Luxist

A girl can't have enough hobo bags, if you ask me, since they're so comfy and useful and can make such a fashion statement even in the winter months when you're not all that dressed up. This Python Ruffle Hobo by Uzca takes the standard brown leather hobo and gives it a subtle but solid upgrade in femininity with a series of over-sized leather ruffles, which manage to bring the whole thing up a notch while maintaining the traditional hobo bag's versatility and comfort. $2,250

From toast in the morning to sandwiches at lunch and freshly baked French and Italian loaves served at dinner, bread is a foundation of almost every meal these days. Storage is important if you don't plan to eat the bread immediately after it's baked, but not all breads can be stored the same way if you want to maintain optimal flavor and freshness.

Different breads have different shelf-lives, but as a general rule the more moisture a bread has in it the longer it will keep.

• 1-2 days French and Italian loaves
• 2-3 days White, Wheat, and Sourdough
• 3-5 days Rye breads

Bread Storage Basics:

• Breads with a hard, crispy crust should be stored in paper.
• Breads with a softer crust and more moisture should be kept in a plastic bag or other airtight container.
• All bread should be kept in a cool, dry place.
• Bread should never be kept in the refrigerator (actually makes it go stale faster)
• Bread should be allowed to sit in the open until completely cool or mold growth will be accelerated
• Bread can be frozen and will keep for several months. Just wrap tightly in plastic and freeze.

Whether you live alone and have trouble going through an entire bottle fast enough or find yourself with half bottles left behind after dinner parties or holiday gatherings, every wine drinker has been faced with the conundrum at one time or another of what to do with leftover, no-longer-drinkable wine.

The important thing to note is that although wine that's been opened for too long might not taste good for drinking anymore but that doesn't mean it's unsafe to ingest. You can certainly pour it out (many people do) but why not do some experimenting with it in the kitchen and try using it in some recipes or try your hand at making your own vinegar?

Ideas for using leftover wine:
- Add flavor and body to tomato-based sauces
- Deglaze pans after roasting meat
- Braise vegetables in it
- Cook it down for use as a sauce and glaze base
- Use it in fondue
- Use it as a marinade for beef, chicken, and fish
- Make your own vinegar by simply letting it sit or by following this recipe

Some argue that you should only cook with wine you would also be willing to drink, but much of what makes wine taste good originally gets lost in the cooking process anyway. It's really just about personal preference.

The word fondue comes from the French verb fondre, which means "to melt," and the practice actually originated in Switzerland as a way for both peasants and nobility alike to use up hardened cheese and/or stale bread. Nowadays there are fondue recipes for every course of a meal, from cheese to meat to chocolate, and hosting a fondue party has become a popular and easy way to have a classy social gathering. Fondue can be served as an appetizer, dessert, or even a full 3-course meal.

Cheese Fondue Traditionally cheese fondue is made with a blend of 2 or more cheeses, wine, and perhaps some spices or other seasonings. Offer an assortment of bread, vegetables, and fruit (granny smith apples pair surprisingly well with cheese) cut into bite-sized pieces for a first course, and maybe a light salad or broth-based soup if desired.

Communal Cooking is the center of the main course, along with seasonings and dipping sauces. Cubes of beef, chicken, shrimp, and seafood can be individually seasoned by your guests and cooked at the table (in a fondue mixture of butter, cooking oil, and seasonings) to suit their personal preferences. A variety of dipping sauces can provide even more flavor options, as well as plenty of fresh vegetables and bread for balance.

Chocolate Fondue As a final course anything goes when dipping into chocolate (the sky's the limit!) but one of the most popular choices is fresh strawberries or bananas. Other dipping choices for dessert include squares of cheesecake, brownies, angel food cake, and even marshmallows. Graham crackers and cookies make a nice option as well, along with possibly offering caramel or marshmallow-based dips.

Etiquette
Fondue is a communal experience and although traditionally all guests would eat from and then dip their forks repeatedly into the same pot, today's society dictates a different approach (unless of course you're all family and don't mind). Instead try having guests dip into the pot with the fondue fork and then use a separate fork to slide the bread, meat, or fruit onto a plate before eating it.

Finally, offer a variety of recipes, plenty of items to dip, and don't be afraid to experiment! Part of what makes fondue an interesting experience is the opportunity to blend, mix, and experiment with different flavors and flavor combinations.

The Kraken Black Spiced Rum is a newly launched product from Proximo Spirits that's named after the legendary tentacled sea beast and comes with the catch phrase "put a beast in your belly." The rum is distilled in Trinidad and Tobago with a secret blend of 13 spices, and inspired by the Kraken's legendary strength it weighs in at 94 proof and has a dark black color reminiscent of giant squid's ink. Marketed as both a smooth sipping rum and a mixer for use in drinks like "Kraken and Cola" and "Kraken Bomb," it should be available now at restaurants and retailers for $20-$30/bottle.

It's a question that's been tossed around for centuries, since the first cork was popped: How long does wine keep once it's been opened?

As with all things wine, it depends on many factors. Red wine, white wine, young wine, old wine, the list goes on. Oxidation is both a friend and an enemy. A freshly opened bottle often benefits from sitting open for a few minutes before serving in order to allow the oxygen to seep in and bring out the flavors and aromas in their full-bodied glory, but too much time exposed to the air and all those wonderful characteristics start to slowly turn unpleasant and eventually the wine will be dull, sour, and not nearly as fragrant. It's a slow process and it really comes down to personal taste, because no matter how long an opened bottle sits it won't become unsafe to drink -- just unpleasant.

The quick, very general answer on how long an opened bottle of wine keeps is 3 days. All wines will keep at least one day without changing for the worst, and many aged reds can last up to a week. Factors to keep in mind:

• The age of the wine The longer the wine was aged the longer it will retain its desirable characteristics after being opened. Young wine is more susceptible to the effects of oxidation.
• How much is left The fuller the bottle the longer the wine will last, due to less room for oxygen. Consider transferring leftovers into a smaller bottle
  
• Sugar and alcohol content Sugar and alcohol act as preservatives so dessert wines, ports, and sherries can keep much longer (up to a year in some cases).

When it doubt smell it and taste it. If you like it drink it! If you don't, either discard it or find another use for it. There are no hard and fast rules so make your own.

The Aurora Clutch with Labradorite by Raven Kauffman is one that you might not want to stash in the closet with all your other handbags between uses -- it's so pretty it could pull off a place on your dresser or vanity top like a piece of art. The clutch features a flying swallow pattern handcut into a grille of 18k gold-plated brass and labradorite. The grille is then set over a layer of Green Lady Amherst feathers for a wonderful contrast of textures. It has a detachable chain and flap closure, and measures 6 3/4" x 3 1/2" x 1 1/2". $2,290

There are literally hundreds of different kinds of cheese in the world, all with different characteristics, flavors, and origins. Many different factors determine how a cheese turns out but some of the most influential are what kind of milk is used (cow, sheep, or goat), how it's prepared, and how long the cheese is aged. As a general rule, the longer a cheese is aged the more aromatic and flavor-intense it is. Here's a guide to just a few of the world's most popular cheeses and what makes them unique.

Cheddar One of most widely used cheeses here in the States, cheddar cheese is made from cow's milk and was first 'born' in England in a little village called Cheddar. It comes in mild, medium, and sharp varieties and can be off-white to dark orange in color.

Blue Cheese is a white cheese with unique blue/black spots and veins in it that are the result of mold. Made from a combination of sheep, goat, and cow's milk, blue cheese has a both a strong smell and a very strong flavor -- for many it's an acquired taste.

Swiss Originating in Switzerland, Swiss cheese is unique for its 'eyes' which are the holes left by bubbles that form during the aging process. The larger the 'eyes' the more intense the flavor.

Feta originated in Greece and is made with a combination of sheep and goat's milk. It's a white, soft or semi-firm cheese that is aged for several months and has a mild to strong tangy flavor.

Asiago cheese hails from the Asiago High Plateau in Italy (at least originally) and has a full, nutty-flavor. It comes in two main varieties, Fresh Asiago made from whole milk and Asiago d' Allevo made from part-skim milk and aged much longer.

Brie is a soft, light white to yellow cheese with a thick, somewhat tasteless, edible rind. It originated in France and is traditionally made with raw milk, meaning true Brie is not available in the United States due to pasturization laws. Many pasteurized varieties are available, however, and are usually enjoyed sliced with fruit or bread.

Limburger Perhaps most famous for its "stinkiness," Limburger cheese originated in Belgium (before becoming popular in Germany) and gets its trademark odor from bacteria living in the rind. The cheese itself, made from cow's milk, has a mild tangy flavor and is often enjoyed with beer.

Have another cheese you'd like to know more about? This website has an easy-to-navigate alphabetical guide.

The Black Shagreen Clutch by Genevieve Jones is a little tame, a little understated, but a lot classy and a lot timeless (yes, I know that's not the best grammar). Designed during her travels to Thailand, stingray leather makes for the unique texture and the envelope styling is accentuated by the large whip-stitched leather medallion (with her unique logo design) that dangles off the point followed by a decorative leather tassel. The interior is surprisingly versatile divided into three separate compartments plus a small pocket. Lined in leather, $875.

Truffles are prized for their distinct flavor and scarcity, and have long been associated with fine dining and upper class society. There are as many as 70 varieties of truffles known around the world, each with their own unique set of characteristics and qualties.

Italian White Piedmont Truffle Found almost exclusively in the mountains and foothills of northern Italy and Yugoslavia, Italian white truffles are some of the most prized of all the truffle varieties and also usually the most expensive. They grow alongside Poplar, Beech, Hazelnut, and Oak trees and are light beige in color when fresh with a distinct peppery quality.

French Black Perigord Truffle Originating in the oak forests of the Perigord region of central and southwestern France, black truffles can now be found growing in Spain, Australia, and even the United States. Also on the list of the most valued truffles, they have a black or dark blue exterior when fresh and a pungent, earthy scent.

Oregon Truffles Available in white, brown, and black varieties (each with their own unique characteristics) they are found in the Pacific Northwest and are usually associated with stands of Douglas Fir trees. The Oregon Brown Truffle especially has a strong garlic odor.

Burgundy/Summer Truffle Originally from France, Italy, and Spain but now also found in Sweden and New Zealand, Summer Truffles are most abundant in the mid-summer months and have a light scent with a black or burgundy exterior and a much lighter interior.

Chinese Truffles are native to Southern China, have a fairly mild aroma, and are usually less expensive than other varieties.

Desert Truffles are also sometimes called 'lightning truffles' because of their fast growth habit after a rain. Found in Africa and the Middle East, they grow just under the sand after a thunderstorm alongside the roots of rock roses.