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I finished all my Christmas shopping at Costco for less than $200. Here are the best gifts I bought.

A composite image of three rows of Simple Modern cream-, purple-, and green-colored tumblers with handles and straws, and Green- and cream-colored Christmas-tree-shaped cookie jars on display at Costco.
Costco is my go-to place to buy presents for everyone on my Christmas list.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

  • I finished all my Christmas shopping at Costco for less than $200.
  • Some of the best gifts I found include the Simple Modern Trek tumblers and Dearfoams slippers.
  • Costco also had a great selection of discounted gift cards to local restaurants.

Costco is one of my favorite places to shop β€” so much so that I always dedicate one day a year to finishing my Christmas shopping at the big-box retailer.

From cozy flannels and slippers to kid's books and cookies, here are the best Christmas gifts I bought at Costco this year.

Simple Modern Trek tumblers are equal parts trendy and practical.
Three rows of Simple Modern cream-, purple-, and green-colored tumblers with handles and straws.
I found Simple Modern Trek tumblers in a few colors at my Costco.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

Tumblers have been super trendy this year, and these Simple Modern ones caught my eye as soon as I walked into Costco.

The 40-ounce cups can keep drinks either hot or cold for 24 hours, and the handle makes it easy to take them on the go.

I grabbed two for my cousins, and I may go back to get one for myself.

The Dearfoams slippers were too cozy to pass up.
Stacks of Dearfoams women's slippers in gray and black colors.
I think Dearfoams slippers can be a great gift for moms.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

When I came across pairs of ladies' Dearfoams slippers for $15 each, I knew I had to grab a pair for both my mom and mother-in-law.

The slippers, available at my Costco in gray or black, have an ultra-thick memory-foam insole and are perfect for anyone who works from home or doesn't like to walk around the house in shoes.

Avalanche thermal socks can be a great stocking stuffer.
Three displays of socks, with boxes of Avalanche Ultimate thermal socks in the middle.
Thermal socks seem like a good gift for those who work outside.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

My dad works outside, so I always like to get him a few things to keep him warm throughout the winter.

He's a big fan of hand and toe warmers, but I thought he might like these Avalanche thermal socks, which promise all-day warmth. I got a pack of three for $10.

Hammond's snowball cookies come in the cutest festive jar.
Green- and cream-colored Christmas-tree-shaped cookie jars on display at Costco.
The tree-shaped jars can easily be repurposed.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

If you're looking for a gift that's delicious and beautiful, I recommend looking for Hammond's snowball cookies, which come in a Christmas-tree-shaped jar at Costco.

I grabbed one for my aunt, but think this would also make a great gift for friends or coworkers.

At $17, I thought this was a great deal.

The Freedom Foundry shacket was a hit with my dad last year, so I grabbed another one.
Stacks of blue, gray, and maroon men's shackets on display at Costco.
My dad wears his first Freedom Foundry shacket often.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

Last Christmas, I got my dad a Freedom Foundry shacket that he still wears all the time. In fact, he loved the warm, plush shirt jacket so much that he dropped a not-so-subtle hint that he'd love another one this year.

I was super excited when I came across more colors of the shackets for only $20 each.

Costco has a great selection of discounted gift cards.
A display of gift cards at Costco, most prominently, packs of four $25 Bubbakoo's Burritos gift cards.
I try to buy most of my gift cards at Costco.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

Every year, I like to browse Costco's selection of gift cards, many of which are for local restaurants and chains. The best part is most gift cards sold here are worth more than what shoppers pay for them.

For example, I grabbed $100 worth of gift cards to Bubbakoo's Burritos for just $70. The pack I got came with four gift cards, which makes it easy to split this up for multiple people on my list.

My cousin's daughter is going to love the Bluey book-and-toy set.
A woman's hand holding a Bluey book.
Costco has a pretty decent selection of books and toys.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

I always struggle with what to get the little ones in my life β€” but I added this adorable Bluey book-and-toy set to my cart as soon as I saw it.

The book felt high-quality and features many of the show's characters. It also comes with 10 figurines and a play mat.

It seemed worth more than the $11 I paid for it, and I think it's perfect for my cousin's daughter.

Click to keep reading Costco diaries like this one.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I dined at Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen after years of watching the show. These 5 things surprised me most.

A table set with silverware, a black plate topped with a gray napkin with a white-embroidered Hell's Kitchen logo, and wine, water, and cocktail glasses.
I had dinner at Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen restaurant in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

  • I dined at Hell's Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay's restaurant based on the show of the same name.
  • As a longtime fan of the TV show, I loved how closely the restaurant resembled the show's set.
  • I also thought the prices were surprisingly reasonable considering the high quality of the food.

As a kid, I couldn't get enough of reality competition shows. I never missed an episode of "American Idol" or "So You Think You Can Dance" and loved the feel-good nature of the shows.

But when I got my first glimpse of a very different type of reality show β€” one where celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay shouted at contestants for overcooking scallops β€” I was hooked.

"Hell's Kitchen," which first premiered in the US on Fox in 2005 and is now in its 23rd season, follows chefs competing in various challenges in hopes of becoming a head chef at a restaurant.

It's since been nominated for five Emmys, and its star, Ramsay, even opened a chain of restaurants based on the show.

The restaurant has seven locations in places like Las Vegas, Miami, Washington, DC, and Lake Tahoe, though my husband and I had dinner at the one in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Here are five things that surprised me most about the experience.

I couldn't believe how much the restaurant resembled the show's set.
A busy restaurant with an open kitchen. The left half of the kitchen has red decor and the right half has blue decor.
The kitchen was visible from the dining area and had chefs broken up into red and blue "teams."

Stephanie Pitera Statile

When I walked into the restaurant, I was shocked by how familiar the main dining area looked. I felt as though I had stumbled onto the set of the show.

According to the restaurant's website, emulating the show was intentional. The kitchen, which was visible from the dining area, even had chefs broken up into red and blue "teams" β€” just like on the show.

The subtle theming was everywhere.
A man and a woman hold half-full Champagne glasses garnished with strawberries on pitchfork-themed toothpicks.
The show's signature pitchforks were even on our drinks.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

My husband and I ate at Hell's Kitchen as part of our anniversary celebration, so we were surprised with complimentary glasses of sparkling wine.

The glasses were topped with strawberries pierced with toothpicks shaped like pitchforks, a nod to the show's logo. The theming didn't stop there β€” the lighting fixtures hanging from the ceiling were also shaped like pitchforks.

My favorite details were the bathroom doors marked with pitchforks resembling a "W" for women and an "M" for men.

During my visit, the chefs in the kitchen seemed much happier than they do on TV.
A giant, golden Hell's Kitchen restaurant logo that features the letters "H" and "K" with a pitchfork in the middle.
Unlike on the show, we didn't hear any yelling inside the restaurant.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

It's no secret that a lot of screaming happens on the set of "Hell's Kitchen."

At the restaurant of the same name, however, I was pleased to see the chefs laughing and chatting with each other as they prepared our meals.

As fun as it is to see Ramsay shout on TV, I was happy not to hear yelling during our dinner.

The menu actually featured many of the show's signature dishes.
Yellow risotto on a white plate, topped with fennel, a lobster tail, and basil.
I thoroughly enjoyed the lobster risotto.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

When I think of "Hell's Kitchen," I immediately think of dishes like beef Wellington, scallops, and risotto. They're cooked often on the show and are some of Ramsay's signatures.

I was pleasantly surprised to find all these items and more on the restaurant's menu. And, yes, the risotto certainly lived up to the hype.

Considering the high quality of the meal, I thought the prices were surprisingly fair.
A black plate with three scallops sitting in a swirl of puree and topped with lardons, fennel, and chives, and a cast-iron skillet of meatballs topped with cheese, croutons, basil, and red sauce.
I thought our meal at Hell's Kitchen was a great value.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

When we first made a reservation at Hell's Kitchen, I expected our meal would be quite expensive.

After all, my husband and I can easily spend $50 on dinner at our local diner, and this is a TV-famous restaurant serving some high-class dishes.

However, we got three appetizers, an entrΓ©e, and a dessert cocktail for $216, including tax and tip. Considering the quality of our meal and the immersive atmosphere, I thought this price was surprisingly fair.

Read the original article on Business Insider

My husband and I had dinner at Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen. For $216, we thought the meal was an incredible value.

A giant, golden Hell's Kitchen restaurant logo that features the letters "H" and "K" with a pitchfork in the middle.
My husband and I ate at Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

  • My husband and I spent our first anniversary at Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen in Atlantic City.
  • The restaurant, based on the hit show of the same name, had a great atmosphere and delicious food.
  • We ordered some of Ramsay's signature dishes, including scallops, risotto, and beef Wellington.

I grew up watching "Hell's Kitchen," the Emmy-nominated cooking show where contestants compete for a head-chef position in a restaurant while being screamed at by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.

Although I'm not much of a cook myself, I often found myself shaking my head at the TV when chefs overcooked meals like risotto or scallops. So, when my husband suggested we spend our first anniversary at Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen restaurant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, I knew we'd be in for a great meal.

Ramsay opened the first Hell's Kitchen restaurant, inspired by the show of the same name, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in 2018. The chain has since expanded to seven locations in places like Miami, Lake Tahoe, and Washington, DC.

Here's what our experience at the Atlantic City location was like.

We arrived early and had drinks at the bar in the lobby.
Two drinks sitting on a bar: one with a yellow tint and one red. In front of the drinks is a small slip of paper that reads, "There is more smoke in this kitchen than in Snoop Dogg's tour bus."
We ordered two specialty cocktails from the bar.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

Hell's Kitchen is located inside the Caesars Atlantic City Hotel and Casino. We arrived at our reservation about 20 minutes early and checked in with the hosts, who told us they would text us when our table was ready.

To pass the time, we had drinks at the lobby bar, which featured a list of beer, wine, and specialty cocktails.

I chose the Fallen Angel ($19), which included a mix of gin, peach liqueur, watermelon juice, and lemon. The drink was slightly sweet but refreshing β€” and really aesthetically pleasing.

My husband ordered a drink called Notes From Gordon ($18), which was gin-based and featured green tea, almond-liqueur lemongrass, peach, and lemon.

The menu also promised a "message from Gordon" with our drinks, which came in the form of a rolled-up Union Jack flag attached to the side of the drink. When opened, it had a quote from the show, "There is more smoke in this kitchen than in Snoop Dogg's tour bus."

As fans of the show, the restaurant's layout looked familiar.
A busy restaurant with an open kitchen. The left half of the kitchen has red decor and the right half has blue decor.
The chefs seemed to be separated into two teams β€” red and blue.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

After getting a text that our table was ready, we closed our tab at the bar and headed to the host stand.

One of the hosts escorted us down a winding staircase and pointed out the wall displaying photos of all the show's winners.

The main dining area looked just like the set of the show. We could see the chefs β€” who were separated into the show's signature red and blue teams β€” cooking at the front of the restaurant. Luckily, they looked pretty happy and no one was getting yelled at.

Our waitress brought over complimentary glasses of sparkling wine for our anniversary.
A man and a woman hold half-full Champagne glasses garnished with strawberries on pitchfork-themed toothpicks.
The sparkling wine was a nice surprise.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

After ordering our appetizers, our server brought us two glasses of sparkling wine and wished us a happy anniversary.

Both glasses were garnished with strawberries pierced with pitchfork toothpicks β€” another nod to the show and restaurant theme.

We both thought this was a thoughtful touch that made the experience all the more personal.

The appetizers were incredible.
A black plate with three scallops sitting in a swirl of puree and topped with lardons, fennel, and chives, and a cast-iron skillet of meatballs topped with cheese, croutons, basil, and red sauce.
We ordered the pan-seared scallops and wagyu meatballs.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

We decided to order two appetizers β€” pan-seared scallops ($29) and wagyu meatballs ($24).

Scallops aren't typically my favorite, but given they're such a contentious menu item on the show, I knew I had to try them. Plus, my husband loves them, so I knew they wouldn't go to waste.

The scallops sat in a streak of pea purΓ©e and were topped with braised bacon lardons, pickled fennel, and chives. When I took a bite, the scallop immediately melted in my mouth.

When I asked my husband what he thought of them, he replied, "Absolutely perfect. No notes."

But, for me, the meatballs were the real star of the show. Served with tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese, and crispy basil, these meatballs were some of the best I've ever had β€” which is saying a lot since I grew up in an Italian family.

They were also served with polenta croutons, which were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

I decided to order another appetizer as my main course.
Yellow risotto on a white plate, topped with fennel, a lobster tail, and basil.
The lobster-risotto appetizer was a generous portion.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

When I found out we'd be dining at Hell's Kitchen, I looked up the menu and immediately locked in on the lobster risotto ($31). Risotto is one of my favorite meals to order when we go out to eat, so I was really excited to order it.

Although it was listed as an appetizer, I saw a woman next to me order it as her meal. The portion looked generous, and because I knew we were ordering a few starters to share, I decided to get it as my entrΓ©e.

The dish, which included a butter-poached lobster tail, braised fennel, lemon zest, and Parmesan, tasted incredible.

My husband enjoyed the beef Wellington β€” but this time, he had some notes.
A white plate with medium-rare beef Wellington, a potato puree, small root vegetables, and a leafy garnish.
My husband said the beef Wellington was cooked perfectly.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

Beef Wellington ($70) is another one of Ramsay's signature dishes, so I planned on trying a bite of my husband's meal when he ordered it. However, as someone who likes my steak cooked to a medium temperature, I took one look at the dish and knew it wasn't for me.

The beef, wrapped in a delicious-looking pastry, looked like it had been cooked to a rare temperature, much to my husband's delight.

He said it was tasty and cooked perfectly, but he found the pΓ’tΓ© inside a little too rich. He ended up removing some of it before fully digging in.

He also enjoyed the potato purΓ©e and glazed root vegetables that came on the side.

I was too full for dessert, but my husband ordered a cocktail.
A class cup filled with coffee and topped with whipped cream and a straw.
The English-toffee coffee also consisted of whiskey, toffee syrup, whipped cream, and toffee pieces.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

I almost always find room for dessert, but after enjoying my meal, I knew I was too full to eat another thing.

My husband, however, got the English-toffee coffee ($15), which consisted of whiskey, coffee, toffee syrup, whipped cream, and toffee pieces.

At $216, we thought our meal was a great value.
A yellow neon sign against red walls that reads, "Pressure is healthy and very few can handle it. Gordon Ramsay."
We'd definitely eat at Hell's Kitchen again.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

After tax and tip (and not including the drinks we paid for at the bar), our bill came to $216 for two appetizers, our meals, and a dessert cocktail.

Although we wouldn't typically spend this much on a night out, we thought the pricing was fair, considering the quality of the food. After all, we can typically spend up to $100 eating at chains like The Cheesecake Factory.

Overall, we had a great experience at Hell's Kitchen and definitely plan to return the next time we have something to celebrate.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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