Food Gifts For The Gourmand In Your Life -2021
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After spending soooo much time inside, the food lover in your life might be feeling particularly uninspired, but the items on this list might be just the kick they need to try something new. The absolute best gift for a gourmand is scoring them that impossible-to-get reservation at that impossibly good restaurant and footing the bill for its impossibly complex tasting menu with wine pairing. But most of us would like to stay in the realm of achievable, not impossible, when shopping for a foodie around the holidays. That's not to say this is an easy undertaking. After all, they dedicate hours to flipping through cookbooks. They plan meals from hor d'oeuvres to main courses sto after-dinner drinks that compliment desserts! They have a whole spice pantry and an entire shelf dedicated to hot sauces and vinegars. But my friends…don't let that intimidate you—let it inspire you, much like I think this list of great gifts for foodies will do. Relax…you got this!!
You will find lots of beautiful items for Francophiles too and if you are shopping for people who love France be sure to also check out my Francophile Gift Guide and my Francophile Stocking Stuffer Gift Guide! You might enjoy looking over The Chef and Entertaining Gift Guide as well as The Mixologist Gift Guide too!
Little Apple Treats Original Apple Cider Vinegar-Produced from hand-picked apples, not the low-grade and windfall apples most companies use, and aged in oak barrels for two years before bottling, Little Apple Treats cider is bright and sharp, with a bold apple flavor and subtle caramel tones contributed by the barrel aging. This is the best American apple cider vinegar we’ve tasted, every bit on par with the fancy, expensive French stuff from Normandy. The cider's bright, clean flavor is ideal for all manner of dressings, vinaigrettes and pan sauces. Its excellent with pork--use it to deglaze the skillet or roasting pan after cooking chops or a roast, then finish with chopped thyme and softened butter. The vinegar's fruitiness pairs well with roasted winter squash--try with sage and bacon--braised red cabbage or in fruit chutneys. A spoonful will cut the sweetness of caramel sauce. Apple cider vinegar is one of the most common vinegars most home cooks reach for, yet what’s sold in most supermarkets is harshly acidic and tasting of anything but apples so your recipient is going to adore this!!
Four Jar Variety Gift Box -Isadore Nuts- Created to be the perfect gift of health, love and deliciousness! The four jar gift set from Isadore Nut Company offers the essential introduction to what they are all about -- 4 5 oz jars containing: organic walnuts, organic cashews, non-gmo pecans, lightly sweetened with real maple syrup in four very uniquely delicious tastes. Amazing, locally produced, nurturing snacks packaged in reusable plastic jars with the story of their product on the back of the box. All beautifully contained as one complete gift. Rodge and I are obsessed with these nuts!!! The Zesty Lemon Rosemary are my personal favorite! They have such a special story too! Read it here.
Pasta Mancini Mezze Maniche x Pasta Mancini Spaghetti alla Chitarra- I love making my own pasta but I am here to tell you since discovering these..my pasta machine is collecting some dust! Italian artisanal producer Pasta Mancini extrudes its Mezze Maniche through unique bronze dies, based on traditional knowledge that bronze equipment yields porous, rough-surfaced pasta that helps sauce cling better to the noodle. This tube pasta is slightly shorter and wider than rigatoni, which makes for easy sauce distribution; its versatile shape is great for everything from rustic soups and hearty ragu to casseroles and pasta salad. Made from local, freshly milled semolina flour, the pasta is slow-dried over the course of days to better preserve its robust flavor and texture. This chitarra pasta has a satisfying chewy texture that falls somewhere between spaghetti and bucatini; its square cross-section has slightly more surface area than cylindrical noodles, so it holds onto sauce amazingly well. Made from local, freshly milled semolina flour, the pasta is slow-dried over the course of days to better preserve its robust flavor and texture.
Huilerie Beaujolaise Calamansi Vinegar- I absolutely love this small-batch vinegar from French artisanal producer Huilerie Beaujolaise. With a bright and tangy vibrancy akin to tangerine, this vinegar almost tastes like a shrub, or drinking vinegar. Ubiquitous to Filipino cuisine, calamansi is a citrus hybrid between kumquat and mandarin orange. It is fabulous in salad dressing—both olive-oil vinaigrettes and mayonnaise-based sauces—especially with arugula and hazelnuts, or over a thinly sliced cabbage slaw with sugar snap peas. You can also add it to plain Greek yogurt with a handful of fresh herbs and chili flakes for a crudité dip or sandwich spread. You can also enjoy calamansi vinegar's tart brightness whisked with sautéed shallots, butter and fresh thyme leaves as a quick pan sauce for shrimp, salmon or scallops. Or drizzle over roasted vegetables for accent—this vinegar is a great alternative to small amounts of lemon juice. On the sweet side, try it as a great way to tone down sweetness in desserts. Add a teaspoon or two to caramel sauce to drizzle over ice cream; it's particularly good with vanilla, cinnamon or ginger ice cream. Or try adding a little to any citrus-flavored pound cake, Bundt cake or bar cookie for complexity.
I also recommend the Huilerie Beaujolaise Raspberry Vinegar and The Honey Vinegar!
Brightland Vinegars- PARASOL and RAPTURE: two fruit-forward, double-fermented and family-farm to table Vinegars, each with their own distinct flavor palate and tasting notes, lovingly made in California. Both vinegars in the duo—Rapture, a deep balsamic vinegar made from blackberries and zinfandel grapes, and Parasol, a light, zingy champagne vinegar made with oranges and chardonnay grapes—are tasty, versatile, and help stellar produce shine without overpowering. Rapture, Brightland’s balsamic vinegar, has bold, vibrant berry flavors that would be especially tasty when showcasing peak-summer tomatoes or in a marinade for grilled chicken. Parasol, a champagne vinegar, is mildly citrusy and brightens up funky cocktails or shrubs (it’s my favorite for dressing salads). Both vinegars are a delight whipped up into vinaigrettes on summer salads, dressing poultry or fish, drizzled over cheese, or as a finishing touch on fresh or roasted greens and veggies. Also, a major aesthetic bonus: The packaging is beautiful. Sleek, artful, and minimal, the bottles don’t feel out of place showcased on your kitchen counter or shelves. You’ll be looking for excuses to reach for this set.
Yugeta Double-Brewed Shoyu Soy Sauce- This traditional Japanese shoyu is less salty than supermarket brands yet still full of concentrated flavor and balanced with caramelized sweet notes. It's ideal for dipping and adds robust umami depth to recipes. To get a richer, deeper flavor and almost syrupy consistency, Tokyo-based family producer Yugeta ferments this shoyu twice in traditional cedar vats. After a first batch of shoyu is fermented with soybeans, wheat, water, salt and koji—a special type of rice mold—the resulting shoyu is used as the brewing liquid for a second batch instead of the salt and water. The shoyu's concentrated flavor is best used raw in simple Japanese dipping sauces, drizzled over blanched greens, steamed fish or accompaniment to sushi. Plus it’s GORGEOUS!
Pic's Crunchy Peanut Butter- Now I know what you are thinking! Why on earth would Sam expect me to gift someone a jar of peanut butter?! Well my friends…..you have not tried Pic’s! Everyone on my list is getting a jar of this. Fans of chunky peanut butter will love this version from New Zealand. Whereas many chunky peanut butters are just smooth peanut butter with occasional nut pieces, the New Zealand brand has a full mouthfeel, with the right ratio of plentiful crunchy bits to smooth butter for a satisfying consistency with every bite. It also boasts a shelf stability up to 10 times greater than regular peanut butter. And the peanut butter itself is always made without any added sugar, oil or emulsifiers, so the peanut flavor comes through clearly in both sweet and savory recipes. It’s DELISH!! In addition to your favorite sandwiches use this peanut butter when cooking and baking for rich peanut flavor without the added sugar. I love it in Asian food! And because this peanut butter has no sweeteners, if you're craving a snack you can play around with sugar alternatives for a delicious spread on toast or with fruit. Try adding floral honeys or caramel-sweet date syrup. They do offer a smooth version too!
Brightland Olive Oil—The Artist Capsule- The Artist Capsule now includes Brightland's ROSETTE garlic olive oil, LUCID lemon olive oil, ARDOR chili olive oil and ARISE basil olive oil together and it’s a dream!!! I have raved ALL about Brightland’s Olive Oils for years and you can read all about them here. Just trust me on this one!! This is the gift your foodie wants!!!
Mediterranean Flavor Recipe Starter and Cooking Sauce- Take your taste buds on a delicious adventure to the Northern Mediterranean with this incredibly delicious and versatile recipe starter sauce. The islands kissed by the Mediterranean sea and sun share a cuisine rich with a bold, yet simply delicious, fusion of ingredients. With flavor inspiration from Sicily, Sardinia, Calabria, Crete, Cypress, Santorini, and Corsica, “…those blessed lands of sun and sea and the olive trees”*, this Mediterranean cooking and seasoning sauce brings together the aromatic, flavorful and healthy ingredients that help make this one of the most loved cuisines in the world. Packed with a complex blend of aromatic vegetables, olives, capers, and herbs in a concentrated tomato base. Use as a healthy Mediterranean recipe starter and simmer sauce, gourmet Mediterranean flavor base, and so much more! Low in sodium and have zero added sugar too making this Whole30 approved. Head to Mesa De Vida now and enjoy 15% off your entire order using promo code GoFrench15 at checkout. Previously I gave you 10% off but now you can get even more savings for the holidays!
Brightland Honey Couplet- Brightland is excited to announce a brand new addition to our family: raw, unfiltered California Orange Blossom Honey and Kauai Wildflower Honey, straight from the hive. And I am in LOVE with these. Head over heels in love! The honey is sourced directly from 3rd- and 4th-generation beekeeping families run by women-led teams in Kauai and the Central Valley of California. And the apiaries maintain natural pollen grains and prioritize the health of hives and honeybee populations. (Two very sticky issues with many other apiaries.)
Orange Blossom Honey
Brightland describes this honey as “Delicious, amber hued with a clean, citrus finish.” It’s made from single estate orange groves in the Central Valley of California. And in addition to that punch of citrus, it’s also got some intense floral flavors. Among the suggested pairings: fresh fruit, hard cheeses, tea, root vegetables, dressings, and marinades.
Kauai Wildflower Honey
Made from wild Hawaiian sources including hibiscus, eucalyptus, coffee tree, papaya trees, passion flowers, and guava flowers, this honey is deeply hued and has a molasses-like finish. I can definitely taste the hints of caramel and chocolate, which is a fun and unexpected little treat. Drizzle some on top of your yogurt and, I promise, you’ll have the best morning of all time. Brightland also suggests pairing it with toast, coffee, soft cheese, pancakes, and in baked goods.
Fleur de Sel de Camargue le Saunier- In Camargue, France, the Fleur de Sel crystallizes in summer on the surfaces of sea water where it is carefully harvested by the Salt Farmer. Fleur de Sel de Camargue should be sprinkled by hand over foods just before serving to best appreciate its fine crystalline texture and special savor. Salt has long been the world's most essential seasoning and Fleur de Sel de Camargue will add the ultimate flavor dimension to all cooking from basic to gourmet cuisine. I use this so much!
Sundays With Joe Pasta Sauces- Once a grocery store owner from Chicago, Joe Amabile has been in the restaurant/food industry for 10+ years and has a food vlog were he goes around Chicago and highlights the best dishes restaurants have to offer. We also watched him twice on Bachelor In Paradise! (wishing you and Serena all the very best, Joe) He has a Sweet Marinara Sauce and an Arrabbiata Sauce!
Rancho Gordo Assorted Beans Sampler Pack- These heirloom beans are incredible! Heirloom Beans tend to have a lower yield and can be much more difficult to grow but the pay off is in the unique flavors and textures that you don't find with bland commodity beans. Plus they are exquisitely beautiful! This sampler pack I found through My Panier is a perfect introduction to Rancho Gordo. This 5-lbs sampler pack includes:
Alubia Blanca: Small, versatile Spanish-style white heirloom bean. Has a creamy texture and will hold its shape even with long, slow cooking.
Garbanzo Bean: A slightly nutty-flavored classic bean, essential for Middle Eastern, Mexican and European cooking. Rancho Gordo produces Heirloom Beans and is based in Napa, California.
Domingo Rojo: A classic red bean that holds its shape when cooked. Its thick bean broth will coat every single grain or noodle with a luxurious sauce.
Cranberry: Versatile and velvety, this thin-skinned Borlotti bean produces a rich, indulgent bean broth, making it perfect for classic Italian dishes as well as simple pot beans
Yellow Eye: Rich, creamy and mild white and yellow heirloom bean versatile to cook for any cuisine
Be sure to check out the various gift boxes Rancho Gordo offers directly too!
Casablanca Market Preserved Lemons from Morocco- Casablanca Market's preserved lemons have a bright, balanced flavor and they aren't overly salty or bitter like some brands. We like that they add a bold, piquant kick to dishes without being too sour, and their tender texture is perfect for chopping finely and incorporating into recipes. Traditionally, preserved lemon is added to Moroccan stews to sharpen spices and cut through rich flavors. Or it can be added to pilafs or bean dishes--especially good with lentils--as the lemon’s briny, piquant bite helps brighten up starchy grains. Chop up and fold a spoonful into bulgur or couscous. If you want to improvise with preserved lemon, remember that the pulp and peel should be used separately. The soft pulp can be mashed and stirred into soups, stews, dressings and sauces. The firmer, stronger-flavored rind should be either minced very fine so it's not overpowering, or diced and cooked for a bit in dishes to soften its texture and disperse its flavor. Soooo good!
Las Hermanas Pimentón de la Vera Dulce DOP - Sweet Smoked Paprika x Las Hermanas Pimentón de la Vera Picante DOP - Hot Smoked Paprika- These Paprikas are soooo beautiful and perfect additions to the spice cabinet! The sweet smoked paprika from Hijos de Salvador López has a complex smokiness that comes from a two-week drying process over smoldering oak logs as well as subtle fruitiness imparted by the local red peppers from which it was made. Because of the traditional methods used to produce it, pimentón de la Vera has an intense, penetrating flavor that adds depth to any dish—it does so much more than the supermarket stuff you dust over deviled eggs for color. This hot paprika from Hijos de Salvador López has a complex smokiness that comes from a two-week drying process over smoldering oak logs as well as subtle fruitiness imparted by the local red peppers from which it was made. Because of the traditional methods used to produce it, pimentón de la Vera has an intense, penetrating flavor that adds depth to any dish!! I love gifting the pair!!
Essential Collections Caviar- This will surely be an impressive gift!!! This collection makes for the perfect caviar gift! It includes 125g of Caviar Russe malossol caviar of your choice, house made crèpe blinis, crème fraiche and serving utensils, fork, knife and spoon, all packed together with a signature insulated Caviar Russe Gift Bag. Ohhhh la la! Caviar Russe proudly supplies the exacting requirements of the most demanding connoisseurs by offering a unique selection of the finest first quality caviar available, including Osetra, Beluga, and American caviar. All of our caviar is directly selected from each harvest, sustainably sourced and hand-packed fresh from large format original caviar tins. To complete the fine caviar experience, Caviar Russe features a focused selection of artisanal produced gourmet foods, including smoked salmon, duck foie gras, and truffles specially prepared for Caviar Russe. In addition, Caviar Russe has curated a selection of caviar-inspired gourmet gifts, and offers a variety of special mother of pearl caviar serving pieces, spoons and unique servers to celebrate any occasion.
Villa Real Hot Chocolate with Almond- This hot chocolate has only a few raw ingredients, yet the beverage has a wonderful depth and warmth, as well as a complex flavor: creamy, nutty and perfectly balanced between bitter and sweet. The addition of ground almonds makes for a silkier, buttery mouthfeel, especially if you whisk the milk constantly while heating it; this allows the nutty aroma of the almonds to permeate the drink for a richer sensation and fullness of flavor. And cinnamon, a defining feature of Mexican hot chocolate, is an ideal complement for cacao's bitter undertones, as its spicy aroma brightens hot chocolate while its floral accents match those in the drink. The warming spice cuts through the creamy milk so the drink is satisfying but not overly rich. The packaging is lovely too making this the perfect present!
Many of my recommendations have come from Milk Street! Milk Street travels the world seeking out recipes, ingredients, spices, sauces, tools, and cookware that will help you change the way you cook. I love everything they offer from their store, podcast, magazine, cookbooks, etc! Please do check them out here!