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Clever Pantry 1 2 | t h e c l e v e r r o o t The arrival of the holidays likely means plenty of relatives will soon be lingering in your home, where they'll argue incessantly over who should do the dishes. Whether you pride yourself on being the consummate host or like to keep things more casual, I've picked some of my favorite things to make the season a little more fun for you and yours. by Jesse Hom-Dawson Entertaining During the Holidays in Style tinyB Chocolate Pumpkin and pecan pies seem to dominate the holiday dessert market, but for those looking for something a little lighter, try tinyB chocolate. The San Francisco–based com- pany specializes in brigadeiros, bite-sized Brazilian desserts similar to bonbons, in flavors like passion fruit, pineapple, cayenne pepper, and Brazilian coffee. Packed in fashionable blue boxes, these treats are tailormade for gifting. (They're also a great antidote to your Aunt Marge's withering stare when she asks if you "really need another piece of pie, dear.") tinybchocolate.com Flying Embers Kombucha If Kombucha seems like an odd addition to the holiday table, you probably don't live in Los Angeles. For those looking to vamp up their bar, Flying Embers Kombucha, founded by KeVita co-founder Bill Moses, makes a surpris- ingly tasty addition to fall and winter cocktails. The company's low-ABV Kombucha 4.5% line features three flavors: Ginger & Oak, Ancient Berry, and Lemon Orchard, all of which are more than capable of standing on their own or melding into a holiday punch. Maybe you can convince Uncle Bob to swap out his Miller Light for some- thing a little more festive this year. flyingembers.com Root7 Geo Glasses and G&Tea Set Speaking of cocktails, the glassware you use can be just as important as the drink itself. You don't want your family to get stuck sipping from your leftover Solo cups, so make sure to have some glasses on hand that do jus- tice to the beverages you're serving. The Geo Glasses from U.K. company Root7 make fun and eye-catching vessels for the holidays, with an angular shape and gold edges that complement win- ter garnishes like cranberries or a cinnamon stick. With iridescent cups trimmed in gold accompa- nying a charming teapot, the G&Tea set is built for serving hot toddies in style and also makes an excellent gift. Stow your mismatched pints and plastic Champagne glasses in favor of this fancy glassware: Hopefully your mom will be so impressed that she'll stop asking you when she's finally getting some grandchildren. root7.com (available in the U.S. on Amazon) BAO Food and Drink While I love a good side dish, I'm not a huge fan of cranberry sauce. For those of us who like to think outside the box when it comes to holiday cooking, BAO has things covered with fermented goodies like spicy slaw, giardiniera, sour pickle relish, or red beets to try with your usual glazed ham and mashed potatoes. BAO also makes BAO B Que sauce and four types of fermented hot sauce, so serve some during your Thanksgiving meal or bring a bottle to spice up Cousin Anne's dry-as-the-desert turkey. Condiment crisis averted! baofoodanddrink.com ■cr

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