This complete set of china, flatware and crystal from Villeroy & Boch, is just perfect for the special table setting at Christmas.
Located in the Liguanea Post Mall just beside the Courts furniture store, is the one-of-a-kind European culinary lifestyle store, Ambience. Careful attention was paid to detail in this store that stocks high-end German-crafted china, ceramic and stainless steel table and cookware of the best quality.
Store owner, Alexandra Consten is proud of the fact that it's the first of its kind in the Caribbean. The range of items is predominantly from the world's famous Villeroy & Boch. The store is also a one-stop shop for German foods, wines, breads and condiments and customers can come in for consultations on their bridal or other registries. After all, which bride wouldn't want these items in her new home?
Ambience opened on December 6, 2008 and has established a good customer base in the short period of time. The customers are a mix of Jamaicans, Germans, expatriates, members of the diplomatic community and persons planning wedding parties and more.
New shipment
"We are expecting a new kitchenware shipment (Villeroy & Boch, WMF, Wüsthof knives, Cilio, Kuechenprofi, AdHoc and our latest addition: Waechtersberg for colourful and very affordable china), from Germany for Christmas in November and will have a sale before to create some space for it," Consten told Food.
She said they would also be bringing new chocolate, Hachez and Leysieffer - all natural cocoa, with no artificial fats added and marzipan (Niederegger) for the Christmas season as well as the popular German Christstollen, all air freighted for freshness.
"We received a food shipment just recently from Hengstenberg, Schwartau and Mestemacher with our popular German bread, jams, preserves, pickles, muesli, granola bars, mustard and horseradish," she added.
Future plans include events, and maybe even a cooking show at the store.
What's available
The bakeware features an exclusive ceramicplus technology that makes it easier than other brands to clean by simply using a sponge and dishwashing liquid and baked-on foods come off easily without soaking. Abrasive cleaning agents are not required. The line is also dishwasher and microwave safe. But, the manufacturers warn against temperatures exceeding 428 degrees Fahrenheit and against stacking the pieces together.
French Garden patterns
Every piece in the French Garden line of tableware screams, "take me home." From teapot to tureen and from platter to pickle dish, the unusual shapes and beautiful designs will be sure talking points at any table.
The Helianthos line features some modern, edgy shapes and patterns. It's like eating from works of art. Ask about the fruit traverse and the pasta traverse or the deep plate/bowl and start thinking about exciting ways to entertain your guests. All the pieces are sold individually so that owners can mix and match them.
The New Wave Premium line of bone china come in unusual shapes and designs and the gold plated edges add extra sophistication.
Wüsthof knives are a must-have for any self-respecting cook, they carry an almost-lifelong warranty and will stand up to repeated sharpening.
Ambience - European Culinary Lifestyle & House of Villeroy & Boch is located in the Liguanea Post Mall, Shop 17, 115 Hope Road, Kingston 6, St Andrew
Jamaica, W.I.
Tel.: 876-798 8799
Fax: 876-927 7783
New Wave Premium bone china is plated with gold.
Left: Citrus limon. Right: Villeroy & Boch flower patterned set
Alexandra Consten with a bottle of the Affentaler wine from Germany. - photos by Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer
Knives and other utensils for the kitchen can last a lifetime with proper care.