"All the Whos, down in Whoville, loved Christmas a lot, but the Grinch, who lived just north of Whoville, did not..." So begins one of the best-loved Christmas tales of all time. Now, let's just reshape that a tiny bit...

"All the cooks in the kitchen loved gadgets, a lot, but my son, who lives north of this city, did not..." - not until he grew to manhood and discovered the big, wide, wonderful world of kitchen toys. He immediately appropriated them as man tools. The blender, the indoor grill, the sandwich press, the corkscrews, the espresso maker, the wine bar, my chef's knives, all became his own particular domain - a domain which has expanded over time to subsume almost every kitchen gadget and toy known to man.

Christmas just isn't Christmas without at least one new "marvelous toy". His long-suffering wife just shakes her head and demands more cupboard space. This year, I'm shopping for a magic bullet blender. If I can find a two for one deal, his wife is doomed.

The first coffee grinder I ever owned was a little hand-held battery-operated beast that made almost as much noise as a full-sized wood chipper.

It was several steps up from the hand-grinder that my mother had so adored. I think she loved it because it had been brought from Holland just for her, and had a body of lovely blue and white Delft china.

It took a fairly strong arm to turn the crank at first, at least until the beans were all cracked, so it was not a tool that enticed you to use it.

Any of these fine grinders would do an excellent job of pulverizing your fresh, whole beans in short order,

For those of you who do have a yen to hand-grind your own beans, I offer these two beauties in hand-carved brass. Both are perfect for achieving an almost powder-fine grind.

Hand-made in Turkey from heavy-duty brass, these grinders have a very sturdy mechanism with a thick steel rod (3/8") running through it.

These grinders can also be used to grind fresh, black pepper, and are built to last for a very long time.

Now that your beans are ground, you will need the perfect pot to brew your coffee.

I have had a DeLonghi for years and am well pleased with it's durability and ease of use.

This Imusa pot, too comes highly recommended. It efficiently brews Espresso or cappuccino in minutes.

The stylish design is ideal for storing on your counter top.

With its steam tube for frothing, a removable filter for easy cleaning, and a convenient glass jar with pouring spout, handling this coffee maker is a snap

Add programmability to ease of use and the Cuisinart high standards for quality, and you have a real winner.

This pot features a large, 64 oz. reservoir, cup warming tray and separate frothing cup.

The only complaint I have with most pots is that often frothing cup that comes with them is too small.

The remedy for that is simple. Purchase another pitcher...and one of these sleek, durable, 20 oz. stainless steel pitchers will do admirably

Though not, strictly speaking, a tool or appliance, the coffee pod is, nevertheless, an essential

Most of the new Espresso makers accommodate the pods. Tamping the coffee is one of those problematic parts of the coffee ritual. Some people love it, and have the patience to master this art, but some, like me, have trouble achieving total consistency.

Pods are the perfect solution. Easy and fast - just pop one in to the adapter and pop out the used pod when you're done. My knid of coffee. Excellent and fast.

I am not a big wine drinker, but my daughter-in-law enjoys a nice vintage with dinner.

Not one to pass up the opportunity, my son was quick to source out yet another new toy - automatic wine bottle openers. This cordless Oster model will open up to 30 bottles before needing recharging. Designed to fit all traditional wine bottles, it features a built-in foil cutter.

As well, anyone who suffers from joint stiffness or arthritis can easily operate it thanks to the egonamically designed soft-grip handle.

I have seen this little wonder on TV and I can hardly wait to have one in my kitchen.

Of course, I am still looking for a two-for-one deal, but the price I can get online is almost as attractive, so I might just opt for the hassle-free shopping experience.

The great easy-clean features of this handy gadget make kitchen clean up a breeze, and the store and serve options, using the handy snap on lids for make-ahead meals and snacks is so convenient.

This top model also has a baby brother just for sandwiches.

Designed like a professional panini press, this model comes with non-stick grill plates, an instructions book with recipes and patented cleaning tool. The floating hinge adjusts to fit thicker sandwiches and paninis.

Perfect for grilled sandwiches and the thickest paninis, this press from Hamilton Beach is a ttrue workhorse among sandwich presses and grills.

The floating lid locks and swivels for the right fit, and to maintain constant pressure. As well, it will lock upright for the grilling of open-face sandwiches.

This super versatile press can be stored in an upright or horizontal position, fitting tidily into a cupboard or appliance drawer, to save space on your counter.

Who could resist these fabulous gems. These delightful reminders of a bygone era are available in a variety of styles and sizes from a miniature table top version to a full size free-standing model. I can smell the corn popping already - will you have butter on that, sir? Can I show you to your seat before the feature starts?

For the man who has almost everything, there's always room for a great wine cooler, or a dedicated beverage fridge.

One of these would fit nicely under your counter, leaving the preparation area clear for important things - like drink mixing, decanting the wine, making snacks for the big game...

I am hoping the kids will be able to come south for Christmas this year, but I am sure I can manage to cart all the goodies north with me, if it is my turn to travel. I might have to pick up another suitcase though, just to make sure everything arrives intact.

Hmmm, wonder if I can find a good deal online for some new luggage.