Who: Marmo Arredo
What We Noticed: There are plenty of high-end, fantasy-kitchen items at EuroCucina, and this was my favorite: An entire island by Italian marble fabricators Marmo Arredo, carved out of one solid piece of statuary marble. It is paired up with some manmade black countertop material for a dramatic black/white contrast. Impressive, and the very epitome of a luxury item. More photos below... More

Who: Hacker and Azule
What We Noticed: This red kitchen was one of the last things I saw at EuroCucina, and it stopped me in my tracks. It had modern lines, but was softened by the raised relief pattern on the drawers. And those tiles on the back wall — wow! I discovered they are from a cement (encaustic) tile company in the Netherlands. The kitchen is part of a new line from Hacker called 'Identity,' designed by Claudia Klein Zeggelink. Hard to express how beautiful this whole scene was in person. More photos below... More

You don't have to wait until Valentine's Day to surprise your sweetie with breakfast in bed, but maybe this sexy Battista tray from Italian design studio Mr. Less and Mrs. More will inspire you to make it a weekly indulgence. More

Question: what has the power to singlehandedly transform the look of your kitchen? Answer: Dramatic wallpaper, particularly if it's gorgeous and colorful botanical wallpaper by Josef Frank. More photos below:

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A few things we know for sure: European butter is more expensive than other store-bought butters. It also tastes incredible on a baguette and often has a deep yellow color and can be crumbly and dense. But do any of these things actually mean anything when you're baking? More

Holiday parties are in full swing and New Years Eve (gasp) isn't all that far away. So it's time to break out the champagne! But wait: does that mean it's also time to shell out the big bucks? More

Dishwashers are not among the most expensive of kitchen appliances (refrigerators seem to qualify for that honor) but they can still get very pricey, especially when you are looking at the high-end brands. Here's a look at some of the more expensive dishwasher brands, and we'd like to know: Do you think they are worth it? More

Pound cake with real vanilla beans, fondue drizzled with truffle oil, a pasta with slivers of Parma ham...It's such a treat to get to cook with the real deal, isn't it? This year why not give your favorite cook a few of these small luxuries - and ask for one or two yourself! More

Are good wineglasses worth the money? Does a good wineglass enhance the wine? Should you use different glassware for red, white and sparkling wines? Are all good wineglasses expensive?

In my opinion, the wineglass matters. However, as with wine itself, there are many opinions about wineglasses, and, as expected, a great deal of snobbery. From my experience tasting wine professionally for many years, here are a few of my thoughts on what really matters in a wineglass. More

See that succulent morsel, with browned and crispy skin? That's duck magret, and if offered the choice, I would probably choose it over a good steak. But when most Americans try to imagine a way to splurge just a bit on a special meal, steak is the first meat that comes to mind. A good steak is a wonderful thing, but I'm here to tell you: there are many other options for a really special dinner. More