web1_cucko.jpg

J.K. Rowling pens ‘The Cuckoo’s Calling’ as Robert Galbraith, produces quality mystery with solid character development

web1_Chris-Rosenberry-2.jpg

PGC deer section leader talks predators, antlers and more

<p>The culinary world has a lot to offer, which makes Christmas time special for those who take pleasure in the finer points of eating and drinking. Here is a list of gift items for the foodies and cocktail connoisseurs on your shopping list, featuring a few establishments right here in Northeastern Pennsylvania.</p><p><strong>Monthly themed clubs</strong></p><p>For the wine and cheese lover, visit <a href="http://www.monthlyclubs.com">www.monthlyclubs.com</a>. Starting at $34.95 per month, you can have two bottles of wine delivered to the home of your friend or loved one. You can also sign up for combination and custom plans. Adding the cheese of the month club starts at $34.95 per month as well, and you can select which months to have the gifts delivered.</p><p><strong>Red wines</strong></p><p>There is a lot out there for the discerning wine enthusiast, but here are two suggestions for fans of red wine. Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon is a highly-rated red yearly and can be found at Fine Wine &amp; Good Spirits for $54.99. For a more affordable bottle, pick up 7 Deadly Zins Zinfandel, normally $12.99 but is on sale this week for $10.99. Whatever your taste, <a href="http://www.finewineandgoodsprits.com">www.finewineandgoodsprits.com</a> has a good online selection.</p><p><strong>iGourmet</strong></p><p>Located in West Pittston, igourmet can provide a gift basket of culinary delights. From cheeses and cured meats to fine wines, international delicacies and chocolates from every place imaginable, <a href="http://www.igourmet.com/">www.igourmet.com</a> allows you to customize your gift basket and have it shipped to your residence of choice in a decorative basket with a personalized greeting. Baskets range from $79.99 to $159.99 with a create-your-own option for $19.99.</p><p><strong>White wines</strong></p><p>For white wine connoisseurs, Fine Wine &amp; Good Spirits carries the well-balanced Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio for $22.99 and, for a cheaper but just as tasty alternative, try Chateau St. Michelle dry Riesling, rated one of the top sips for your money by Wine Spectator several seasons ago, for only $10.99.</p><p><strong>Meats</strong></p><p>From gourmet burgers to filet mignon, Omaha Steaks has every delectable cut of beef the carnivore on your shopping list desires. Four 5-ounce filets will cost you $49.99, and will be shipped to the address of your choice, and four 10-ounce New York strip steaks cost $69.99. Visit <a href="http://www.omahasteaks.com/">www.omahasteaks.com</a> for the full list of available cuts, prices and specials, including combos for under $50.</p><p><strong>Whisky and spirits</strong></p><p>If whiskey is your drink of choice, FW &amp; GS has all your traditional American, Irish, Canadian and Scotch whiskeys. For those with a taste for scotch, Laphroaig 10-year-old single malt scotch is available in store for $49.99. An affordable, yet high-quality bourbon comes in the form of Eagle Rare, master crafted in the Kentucky bourbon style for $28.99.</p><p><strong>Groceries to your door</strong></p><p>Take grocery shopping out of the equation for the home chef on your list. At <a href="http://www.hellofresh.com/">www.hellofresh.com</a>, you can sign up your friend or loved one to have farm fresh ingredients delivered to his or her doorstep. You can purchase three meals per week for two people for $39 and a promotional offer will get you $30 off your first box. There are even recipes and cooking instructions for less experienced chefs.</p><p><strong>Beers and other brews</strong></p><p>Beer snobs have a new place to find quality brew with the opening of Sabatini&#8217;s Beer Bar &amp; Bottle Shop in Exeter. With hundreds of American micro and macro-brews and specialties from around the world, the beer lover in your life will be satisfied whether they prefer a traditional lager, an India pale ale or something from the Trappist tradition of Belgium. Prices vary by brand and quantity, but the draft selection can be viewed at <a href="http://www.sabatinis.com/#!grid/c1vno">http://www.sabatinis.com/#!grid/c1vno</a>. Visit the shop at 1901 Wyoming Ave. for the full bottle and can selection.</p><p><strong>Chocolates</strong></p><p>What would the holidays in Northeastern Pennsylvania be without Gertrude Hawk chocolates? With three locations in Wilkes-Barre, one in Kingston and one in Pittston, you can find all of your holiday favorites throughout the Wyoming Valley. Visit <a href="http://www.gertrudehawk.com/">www.gertrudehawk.com</a> for a full selection of assorted chocolates, Smidgens, non-chocolate confections and gift baskets. The site offers five varieties of chocolates for $40.</p><p><strong>The tools for the perfect drink</strong></p><p>Target has what you need for the cocktail aficionado in your life. Shakers come in a variety of styles on <a href="http://www.target.com">www.target.com</a>, and none are priced over $32. To accompany the new shaker, the site offers an array of cocktail glasses. A set of six Strauss double old-fashioned glasses costs $44.99 and a set of six Burma rocks glasses by 10 Strawberry Street costs $24.</p><p><strong>Caramel apple baskets</strong></p><p>For the caramel apple lover on your list, consider a Mrs. Prindable&#8217;s gourmet caramel apple basket. Holiday baskets start at $39.99 and the company&#8217;s website includes an array of assorted chocolates and non-chocolate confections. For a full selection of Mrs. Prindable&#8217;s treats, visit <a href="http://www.mrsprindables.com">www.mrsprindables.com</a>.</p><p><strong> Colored Margarita Salt</strong></p><p>Dell Cove Spice Co.&#8217;s Etsy shop has a variety of colored margarita salts to add flare to drinks at parties.</p><p>A variety pack of eight tins use sea salt with a hint of food coloring. Colors included in the kit are red, pink, orange, yellow, green, teal, blue and purple. Each tin holds approximately 3 ounces. The kit provides enough salt to rim 100 margaritas.</p><p>Cost: $24.95. Available at www.etsy.com.</p><p><strong>Gin and Tonic Gourmet Popcorn</strong></p><p>A tin of popcorn has perhaps become one of the most over-gifted items of the holidays &#8212; especially for the foodie in your life or the person from you choose for the office grab bag whom you don&#8217;t really know well. This item steps up the popcorn gifting game a notch or two by trading the tin for a dose of gin.</p><p>This product is made using 5 percent real gin and 5 percent real tonic. Oh, and it&#8217;s gluten free, too.</p><p>Cost: $10.59. Available at www.firebox.com.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_cheese.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Cheese from www.monthlyclubs.com </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_cheese.jpg</photo0><caption0>Cheese from www.monthlyclubs.com </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_chimney.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Chimney Rock cabernet sauvignon </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_chimney.jpg</photo1><caption1>Chimney Rock cabernet sauvignon </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_igourmet.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Gift basket from igourmet</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_igourmet.jpg</photo2><caption2>Gift basket from igourmet</caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_pinotgrigio.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Santa Margherita pinot grigio</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_pinotgrigio.jpg</photo3><caption3>Santa Margherita pinot grigio</caption3><photoCredit3></photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_omaha.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Omaha Steaks</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_omaha.jpg</photo4><caption4>Omaha Steaks</caption4><photoCredit4></photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_scotch.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Laphroaig single malt scotch whiskey, aged 10 years</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_scotch.jpg</photo5><caption5>Laphroaig single malt scotch whiskey, aged 10 years</caption5><photoCredit5></photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_hellofresh.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Box of food from Hello Fresh</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_hellofresh.jpg</photo6><caption6>Box of food from Hello Fresh</caption6><photoCredit6></photoCredit6></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_sabs.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">View of Sabatini's Beer Bar & Bottle Shop</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo7>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_sabs.jpg</photo7><caption7>View of Sabatini's Beer Bar & Bottle Shop</caption7><photoCredit7></photoCredit7></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_smidgens1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Gertrude Hawk chocolates</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo8>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_smidgens1.jpg</photo8><caption8>Gertrude Hawk chocolates</caption8><photoCredit8></photoCredit8></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_shaker.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Cocktail shaker available at Target</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo9>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_shaker.jpg</photo9><caption9>Cocktail shaker available at Target</caption9><photoCredit9></photoCredit9></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_prindables.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Basket from Mrs. Prindable's Gourmet Caramel Apples</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo10>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_prindables.jpg</photo10><caption10>Basket from Mrs. Prindable's Gourmet Caramel Apples</caption10><photoCredit10></photoCredit10></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_COLORED-SALT.jpg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo11>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_COLORED-SALT.jpg</photo11><caption11></caption11><photoCredit11></photoCredit11></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_GIN-TONIC.jpg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo12>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_GIN-TONIC.jpg</photo12><caption12></caption12><photoCredit12></photoCredit12></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Matt Mattei</p><p>mmattei@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Matt Mattei at 570-991-6651 or <a href="mailto:mmattei@www.timesleader.com">mmattei@www.timesleader.com</a></p></shirttailMeta></div>

Eat, drink and be merry in Northeastern Pennsylvania