Look who's on the cover!

When we travel around to different kitchen stores, the colorful displays of Le Creuset Cookware always catch our eye. 

In a great store in California 

...in this kitchenware store in France's Loire Valley.  

This spring we visited the Le Creuset Signature Store in Charlston, SC (their US headquarters) which was chockoblock full of everything Le Creuset, including dinnerware

Could this be coming soon to your store? 

For the recent Charleston Wine & Food Festival, Le Creuset created a limited edition set of 3 mini dutch ovens in Gullah Blue, named for the language and culture of  the South Carolina Low Country's first inhabitants.   

Lovely color, yes? 

Le Creuset's newest color, Fennel is featured on the cover of the HTI Late Summer Flyer.  It's a perfect choice too, as Fennel reflects the season--a just picked garden fresh hue that adds a splash of color to the kitchen--and to the cover of the flyer.

July Foodie Holidays

We shouldn’t be surprised that July celebrates grilling, barbecue and ice cream should we? But National Gummy Worm Day? Well, guess it has to be sometime. Enjoy the month and all these great food holidays:

• National Ice Cream Month
• National Baked Bean Month
• National Bison Month
• National Culinary Arts Month
• National Grilling Month
• National Hot Dog Month
• National July Blueberries Month

Each day you can celebrate:
July 1: Creative Ice Cream Flavor Day
July 1: National Gingersnap Day
July 2: National Anisette Day
July 3: National Chocolate Wafer Day
July 3: Eat Beans Day
July 4: National Barbecued Spareribs Day
July 5: National Apple Turnover Day
July 6: National Fried Chicken Day

July 7: National Strawberry Sundae Day
July 8: National Chocolate with Almonds Day
July 9: National Sugar Cookie Day
July 10: Pick Blueberries Day
July 10: National Piña Colada Day
July 11: National Blueberry Muffin Day
July 12: National Pecan Pie Day
July 13: National French Fries Day
July 13: Beans ‘n’ Franks Day
July 14: Bastille Day
July 14: Macaroni Day
July 14: National Grand Marnier Day
July 15: National Gummy Worm Day
July 15: National Tapioca Pudding Day
July 16: National Corn Fritters Day
July 17: National Peach Ice Cream Day
July 18: National Caviar Day
July 19: National Daiquiri Day
July 20: National Lollipop Day
July 20: National Hot Dog Day
July 20: National Ice Cream Soda Day
July 20: Fortune Cookie Day
July 21: National Ice Cream Day
July 21: National Junk Food Day
July 22: National Penuche Fudge Day
July 23: National Vanilla Ice Cream Day
July 24: National Tequila Day
July 25: National Hot Fudge Sundae Day
July 26: National Coffee Milkshake Day
July 27: National Crème Brûlée Day
July 27: National Scotch Day
July 28: National Milk Chocolate Day
July 29: Cheese Sacrifice Purchase Day
July 29: National Lasagna Day
July 30: National Cheesecake Day
July 31: National Raspberry Cake Day
July 31: Cotton Candy Day
July 31: Jump for Jelly Beans Day

It’s finally summer—let’s celebrate with a month of foodie holidays

June is a month long celebration for:

National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month
National Candy Month
National Dairy Month
National Iced Tea Month
National Papaya Month
National Seafood Month
National Turkey Lover’s Month




And every day we can celebrate:
June 1: National Hazelnut Cake Day
June 2: National Rocky Road Ice Cream Day
June 3: National Egg Day
June 4: National Cheese Day
June 4: National Frozen Yogurt Day
June 4: National Cognac Day
June 5: National Gingerbread Day
June 6: National Applesauce Cake Day
June 7: National Chocolate Ice Cream Day
June 8: Jelly-Filled Doughnut Day
June 8: World Oceans Day (Sustainable Seafood)
June 9: National Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie Day
June 10: Herbs & Spices Day
June 10: National Iced Tea Day
June 10: National Black Cow* Day (that’s a root beer float for the uninitiated)
June 11: National German Chocolate Cake Day
June 12: International Cachaça Day
June 12: National Peanut Butter Cookie Day
June 13: Kitchen Klutzes of America Day
June 14: National Strawberry Shortcake Day
June 15: National Lobster Day
June 16: National Fudge Day
June 17: Eat All Your Veggies Day
June 17: National Apple Strudel Day
June 18: National Cherry Tart Day
June 18: International Picnic Day
June 19: National Dry Martini Day
June 20: National Vanilla Milkshake Day
June 21: National Peaches and Cream Day
June 22: National Chocolate Éclair Day
June 22: National Onion Rings Day
June 23: National Pecan Sandy Day
June 24: National Pralines Day
June 25: National Strawberry Parfait Day
June 26: National Chocolate Pudding Day
June 27: National Indian Pudding Day
June 27: National Orange Blossom Day
June 28: National Tapioca Day
June 29: National Almond Buttercrunch Day
June 30: National Ice Cream Soda Day

Displaying soft-wear

Towels, aprons and other linens give instant softness to store displays and add a pop of color too. Here is a selection of merchandising ideas from different kitchenware stores we have visited--from hanging towels on a clothesline overhead to a basket of towels discreetly placed by the cookbook collection

May Food Holidays

It’s the merry month of May and there are food celebrations every day

In May we celebrate:
• National Asparagus Month
• National Barbecue Month
• National Chocolate Custard Month
• National Egg Month
• National Gazpacho Aficionado Month
• National Hamburger Month
• National Mediterranean Diet Month
• National Salad Month
• National Salsa Month
• National Strawberry Month

Weeklong celebrations this month include:
National Raisin Week and National Herb Week are the first week of the month
National Hamburger Week the second week of the month
International Pickles Week the third week
National Frozen Yogurt Week and American Beer Week fall in the fourth week.

Why are we not surprised that National Barbecue Day and National Hamburger/Cheeseburger Day both fall on Memorial Day Monday—but plan to celebrate these days this month too:
May 1: National Chocolate Parfait Day
May 2: National Truffles Day
May 3: National Raspberry Tart Day
May 4: National Homebrew Day
May 4: National Orange Juice Day
May 4: National Candied Orange Peel Day
May 5: National Chocolate Custard Day
May 5: Cinco de Mayo
May 5: National Hoagie Day
May 6: National Crêpes Suzette Day
May 6: International No Diet Day
May 7: National Roast Leg of Lamb Day
May 8 National Coconut Cream Pie Day
May 8: National Empanada Day
May 8: Have A Coke Day
May 9: National Butterscotch Brownie Day
May 10: National Shrimp Day
May 11: Eat What You Want Day
May 12: National Nutty Fudge Day
May 13 National Apple Pie Day
May 13: National Fruit Cocktail Day
May 14: National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
May 15: National Chocolate Chip Day
May 16: National Coquilles St. Jacques Day
May 17: National Cherry Cobbler Day
May 18: National Cheese Soufflé Day
May 19: National Devil’s Food Cake Day
May 20: National Quiche Lorraine Day
May 20: Pick Strawberries Day
May 21: National Strawberries and Cream Day
May 22: National Vanilla Pudding Day
May 23: National Taffy Day
May 24: National Escargot Day
May 25: National Brown-Bag-It Day
May 25: National Wine Day
May 26: National Blueberry Cheesecake Day
May 26: National Cherry Dessert Day
May 27: National Grape Popsicle Day
May 28: National Brisket Day
May 29: National Coq Au Vin Day
May 30: National Mint Julep Day
May 31: National Macaroon Day

Perfect pairings

Like salt and pepper, peanut butter and jelly, or birds of a feather…some things just go together. That’s why kitchenware retailers merchandise pairs of items or themes in their stores to give customers ideas. Here are a few examples we have found. What pairings are featured in your store?

This California Store put together a food processor with the Pourfect Bowl sets.

And here's a Georgia Kitchenware Store with a pairing of everything needed to make everyone's favorite pair of foods--pizza and tacos.

April Food Holidays

Easter Is coming this month but why wait when there is a food holidays every day to celebrate!

National Florida Tomato Month
National Garlic Month
National Grilled Cheese Month
National Soft Pretzel Month
National Soy Foods Month

Here are some weeklong celebrations:
National Bake Week Begins First Monday
National Egg Salad Week Second Week
National Hot Cross Bun Day Good Friday
National Baked Ham with Pineapple Day Easter

And the daily rundown:
April 1: National Sourdough Bread Day
April 2: National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
April 3: National Chocolate Mousse Day
April 4: National Cordon Bleu Day
April 5: National Caramel Day
April 5: National Raisin and Spice Bar Day
April 6: National Caramel Popcorn Day
April 7: Coffee Cake Day
April 8: National Empanada Day
April 9: Chinese Almond Cookie Day
April 10: National Cinnamon Crescent (Croissant) Day
April 11: National Cheese Fondue Day
April 12: Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
April 12: National Licorice Day
April 13: National Peach Cobbler Day
April 14: National Pecan Day
April 15: National Glazed Spiral Ham Day

April 16: National Eggs Benedict Day
April 16: Day of the Mushroom
April 17: National Cheeseball Day
April 17: Healthy Kids Day
April 18: Animal Crackers Birthday
April 19: Garlic Day
April 19: National Amaretto Day
April 20: National Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day
April 20: Lima Bean Respect Day
April 21: Chocolate-Covered Cashew Truffle Day
April 22: April 22 is Earth Day
April 22: National Jelly Bean Day
April 23: National Cherry Cheesecake Day
April 23: National Picnic Day
April 24: National Pigs-In-A-Blanket Day
April 25: National Zucchini Bread Day
April 26: National Pretzel Day
April 27: National Prime Rib Day
April 28: National Blueberry Pie Day
April 29: National Shrimp Scampi Day
April 30: National Raisin Day