• Kitchen Shears
• Knife Block Set
• Made in Germany

or 

Wusthof - Classic Studio Set
Now $149.98 - Was $249.98

The Wusthof Classic triple riveted knife series. Forged from one piece of specially tempered high carbon steel to ensure outstanding strength and extraordinary sharpness which is easy to maintain. Special alloyed steel. Stainless. Seamless, hygienic fit of the handle. Triple-riveted handle shells, full tang handle. Black handles made of synthetic material. For professional chefs and home cooking enthusiasts. Long-lasting extreme sharpness, thanks to PEtec - WÜSTHOF’s Precision Edge Technology. Includes the following.
• 6" Cook's Knife
• 4.5" Utility Knife
• Pairing Knife
• Kitchen Shears
• Knife Block Set
• Made in Germany

 

Wusthof Gourmet knives are precisely cut with the latest state of the art laser technology, manufactured from one piece of steel (Chrom Molybdenum Vanadium) and are very comfortable to use. Synthetic handle, full tang handle for all blades longer than 12cm. Sharp.

 

This is a wonderful set that includes the following.

• 6" Cook's Knife

• 4.5" Utility Knife

• Pairing Knife

• Kitchen Shears

• Knife Block Set

• Made in Germany

Join us for a book signing tomorrow with Tracey Zabar!

Tracey Zabar will be back at Zabar's with her new book One Sweet Cookie: Celebrated Chefs Share Favorite Recipes and our new baking gift box available at Zabars.com, One Sweet Cookie Cookbook Gift Box. Join us to meet Tracey in person and pick up an autographed copy of One Sweet Cookie.

This weekend:
Saturday, December 17th 
from 10 AM - 1 PM
at Zabar’s 2245 Broadway, NYC