2021 Gift Guide for the Foodies in your Life

Now that we’re past Thanksgiving, it’s time to start thinking about the holidays and all the gifting. Between Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday and the fact that Hanukkah started last night, there’s no time to waste. It’s time to get your lists in order and buy, buy, buy!  So, let’s dive in, shall we?

Let’s start with all the cool cook and glassware. Do you have a Harry Potter fan in your life? Or are you a Harry Potter fan? Have you read all the books and seen all the movies? Does your friend or family member have everything Harry Potter from bedding to wall paper? Then this set from Le Creuset is definitely for them (or you). This year, the amazing cast iron company has released several things in the Potter ilk. Of course there are their classic Dutch ovens and casserole dishes, but they also have a cute little spatula set and my personal favorite, the Hedwig pie bird.

Le Creuset

We all love cute glasses, right? I know when the holidays hit, I change out all my glasses and plates for entertaining. All the boring white and blue go away and suddenly it’s all silver and gold, with the occasional snowflake or Santa thrown in. Well, add two more to my closet. These adorable glass Santa and Christmas Tree mugs from Anthropologie are perfect for a steaming cup of hot cocoa or mulled cider. And those stirrers that come with them… too cute for words!

If you (or someone you know) are huge tiki mug collectors, you don’t need to go any further than Geekitiki. With mugs from Star Wars, Marvel, and the Loony Toons, you’re bound to find the perfect mug. (Being married to a hard core Star Wars geek, of course I’m partial to the Star Wars mugs.) But there is also some pretty cool horror mugs if you’re into that sort of thing.

GeekiTiki

If you’re a coffee lover like me, you may want to invest in a coffee maker. While you could absolutely go with a Keurig or Pour Over, why not go outside the box and get a pot that will brew a really nice, strong cup?  I love a good French Press, and with so many options from Macy’s to Le Creuset, you can easily find one in your budget. The classic is of course the glass French. But if you want to go with something a little fancier, Crate & Barrel has a beautiful Matte Black with a wood handle that’s both stunning and functional.

Crate & Barrel

If you’re looking for something a bit more personal, Uncommon Goods always has a variety of options. But my favorite is their Personalized Family Recipe Cutting Board. All you’ll need to do is find a special recipe and within two weeks you’ll have a beautiful new cutting board that will mean the world to the recipient. (Because this is a made to order item, you’d need to send it off within the week to have it by Christmas.)

Uncommon Goods

Got someone who loves fresh herbs but just doesn’t have the backyard to grow them? Do what I do and get one of these amazing AeroGardens. These awesome gadgets let you grow six to 12 different herbs right on your counter. I’ve been using it for years and love the smell and beauty of my little indoor herb garden.

Photo from Amazon

If you or someone in your life is into protecting the environment (and these days, aren’t we all), then look no further than Surfside Sips for some beautiful glass straws. They’re all hand made in California by the amazing Andrew, and come in a variety of colors and sizes. But the best thing about them is they’re totally dishwasher safe! If you want to spend a little more, he even has some special holiday straws as well as a variety with cute little glass animals on them. And if you use my code, “kitchycooker”, you’ll get 20% off.

Surfside Sips

Sticking with the drinking theme, here’s the perfect gift for a gin lover on your list who already has every gin available. Let them try making their own. No, I’m not talking about bath tub gin from the 20’s, I’m talking about mixing up a batch with quality product right in their (or your) very own kitchen. Don’t think it can be done? Well, thanks to the folks over at Food52, now you can.

Now for a few food and drink (mostly drink) options because while cook and drinkware are awesome, eating and drinking is way more fun!

If you’re looking to supplement your fruit platter for your next holiday party, or need something for that incredible boss, Melissa’s Produce puts together some great fruit and vegetable baskets.  That’s right you can choose if you want to send fruit or veg or you could even combine the two.  And if you’re really in the mood to celebrate, there are even a few baskets that include bottles of wine.  Having worked with Melissa’s for years, I can tell you all their produce is top notch, and their baskets are great gifts!

Have a cook who loves to slather sauce on everything from burgers to salads? Well, Simon’s Secret Sauce is great as a stocking stuffer or to add to that gift basket I mentioned earlier. They come in three flavors and they’re totally vegan! That’s right, no dairy, no eggs and no nuts, making them an obvious choice for the picky eaters on your list.

If you’re an olive oil fan like me, Garcia de la Cruz is a great choice! I love their Early Harvest but they’ve just released a flavored line of which I can’t get enough. The garlic olive oil is great for pastas and I’ve used it a couple times to make this delicious Garlic Shallot Foccacia. You can buy any of their oils separately or they have a few sets including their flavored oils which come with the garlic, a hot chili, lemon and basil. And if you purchase by December 31st and use the code 15infused, you get 15% off your purchase!

If you’re a chocolate lover and a marijuana fan, there’s a new chocolatier in Los Angeles that makes the most beautiful, delicious chocolate edibles. Cloud 11 comes in three flavors, Salted Peanut, Strawberry Peppercorn and Black Sesame Yuzu. These little chocolates are low dose, only 4 grams per chocolate, and are so stunning, it’s almost a crime to eat them.  While they’re the perfect bite for a concert or evening under the stars, they’re great any time of day or night when you’re in the mood for something but don’t really want a drink.

Keeping with the chocolate theme, Macallan has just released a new bottle that combines the smokiness of scotch with deep, dark chocolate: The Macallan Harmony Collection Rich Cacao. It’s their newest bottle of scotch with a chocolate kick, and the first limited edition whisky in a new series of single malts from the Macallan name. Macallan whiskey maker, Polly Logan, decided to take a deep dive into the world of chocolate and discovered the similarities between the two. She believes “The Macallan Harmony Collection Rich Cacao is a wonderful expression which brings together the world of whisky with the fascinating world of chocolate”.

I love a good margarita, and a good margarita depends on good tequila. This holiday upgrade your margarita with Gran Centenario. With three expressions, you definitely have choices. But my favorite is the Reposado. It’s smooth, rich and full of nutty flavor. It’s amazing how much the Gran Centenario improves the classic margarita. Add a little salt to your rim and serve it on the rocks and this will be your goto cocktail on Taco Tuesday.

Gran Centenario

If there’s someone on your list who loves shaking up cocktails, they probably have the classic Angostura and Peychaud’s bitters. But these days there are so many other options. Today bitters come in a variety of flavors from orange to pepper. There’s even unusual flavors like allspice and tiki. Some of my favorite bitters come from one of my favorite vodka companies: Infuse. I have at least half a dozen of their bitters and I use them all the time. They’re soooo good and they’re created right here in Los Angeles. While you could absolutely buy one or two for a nice stocking stuffer (my favorite is the Cardamom), Infuse sells a couple sets which would definitely set up your favorite home bartender.

If there’s someone on your list who isn’t a liquor fan, but still loves a good drink, look no further than Optimist. Another locally crafted non-alcoholic spirit, Optimist is a clean drink that tastes like gin or vodka without the hangover. These are great when you happen to be the designated driver, but still want to party. They’re delicious mixed with your favorite juice and a wonderful alternative to the alcoholic versions.

Optimist

Hope you this list helps you find perfect gift this year. Happy holidays and Happy 2022!