stories:
The Ten
10 Little Luxuries
Because small splurges can bring big happiness
By Roxanne Webber
1. Professional Knife Sharpening. Sharp knives make kitchen work more enjoyable and efficient. If you’re not a pro with a steel of your own, it only costs around $3 to $8 per knife (depending on the size of the blade) to have your set honed by an expert. Check Chowhound for reviews of different sharpeners in your area (you’ll want to go to someone reputable), and keep an eye out for mobile knife sharpeners at farmers’ markets.
2. Wild Mushrooms. It’s easy to balk at anything priced well over 10 bucks a pound, but you only need a few good wild mushrooms to add richness to a dish. Try throwing some black trumpets into a winter stew. Truffle salt is also a favorite around CHOW, and though it’s certainly pricey, it lasts a long time and elevates a simple omelet or roasted potatoes.
3. A Dessert Date. Skip the appetizers, entrées, cocktails, and wine and share dessert and some coffee with a friend. You’ll enjoy getting to go out without the full price tag. Chowhounds have plenty of suggestions for where to find the best dessert.
4. Flowers. Some nice blooms brighten up a table fast. Shop for a variety like Alstroemeria that will last a while, and trim the ends before you stick the flowers in a vase so you get more life from them. And don’t forget to periodically check the water level in the vase.
5. Booze. A good sipping whiskey (we’re on a Basil Hayden’s bourbon kick at the moment—it’s about $35) or an interesting Belgian beer always feels luxurious. If you’re enjoying time alone, a mini bottle of champagne is a nice way to treat yourself.
6. Hard Cheese. Spend extra for a really nice chunk of hard cheese like pecorino. Since you need to grate just a little over a salad or plate of pasta to enjoy it, it’ll last a while.
7. Chocolate. Around the CHOW office, chocolate is one of our favorite splurges. A high-end bar like Vosges’s Barcelona Bar (milk chocolate with sea salt and smoked almonds) is under 10 bucks. Another favorite: Lindt’s Intense Pear bar.
8. Dish Soap that Smells Nice. An aromatherapeutic brand of dish soap like Mrs. Meyer’s makes doing the dishes a little more pleasant. It costs a few dollars more than a grocery-store brand but smells a lot better. We like the lavender and rose geranium scents.
9. Olive Oil. High-quality olive oil tastes completely different than the cheap stuff. Save the high-end version for drizzling over salads and soups so you can get the most out of its flavor. Cook with a less expensive brand.
10. Tea. Really nice tea is relaxing and tastes good. Currently, we’re splurging on Rishi’s organic silver needle jasmine tea, Paromi’s Earl Grey Dolce, and Mariage Frères Wedding Imperial Tea Bags.
would love to read 10 things that ARE worth cutting back one
I often like to think about what tradeoffs I'd make to enjoy the food I love, especially when it's seasonal produce. Everything you've mentioned definitely seem like staples to me! Interestingly regarding what I'd cut back on - expensive wine. On the other hand, a bottle of artisan Hangar One or some other handmade spirit that's special (of course if you're not DIYing using one of your articles) would definitely be worth the bucks, to me anyway!
Speaking of cutting back on expensive wine, I highly suggest 'La Vieille Ferme'. $8.99 a bottle and my go-to staple.
I like nice-smelling soap, but not in the kitchen. Makes food taste....soapy!
1. You don't sharpen a knife with a steel! And I have to say, if you really want to save money (and have knives that are always sharp, on your schedule rather than the knife shop's), learn how to sharpen your own.
8. Trader Joe's dish soap comes in lovely scents like lavender and is much less expensive than Mrs. Meyer.
Buy one at a time and spend the extra money for good knives and learn how to keep them sharp. Don't compramize!
I think splurging on a hard cheese is a great idea. However, saying "pecorino" is like saying "beef." Pecorino only tells you it's a sheep's milk cheese. There are many types of pecorino cheese, and more than one are hard, grating style-- Pecorino Romano and Pecorino Sardo are two harder ones that immediately come to mind. Just ask your cheesemonger what they have and what they recommend.
I definitely like the knife sharpener in the home, the flowers, and the nice-smelling soap. I agree that all these things definitely make a difference.
Spend money on good products prepared at home. Good coffee, tea, spices, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, fresh vegetables, Lundberg rice mixtures...
Don't spend on fast food/fast drinks.
But a tall Americano "with room" (for half & half if you use cream) instead of a calorie-laden specialty drink is a lot easier on the wallet.