Just ducky

June 6, 2007

If quail eggs are on one end of the size spectrum, duck eggs are on the other. About twice the size of medium chicken eggs, fresh duck eggs ( around $2 for four) are more than a novelty. Some people with chicken-egg allergies find they can include duck eggs in their diets (with a physician's approval). Ounce for ounce, they have more fat and cholesterol than chicken eggs, but there's good news, too. They're higher in omega-3 fatty acids, as well as protein, calcium, iron, and B vitamins. Bakers like them because their larger yolks add richness and the high protein content of the whites lends height to cakes and breads. Their intense eggy taste will remind you of the best eggs from free-range chickens, and there's none of the gamy taste associated with duck meat. In fact, they're all they're quacked up to be. Available at Savenor's Market, 160 Charles St., 617-723-6328; and 92 Kirkland St., Cambridge, 617-576-6328. -- DIANA BURRELL

That scoop of ice cream may be delectable with chocolate, caramel, or strawberry sauce, but a nutty alternative is Styrian pumpkin seed oil ($14.99 to $28.95 per bottle, ranging from 8.5 to 16 ounces ). An Austrian staple, the dark-green oil is used for salad dressings, drizzled on soups, and sprinkled on scrambled eggs . But the favorite use is to pour it sparingly on top of vanilla ice cream. Its taste and smell is reminiscent of roasted hazelnuts. While most toppings for frozen treats have limited uses, this one can be served with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Available at Formaggio Kitchen, 244 Huron Ave., Cambridge, 617-354-4750; South End Formaggio, 268 Shawmut Ave., 617-350-6996; and Cardullo's , 6 Brattle St., Cambridge, 617-491-8888 . -- KIM FOLEY MACKINNON

A giant strainer may be fine for washing heads of lettuce, but what if you want to rinse off a few strawberries, or a handful of fresh herbs? These 3 1/2-inch stainless steel mini colanders (about $9.95 each), have cut-out fruit patterns instead of holes. They go from mini to maxi, which is a 4-quart size. Fill the minis with fruit-flavored candies, or fresh herbs from your garden, and wrap them in a small plastic bag for a house gift. Available at Main Streets Market and Cafe, 42 Main St., Concord, 866-413-3981. -- DEBRA SAMUELS

Good to Go

Hot Off the Press Cafe & Bakery owner Erin Hart is so happy with her second sandwich shop in Central Square, she says she hates to leave it at the end of the day. The Newbury College grad opened the first store in the Charlestown Navy Yard in 2004, when pressed sandwiches were just taking hold here, she says. Last fall, she opened in Cambridge, and while she's doubled the size of the new space, expanded the menu, and ventured into catering, her sandwich theories remain the same. She's a fan of breakfast sandwiches like the Garden Start ($3.60), which features eggs, spinach, tomatoes, and goat cheese. But if a customer wants to change the components, Hart welcomes it. "People can have whatever they want," she says. "It's your sandwich." Hot Off the Press, 736 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-234-4450; and 39 1st Ave., Charlestown, 617-241-7999. -- LEIGH BELANGER