Gifts for those who cook or entertain

For those on your list who like to cook, entertain, or just eat, we've picked some of our favorite new and old reliable products as gift ideas. Prices are suggested retail.

Nutcracker sweets

The Nutcracker Sweet: A Chocolate Novel, 15-piece gift box, $40. At Blue Tulip in Ardmore, Paoli and Marlton. Or www.moonstruckchocolates.com.    - Marilynn Marter

Francisco Pitcher, $65. At Simon Pearce, 1333 Lenape Rd., West Chester; 610-793-0949; 27 Palmer Square West, Princeton, 609-279-0444; or visit www.simonpearce.com.    - M.M.

Sterling steel

We may be generations past any thoughts of polishing silver, but a sleek mirror finish still has appeal.

All-Clad Entertaining Trays, set of two, $100. At Foster's Homeware, 399 Market St., 215-925-0950, 800-734-8511 or www.shopfosters.com.    - M.M.

Scented shea butter soaps spice up the kitchen with aromas of cinnamon-clove, rosewood, verbena and more.

Shea Butter Soap, 8-ounce bar, $14. At Open House, 107 S. 13th St.; 215-922-1415.    - M.M.

Classic copper

Ruffoni heavy-gauge copper cookware is handcrafted - turned, hammered, tinned and polished - by artisans in the Italian Alps. Made to serve generations, each heirloom-quality piece has a thick tin lining and riveted brass handles. Ideal for soup, stock, and other slow-cooked foods.

Hammered-copper stockpot, 43/4-quart, $249; 71/2-quart, $299; or 131/4-quart, $349. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive. See www.williams-sonoma.com.    - M.M.

A passion for caramels

The creamy texture (soft or chewy) sets a higher standard for caramels. The innovative flavors - Celtic sea salt, chipotle, espresso, salt-chocolate, maple and black licorice among them - redefine the concept of caramels.

Bequet Gourmet Caramels, 11-ounce gift box, $19.99; 8-ounce bag, $9.99. At DiBruno Bros., 1730 Chestnut; 215-665-9220 or (toll free) 1-888-322-4337. Or see www.

bequetconfections.com.    - M.M.

Local and wild

The utensils come left-handed (if you wish), ring-tailed, and Lazy Spoon-style, notched to balance whimsically on the rim of your pot. But they're all Pennsylvania cherry, and hand-crafted in Berks County, perfect implements for the locavore in your life.

Salad set, $35, from Jonathan's Wild Cherry Spoons, 800-776-6853, www.woodspoon.com; Pennsylvania General Store, Reading Terminal Market.    - Rick Nichols

Woolly wine tote

The bag costs $28, and coasters cost $16 at Open House, 107 S. 13th St., 215-922-1415.    - Craig LaBan

Edgy global duo

The Global 2-piece Asian prep set, $99.95 at www.surlatable.com.    - C.L.

Olio Pacifico

A 375-milliliter bottle of McEvoy Ranch olive oil costs $17.95 at Metropolitan Bakery, 262 S. 19th St., 215-545-6655.    - C.L.