New member websites come online

Le Roux Kitchen of Portland ME; Portsmouth NH; and Martha's Vineyard has a new website.  Check it out here.

And here's the link to Faraday's Kitchen Store in Austin TX.  Both have online shopping adding "clicks" to their "bricks"

Fun with Food August’s National Food Holidays

August is the month for vacations and well, er….we missed passing along a few food holidays…so maybe you were on vaca and missed a few as well.  But the good news….you still have a few weeks to celebrate:

National Brownies At Brunch Month

National Catfish Month

National Panini Month

National Peach Month

National Sandwich Month

National Apple Week Is The Second Week

And, the rest of these daylong celebrations:

National Mustard Day: The First Saturday

August 1: National Raspberry Cream Pie Day

August 2: National Ice Cream Sandwich Day

August 3: National Watermelon Day

August 3: Grab Some Nuts Day

August 4: National Lasagna Day

August 5: National Waffle Day

August 5: National Oyster Day

August 6: National Root Beer Float Day

August 7: National Raspberries in Cream Day

August 8: National Zucchini Day

August 8: National Frozen Custard Day

August 9: National Rice Pudding Day

August 10: National Banana SplitDay

August 10: National S'mores Day

August 11: National Raspberry Tart Day

August 12: Julienne Fries Day

August 13: National Filet Mignon Day

August 14: National Creamsicle Day

August 15: Julia Child’s Birthday

August 15: Lemon Meringue Pie Day

August 16: Bratwurst Day

August 16: National Rum Day

August 17: National Vanilla Custard Day

August 18: National Soft Ice Cream Day

August 19: Potato Day

August 19: Hot & Spicy Food Day

August 20: Lemonade Day

August 20: National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day

August 21: National Pecan Torte Day

August 22: National Spumoni Day

August 22: Eat a Peach Day

August 23: National Sponge Cake Day

August 24: National Peach Pie Day

August 25: Whiskey Sour Day

August 26: National Cherry Popsicle Day

August 27: National Pots de Crème Day

August 27: Banana Lover's Day

August 28: National Cherry Turnover Day

August 29: More Herbs, Less Salt Day

August 29: Chop Suey Day

August 29: Lemon Juice Day

August 30: National Toasted Marshmallow Day

August 31: Eat Outside Day

August 31: National Trail Mix Day

Today is international beer day

The motto is "Because you need another excuse to drink beer."  So we'll be kicking back celebrating that food holiday and will post the August foodie holidays after our celebration....but encourage customers to buy beer glasses for their celebration

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