This Week’s Must Have Kitchen Gadget…Silicone Bakeware

In the past 100 years, our society has made great technological leaps and bounds into modernizing everything we do, that is, except for bakeware. For the most part, the pans that we bake with today have changed little, since our parents, and grandparents first created that delectable angel food cake recipe. That was, until the emergence of Silicone.

Silicone bakeware has been on the market for a few years, and has been catching on with everyone. Whether they are muffin pans, cake pans, muffin wrappers, or egg poachers, silicone bakeware is something that no kitchen should be operating without.

The first advantage to silicone bakeware is that it allows for even heat distributions, and not hot spots in the pan. That means no to soft muffin tops, and burnt muffin bottoms.

Secondly, silicone bakeware can be thrown into the dishwasher for an easy clean. You no longer need to soak your bundt pan that you made a pineapple upside down cake in for days, with the hopes of getting it clean.

The third reason that every kitchen needs silicone bakeware is because of ease of storage. Whether you crush it into a ball, and shove it in the back of the drawer, or you stack it in size order silicone bakeware is incredibly easy to store.

Here are some of the newest and best selling pieces of silicone bakeware out today:

Poach Pods

Silicone Collapsible Colander

Silicone Oven Mitt

Silicone Muffin Wrappers

Whatever it Takes..Treat yourself while giving back

Whatever it Takes is a great line of celebrity designed mugs that donates 50% of the proceeds to the charity of the celebrity's choice. Made by Zrike, these mugs are oversized with a user friendly handle and are perfect for that large cup of morning coffee and tea. With a whole host of hot celebrities such as George Clooney, Giorgio Armani, Nicole Kidman, and Heidi Klum, designing mugs for charities in order to raise $3 million in three years, how could you not get one? Now you won't feel so guilty drinking your morning latté!

George Clooney

Donna Karan

Giorgio Armani

Nicole Kidman

Wedgwood Sale

This is the time of year, when the morning air seems starts to become brisk and refreshing, and the nights start to become cool and comforabtle again. As we begin to eek out the last few weeks of warm sunny days, spur-of the moment BBQs and that brand new Margarita Machine we saw advertised everywhere (and we still can't figure out how to use correctly), we cannot help but acknowledge the holidays will soon be here.

The hectic running around, food shopping, setting the table, making the food, calling the family, getting the gifts.....it is all so stressful. However, with a little planning, it can all be done quite easily (and you might even have fun doing it!). As I start to look ahead now for helpful hints I can offer to those who might need it, I look look no further then the companies who we rely on the most to make our holidays the best they can be.

For those of you who are familiar (and for those of you who may not be) Wedgwood China is one of the premier tabletop companies in the world. With famous names such as Vera Wang, and Emeril under their belts they always have a great selction of dinnerware, flatware, and stemware. Fortunoff 's Hewlett is running a promotion with Wedgwood, like nothing we have ever seen. This "Wedgwood Sale" consists of savings of 40% - 50% on over two dozen patterns spanning dinnerware, flatware, and stemware. So whether you need to replace that missing gravy boat stand that Aunt Myrtle gave you (and you know she will ask about at holiday dinner), or you want that new set or dishes to impress your in-laws with, this is one step in the right direction, in order to help make your holidays a success.

Click Here for a list of the patterns on sale...

Bridal Registry

I have been working with brides and registering couples for over 30 years. I have encountered almost every situation you can imagine. This couple had been previously married and are starting out with alot of stuff.

Sterling Silver flatware that was purchased years ago and never used, cookware, that was a shower gift, and assorted crystal bowls, crystal vases. We all decided to take great care in making selections that family and friends would be comfortable with.

After looking at many many patterns of casual dinnerware, Vietri, Noritake, Lenox, Villeroy & Boch, Calvin Klein, Mikasa, Rosenthal,Richard Ginori, Wedgwood we finally decided on Berry & Thread by Juliska. After selecting 3 colors we moved over to compliments.

Off we were to MacKenzie-Childs. Again, we needed to use care, as some of the items we looked at were purchased some years ago when Susan had her shower. After careful thought, we married (no pun intended) the two companies and came up with an outrageous table setting.

We all will add the accents next week, as Sam needed a change of scenery, as walking around with his future bride, the mom, and me for 3 hours, he needed a breather.

I will keep you updated.

Anyone can remodel a bathroom like a pro

For all those groupies that have been following MacKenzie-Childs since their birth in the early 1980's, those imaginative and creative minds have been busy at work.
There has been an underground of bathroom/kitchen tiles and sinks that have gone unnoticed for years. Well, the time has come to visibility.
We are the first in the New York area to have the full landscape of your favorite patterns in tile and sinks.
Our debut is August, and will surely be worth the wait.

Fortunoff's Hewlett, who we are, and where we are going...

On this blog, you will be able to get an inside look to all the newest and hottest trends for the home, great entertaining ideas, and even some great specials that are offered by the biggest names in home fashion that the department stores won't tell you about. And, as always, your questions, comments, and input is always appreciated.

Here's a little bit about ourselves: Charles Fortunoff, founder of Fortunoff’s Hewlett, first opened his doors in 1922, with a vision: “Offer quality products for the home at competitive prices.” His vision was quickly realized and the concept took off! Charles’ daughter took over the business in 1960, and continued the vision her father started. Today, run by the third generation, Fortunoff’s Hewlett, is an exclusive retailer of fine home furnishings made by the top designers for the home. With names like Lenox, Royal Doulton, Mikasa, Ralph Lauren, Vera Wang, Kate Spade, Reed and Barton, MacKenzie-Childs, Victoria and Richard, Waterford, Wedgwood, Cuisinart, Calphalon, Le Creuset, Henckles, Tracy Porter, Zrike, Villeroy and Boch, Annie Glass, Spode, Nikko, Nambe, and Vietri, there is a reason why we are the biggest little store around.