A Foodie Gift-Giving Guide

This is essentially gonna end up being a personal wish list of things I’d love to receive as a foodie, but I think there are lots of really fun and unique items and services on this list that can act as an excellent reference. Whether it’s for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries or just because, you’re sure to find something for the special foodie in your life!

Reusable Straws

For the green foodie, reusable straws are awesome! I think glass is so elegant, but stainless is a more dependable option because it won’t break as easy, if you happen to be a bit of a clutz like me!

Bento Box

I got a picnic basket last year and I love it. Seriously, it’s fabulous. However, after watching TikToks with bento box picnics, I’m obsessed! With separate compartments and several layers for you to pack all kinds of tasty snacks, this is going to become the new way to picnic in 2021!

Ornaments

This is more of a holiday gift idea, but you can’t go wrong with food-themed ornaments. One day, I'd love to have a completely foodie Christmas tree complete with my sparkly garlic ornament, right next to the felt avocado and the glittery hotdog!

Reusable Espresso Mug

You’ve seen a reusable coffee mug, now imagine an espresso mug. Amazing!

Charcuterie Board

Wooden or marble, minimature or gigantic, static or rotating, a charcuterie board is always a gift that I love receiving, but maybe that’s because I am a massive sucker for hosting aperitivo parties! This one from Anthropolgie is absolutely stunning!

Subscription Box

Who doesn’t love a gift that keeps on giving?! In this day and age there are boxes for foreign snacks, mustards, gummy bears, cheeses and more. I’m personally dying to sign up for Vinebox, where each month you get perfectly portioned wine samples that come in aesthetic little viles.

Beeswax Wrap

I bought this product a few years ago and I love wrapping cheeses with it. The wrapping closes perfectly and there are so many funky patterns to choose from.

Candles

Candles are functional for hosting or for a quiet night in. I truly love a savoury smelling candle...Bath & Body Works, please bring back your French Baguette Candle! I actually invested in a fun food-shaped candle this Christmas that was in the form of a tiny panettone, which was amazing.

Kitchen Essentials

Think cast iron skillets, knives and Le Creuset dutch ovens...oh and the Staub super pan, which I am obsessed with! Though they may be on the pricier side, you can also think about kitchen gadgets and gizmos that might be more economical but just as essential such as this juicer jar or pot holders. And for the well-travelled foodie, consider something like a truffle shaver!

Jams & Spreads

I’m a hobby jam-maker so I love when a fellow jammer brings me something homemade to sample. However, I love any unique spread that I can add inside my next pressed panini creation like an apple and onion jam, Dolcetto jelly or smoked garlic spread. Essentially, anything that’s not mainstream is sure to excite your beloved foodie.

Spice Blend Set

A set of spice blends is perfect for adventurous home cooks. Plus, because there are a variety of samples, your fav foodie can decide which flavours they enjoy the most and then buy more of what they like.

Reusable Sandwich Bag

I love zipping things up in a Ziploc bag to seal in the freshness. The only problem is that plastic isn’t great for mother earth. Cue, the eco-superstar reusable bag by Stasher!

Honey

Whether you pick up an actual honeycomb from your local farmer’s market or simply vie for a jarred honey like Mieli Thun, this is a great gift because it has so many uses. Honeycombs are gorgeous and have a potently (almost smoky) flavour, which is ever so complimentary on a charcuterie board. Likewise, creamed or liquid honey is just as great drizzled on cheese, stirred into a warm tea—or my favourite—in an agrodolce salad dressing!

Rolling Pin

Let me clarify, a sturdy wooden rolling pin or even a gorgeous marble pin is lovely. But what about the imprinted pins that let you leave cute designs or messages on your next batch or sugar cookies?!

Maple Syrup

Runamok Maple Syrup is the most intensely bold maple syrup I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting. They have all kinds of varieties ranging from traditional syrup to bourbon barrel-aged to coffee-infused, but their Sparkle Syrup is something that totally had me hypnotized this holiday season. Incredibly festive, this glittery syrup is the perfect celebratory gift!

Olive Oil

Frantoio Muraglia is an olive oil that I’ve been pining over since I saw it on Eataly’s website during the first wave of quarantine. While I was unable to have it delivered to my Canadian address as part of my birthday gift, I might have to pick this up for myself as a belated b-day gift the next time I’m in Torino. But, any local or artisanal oil works wonders. Simply search for a small producer in Italy and you’ll never go back to supermarket olive oil ever again.

Temperature-Controlled Smart Mug

While I love an aesthetic mug (I have a bit of a collection), there are some limitations. For someone like me who often brews a cup of coffee and then forgets about it until it’s freezing cold, I see no better solution than a mug that is literally smarter than me and can keep my bevy nice and warm whenever I finally remember to drink it.

Meat & Cheese

A wedge of Parmigiano Reggiano D.O.P. or a mound of Sicilian ricotta salata that’s vacuum-packed and sent right from the source is sure to generate a positive response. I wouldn’t be mad if someone ordered me a leg of Spanish Iberico ham or some authentic Florentine finocchiona, which I’ve craved since my last study abroad.

Cooking Class

My dad received this once as a gift for his 50th birthday and it was such a thoughtful gift. Any friend of a food-lover knows that the learning never stops. Plus, if the class goes well, that means it’ll be a gift that could benefit the gift-giver at a later date.

A Funky Apron

Though I’m typically not caught wearing an apron in the kitchen, there are times when I’ve undertaken a big project like making pies, taralli or the stain-inducing pot of chili. That’s why I need at least one super cute apron to protect my outfit and act as my kitchen armour!

Pizza Stone

Though we all love a lazy night in with a case of beer and a slice of pie from your nearby pizza joint, we can all agree it’s quite fun and (most often tastier) when you are the pizzaiolo. With a pizza stone you can bake your ‘zas on a bbq and they’re guaranteed to come out tasting like restaurant-quality masterpieces.

Cookbooks & Books About Food

Think books like Bong Appetit, The Book on Pie, Fizz, Bread is Gold, Parwana, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Salt Acid Heat Fat, From Crook to Cook: Platinum Recipes from Tha Boss Dogg’s Kitchen By Snoop Dogg, The New Rules of Cheese, Wine Simple, Ottolenghi, or my favourite, Honey & Truffles! Whether it’s innovative recipes, a food memoir or a text that challenges how we think about food, literature is never a bad idea. At the very least, it’ll make for a cool coffee table book.

Booze!

A nice bottle of wine is always a great option and though your local LCBO may have some decent wines, why not consider something from a local winery like Rosewood or Ferox (I’m talking to you, GTA family). You might also want to consider natural wines, which might be a bit more complicated in terms of their personality, however, they are always super aesthetic and are sure to challenge a real wino!

Alternatively, for any cocktail lovers, there’s the Nio Cocktail Box which is a fully prepared cocktail (Negroni, Manhattan, Gin Sour, Cosmopolitan, Margarita, etc.) to which you only need to add ice!

Cookie Hug Mug Buddies

Okay, so this one is another idea that’s more geared for the holidays but I am completely obsessed! These mini gingerbread houses are so adorable and in my opinion are perfectly portioned.

Customized Marshmallows

This was actually a very creative gift that I received from my friend Bria for my 21st birthday. Boomf is a company that lets you print your favourite photos on marshmallows (or even a block of chocolate), which is such a sweetly nostalgic sentiment. But these days, you can customize almost anything, even a bottle of Heinz ketchup!

Canvas Bag

Super trendy and perfect for hauling around farmer’s market finds, a canvas, tote or any other kind of bread bag is ideal for the eco-conscious foodie. I love this one!

Hot Sauce

TRUFF Hot Sauce or Mike’s Hot Honey have both been calling my name for some time, both for the truffle-lover and honey-lover within me. But there are also fun DIY hot sauce kits that are great for the experimental foodie.

Sushi Matt

This is a great gift for lovers of Japanese cuisine. Pair this with some seaweed sheets, cute chopsticks and a little bottle of soy sauce and you’ve got a cute DIY sushi kit!

Cocktail-Inspired Playing Cards

Great for the aspiring mixologist, playing cards are always great to have on hand; couple that with fun and boozy illustrations and you’ve got a winner!

Well, there you have it, a looooong list of great gift ideas for the foodie in your life! If they’re like me, anything that’s even mildly food related will be a definite winner. Remember to think outside the box and most often it's the more abstract food product, kitchen utensil or culinary experience that will make a lasting impression. Happy gifting!

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What’s the best foodie gift that you’ve ever received? I once received a Dolce & Gabbana SMEG toaster—insane, I know...