Find the perfect gift for each of the foodies on your holiday list
Finding the right gift can be overwhelming. I know how tough it can be to search out that perfect present, so I've selected “foodie” gifts to help you narrow your choices. You'll find a little of everything for those food- and beverage-loving friends of yours. What they all have in common is that they make life Seriously Simple.
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For the entertainer, Beatriz Ball makes fine handmade metal tabletop products from small bowls to large platters to pitchers, done in modern designs. The cost depends upon the item. To surf the possibilities, go to beatrizball.com.
For your gourmet-loving friends, give a gift box of gourmet foods from a different country that arrives bi-monthly. Beautifully wrapped with goodies such as palmiers, chocolate truffles and olive oil grace the special edition Holiday Box from Try the World at trytheworld.com.
For the mixologist: A boxed set of shrubs. What's a shrub? It's an old-fashioned vinegar-and-fruit-based flavoring that is used as part of a beverage. You can use it with sparkling water or in your favorite cocktail. Everything old is new again at innajam.com.
For serious cooks, give a gift card for a six-month membership to Rouxbe, a subscription online video program. With tons of recipes and techniques, the videos at rouxbe.com are top-quality and help make people better cooks.
Gifts for the kitchen
Perfect for the baker on your list, the Anolon Advanced Nonstick Bakeware 5-Piece Set includes two 9-inch round cake pans, a 9-inch by 9-inch square cake pan, a 14-inch by 16-inch cookie sheet and an 11-inch by 14-inch cooling rack. The heavy-gauge carbon-steel construction resists warping and helps ensure even browning. Its nonstick surface helps baked goods easily release from their pans. It is available at Amazon.com.
An updated immersion blender, the Cuisinart Smart Stick Variable Speed Hand Blender with Potato Masher (model No. CSB-100) allows cooks to whisk egg whites, whip cream, chop nuts, shred cheese and even mash potatoes. It is available at Amazon.com.
The Microplane Elite Box Grater maximizes the functionality of traditional box graters. The 5-in-1 grating tool sports five American-made stainless-steel Microplane blades: fine, coarse, ultra coarse, ribbon and large shaver. This is the perfect tool for helping cooks in the kitchen. It is available at Amazon.com and Williams-Sonoma.
The Cuisinart Waffle Maker creates gorgeous waffles. Its “chimney” creates a little extra waffle bit (as described in the directions) but this is easily removed. The measuring cup makes it easy to create the perfect shape. No cooking spray required; the waffles popped out easily. It is available at Amazon.com or Bed Bath & Beyond.
Gifts for the wine lover
Fine wine lovers will rejoice with Coravin. The wine system uses transformational technology that allows you to pour your favorite wine by the glass, without pulling the cork and with no oxidation occurring. This is the gift for those who own fine aged wines or who want to taste a few different bottles at one time. It is available at coravin.com, or visit your local Neiman Marcus or Sur La Table.
Jordan Winery offers gift boxes of chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon as well as their outstanding olive oil. They make only two wines, and each is truly exceptional. Go to jordanwinery.com.
Stocking stuffers
LidLover and LidLover Mini Lid create airtight and leak-proof seals and can be used instead of foil and plastic wrap. They're great for covering food prepped and ready to be cooked, storing leftovers and transporting cooked dishes. LidLover products are available now at lidlover.com.
The Prep Solutions Heads-Up tools by Progressive International are innovative kitchen tools with a twist. Clever kitchen staples like the no-mess basting brush, no-mess drain scoop and no-mess spatula spoon are all designed to keep kitchen messes to a minimum. Go to progressiveintl.com/products.
Contact Diane Rossen Worthington at seriouslysimple.com.
