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K i t ch e n w a r e N e w s & H o u s e w a r e s R e v i e w S h o w D a i l y S a t u r d a y, M a r ch 5 , 2 0 1 6 6 GAIA GROUP USA LAUNCHES FIVE INNOVATIVE DINNERWARE LINES It's not unusual to see a hint of gold or silver on fine tableware, but at this year's International Home and Housewares Show, you'll see a glint of something dif- ferent. Gold, yes – but also brass, copper and even iron. Unexpected earthy metallic bling is the hallmark of Gaia Tablescapes™ Metallic Elements™, one of five collec- tions being unveiled by Gaia Group USA, an all-new tableware company founded and led by women. Named for the earth goddess of ancient Greece, the company seeks to bring consumers "the best of the earth." "We're not just making high-quality dinnerware," says Marie McGrath- Brown, President and General Manager of Gaia Group USA. "We're trying to encourage a healthier, happier lifestyle for people who love to enjoy life with family and friends." Gaia Tablescapes, the company's home-focused brand, features organic shapes and colors, as well as designs and finishes inspired by nature and patterns from around the world. "Our design approach has been to combine European quality with urban style and global motifs," McGrath- Brown says. "Gaia Tablescapes are designed to adapt to every occasion, from impromptu get-togethers with friends to playful par- ties and formal dinners." The company's initial offerings will include Metallic Elements, a trendy urban-style collection with organic metal accents; Bella Terra™, inspired by the farm-to-table aesthetic of California and French val- leys; Geo™, a playful mashup of color combinations and geometric patterns drawn from every continent; and Classic White™, a whiteware collection. The company is also launching with World of Mary Blair™, an exclusive licensed line inspired by the legendary Disney artist. Best known for her work as the designer of Disneyland ® attraction It's A Small World, Mary Blair also had a significant creative impact on the classic Disney ® features Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Cinderella. Gaia Tablescapes are specifi- cally designed by women for women and their families, which the company anticipates will add to their consumer appeal. "In addition to the distinction of being one of the few tabletop companies founded and run by women, Gaia understands the decision making process of the female," McGrath-Brown says. In keeping with its "better world" philosophy, a portion of proceeds from every sale will be donated by Gaia to a U.S.-based food charity. Visit Gaia Group USA in booth #2271. AUTHENTIC BELGIAN WAFFLE MAKER FROM CROQUADE Croquade™'s Belgian-made waffle maker has been a European favorite for more than 50 years. It is a very versatile addition to any kitchen. The 180 degree back and forth rotating feature ensures that the batter is evenly distributed and the results will be uniform. The tempera- ture gauge on the top of the machine allows for experimentation with texture so anyone can create a light, airy waffle or a crispy, crunchy one, whichever they prefer. A very distinctive feature of this waffle maker is that the waffle plates are easily interchangeable with a variety of eight different types of waffle plates, each with its own distinct shape and function. The waffle maker will come with the Belgium/Liège waffle plate installed. The additional plates that are available include a traditional American waffle plate, a heart-shaped waffle plate, an ice cream waffle cone plate, a Croque-Monsieur plate, a stuffed waffle plate and more. Each dishwasher-safe cast aluminum plate is produced with a non-stick coating that allows for the waffle to be removed effortlessly. A Belgian Success Story Croquade's first waffle maker was invented in 1958 and presented that same year at the World Exhibition in Brussels. This compact waffle maker, inspired by professional waffle makers, was a real revolution as people usually ate waffles in the street or at the fair. With this new product, every domestic kitchen could now have its own waffle maker. This specific device has been the best-selling waffle maker in the country since its launch. "Over a million of our 50-year-old waffle mak- ers have been sold on the Belgian market alone, which is roughly the size of New York City," explains Sébastien Frédérich and Gautier Rouyer, Croquade's Chief Executive Officers. A Worldwide Reference Since 1964 Belgium is a very small country, but its culinary diversity is incredible. As for waffles, every region, almost every city, has its very own recipe, which is passed from generation to generation and proud- ly shared with the rest of the world. Light and crispy or soft and heavy, there is a waffle for any taste. Maximilien Consael is known as the inventor of the first Brussels waffle, as he is the one who popularized it at the 1856 Brussels Fair, but Brussels waffles, that are light and crunchy, have become internation- ally renowned more than 100 years later, in 1964, at New York City's World's Fair. A couple from Brussels, Maurice and Rose Vermersch, managed to sell no less than 2,500 waf- fles a day at their tiny booth. They served their Brussels waffles with a splash of whipped cream and fresh strawberries under the name of "Bel- Gem Waffles." New-Yorkers and visi- tors enjoyed this new delight so much that they renamed it "Belgian Waffles." Since then, Belgium is renowned for the art of waffle making and one can enjoy Belgian waffles all around the world. Visit Croquade at booth #L13312. MODERN CLASSICS OVAL BAKER FROM EMILE HENRY This year, a kitchen must-have from Emile Henry is the new Modern Classics Oval Baker in Twilight, Rouge, Sugar, Leaves and Spring colors. It's sized for American recipes and is easy to carry. The oval dish is part of the new Modern Classics collection, an American inspired collection and the first significant launch of an Emile Henry collection since the original pie and lasagna dishes debuted in the early '90s. Modern Classics is a range of cook- ware and bakeware that has been on the drawing boards for many, many months. It is truly an American collection as the shapes, capacities and dimensions were developed with an eye toward American foods, style and recipes. All of the shapes have been designed from the ground up to attract the American consumer while preserving the intangible design elements and the per- formance properties of Emile Henry. Emile Henry ceramics have been handcrafted in France since 1850. Local Burgundy clay is blended with other ingredients for superior durability, then fired at over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and finally glazed by hand using natural materials. Emile Henry bakeware, ovenware and tableware are timeless and excep- tionally resilient. There are five new colors and eight original shapes to start. The company is still owned and operated by the Henry family. For more information, visit booth #S857. PICNIC TIME: SO MUCH MORE THAN PICNIC By Kevin Guy, General Manager, Picnic Time, Inc. Picnic Time continues to thrive in 2016 and prove it has so much more than pic- nic to offer. With the launch of several new and exciting items in categories such as craft beer accessories and stove-to- table serving stations, the company expects to broaden its appeal to new mar- ket segments and build on its Legacy brand within the housewares industry. Its traditional picnic sets have had a re-vamp, with some sophisticated new colors and prints and several new styles, including the Charleston picnic basket being introduced. This flagship willow basket includes top grain leather straps, porcelain plates, crystal wine goblets and a handmade American festival blanket. In addition, some popular items introduced last year have also seen upgraded options in 2016, such as the All-Terrain Adventure Wagon with waterproof liner and integrated tabletop available in May. Popular licensed items such the NFL Homegating serveware line were booming last year, and Picnic Time continues to add more great items with all NFL, NBA and MLB team marks available. In addition to Coca Cola, Harley-Davidson and Budweiser licensed items, Picnic Time recently added a wide variety of U.S. Army prod- ucts. These will also debut at the Housewares show. The company is proud to offer these attractive items and support The Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Program, which ben- efits the lives of soldiers, retirees and their families. Picnic Time is now expanding its distribution to Canada, Central and South America, Asia and Europe. It has recent- ly opened an office in the Netherlands and is seeking distribu- tors and represen- tatives worldwide to promote its brands. The company is gearing up for a record breaking 2016 with significant investment in personnel, facilities and inventory while staying true to its mis- sion of producing products that inspire people to spend quality time with family and friends. Visit Picnic Time at booth #S1220. For more information, go to www.picnic time.com, call 888.742.6429 or email info@picnictime.com.