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Baskets are among the oldest useful items made by man. People who lived thousands of years ago were probably just as skilled at making them as we are today. But what we put in those baskets can be very modern, very enticing and very generous. Just ask "Mrs. B." That's Susan Bortfeld, who, along with husband Bob, is the owner of Mrs. B's Baskets in Saratoga.
Since 1982, the Bortfelds have been creating gift baskets filled with coffee, tea, sweets, chocolates, crackers, nuts, cheese, dried fruits, risotto soups and dip mixes—and perhaps a bottle or two of fine wine or champagne. But the alcoholic beverages are going to have to wait a bit until the Bortfelds get settled into some new digs where they can be licensed to sell a variety of wines.
Presently, the couple is creating gift baskets out of their home in Saratoga, having given up a storefront they had for years in Cupertino. "The baskets fill the garage, and the food items are stacked in our laundry room," says Susan, who has been searching diligently for a 1,000-square-foot retail space in Los Gatos that can accommodate their basket business in conjunction with an antique business they have run for 24 years.
The baskets filled with seasonal items can also be seen mixed in with the antique furniture, pottery and glass at two co-op stores where the Bortfelds temporarily lease space. One is Briarwood on West San Carlos Street in San Jose; the other is the Antique Trove in the town of San Carlos. But the couple's immediate concern is to find the right Los Gatos location where they can bring it all together again.
Meanwhile, the pair is creating custom baskets at home for folks who feel flowers don't say it well enough. "It's much more personalized," Susan explains. "We can put in anything you want." That means something for the sweet tooth, the gourmet cook, the wine connoisseur and even a theatrical personality like Barry Manilow, who was sent one of the Bortfelds' bountiful baskets.
"We taste everything before we package it," Susan notes, explaining that they spend time to go beyond showy packaging at the fancy foods shows they attend. "We also write a wine newsletter," she adds, "so we have to know our wines." Baskets run from $28 to "hundreds of dollars," according to Susan, depending on the size and contents.
Good reasons for sending a basket of goodies to someone special are as varied as the reasons for greeting cards: get-well wishes, anniversary and birthday congratulations, thank yous, service awards or just to say hello.
"Frequently employers will send a thank you basket to the office for their employees to share," Susan says. They also can fill a treat basket for New Year's Eve with sparkling cider to top it off.
The Bortfelds met when they worked together at an electronics firm in San Jose. She, a native of Southern California, was the head of inside sales, and he, a native of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, was the head of operations. He has three married sons with children.
Pictures of various gift basket possibilities can be seen on the Bortfelds' website, www.hometown.aol.com/mrsbsbskts.
Happy New Year!
Mrs. B's Baskets is located in Saratoga. Office hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call 408.867.2770 or email mrsbsbskts@aol.com.
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Photograph by George Sakkestad