One of My Favorite House Gifts

Pavel and Patty are two very cool people (despite the fact that they cheer for the Bears)! P&P are two of the people learning Open-C at Lauren's training class. This last week, they came over for drinks and dinner, as well as to meet the dogs. They also came bearing gifts.

A toaster and a very large Justin Bieber card which sings when you open it.

I got a downstairs toaster! And props to P&P...they know their toasters. They didn't bring one of those gaudy nouveaux four-slicers. They went with the two-slicer! Serious toast architects understand that while the four-slicer may be appealing on volume of toast, that the two-slicer produces a better overall consumption experience. The butter-melt is perfect on each slice (try that with a four-slicer...by the time you are buttering that last slice it has cooled to near frost-bite like temperature). And nobody wants to wait through the preparation of four slices before eating. That would be crazy. But, with the four-slicer, wait you will, because as a toast optimist there is always the hope of melted butter on even that last slice, and that hope is enough to keep on preparing through the last slice before even a morsel of the sweet nectar-like ambrosia of any toast is indulged upon.

Sleek, sophisticated and designed for excellent toast

This toaster has seven toast shade settings to "allow for customized toasting". Now, in my opinion, this is six more than is necessary, but it nice to have the option. The extra-wide and longer slots accommodate a variety of foods for toasting including bagels (there is also a bagel option button), texas toast, english muffins, and grilled cheese (just turn the toaster horizontally) without the friction rub that accompanies food toasted in a smaller slot.

There is also a cancel button which immediately shuts down the toasting cycle and elevates the food using the near perfect toast lift. This toaster even features a warm button, which the box claims, "warms without further toasting". This is a big waste on a two-slice toaster. Who isn't going to get to their second slice? Any person who would need a toast warmer on a two-slice toaster, is a person who needs all of their toasting privileges revoked. They probably also read Reader's Digest Condensed Books. Ugh. They should all be re-located to St. Paul.

The blurb on the box. I like "Toast just the way you LIKT it".

Now, no blog on such a divine food would be complete without a description or suggestion for an accompanying beverage. When serving toast, the pairing can be tricky. After all, are you topping the toast with jelly? honey? nutella? peanut butter? nothing? butter and salt? caramel sauce? Or is it the base of the perfect sandwich? (I won't even cover when idiots use toast as a side, that is just nonsense.)

P&P brought over what may be regarded by most toast experts to be the perfect pairing for toast. RumChata and Three Olives Loopy Vodka. Mix together and add (if desired) a dash of heavy cream. Wallah! (kiss thumb and forefinger) Perfection. Hints of Cinnamon Toast Crunch with a nose of Fruit Loops. Chateau d'Yquem my foot. This is heaven in a glass. It readies the palate for toast of any kind.