The fascinating La Boca pictures drawn by Maija Louekari give the kitchen a metropolitan feel and evoke a variety of exhilarating stories. The humorous magnets are like miniature works of art on the refrigerator door.
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Thailand-based Propaganda adds a humorous distinction to its creations. As the company name suggests, its out to influence the way ordinary people look at ordinary objects (the simple ones we may take for granted or fail to notice). That’s the concept behind this unique chopstick spoon that caught out eye at the fairs.

A charming, handmade crystal container that looks more like a cross between a kettle and a teacup, the Orrefors Martini pitcher is always a winner at parties—by virtue of its bulbous organic perfection. This inimitable martini pitcher is as plump as a piggy bank, but even if you fill it to the brim, it never seems to slosh over.

We’ve mentioned world-renowned chocolatier Jacques Torres before. Now the man has joined forces with Origins cosmetics to create chocolates for wellness. What a concept! Their new collection of Sensory Therapy chocolates are said to be a health conscious treat for body, mind and senses. There’s a chocolate bar for whatever ails you. Laurel Bay, Palmarosa and Cinnamon Bark brighten spirits; Mandarin, Lemon and Chamomile sweeten your sleep; Sweet Orange, Grapefruit and Juniper help you relax; Ginger, Black Pepper, Bay and Spruce rev up your energy; and Peppermint, Basil and Cardamom settle a full stomach. Sensory Therapy hot chocolate is also available to boost your overall well-being.

Karim Rashid’s sinuous 7 Hills fruitbowl takes us back to the designer’s penchant for uncluttered organic shapes. Rashid’s fruitbowl emulates the hilly landscape of Istanbul in an inverted sort of way—in case you’re not up on your trivia, Istanbul is known as the city on the seven hills. Made of white glazed porcelain, it’s a contraption designed for a modern sultana, as well as an exquisite concave terrain perfect for plopping down plump clusters of grapes.

The Mirza Teapot by Tsé & Tsé associées adds thoughtful flavor to afternoon tea. The rest of their French collection manages to dazzles as well. The white porcelain finish and elongated shape of this pot are a unique vision that deserves a set of super-cool teacups. If you’ve been following our tea-loving posts, you probably already have plenty in your collection.

Leave it to the French to “sexify” the average candy. Jou Jou by C. Quoi doubles the pleasure of a lollipop with a design that enables you to share the confection-on-a-stick in Lady and the Tramp fashion. Equal parts naughty and nice, it’s the perfect way to up the ante during a sensual evening for two. The sugar (candy apple or ginger flavored) lingers on your lips long after the confection has melted, making for a memorable kiss. The rest is up to you. XXX-Oh!

“Meltingly delicious” is the term used to describe this homemade spice bread, which is prepared according to a traditional recipe that calls for bits of crystallized ginger and oranges. The mere thought of it makes our taste buds tingle. Best of all, the sweet citrus flavors complement our pantry full of fragrant teas. Serve warm with a loving dollop of freshly whipped cream.

This was another real highlight of M&O. We all know what the plates are like at cocktail parties: cheap and plastic and ugly and not really good for any food at all. Well here’s news for you: IPI just launched Lux by Starck, a new line of party dishes, yes, still plastic, but nice and sturdy, with interesting surfaces, great colors and - here’s the really new bit - somebody actually thought about the usage. All the glasses or cups can be attached to the plates, so there is no need to do some tricky balancing act. And if you don’t want a plate? No problem, just get a snap on base and you are good to go! Now that’s smart thinking.
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These dainty little Parisian chocolates are as pretty and imaginative as they are tasty. Surprisingly, the colorful pictures on the face of each candy in this Little Gourmet Ballotin collection came about as a result of Richart’s 14th annual worldwide children’s design contest. The event invited kids to “draw something delicious in their favorite color.” A percentage of the sales benefit elementary school art programs through the Richart Emotion organization. Fourteen wining designs. Fourteen delicious flavors.