Shopping for fellow foodies is difficult for many of us because we end up wanting to buy ourselves everything we find. In those moments of weakness, it's important to remind ourselves that the joy comes from giving. If you need some help in what will bring joy, here are 19 gourmand-level gifts that are sure to please home cooks, spirits enthusiasts and gastronauts.
Caviar Party Set
The Caviar Co., From $150Instantly become the most popular person at the party by bringing this sumptuous set in an insulated mini tote. It includes a 250 gram tin of the sustainably farmed caviar of your choice (a delicate Kaluga Hybrid that starts briny and ends buttery is a strong option), blini, Bellwether Farms crème fraîche and a pair of caviar spoons. As you’re eating, keep one hand free to accept all the high fives people will be giving you.
One of Everything Bread Box
Manresa Bread, From $60Getting this delivery feels like manna from heaven has been dropped on your doorstep. The carb bonanza features half a dozen freshly baked loaves, such as toothsome levain, hearty whole wheat and soft-but-resilient Pullman, which is perfect for making sandwiches with holiday dinner leftovers.
Bread Knife
Industrial Revolution, $60Intensely sharp with an artfully designed angled handle, the stainless-steel blade cuts bread like butter. A great option for aspiring bakers or parents who are constantly churning out sandwiches for their kid’s lunches.
Professional 6-Quart Stand Mixer
KitchenAid, $500This is ideal for the passionate cook you want to spoil in a big way. Available in a variety of colors, including a festive red, the plus-sized workhouse has a 6-quart bowl and a variety of attachments so any cook can knock out batch of holiday cookies, whip up ice cream, craft homemade pasta and stuff sausage. Just make sure they promise to share whatever they make.
Taste of New York
Katz’s Delicatessen, $150Want a true taste of the Big Apple? The Manhattan-sized meal kit from the iconic deli features everything you need to make an impressive dinner with corned beef and pastrami sandwiches and frankfurters, as well as half a dozen bagels to enjoy for breakfast the next morning.
The Recipe Cookbook
Amazon, $40Acclaimed chef-turned-author Josh Emett had a brilliant idea: collect together the most iconic recipes from the most famous chefs in a single cookbook. The epic tome includes David Chang’s ramen, Jacques Pépin’s ratatouille, Dominique Ansel’s kouign-amanns and hundreds more dishes that will delight passionate home cooks who love a challenge.
Chocolate Christmas Ornament
Garcia Nevett, $17Though they’re beautiful enough to hang on the tree, these hand painted decorations shouldn’t be treated as trimming. The chocolate globes are s’mores-y sensations, concealing cores of marshmallow and graham crackers.
Flavored Artisan Butters
Bennett’s Butter, $35These next-next level butters bring a blast of flavor when added to meat marinades, melted atop popcorn or simply slathered on a slice of toast. The stellar six-pack includes savory options—like umami-rich mushroom and aromatic garlic and herb—alongside sweet selections, such as cinnamon brown sugar.
Festive Pies Tea Towel Set
Belle & Union, $42Here’s how you politely hint your loved one should bring a pie to your next holiday dinner. The tasty trio of tea towels showcases the recipes and ingredients for three festive classics: apple, pumpkin and pecan.
Countertop Artisan Citrus Juicer
Verve Culture, $150Take your morning OJ routine up a couple of notches. Crafted from recycled aluminum and modeled after those used in markets throughout Mexico, this eye-catching gastro gadget is equal parts conversation piece and master juicer.
Giant Sticky Buns
Flour Bakery via Goldbelly, $49Not everyone wants to bake on Christmas morning, but everyone wants to wake up to a special treat. Gloriously gooey and smothered in chopped pecans, these brioche-based swirled pastries are a quick-to-heat joyful sugar rush that will help kick the festivities off on a sweet note.
Cashew Coconut Brittle
Hilliards’ Chocolates, $8.95For the sweetest sweet tooth on your list, this uber crunchy brittle speckled with generous cashew chunks and finished with a snowfall of grated coconut adds a tropical twist to a traditional treat.
Watercolor Calendar
Marcella Kriebel, $24Inspired by chef-humanitarian José Andrés’s quote “Build longer tables not higher walls,” this poignant calendar is a reminder of the power of hospitality and empathy. Bonus: profits will be donated to World Central Kitchen, Andrés’s organization that provides meals to those in need after disasters.
Hillrock Estate Solera Aged Bourbon
Budget Bottle, $100Produced using the solera method, this award-winning bourbon finishes its aging cycle in 20-year-old Oloroso sherry casks. The super smooth sipper ends up packed with notes of candied raisins, piloncillo and rich vanilla.
Octopus Tentacle Chopstick Rest
Artifaqt, $46Ideal for the seafood lover who thinks they have everything. Designed in collaboration with Eric Ripert for Le Bernardin in New York City, the stainless-steel chopstick rest is as practical as it is alluring.
Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookies
Willa Jean via Goldbelly, $59Boasting three kinds of chocolate and speckled with sea salt, these just may be the best chocolate chip cookies ever. Pop these cookies into the toaster oven to soften them up and highlight their rich caramel notes.
Smoked & Aged Surryano Ham
Edwards Virginia Smokehouse, $130Dry cured, hickory-smoked and aged for more than 400 days, the Serrano-inspired ham gets its name from the smokehouse’s hometown of Surry, Virginia. The flavor is a winning combination of savory, smoky and sweet, making it perfect to showcase on a charcuterie board, slipped inside a biscuit or draped atop a pizza.
Spirits of the World Advent Calendar
Flaviar, $250Toast every day in the countdown to Christmas. Each doorway reveals a different spirit—from mezcal and bourbon to gin and vodka. Suddenly, dealing with the stress of last-minute shopping trips and a visit from the in-laws just got a whole lot easier.
Goat Milk Gelato
Honey Creek Creamery, $14Though they have far less fat than its cow’s milk counterparts, these handcrafted gelatos nonetheless pack plenty of flavor (but none of the earthy tones you might expect). Cherry Delight is shot through with generous chunks of fruit, while Hint Of Mint works well in a decadent brownie sundae.
Photos courtesy of respective companies unless otherwise indicated.
