The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Museum Store offers the Drosselmeyer Nut Cracker ($40, available in black and red), designed by Joakim Norin and Erik von Schoultz, as the perfect host or hostess gift. Inspired by the toy maker from Tchaikovsky's ballet, this stylish and highly functional tool is the first to turn the often frustrating task of nut cracking into a simple, graceful maneuver. Revenue from sale of the nut cracker supports the Museum's exhibitions and educational programs. The Museum Store has two locations: at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third Street, and at the departure level in the SFO International Terminal.
For a more easily available nutcracker, the Oxo Good Grops has cushioned, nonslip handles and three surfaces for cracking shells Its shelling dish ensures that a nut won't shoot across the table when the handles are compressed, and the tool's solid zinc construction makes it durable.