Favorite Holiday Gifts for Foodies
Some are classics, some are surprising -- all are perfect for the foodie in your life
We are now into the 12 days of Christmas and, if you’re like me, you’re scrambling to find gifts for the people in your life.
As my friends can attest, I take my holiday gift-giving very seriously. I love everything about the holiday season, so this is my chance to show my appreciation to the people I love. I travel a fair amount, so a lot of my gifting is from places I’ve been to — and, as an appreciator of food, most of my travel revolves around food.
While food is universal, gifting food can get very personal (as it should). The items on this list are all tried and true by yours truly. They’re all amazing — and can all be ordered online and received well in time for the holidays.
A Hand Drawn Portrait of Your Favorite Restaurant by John Donohue
A restaurant is so much more than a place to grab some food. It’s the place of first dates, reunions with old friends, and family dinners. For that reason, we all have a restaurant that holds deep meaning. People fall in love at a restaurant, get engaged there, and return for anniversaries. Adults take their children to the restaurant that their parents took them for holidays and birthdays, and friends simply tell each other, “I’ll meet you at the place at 8 p.m.”, (think the Seinfeld diner and Friends’ Central Perk). If your loved one has a special restaurant, send them a hand-drawn portrait. Artist John Donohue has drawn hundreds of restaurants in New York, London, Chicago, Washington D.C., Paris, Philadelphia, Napa, and Block Island. Choose your favorite (or commission a custom piece). The artwork starts at only $55 and is printed custom. If you’re in the NY tri-state area, order by December 15 for Christmas delivery — everywhere else in the U.S., place an order and you will also receive a printable gift sheet that can be presented on Christmas Day — so your recipient will get a gift to open on Christmas Day.
Rubirosa Pasta Tin
New York City Italian red sauce favorite, Rubirosa does the traditional popcorn tin one better by filling it with dry pasta. The Rubirosa pasta tin is filled with three kinds of pasta (lumache, casarecce, and trottole), totaling three pounds of homestyle pasta, presented in a great-looking tin that I now use to store all my USB cables and charging cords. The pasta tin costs $48.99 and is the perfect gift for all pasta lovers.
Clif Family Wine
When I visited St. Helena this past summer, I tasted some wonderful wines — most of which were well out of my price range. Then, I happened up Clif Family Winery. Yes, the same people that make Clif Bars have a winery. Founded in 2004, Clif Winery makes wines from Napa Valley grapes that are well balanced and surprisingly affordable. I loved them so much, I joined their wine club — an affordable indulgence that allows me to drink in a bit of Napa four times a year. If you have a runner or cyclist who also appreciates wine, this makes an excellent present, and wines start at $30 a bottle.
Pasolivo Olive Oil
I’ll say this from now until the cows come home — I love it when someone gifts me with a bottle of good olive oil. While olive oil is super subjective, there’s something about California olive oil: it’s sharp, grassy, almost peppery. Pasolivo makes a wonderful selection, but I prefer the classic California olive oil ($49.95).
Mala Girl
I fell in love with Mala Girl vegan broths when I was gifted a sample pack in the mail. Honestly, it took me well over a month to try some of the broth but when I did I was a convert. These vegan, all-natural broths are made with superfoods, herbs, and vegetables. They’re great as soup, stew, and ramen starters, they can be added to hot chocolate or mixed with oil and vinegar for salad dressings or marinades, or enjoyed on their own as a soothing afternoon snack to sate those afternoon hangries. If you have a vegan friend, a college student, or someone who travels on your list, these Mala Girls are perfect stocking stuffers. They’re also available on Amazon as a gift set for $14.95!
Fischer & Wieser Sauces
You can’t go wrong with a gift of sauces and jams for the holidays, and this Texas-based company produces some of the best. The company, which started as a small peach farm and roadside stand, has expanded to include a large fruit orchard, a cooking school, and a manufacturer of sauces and jams. Its pride and joy is the roasted raspberry chipotle sauce: this sweet and smoky sauce can be used as a marinade, but it works best when used to make a simple hors d'oeuvres: smear some goat cheese on a brioche or cracker and top with some of the raspberry chipotle sauce. It goes perfectly with champagne or prosecco for a festive holiday starter. Find it also on Amazon for $9.99.
Our Place Always Pan
Nearly three years ago, I broke down and purchased that pan that every influencer had. To this day, I use my Always Pan every single day without fail. It makes the perfect omelet and the best one-pot meals with minimal cleanup. Even when I left the pan on the burner for far too long and thought I had ruined my Always Pan, it was fine after a good wash. It doesn’t hurt that the pan also looks like something that should be exhibited at MoMA. The Always Pan has been my best kitchen investment to date and makes an excellent gift for the minimalist in your life since this pan really can replace a bunch of cookware (I keep one cast iron for steaks). The pan costs $99 online, but check Target and Amazon for flash sales.
Thanks for sharing and supporting foodies Laine! Officially found new favorites we've never heard of. Hello genius pasta tin!