Advertisement

Gifts inspired by Lent (or Mardi Gras): Gluttony

Share

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Lent, the Christian season of sacrifice and spiritual self-examination, is right around the corner -- preceded, of course by everyone’s favorite festival of indulgence, Mardi Gras! It seems like a good time to repent -- or indulge in -- your vices. Share the love with gifts inspired by the Seven Deadly Sins. We’ll give you our recommendations starting today and going right up through Mardi Gras on March 8.

First up:


Up to your elbows in mudpie? That would be sloth. Drooling over a soufflé? Lust! Fixated on your fellow diner’s lime ganache macaroon? Hello, envy! I mean, what could possibly be more sinful than a decadent dessert? And of course too much of a good thing can all add up to gluttony.

Advertisement

Here’s a sweet way to give inner vices one last fix before fasting season kicks in next week. The porcelain gold-edged dessert plates by D.L. & Co. ($250 for the set of seven at dlcompany.com) set the stage by calling out all Seven Deadly Sins in elegant script lettering. We suggest that hosts and hostesses serve up outrageous heapings of forbidden foods on them on Fat Tuesday. How perfect is the surprise tsk-tsk that comes as guests overindulge, only to unveil a pointed deadly sin on their platters? The plates come packaged in the brand’s signature black silk hat box fastened with a black satin ribbon -- so chic that no wrapping is required.

If you really want to hit the gift sweet spot, add an over-the-top treat, such as Magnolia Bakery’s new pistachio cake (from $32 at magnoliabakery.com, (323) 951-0636, in New York or Los Angeles) or a traditional King Cake decked out in the requisite gaudily colored frosting. But when you chow down, go slowly so you don’t swallow that tiny plastic baby trinket hidden inside the King Cake. If you do bite into it, it means you’re the designated provider of next year’s sweet treat.

-- Ingrid Schmidt

Wednesday’s installment: Envy

Advertisement