Tips for Maximizing Credit Card Rewards at Restaurants

If credit card reward points seem confusing or something you don’t think is worth the time bothering with, trust us when we say you should try to wrap your head around them. How it works is simple: With most cards, you get a point for every dollar you spend, then later those points can be redeemed for gift cards, cash, and travel, among other goodies. And if you love to eat out as much as we do (we’re assuming if you’re on this site, that’s the case), know that we’re in the golden age of reward-rich cards for restaurant lovers. The key is to figure out how to maximize your points when eating that filet or tipping back a glass of champagne at your favorite establishment. Here’s how your rewards and bonuses can add up quickly.

Strategically Select Specific Cards to Use in Restaurants

Be sure to do some comparison shopping before choosing which card to go with, especially if you’re interested in racking up points by eating out. “Credit card companies have recently launched a number of new products that are incredibly generous for consumers who dine out regularly,” says Alex Miller, founder of upgradedpoints.com. “With some rewards cards, you’ll bank up to four points per dollar spent. This is a far superior approach than using cash or a debit card that earns you nothing back in return.”

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Look for Extra Opportunities to Use Your Card

If you go out to business lunches often and your company reimburses you, try to choose a reward card to cover those expenses. Be sure to clear it with your employer first and keep all the purchases on one card so they’re easy to track. The money spent entertaining clients or power lunching can earn you points you wouldn’t otherwise have.

Also, next time you’re having dinner with a big group of friends, offer to throw down your rewards card and ask everyone else just to Venmo you. This way, you’re saving the waiter from the chaos-making check-splitting process and you’re earning rewards on a large tab. Just be sure to pay off the bill on your credit card right away so you’re not accumulating debt.

Use Dining Programs to Stack Points

We know. It sounds like something…illegal. But stacking points simply means earning double (or more) points on certain transactions. If you have a credit card that gives you points on each dollar you spend and also offers a separate dining rewards program, you will effectively stack points every time you dine in restaurants that are a part of the program. For example, Delta has recently launched a SkyMiles dining program that provides extra SkyMiles for eating at participating restaurants.

Other airlines are doing this too. “If you register your credit cards to the American Airlines dining program, for example, not only will you earn points directly from the card that you use at a restaurant, but if that restaurant is a member of American Airlines’ dining program, you’ll also earn up to five additional points per dollar spent,” says Miller. “Assuming the card that you use earns four points per dollar, that would result in a whopping nine points per dollar spent, which is an incredible return.”

Joe’s Stone Crab (Miami)

Pay Attention to Bonuses

Many cards and dining programs have initial bonuses where you can earn a large number of points just by signing up. (Skymiles dining program gives new members up to 3,000 points in their first 30 days in the program depending on how much you spend). Be sure to keep track of how much you earn during the bonus period to ensure that you meet all the minimum requirements and don’t leave valuable rewards on the table.

Read the Fine Print

Do your due diligence—look over the terms of all credit cards before signing on the dotted line. Make sure the annual fees or a high-interest rate don’t cancel out the perks of the card by being more than you can afford.

Yes, This Can Be Fun

Getting better at accumulating as many credit card rewards as you can does start to feel like a game, in a good way, with real-world prizes awarded to the shrewdest spenders. Like anything else, it takes some practice. Mastering this particular skill, however, might just get you to a beach in Hawaii.

Related Video: Should Restaurants Ban Phones?

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How to Cook With Lavender

“Lemon and lavender has got to be the new taste,” declared “The Great British Bake Off” judge Prue Leith after biting into contestant Sophie Faldo’s layered entremets cake. Indeed, the honey custard, lemon curd, and white chocolate lavender mousse masterpiece cinched her the season eight win, perhaps partly because lavender, with its sweet hints of floral and citrus, is a baker’s ace in the hole. So why aren’t we all growing our own lavender herb plant out in the garden or on the fire escape?

For starters, it can be somewhat intimidating to use as a novice. It’s not like reaching for cinnamon or nutmeg in your spice cabinet. Lavender is a flower of the mint family, and it brings similar palate-refresher properties to a dish. However, it can also be just as potent as mint, and you run the risk of only being able to taste lavender in whatever you’re cooking if you don’t use it wisely. To avoid this, your best bet is to rely on it as a secondary flavor, subtly enhancing a more neutral lemon, honey, or vanilla note, or bundle it with a few other strong herbs, like rosemary, basil, and thyme.

Zam Artisan Chocolates/Etsy

When figuring out which lavender to cook with, it’s important to choose the culinary lavender varieties, which are sweeter than ornamental ones. As a general rule, English lavender is more common in cooking than French lavender. Culinary lavender involves one of three forms: dried, fresh, or extract. (This goes without saying, but if you’re buying extract, steer clear of the essential oils aisle.) Dried and fresh forms can also be separated into buds and leaves. Both lend the same flavor, but the buds are a bit more potent. As with most dried herbs, dried lavender is about twice as strong in flavor than fresh lavender. Whichever one you go with, here are some ideas on how to use this ringer of an herb in your own kitchen.

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On Meats And Vegetables

Though lavender’s natural sweetness makes it ideal for desserts, don’t be afraid use it at dinnertime. Add a teaspoon of dried lavender to some garlic or rosemary, olive oil, salt, and pepper for an easy and standout dried rub. Or combine a tablespoon of dried lavender buds with ¼ cup honey and ¼ cup of olive oil for a honey-lavender glaze you can use on a roast chicken and root vegetables.

In Jams, Ice Cream, and Other Sweet Treats

Chowhound

Lavender and honey just works, period. Try this Lavender and Wildflower Honey Crème Brûleé, or Double Lavender Honey Ice Cream. Or try adding a teaspoon of dried lavender to the pot halfway through making your next batch of berry jam.

Or Throw It In Your Drink

The Merry Thought

To make a lavender simple syrup, bring 1 cup of granulated sugar, 1 cup of water, and 2 tablespoons of dried lavender to a boil. (You can add other herbs to the mix as well, like in this Lavender-Thyme Syrup.) Reduce heat and simmer for about 3 minutes until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture has reached a syrup consistency. Use the syrup to make a Champagne and Sorbet Float, a pitcher of Lavender Earl Grey Iced Tea, or in a cocktail that calls for simple syrup. Lavender mojito, anyone?

Related Video: Pick the Flowers off Your Garden Basil

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Chowhound Gift Guide 2018: Best Gifts from Amazon Handmade

You’ve heard of Etsy, but are you familiar with Amazon’s similar platform for selling handmade artisan goods, Amazon Handmade? Amazon describes it as “a store on Amazon for Artisans to sell their unique, handcrafted goods reaching hundreds of millions of customers worldwide.” Honestly, it kind of sounds like an oxymoron, since Amazon has been the demise of many small businesses across the country. But if this is a way for them to support small business then we’re all for it. We’ve combed through their list of top holiday hosting gifts to curate a list of our favorites—so all you have to do is read, click, and stuff those stockings with joy.

For the Instagram-Obsessed Host

Handmade Rose Gold Slate Stone Coasters, 4 for $32.00 on Amazon Handmade

Amazon

For the one who is always tweaking her/his photos just right in order to get those likes, these gorgeous handmade rose gold coasters are sure to get some facetime on your friend’s feed. Made of natural slate, they are equal parts pretty and functional. We think our ruby-hued festive sparkling rum and pomegranate punch would be the perfect compliment to these rosy coasters.See it

For the Queen/King of Tablescaping

Waen Holiday Table Centerpiece Collection Small Glass Geometric Centerpiece, $70.00 on Amazon Handmade

Amazon

For the host who spends more time perfecting her/his tablescape than the food being served on it, this is the gift for them. This gorgeous, glass geometric terrarium comes in four finishes: silver, black, rustic copper and bright copper (our personal fave). It can be left empty for a more architectural look, or can be filled with your succulent of choice.See it

For the World Traveler

Bali Harvest Set of 5 Handmade Wooden Spoons, 5 for $21.50 on Amazon Handmade

Amazon

For the host whose home is filled with eclectic souvenirs from across the world, this set of five rosewood wooden spoons from Bali will be truly appreciated. Use these spoons as the perfect accompaniment to stir afternoon tea or to serve your guests a decadently festive chocolate mousse pie.See it

For the Baker

Wooden Cake Stand, $49.00 on Amazon Handmade

Amazon

For the host known for their baking skills, gift them a pedestal worthy of showing off their incredible creations. This wooden cake stand can be customized to multiple sizes—from a petite 10” to a massive 16”. We recommend taking into account the size of your host’s kitchen before selecting a size (i.e. don’t gift your friend who lives in a tiny studio in Brooklyn the 16”—save that for your friend in Texas). We suggest you kindly nudge your host into making Sister Pie’s famous Salted Maple Pie so they can place it atop this wooden cake stand like the trophy it is.See it

For the Flower Lover

Modern White Ceramic Bottle Vases, 3 for $95.00 on Amazon Handmade

Amazon

For the host who picks the flowers before she/he picks the menu, these vases are the gift for them. These stoneware vases were hand-crafted and then dipped in a pretty, modern white glaze to compliment the natural clay bottom. For extra brownie points, stick a bouquet of your host’s favorite flowers in these vases before gifting.See it

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How to Throw a Hanukkah Dreidel Party

When most people think of the holiday season, it’s Christmas trees, wreaths, and a cornucopia of green and red lights that come to mind. But folks shouldn’t forget about the original December festival of lights: the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. An underrated holiday for gathering friends and family, Hanukkah parties are just as much fun—and possibly more interactive—as any other holiday celebration you’ll have this season.

To understand the Hanukkah story and the origins of its traditional celebrations, you have to go all the way back to the second century BC. At that time, the land of Israel, then called Judea, was occupied by Syrian-Greeks who attempted to force the Jews to worship Greek gods. After the Jewish freedom fighters successfully expelled their occupiers from Judea, they focused on rededicating the destroyed holy Second Temple. While rebuilding they found only enough oil to light the menorah, a candelabrum in the temple that was supposed to burn continuously, for only one day. But miracle of miracles, that oil managed to keep the menorah burning for eight days. The miracle of the ever-burning oil is why Hanukkah is called the Festival of Lights and lasts for eight days.

Modern Hanukkah celebrations pay homage to this ancient victory with gifts, feasts of oil-fried food, lighting a special menorah called a Chanukiah, and playing the (possibly) only family-friendly gambling game, dreidel. It’s dreidel that makes a Hanukkah party stand out from your typical holiday festivities: Not just simply finger food and cocktails, dreidel parties keep your guests interacting, laughing, and winning mounds of chocolate money to take home as a prize, or at least boast about in pride.

Here’s how the game works: You play with a four-sided spinning top, called a dreidel. Each side of the dreidel has one of the four hebrew letters nun, gimel, hei and shin, an acronym for the Hebrew phrase nes gadol hayah sham, meaning “a great miracle happened there.” Players sit in a circle and each takes a turn spinning the dreidel in order to win from a central pot. The pot can be anything from nuts to coins to jacks or other trinkets, but it’s most common to play with gelt, gold foil-covered chocolate coins. To start, the pot is split equally between all players so they get about 10 pieces each, then each person puts one item from their pile into the center. Then the first player spins, and whichever letter lands face-up determines how much they get from the pot.

My Jewish Learning

Nun: You get nothing. But you also give up nothing. So it’s sort of a neutral play. This play is easy to remember because nun is pronounced similarly to “noon,” which sounds like “none.”

Gimel: Rhymes with “Jimmy Kimmel.” You get the whole pot! Enjoy your winnings for a few seconds, because you and everyone else now has to put one piece back in the pot to continue the game.

Hei: Pronounced the same as “hey” or “hay.” You get half the pot. Easy.

Shin: Just like the part of your body that hurts when someone kicks it, landing on shin hurts because you alone have to throw a piece back into the central pot.

As soon as someone can’t put a piece back in after rolling a shin or a gimmel, they are out of the game. It continues until there is only one player left.

The great thing about dreidel is that it’s easy for adults and children alike to play, allows you to converse with your guests during and between spins, and gives the gift of chocolate coins—what’s not to love? Add some traditional Hanukkah foods, drinks, and decorations, and you’ve got the makings of a Hanukkah dreidel party to remember. Some tips to make it great:

1. There’s really no minimum or maximum number of people for a round of dreidel. However, depending on the size of your guest list you may need a few dreidel games going or it will take forever for each person to get a spin…and for the game to end. Make sure you have a handful of dreidels, and go for different sizes, colors, and materials to keep it interesting. Having differing dreidels also prevents any confusion when one goes spinning out of control and lands in someone else’s game. Yes, it happens.

2. Make the rules flexible if you have young children playing. It’s not hard to get a handle on spinning a dreidel, but kids might have a tough time. If they try to spin and it just flops over, play it as it lands.

3. Have a little goodie bag for your guests to take home. The best gift is the gift of gelt, because who doesn’t love snack sized chocolate? You can buy them in convenient yellow netted bags or be a little more original and make them from scratch via the recipe below. You can also hand out dreidels, light-themed grab bags, or anything else that fits the festivities.

4. Dreidel can be played sitting at a table or casually on the floor. Just remember you’re hosting a whole holiday party so make sure you have ample space for guests to linger and enjoy themselves when they get eliminated from the game.

5. Lights, lights, lights! As it’s the Festival of Lights, make sure your decor represents the season. It creates wonderful ambiance, too.

No dreidel? no problem, there’s a plethora of design, sizes, and colors. Like these blue and white hand painted wooden dreidels.

Amazon

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But no matter how you host or how competitive your dreidel game gets, in the end any holiday party is all about the food. Traditional Hanukkah foods focus on the miracle of oil, so frying is the name of the cooking game. Set out a buffet of these super-traditional Hanukkah delights:

Potato Latkes

Chowhound

Latkes are probably the most traditional Hanukkah treats anywhere. Fried potato pancakes made from shredded potatoes, onion, matzah meal, salt, and pepper, these little pancakes are easy to whip up and go best with either a little sour cream or applesauce. Or both. You can also get fancy and create a latke bar with different toppings and sides. The trick, though, is to serve them almost immediately out of the pan. If you let them sit too long, they get greasy and mushy. Get our Potato Latkes recipe.

Apple Cider Sufganiyot with Salted Caramel

Chowhound

If a sweet fried treat is more your style, go for a more traditional Israeli Hanukkah dish. Sufganiyot, stuffed and fried donuts, serve as the perfect dessert for your party. All sufganiyot can be customized with different fillings, but this recipe gives an extra original twist with the addition of apple cider vinegar and salted caramel. Yum! Get our Apple Cider Sufganiyot with Salted Caramel recipe.

Applesauce

Chowhound

No, applesauce isn’t a fried food but is pretty much required to be served alongside latkes. You can buy the canned stuff from the supermarket or make this easy and delicious recipe. If your apple of choice is super sweet feel free to cut down on the added sugar. Get our Applesauce recipe.

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Gelt

What Jew Wanna Eat

Many stores will have bags of pre-wrapped gelt, but why not impress your friends and make your own? You can have a little extra fun by picking up multicolored foil to contrast with the traditional gold. This recipe adds savory sea salt and suggests that you use a mold, but nobody’s going to complain about your freeform style as they wolf these down after an intense game of dreidel. Get the recipe.

Spice and Herb Oven-Braised Brisket

Chowhound

Somewhere in that cornucopia of fried treats you need something a little, well, less fried. Brisket is a traditional main course in Jewish celebrations, and this recipe will have the beef melting in your mouth. The best thing about brisket is that you can make it a day before and let it rest in the fridge to allow the flavors to come together. The second best thing is one brisket makes a ton of food, so you’ll have a party of any size covered. Note: If anyone in your party keeps kosher, they’re not going to want to mix this dish with the other dairy-based options listed here. Get our Spice and Herb Oven-Braised Brisket recipe.

Bubbe’s Luchen Kugel

Chowhound

A traditional Jewish noodle casserole, kugel comes in sweet or savory forms. This creamy recipe with the telltale crunch on top errs on the side of sweet, which means it can serve as a great side dish to the brisket or an alternative dessert. Bubbe’s recipe gives you a slightly healthier version than a more typical recipe. Get our Bubbe’s Luchen Kugel recipe.

Coconut Macaroons

Once Upon a Chef

Got guests who aren’t into chocolate coins? Make macaroons instead. Quite different than french macarons, these are made with sweet shredded coconut and have a soft bite like a cookie. Macaroons are a great party food because they can be made up to a week ahead and stored in an air-proof container. Customize with different flavors or ignore that guest’s aversion to chocolate by following the tips to dip them. Get the recipe.

Related video: Delicious Chocolatey Treats for Hanukkah

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If You’re Not Eating Bavarian Nuts, You’re Not Celebrating Christmas

Anyone who enjoys a solid  usually makes a beeline for the bratwurst, warm apple strudel, or a hot cup of gluhwein. I, on the other hand, get far too excited about another Deutschland delicacy—Bavarian nuts. If you’ve never had them before, I can only describe them as Christmas in nut form. Most often you’ll find these delicious nuts—usually almonds—served in a conical paper container, covered in sugar and cinnamon, and packing a crunch that’s semi addictive. And if the Christkindlmarket is legit, like several in Chicago, they’re often made to order in a traditional copper pot, meaning they’re still radiating warmth as you pop them into your mouth.

Hermann German Bavarian Hard Candy, $17.50 on Amazon

Add a little more German sweet to your holiday!

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Beer enthusiasts know Bavaria refers to the southeastern state of Germany, which is home to Oktoberfest. It’s also one of the few regions in the country that is predominantly Catholic (as opposed to Protestant) and is rich in region-specific traditions like producing great nuts! So, Bavarian nuts must be a variety of nut that comes from here, right? Well, sort of.

What Americans refer to as Bavarian nuts is what the Germans call Gebrannte Mandeln. Translation? Burnt nuts. Not the sexiest name, I know, which is probably why nut purveyors in the United States stick with their own moniker. But if you glimpse any German Christkindlmarket vendor list, including Nuremberg’s, the most famous festival in the world, you won’t find anything called “Bavarian nuts.” You will, however find Gebrannte Mandeln, which can also be found in parts of Switzerland.

Shutterstock

The earliest mention of Gebrannte Mandeln can be traced to the 17th century at the Munich Oktoberfest. Meaning, one could make the case that they originated in Bavaria. Still, that might not be completely accurate. According to Gil Marks’ Encyclopedia of Jewish Food, the dish that came to be known as Gebrannte Mandeln in Germany probably has its origins in the Middle East. Once sugar appeared there, people began caramelizing the sugar crystals, and cooking it with nuts. As they migrated, so did these delicious morsels, reaching parts of Spain, France, Italy, and, later, Germany. This Middle Eastern precursor to Gebrannte Mandeln also proved to be the ancestor of another candied nut—the Jordan almond

Related Video: How to Make German Mulled Wine

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Why You Need to Drink Coffee Liqueur This Holiday Season

You’ve likely put booze in your coffee at least once during festive cold weather occasions, like trimming the tree or wrapping gifts. (And no judgment if it’s been more than once!) This holiday season, why not try another boozy brew-flavored beverage? Coffee liqueur, which serves as the base for some popular beverages, like White Russians and espresso martinis, is an underrated holiday season player. Highly versatile, it works well in a range of cold and warm cocktails, while also adding depth to the flavor of cakes, pies, and cupcakes.

Though you’re probably familiar with Kahlua, you can easily make your own coffee liqueur, which can make for an excellent homemade gift for friends and family you haven’t yet shopped for. The simplest versions involve combining vodka or rum, vanilla, sugar and either coffee grounds or instant coffee. (Here’s a good go-to recipe to try.) With a bit of effort, you’ll end up with a smooth, java-flavored drink that can elevate a number of celebratory cocktails and desserts.

Mikasa Cheers Martini Glass, 10-Ounce, Set of 4, $27.99 on Amazon

For the fanciest coffee cocktails!

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Want to incorporate coffee liqueur into your celebrations this year? Read ahead for some festive ideas!

Ghost in the Graveyard Cocktail

Creative Culinary

Can’t let Halloween go this holiday season? Then this slightly goth cocktail (which is smoky, thanks to dry ice) makes for a dessert drink that is sure to be a conversation starter at any party. Get the recipe.

Salted Caramel Coffee Martini

Berly’s Kitchen

This gin-based tipple is the ultimate choice for those who love the salty and sweet pairing. Does a martini not seem like a martini without a garnish? Then refashion some caramel squares into decor by putting them on a skewer and adding them to your glass. Get the recipe.

Brown Sugar & Cinnamon White Russian

Foxes Love Lemons

The White Russian gets a mini makeover in this recipe. This take has all the richness of a milkshake, while a hint of cinnamon and booze give it an adult twist. Get the recipe.

Kahlua Cake with Mocha Buttercream

Live for Cake

Once again, chocolate and coffee prove to be a winning duo. In this rich cake topped with a smooth mocha buttercream frosting, the two flavors complement each other for an impressive dessert. Top it with coffee beans for some additional flair. Get the recipe.

Kahlua Coffee Poke Cake

Bellyfull

This full-flavored cake is the ideal dessert to bring along to any holiday party potluck you go to this year. Poking holes in the cake allows the coffee liqueur-based icing to sink into every bite. Get the recipe.

Cold Brew Martini

1912 Pike

If you’re a coffee aficionado, you’ll love this chilly martini. Espresso-flavored with a hint of vanilla, it’s the perfect cocktail if you’re hunting for a grown up cold brew. With all the caffeine it packs, it will surely perk you right up, no matter who you’re chatting with at the holiday party. Get the recipe.

Warm Eggnog Latte

Hot Chocolate and More

Warm up on a winter’s day with this boozy answer to a cafe au lait. One sip of this ‘nog and you’ll start to feeling any “Grinchness” melt away. Get the recipe.

Boozy Iced Coffee Float with Homemade Coffee Liqueur

The Flavor Bender

Remember the joy you used to get as a kid when your parents let you have an ice cream float? This drink is like that, only better. If you’re feeling particularly motivated, you can make your own vanilla ice cream popsicles, or go for the grocery store stuff. Either way, you’ll end up just as happy as you were in those ice cream float memories. Get the recipe.

For more tips, hacks, and recipes, check out our Ultimate Guide to Christmas and Holiday Entertaining Headquarters.

Related Video: How Fresh Is Your Coffee?

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Cheers to These Holiday-Inspired Beers

Simply Recipes 2018 Gift Guide: The Baker

Let Simply Recipes help you make gift-giving a breeze this year with our Gift Guide for the Baker in your life! Featuring ten stellar gifts chosen by our editorial team, crossing people off your list has never been easier.

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What’s the Difference Between Port and Madeira?

Getting to know your way around dessert wines can intimidate even the most confident grape lover. You know your Italian and your French and can confidently tell a Malbec from a merlot. But the difference between a port and a Madeira may stop you cold. The good news: All you really need to know is these freaking delicious after-dinner wines, both known for their complex, brandy-infused flavor, are shaking off the rep of being your grandmother’s drink. Trust us when we say serve either at your next dinner party and everyone will forget about bourbon almost immediately. Below, a guide to both of these Portuguese MVPs.

What Is Port Exactly?  

Produced in Portugal’s Douro Valley, this fortified wine is named after the coastal town Oporto and is made from indigenous Portuguese grapes. The Douro Valley yields a bunch of different varieties of grapes, but five or six red varietals are used in most wines, including touriga nacional, touriga francesca, tinta roriz, tinta barroca, and tinta cão.

Near  the end of the fermentation process, a spirit derived from the same grapes—a type of brandy known as aguardente—is added to the wine (that’s the fortified part). This boosts the alcohol content, and stops the fermentation process, which leaves sugar in the liquid and gives the port its soft sweetness. The aguardiente also serves as a natural preservative: A higher alcohol content means that the wine is less likely to spoil, which made it possible for the wine to survive long stretches at sea.

Stolzle Crystal Port Wine Glasses, $54.50 on Amazon

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Port can be red or white, and exists in several different varietals, including vintage (meant to age up to 50 years after being bottled) tawny port (multiple-vintage port that is aged in barrels for up to 40 plus years, and meant to be drunk soon after bottling) and colheita port (a single-vintage aged in barrels). Traditionally, port was an after-dinner drink paired with cheese, but it’s not uncommon to find port pairings for all courses. Try a moderately-priced port like Quinta do Noval Black with a splash of tonic and you have your new aperitif.

Quinto do Noval

And Madeira Is….?

Madeira originated from the Portuguese islands of the same name, which lie off the coast of Africa. As Portuguese winemakers discovered fortification as a safeguard against spoilage, so, too, did 17th-century winemakers in Madeira. However, the tropical climate of the islands, as well as the intense heat in the hold of a ship, led to a fortuitous discovery. Heating the wine made for a distinct flavor many drinkers—including those in pre-revolutionary America—seemed to prefer. In fact, customers began asking for wine labeled vinho da roda, which means, made the round trip.

Since it wasn’t exactly cost-effective to send bottles of wine on a trans-Atlantic trip just to boost their flavor profiles, winemakers in Madeira began storing the wine to actively harness heat. Madeira would be stored in rooms called estufas, where direct sunlight would hit the bottles. Today, many winemakers use technology to hasten the “estufagem” process, but some traditional winemakers still rely on the heat of the sun.

Justino’s

How Do I Tell The Difference?

Specifics vary depending on style etc. But the aging process for Madeira is different than any wine in the world. The high heat it’s exposed to usually gives it a more complex flavor profile than port. The result is almost a smoky, roasted nut flavor. Basically, when it comes to after-dinner sips though, there is no wrong choice. Do as we do and put a bottle of each out on the table after the plates are cleared.  

Related Video: The Best Corkscrew for Opening Wine 

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Pear and White Wine Sangria

This Pear and White Wine Sangria is what you need for your holiday parties! Make it ahead and let guests serve themselves. It's made with pear nectar, white wine, ginger beer, and warm holiday spices. Cheers!

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Chowhound Gift Guide 2018: The Best Kitchen Gadgets, Appliances, and Tools

Gift-giving season has arrived again, and that means you’re probably searching for the perfect thing for several people on your list, some of whom are sure to be enthusiastic home cooks (or maybe in need of a little help in that department). These kitchen gadgets, tools, and appliances make great gifts for a whole range of people, from those who love to cook and are always looking for another toy, to those who have a rather bare-bones kitchen and need a way to rustle up some sustenance (cue slow cookers and Instant Pots).

Check out all of our gift guides for kitchen appliances, tools, and gadgets below—and check back often, because we’ll be regularly updating the list!

For great edible gift ideas, see our gourmet food and drink gift guides too.

Best Kitchen Gadget Gifts for Those Who Like to Indulge

From deep fryers and ice cream machines to gushing chocolate fountains, these are for the most decadent eaters on your list. See our Guilty Pleasure Kitchen Gadgets Gift Guide.

Gift-Worthy Spoons for Every Purpose

Know someone who likes precisely the right tool for every job? Get them a very specific spoon (or set of them) and they’ll be delighted! See our Gift Guide to All the Spoons You Never Knew You Needed.

The Best Slow Cookers to Give Every Person on Your List

From classic Crock-Pots to Instant Pots (they do more than pressure cook, you know), there’s a slow cooker out there for everyone. See our Gift Guide to Slow Cookers for Every Personality and Situation.

Gift Ideas for the Goth Kitchen

Happen to know a goth gourmand? Make them merry (or as close as they can get) with one of these perfect picks—black wrapping paper optional. See our Gifts for the Goth Gourmet.

Related Video: The Best High End Kitchen Gifts for 2018

All featured products are curated independently by our editors. When you buy something through our retail links, we may receive a commission. For more great hand-picked products, check out the Chowhound Shop.

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Chowhound Gift Guide 2018: The Best Gourmet Food and Drink Gifts

If you haven’t started your holiday shopping yet, now’s the time to check your list (or write it up in the first place)! Whether you’re looking for that perfect present for your best friend, favorite family member, co-worker, or good neighbor, food is often a fantastic choice, because who doesn’t like to eat—and drink? From great individual food and drink gift ideas to ongoing food and beverage subscriptions, we’ve got suggestions for the best edible (and drinkable) presents for all sorts of palates, personalities, and situations.

Check out all of our gourmet food and drink gift guides below—and check back often, as we’ll be updating the list regularly.

See our kitchenware gift guides for all the best kitchen gadgets, tools, and appliances to give this year too.

Gourmet Food Gifts

Edible Advent Calendar Gift Ideas

Count down the days to Christmas with a parade of edible treats, from chocolate and cheese to tea and wine (and even pork cracklings). See our Chowhound Gift Guide 2018: Best Food and Drink Advent Calendars.

Great Hanukkah Food Gifts

Forget gelt; these treats are top-notch noshing and will last you through all eight days of the Festival of Lights. See our Chowhound Gift Guide 2018: Best Hanukkah Food Gifts.

Charming Etsy Food Gifts

Because handmade = extra-special (even if the items aren’t handmade by you, specifically). See our Chowhound Gift Guide 2018: Best Etsy Food Gifts.

Great Gift Ideas for Cheese Lovers

Curd nerds, cheddar heads, and brie fiends will all melt for these delightfully cheesy gifts. See our Chowhound Gift Guide 2018: Best Gifts for Cheese Lovers.

Perfect Gifts for Peanut Butter Lovers

Know someone who’s nuts for PB? Show them you care with these gloriously sticky spreads and peanut butter flavored treats. See our Chowhound Gift Guide 2018: Best Gifts for Peanut Butter Lovers.

Gourmet Drink Gifts

Best Sparkling Wine Gift Ideas

Break out the bubbly—but gift-wrap it first! See our Gift Guide for Sparkling Wine Connoisseurs.

Best Wine Subscriptions to Give as Gifts

A nice bottle by itself is a great gift, but a wine subscription is the ultimate present for your favorite oenophile. See our Best Wine Subscriptions guide.

Best Beer Clubs and Beer Subscription Box Gift Ideas

If you want to treat the suds lover in your life to an ongoing subscription, they’ll love you for it. See our Best Beer Clubs and Subscription Boxes guide.

Best Holiday Beers to Give as Gifts — coming soon!

Christmas beers are a long-standing tradition (we’re talking all the way back to Viking times), and these are some of the most festive bottles around today, perfect for slipping into someone’s stocking (or a gift bag).

Related Video: DIY Holiday Gifts: Insta-Infusions

All featured products are curated independently by our editors. When you buy something through our retail links, we may receive a commission. For more great hand-picked products, check out the Chowhound Shop.

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