Of course, you may be up to sending them your own baked goods. But if you’re not up for spending more time in your own kitchen, the best thing to buy the foodies in your life is something they’d rarely splurge on for themselves. Whether that’s a cheese board from one of the best cheesemakers in the world, a set of tinned fish for aperitivo hour, or a cooking kit to help teach their kids a few culinary skills, here are the best food gifts. “This will forever ruin you for Nutella. Rich and creamy, this is the perfect spread for shortbread cookies, slices of fruit, or eating it straight off the spoon.” — Emma Christensen, Editor in Chief “Bokksu has been a huge hit with our family. The snacks are beautifully curated, delicious, and whimsical. Most are made from small-batch crafters from all over Japan. A little booklet with details about each snack is included. I’m probably going to subscribe all the people I love for the holidays.” —Myo Quinn, Editor “I like the flat packs The Spice House sends. My spice drawer is full of spices, but the flat packs are great for all of the other spices that I want to have but don’t use all the time. I can store a ton of them in my cupboard.” — Summer Miller, Senior Editor
What should I keep in mind when gifting perishables?
As much as some people might love getting perishable items (and we certainly suggest a few!) it’s good to remember, too, that they can be an inconvenience. If someone lives in a place that’s hard to receive packages or might not be home when the package arrives, you’ll want to check with them first. Most perishables will be shipped overnight with multiple ice packs or dry ice, but they should be opened as soon as possible.
What should I bring as a host gift?
Skip the proverbial bottle of wine, says Swann. “Think about things that they would use. So serving dishes, serving bowls, tongs, platters. Things like that are really, really great gifts that typically, hosts will really, really appreciate,” says Swann.
How much should a gift cost? Expensive is better, right?
Not so fast. As tempting as it is to sometimes go big, or go home, you don’t need to spend your life’s savings on a big gift! “I really think that the thought that goes behind the gift can go a long way. Some sort of really cool bottle opener or a can opener or a twisty tie thing or something that costs less than $10, the value of it could mean the same as something that you spend $50 on,” says Swann. “So I don’t think cost necessarily has to go into your thought process. More so I think you should look at what would bring that individual joy.”
What other suggestions for food lovers do you have?
When it comes to gifting food lovers, Swann says it doesn’t have to actually be food. “A food lover typically, in many instances, will also enjoy preparing foods. And so something along the lines of a gadget, a really fun kitchen gadget, might be a better choice,” says Swann.
Why Trust Simply Recipes?
Lia Picard is a freelance writer with a passion for food writing and a penchant for meats and cheeses. She even wrote about barkuterie for the New York Times. She wouldn’t suggest a product that she wouldn’t buy herself (and has done so since she started writing for Simply Recipes). Read Next: The Best Gift Baskets
