A Few of My Favorite Things...Foodie Gift Edition
Happy Thanksgiving Week!
I have a son who’s love language of gift giving was apparent from a very young age. He loves giving AND receiving. But he truly has a gift at the former. He astounds me at how he can choose the PERFECT gift for anyone and he takes weeks and sometimes months mulling it over. Me, not so much.
“Hi, I’m Christi Flaherty and I’m not a good gift giver.” Admitting it is the first step to change. For those like me, “gift guides” are a Godsend. Narrowing down the options to those someone else has vetted takes some of the “will they like it” pressure off. In my notes on my phone, I have copied several suggestions from these lists to keep a rolling gift idea list so I can actually become better at it. (A plan…second step to change.)
This year, I’m sharing my own curated list and due to the fact that 80% of my life revolves around food and cooking, it’s all cooking and/or food related.1 (A few items are repeats from Part Two of my How to Make Holiday Cooking Stress-Free but wanted the gifts all in one place for you.)
Edible Things
Thrive Market - Unless you have a Trader Joe’s around the corner, Thrive is the BEST place to find health conscious products. Gift a membership to your adult kids, health-conscious bestie or just sign up yourself for the easiest way to have healthy real food products delivered to your door on the regular.
Spice Kits - The best gift I gave last year to all my foodie family members. They loved them.
Maldon Sea Salt - Whether in a box or small cutesy bucket, the most basic Maldon sea salt adds a salty crunch to everything (especially chocolate chip cookies.) Up the flavor with a flavored version.
SOMOS - This new brand of real food based Mexican foods. We love how the Al Pastor transforms chicken into taqueria-style tacos and the rice and beans are perfectly flavored. Choose a six pack each of salsa, rice, beans and sauce. Add one of each to a box lined with crinkle paper strips for gift sets that are under $20.
Cheffy Things
Salt Block - Heat and add a subtle salty flavor to meat and fish. It’s also great as a serving vessel after cooking
Creme Brulee Torch - Besides creating the crunchy topping of Creme Brulee, it’s easy to toast herbs and citrus zest for craft cocktails, and is another quick way to cook just the outside of steak and fish.
Swiss Style Fondue Pot with Forks - Our German friends brought us one of these and upped our fondue game. (We used to only have two vintage ones from the 70s.)
Sous Vide Cooker - Essential for the Sous Vide method of cooking meat, fish and poultry. You can use any pan that will hold the bagged meat and cook at the exact temp then simply brown in a hot pan.
Clef (Chef + Cleaver) Knife - This is my favorite brand of knives and this one does double duty plus it looks cool.
Hot Drink Things
MudWtr - This is my favorite coffee alternative. The original is my daily, but there are other flavors to choose from.
Nespresso Vertuo Line with or without Aerocino - True rich, dark espresso and the Aerocino makes perfect foam. We love it’s small footprint. There’s the Perfect for small spaces or when you don’t want a big espresso machine taking up kitchen real estate. Starting at only $104 for Black Friday!!
Aerocino - If you already have a coffee maker you love, but you love cappucinos and lattes, this can be purchased on its own. The XL is good for more than one person drinking a latte at a time. By the way, the smaller one is $75 and the same one that comes with the Nespresso making that deal above spectacular!
BUBS Coffee Bundles - Bub’s mold-free and organic coffee tastes amazing and the Day Starter Bundle has everything you need to make “Bulletproof” style coffee including the frother wand. If you prefer, you can create your own Custom Trio.
Copper Cow - If flavored coffee and boosting up women in business bring joy to your heart, you will love this company. Their pour over coffees are perfect for gifts or travel coffee (if you don’t want to travel with your Nespresso Pop+ like we do.😉) Our first thought was we were going to have to buy a Chemex until we realized the pour over mechanism is built right in. Plus if you buy the flavored pour overs, they come with little flavored creamers.
Cold Drink Things
Ghia - The chicest way to support your friends’ and families sobriety, Ghia’s non alcoholic gift bundles are beautiful and offer sophisticated flavors that beat the juice and soda combo that typically passes as a mocktail.
Soda Stream - I LOOOVE bubbly water and was spending a small fortune on Topo Chico. My mom and sister both told me how much they love Soda Stream, but it wasn’t until I used it at my sister’s house that I found I do too. I bought it realizing we were going to literally save hundreds of dollars a year. 50% off right now for Black Friday!!
We Are Raising the Bar - Alcohol-free box subscription with ingredients, directions, tools and garnishes included.
Nugget Ice Maker - Drinks are better with tiny, chewable ice. Honestly, I haven’t tried this one, but I would love if someone gave me this.
Sok-It Iced Drink Sleeve - It’s like a Koozy for your iced coffee. It keeps your drink extra cold without that annoying puddle of water when you’re hanging out working at your favorite java joint. Great “friend” gift or stocking stuffer!
Beautiful Table Things
Myrth Ceramics - While they have lots of different pieces, I received Myrth Ceramics Basso Bowls recently. Perfect for a hostess gift for overnight stays, my first thought was how beautiful they were. Then when I found a handwritten note from the creators, I was completely blown away. Handmade in Providence, Rhode Island, these bowls or any of other pieces are the next best thing to throwing pottery yourself.
Splurgy Things
Caraway Cookware Set - I cooked for a client who had this cookware line and I loved it.
Boos Boards - The gold standard for cutting boards, and priced to match, you will hand them down to your kids and their kids.
Sanity Saving Things
I also want to remind you that you can give Gift Subscriptions to Real Food Sanity. This not only helps me keep writing here on Substack by providing a little income, but there’s also tons of benefits for the recipient.
THE TRIPLE THREAT
Real Food Sanity gift subscriptions are like the triple threat of gift giving - time, money and organization. With my budget-friendly meal plans, they will receive step-by-step recipes and meal prep guide to walk them through the process even if they are cooking newbies. The organized shopping list based on only two protein saves money and allows for easy grocery ordering online. Email me and I will send you a cute little gift card you can print out to give them that will have full instructions on how to use it and the benefits of their subscription. If you like a wrappable gift, wrap it up with something above.
Happy Thanksgiving and have a great week!
XOXO,
Christi
Such a great list! I had Ghia in my gift guide too. And I've been eyeing Somos, I'll need to check out their stuff.
I am thinking I might need that salt block. 🤔