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Over the course of a year, cookbooks stack up in a corner of my apartment and my inbox fills with tableware launches. I taste-test oodles of snacks and take appliances for a spin—all in the name of finding the ones I deem the most giftable for the holidays. I seek out the kinds of presents that someone who likes to tinker in the kitchen (aka me) would be delighted to unwrap. This year, the novelties that caught my eye include British sourdough jars, Japanese onigiri molds, and Californian amaro, as well as Italian bread knives, 18th century-inspired mochaware, and molasses from Wisconsin. Ahead, my favorite food gifts this year for cooks, hosts, and people who just love to eat.
Best Food Gifts for People Who Love to Eat
Send them something unique to nibble on from noon to cocktail hour, like mochi pancake mix, spruce syrup caramels, or vegan caviar.
Best Food Gifts for People Who Love to Cook
Stock their pantries with fun ingredients like kelp flakes, curry leaf powder, Spanish olive oil, and a delightful jar of salted caramel.
Best Gifts for People Who Love to Drink
Whether they live for matcha, can’t go without a morning juice, or enjoy sipping on an after-dinner drink, I’ve found a sip for them. For the wine lovers, a magnum of Beaujolais always wins.
Best Cookbooks to Gift
Hawaiian cuisine, Georgian khinkali, Korean soups, and one bitter Italian vegetable—across the globe, cookbooks this year were an exciting category. Of course, these picks also hold their own when they’re set out on a coffee table.
Amazon
Ohana Style: Food from Hawai'i, for Your Family by Sheldon Simeon with Garrett Snyder
Amazon
Radicchio: A Celebration of the Beloved Italian Vegetable by Lane Selman and Margarett Waterbury
Amazon
The Mon Lapin Cookbook: De Toute Beauté by Marc-Olivier Frappier, Jessica Noel, Vanya Filipovic, and Mireille Silcoff
Bookshop.org
Korean Soups: Recipes for Soups and Stews That Nourish, Restore, and Delight by Clara Lee and Eddo Kim
AMazon
Centerpiece: Bold, Vibrant Recipes To Put Vegetables in the Spotlight by Helen Graham
Amazon
The Goto Bartender's Guide: A Philosophy of Cocktails, Hospitality, and How to Make Great Drinks Every Time by Kenta Goto with Noah Rothbaum
Best Cookware Gifts
Aim to elevate an everyday task or tool. Think: an already-seasoned cast iron braiser, a more beautiful way to store root vegetables, and an ingenious rice strainer.
Best Gifts for People Who Love to Host
They will always prize a versatile platter, better butter storage, and ice cream-appropriate coupes. For the humorous, may I suggest a cheeky fennel-shaped oil cruet?
