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player ready...The antidote to a single-digit-degree day? A steaming cup of cocoa or a whipped-cream-topped coffee delight. Of course, beautiful cups or plates will only make the treats more delicious. (Before filling them up with something ordinary, check out the Weekend Cook column inside.)
Look, ma, no handles
Just in from Down Under at Tabula Tua, 1015 W. Armitage Ave., are these chocolate or cafe au lait cups handmade by artisans from Mud Australia. Ear-less in the European fashion, these exquisitely fashioned cups come in two finishes. The French porcelain finish (rough on the outside and glazed with a glossy finish on the inside) comes in pistachio, safari (khaki) and duck (sky blue) colors at $28 each. The cups in the eggshell finish (satin matte on the outside and glazed inside) come in more intense violet or spruce colors ($25 each). For more information, call 773-525-3500.
Flowing off steam
These decorative accessories with a coffee motif will give a lift to any kitchen decor. Designed by Marco Fabiano for TamSan Home Designs, the porcelain plates ($40) are hand-painted with cups of steaming espresso, cappuccino and mocha coffee. The lidded three-piece canister set ($115) is made of wood and painted with similar designs. (The plates are for decorative use only and should not be put in the dishwasher; the canister set can be used if lined with a plastic bag.) All are available at The Ritz-Carlton hotel gift shop, 160 E. Pearson St., 312-573-5106 ; Homestyle Interiors, Naper West Shopping Center, 552 S. Illinois Highway 59, Naperville, 630-355-9023 ; and Dinner at Eight, 1167 Wilmette Ave., Wilmette, 847-251-8380.
For the multilingual
Warm up your winter day with a large serving of steaming cocoa in these oversized hot chocolate cups from Uncommon Goods. “Hot chocolate” appears to be written in chocolate syrup across the surface of the cups in French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and English for a tasteful language lesson that goes down as easily as the drink. The 12-ounce cups come in a set of four. To order, call 888-365-0056 or shop online (Item No. 12954) at www.uncommongoods.com.