Gifts for the Gourmand in Your Life // 2022
If the way to a heart is through the stomach, then culinary gifts are really the only way to go! Ha!
As the holidays come in few weeks from now, maybe it’s time to assess what could be a truly thoughtful present for a real epicurian. This gift guide is for those who enjoy planning their dinner while eating breakfast, for those who can’t wait for the weekend to try new recipes, or for those who cook a 7 course meal every weekend!
Some would say the Gastronome, Foodie, Gourmet, or the Connoisseur… If you know someone who fits this picture, there is something here that will make him/her the happiest!!!!! Trust me! I love to cook and I love to eat!!!
Milk Street Mexican Pantry Bundle- Featuring four Milk Street bestsellers, this bundle of pantry essentials is the perfect entry to Mexican cooking. Smoky, Milk Street-exclusive Xilli Mole Negro; nutty Xilli Salsa Macha; earthy Masienda White Masa Harina for homemade tortillas; and floral Olé Rico Dried Mexican Oregano are the building blocks of great Mexican cooking. It makes an excellent gift for someone (or yourself): Each bundle arrives wrapped in a snowy white box, bound with sage-green linen Milk Street ribbon from Studio Carta, plus an extra couple of yards for you to use. Bonus: Bundled, they’re 20% cheaper than buying them individually.
Xilli Mole Negro Prepared by hand, this rich, black Oaxacan sauce gets smoky, deep flavor and moderate heat from toasted chilies, nuts and charred vegetables. Mole takes days to make; this Milk Street-exclusive mole is the perfect shortcut, offering long-cooked flavor—with chocolate notes, brightness from tomatillos and warm hints of ginger—out of the jar.
Xilli Salsa Macha This salsa macha, a rich chili oil, is made by hand in small batches. It has clear chili flavor—smoky, fruity, darkly roasted without being burnt—and a satisfying, crunchy texture. Ground roasted peanuts and flakes of tender chili are suspended confetti-like in the silky oil. The taste is dark and deep, but without any bitterness.
Masienda White Masa Harina Earthy and lightly sweet, this finely ground corn flour yields a more intense corn flavor and pleasantly chewy texture than others we’ve tried. The primary purpose of masa is to make homemade tortillas and Masienda makes it easy—simply add warm water and mix for the perfect tortilla dough, no grinding pestle necessary.
Olé Rico Dried Mexican Oregano This Mexican oregano has the herbal brightness of the Mediterranean oregano you might be familiar with, but with a softer, more delicate taste; it won’t overpower your dish. Grown and hand-selected by independent farmers in Mexico, this one’s medium-fine texture holds its integrity while blending seamlessly into any dish.Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp x Fly By Jing Zhong Dumpling Sauce- This chili sauce is enhanced with preserved black beans, mushroom powder, sesame oil and garlic for a complete flavor profile. The crispy bits of chili, the namesake ingredient of this dish, provide bursts of contrasting texture, making it an ideal tableside topping for stir fries, soups, braises and more. I can’t get enough of it!!
The dumpling sauce is an all-purpose condiment that layers the spicy elements with salty-sweet soy sauce, umami-rich mushroom powder and brown sugar for a robust, well-rounded sauce; you can think of it as a variation of Sichuan chili oil with just as much bold aroma but less heat. Fly by Jing uses regional Sichuan dried chilies and mouth-tingling Sichuan peppercorns for a classic mala profile that defines much of Sichuan cooking. Seriously soooo tasty!
Check out this little gift option too!
Devoción Three Bag Coffee Bundle - Toro, Wild Forest & El Sol- Colombian-born Steven Sutton launched Devoción in 2006 to produce the freshest coffee imaginable — roasting provides only half of coffee’s flavor, while mere freshness of the beans does the rest of the work. And yet, most coffee beans sit around for months, losing flavor every day. That’s why the Devoción team does everything short of picking the cherry, and do it faster than anyone else — they hand-select their 1,000+ farm partners, dry-mill at their Bogotá facility, control the export process, and roast in Brooklyn. I had this coffee two years ago in Williamsburg and fell in love! The packaging is just !!
Handcrafted Italian Biscotti- The real deal.
If you think that blue packaging looks iconic now, wait till you hear the story behind it. Originally chosen as a tribute to the King of Italy, the color has since been trademarked for exclusive use by the Antonio Mattei factory in Prato, Tuscany. Now, about what’s inside: You’ll find Italian biscotti that’s been hand-shaped in the same bakery since 1858.
The small hat box comes with 200 grams of biscotti in your choice of almond, hazelnut, or dark chocolate.
The large hat box comes with 250 grams of almond biscotti and 250 grams of dark chocolate biscotti.
Tsar Imperial Kaluga Huso Hybrid- Kaluga Huso is everything you want in a caviar. By combining two renowned species (Kaluga & Amur) in a single bead, this natural hybrid offers huge, firm eggs a buttery profile and a clean never-ending finish. There’s a perfect caviar for every palate but I give this one 10 stars!!
Wilder Mustard Trio- Anyone who knows me well knows I absolutely love mustard! And Wilder is delicious! Wilder is a small batch condiment company crafting mustards inspired by the flavors of California. Made in the spirit of long sunny days and big communal tables. They believe in beach cookouts, brown bag lunches and good food tasting better. Wilder Condiments Mustard Trio Includes: Sweet + Hot, Classic, Jalapeño. Contains three 6-oz. jars.
Garum- Garum is an ancient Roman fermented fish sauce used in sauces, braises, and pasta dishes. This garum is made with Icelandic autumn mackerel and Nordur salt sourced from the Arctic Sea and hand-harvested using a 260-year-old geothermal process. It’s rich, flavorful, and umami-packed! Chic packaging too!
Zia Pia San Marzano Lovers Tin- A beautiful gift set containing everything you need for an authentic Italian dinner. Includes two tins of San Marzano DOP tomatoes, two packages of spaghetti, and chocolate covered nuts! Made in Italy!
The Salt Pot- Produced in partnership with Sarela Herrada of SIMPLi and Yolanda Acurio Mendoza of the women-run co-op Comunidad Salinera de Maras, this blush pink salt from ponds high in the Peruvian Andes is harvested by hand to retain superior mineral content. Its mild taste and medium grind size – between fine kosher salt and crunchy finishing salt – make The Salt a versatile addition to any pantry, enhancing the flavors of all your favorite dishes.
Rancho Gordo Deluxe Gift Box- What a fine gift for anyone interested in good food and an excellent introduction to Heirloom Beans. Each gift box is bursting with swell treats!
They are currently including: 1 copy of The Rancho Gordo Heirloom Bean Guide , 1 logo cloth tote bag, and 5 one-pound bags of assorted Rancho Gordo heirloom beans, freshly harvested and ready for cooking (current beans included are Alubia Blanca, Cranberry, Domingo Rojo, Garbanzo, and Midnight Black) Plus a postcard with cooking instructions for quick reference! Best beans ever!!
MASA Book- MASA is your guide to making authentic, high-quality masa from scratch and cooking with it in your home kitchen. It's time to learn the way to a perfect taco, and it all starts with the masa. Like sourdough before it, craft masa is on the brink of a global culinary movement. Jorge Gaviria's company, Masienda, has become a proxy message board at the center of the swelling masa conversation and with this cookbook he completes the story of how to create this special building block from scratch.
Brimming with history, replicable techniques, and reflections from masa authorities, including third-generation tortillerxs and acclaimed chefs, MASA reveals the beauty and longstanding traditions behind this elemental staple. In addition to teaching how to make masa from dried corn kernel to fully realized dish, this book also shows cooks how to use masa in 50 base recipes for tortillas, pozole, tamales, and more, empowering chefs of any level to think creatively and adapt recipes confidently for their own use.
In addition, ten well-known chefs offer inventive recipes-such as tamal gnocchi, masa waffles, and shrimp and masa grits-to inspire new ways of relating to this timeless, dynamic food.
TORTILLAS ARE EVERYWHERE: For years now, tortillas, the most common masa application, have outpaced the consumption of hamburger buns in the United States, and their companion condiment, salsa, has outsold ketchup as the nation's leading condiment.
ENDLESS DINNER INSPIRATION: This book features a wide range of recipes from the traditional basics—Tortillas, Pupusas, and Arepas—to the inventive, like Blue Masa Sourdough Bread, Tamal Gnocchi, and Shrimp and Masa Grits.
THE MASTER ON MASA: Jorge Gaviria is the founder of Masienda, a resource and supplier of high-quality masa and masa products. Jorge Gaviria wrote MASA after successfully working through tens of thousands of inquiries from home cooks on everything from the best equipment to ideal cooking temperatures to how to prevent a tortilla from falling apart during reheating.Los Poblanos Farm Foods Gift Set- Think of it as an edible tour of New Mexico’s best local flavors, delivered right to your door. Inside each gift set (there’s three to choose from) you’ll find a whole spread of farm-fresh favorites, all harvested in New Mexico and packaged in jars you’ll wanna keep. With infused salts, dipping herbs, and pantry staples like lavender simple syrup and green chile jam to try, you really can’t go wrong here. Even more? It all comes in a cute, reusable crate, too. Win win.
The Farm Food Favorites Gift Set includes one 17-ounce Lavender Simple Syrup, one 8-ounce Green Chile Jam, one 5-ounce Hot Sauce, one 2.8-ounce 1934 Spice, one 1-ounce Herbs de Poblanos, a vial of Woodfire Salt, a vial of Oaxacan Salt, a vial of Fuego Salt, a vial of Chimayó Salt, a packet of culinary lavender, a tea towel, a ceramic dipping bowl, and a wooden spoon.
The Dipping Herb Trio Set comes with one 1-ounce jar each of Chile Rojo Dipping Herbs, Herbs de Poblanos, and Classic Dipping Herbs, plus a ceramic dipping dish.
The Spicy Salt Gift Set includes one 3.5-ounce jar each of super-spicy Fuego Salt, earthy Chimayó Salt, and smoky Oaxacan Salt, plus a wooden serving spoon.
GIUSEPPE GIUSTI 5 Gold Banda Cube Balsamic Vinegar, 8.4 oz.- The ultimate pride and expression of the art of Giusti vinegars, the "Banda Rossa" was the personal gift from Uncle Giussepe to family members. Of great body and concentration, it is distinguished by its extraordinary complexity and rich bouquet of aromas. Notes of plum, black cherries, and sweet spices, infused with the fragrances of the ancient woods in which it was left to age, persist long after tasting. Aged in a series of antique small casks, dating back to the 1700's. Extracted in limited quantity, once a year . Estimated age: 20 years ! So luxe!
Stone Hollow Farmstead Artisanal Popcorn Gift Sets- Calling all cinephiles and friends of cinephiles: Stone Hollow Farmstead’s heirloom, non-GMO popcorn is about to take movie nights up a tasty notch. Each gift box here comes with a very flavorful trio: popcorn kernels for popping, oil for drizzling, and salt for sprinkling (spicy or herby—there’s two adventures to choose from). That wooden box is totally reusable, by the way, and we won’t tell if you re-gift it, either.
Spice Lovers comes with traditional yellow popcorn kernels; hot pepper oil; and lime jalapeño salt. Herbs comes with Ladyfinger popcorn kernels (which pop into extra-small pieces); rosemary, bay & pepper oil; and rosemary sea salt.
The BEST Soy Sauce and Tamari- Meet Momofuku Soy Sauce and Momofuku Tamari. If you’re used to grocery store soy sauce and tamari, you’ve never had anything like this. Their restaurant-grade versions are made from organic ingredients and are steeped with kombu to unlock a world of depth and flavor. Each pack contains an 8oz bottle of Momofuku Soy Sauce and 8oz bottle of Momofuku Tamari.
Mixed Nut Gift Tin From Isadore Nuts- A curated selection of four of our nut blends to make gift giving easier for you. Give the gift of healthy decadence with a gorgeous gold tin filled with a quarter pound each of four of their most loved flavors: Chai, Cocoa Orange, Lemon Rosemary, and Turmeric.
Vegan, Paleo, Gluten-free, Fair Trade, Non-GMO
PAIRING IDEAS: Not only is this beautiful gold tin filled to the brim with four of their most beloved blends, it makes gift giving easy and brings a visually stunning addition to any holiday or celebratory gathering.
INGREDIENTS:
CHAI: Pecans**, maple syrup**, spices*, salt, sea salt. Contains Pecans.
COCOA ORANGE: Cashews*, pecans**, walnuts*, maple syrup**, cocoa powder** (processed with alkali), sesame seeds*, salt, sea salt, natural orange flavor,* spices*, vanilla extract, espresso powder. Contains Cashews, Pecans, Walnuts, Sesame.LEMON ROSEMARY: Cashews*, pecans**, walnuts*, maple syrup**, fresh rosemary*, spices*, sesame seeds*, sea salt, natural lemon flavor*, salt. Contains Cashews, Pecans, Walnuts, Sesame.
TURMERIC: Cashews*, pecans**, walnuts*, maple syrup**, turmeric*, spices*, sesame seeds*, salt, sea salt. Contains Cashews, Pecans, Walnuts, Sesame.
Made in a facility that processes tree nuts, eggs, wheat, dairy, and coconut.
*Organic, **Non-GMOThese are my favorite nuts of all! So delicious and the owner is just the kindest person you will ever meet! Enjoy 15% off your purchase using promo code GOFRENCH15.
Jasper Hill Farm Cheese Tasting Box- For the love of cheese. These tasting boxes had me at “cheese,” and then we found out there was even more to love. Everything inside ‘em comes straight from Jasper Hill Farm in Greensboro, Vermont, where—get this—there’s a 22,000-square-foot, seven-vaulted cellar for aging cheddars and blues. Each cheese is made with top-notch milk from a single herd of cows, too (either Jasper Hill’s or one at a nearby creamery).
Looking for some perfect pairings to round out your cheese board? The Diversion bundle doles out three winning fromages and four mini jars of jam, so you can add your pick of crackers, nuts, and fruit. And if you want the whole kit and kaboodle? Spring for The Full Spread, which comes with five cheesy favorites, plus a wow-worthy lineup of pickles, crackers, nuts, and spreads, all crafted in small batches by Vermont-based artisans.
Take your pick from seven different boxes!!
Lakrids by Bülow Danish Licorice Gift Box- Don’t let looks deceive you. Pop one of these lil’ spheres into your mouth and—wait for it—the sweet chocolate melts away to reveal a satisfyingly chewy, slightly-salty licorice center. It’s a surprising pairing that’s gotten Lakrids, the smallest licorice factory in the world, a global following and no wonder. I am snapping up these gift boxes for friends and family, then sneaking one into a secret spot in the pantry for ourselves. MADE IN: Denmark.
Adopt an Olive Tree Olive Oil Gift Box + Subscription- Much like winemaking, pressing olives is a true art form. Farmers in Puglia have been growing olives for centuries to produce some of the world’s finest olive oil, and with Especially Puglia’s Adopt an Olive Tree, you can be part of the proud tradition of olive oil-making while supporting the local farmers, groves, and producers who keep these time-honored methods alive.
Your extra virgin olive oil is fresh, single-harvest, and produced on a family-run, organic farm. Each of the following options include an adoption certificate for your tree, detailing where your own delicious olive oil came from. Your pastas, salads, and olive oil cakes are about to get a big boost.
Choose from:
The Single Gift Box includes one 3-liter tin of olive oil; a ceramic olive oil cruet with funnel; and a handmade wooden gift box.
The Gift Box with Year's Subscription includes the initial Single Gift Box (see above); and a 3-liter tin of olive oil every 3 months thereafter, for a total of four 3-liter tins.
The Fusti & 3L Olive Oil Tin includes one 3-liter tin of olive oil; and a 3-liter stainless steel dispenser (called a fusti).
The Fusti with Year's Subscription includes one 3-liter tin of olive oil every three months, for a total of four 3-liter tins; and a 3-liter stainless steel dispenser (called a fusti).
20. GIUSEPPE GIUSTI Historical Collection Cofanetto Wood Box- he complete Giusti historical collection, from the 1 Silver Medal to the 5 Gold Medals, are all bottled in champagnottina bottles and housed in the attractive "cofanetto" wood box. Set Includes: 1 Silver Medal, 2 Gold Medals, 3 Gold Medals, 4 Gold Medals, and 5 Gold Medals
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