Let me cut through Santa’s perfectly groomed beard and straight to the point — holiday shopping can be a soul sucking activity.

After a day of composing strategically worded emails to clients, editing galleries of restaurant photos and having face time with an unprecedented amount of humans, I’ve never eased into a December evening and said to myself, “You know what would make my life better right now? Browsing aimlessly through 74 internet pages to find gifts for my family and friends.”

Don’t get me wrong, I love to shop. In fact, I thoroughly enjoy showering my people in presents that make them crack a festive smile. There’s just something about the race to buy the perfect thing over the course of a few weeks that makes gift shopping feel like a pressure cooker. And listen, if I’m going to sweat, I better be in the sauna at The Standard Spa.

This year, I collected all of my favorite food forward gift ideas in the most messy, uncoordinated way (aka a shit storm of random pictures and icons on my desktop) just so I could share them with you. This guide is geared towards the food lover in your life, including books, gadgets, specialty food items I personally can’t get enough of and more.

Perfect if you’re shopping for:

The home cook who patiently waits for a glowingly positive facial expression from your Uncle Eddie after serving him his newest lasagna recipe
The food blogger you love to eat comped meals with
Anyone who digs premium Italian food products
The culinary deviant everyone in your family used to shame for sneakily smoking cigarettes in the garage in high school, but now runs a Michelin star restaurant
The person who loves supporting small, family owned and operated businesses (there’s a few independently owned makers featured here!)
Genuinely, anyone who lights up when you talk about food, cooking or what’s for dinner

In the words of the stunning Ellen Griswold, “I don't know what to say, except it's Christmas and we're all in misery.”

Let’s get gifting.

Holy Cannoli Charm from Catbird

A cannoli shaped charm made with 100% recycled solid 14k yellow gold?? Say less. It’s one of the most coveted pieces of jewelry this holiday season and for good reason. I love how versatile it is and whoever thought of placing 2 freshwater pearls at either end of the shell to mimic cannoli cream was genius. Catbird is located in Brooklyn, New York and is known for their commitment to quality and creativity. This charm sells out almost every year, so if it’s gone when you read this, don’t fret — there’s so much to choose from. For example, this nostalgic NYC coffee cup charm or this Russ & Daughters Chocolate Caviar Tin as a stocking stuffer.

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Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect

When Will Guidara released his book “Unreasonable Hospitality,” it shook the entire hospitality industry. Everyone was talking about it, podcasting about it and spreading its teachings like culinary gospel. Since its launch, the book has even become part of corporate trainings and employee onboarding processes — that’s how much value it has to offer. It’s empowering, raw and at it’s most basic level, an inside account of what Will’s time working at Eleven Madison Park in New York City encapsulated. Despite being focused on the restaurant realm, anyone who reads this book will walk away with a pocket full of gems to apply to their every day life.

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Costiera Extra Virgin Olive Oil

The ancient technique of olive oil making is sacred in Italy. Costiera’s family olive grove sits just outside of the iconic Amalfi Coast in Montesarchio, and has been producing 100% monocultivar olive oil for over 75 years. I visited their oil mill earlier this year and it was incredibly special to meet the makers — even though we were mainly talking with our hands and smiles due to a slight language barrier. Their olive oil is made by using a single olive, the Peranzana, native to the Campania region of Italy. The result is a rich, sultry extra virgin olive oil with a balanced, peppery finish, bottled in handmade ceramic bottles painted by artists in Vietri. It’s a beautiful gift for anyone in your life who cooks and wants to be mentally transported to Italy. We could all use a vacation.

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Field Recordings Wines

Looking for a unique wine to gift that doesn’t cost one million dollars? Field Recordings is IT. My boyfriend and I visited their tasting room in Paso Robles this year and haven’t stopped thinking about their wine since. Their juice has character and personality, just like its makers, and what I love most is how approachable and diverse they feel. Dropping my two favorite bottles below, along with a button to explore their site for others that pique your interest.

Freddo 2023 - "FIELD RECORDINGS AND CHILL"

VARIETAL: 76% Sangiovese, 24% Valdiguie

FERMENTATION: Partial carbonic fermentation to get the perfect balance of fresh fruit while maintaining a slightly rustic Italian funk. Fermented in sealed stainless steel tanks for 7 days before pressing.

TASTING NOTES: Tastes like fresh cranberry, montmorency cherries, strawberry jello shooters

Jurassic Park Chenin 2021

VARIETAL: Chenin Blanc

FUN FACTS: Made from grapes grown at the Jurassic Park vineyard, planted in the late ‘70s. This 2021 vintage pairs with salt crusted whole fish, Cabot 5 year cheddar cheese, chips and dip.

TASTING NOTES: Lemon zest, wet concrete, blue raspberry Icee, pink peppercorn

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Bona Furtuna Monte Etna Gift Set

If you’ve never tasted the magic of Bona Furtuna, you’re in for a serious treat. I fell in love with this Sicilian brand while working on a recipe development project, and now I simply can’t imagine life without them. Starting with their pastas — aside from being 100% organic, and crafted with non-GMO Sicilian heirloom wheat like Perciassachi and Russello — it’s the only dried pasta that my stomach doesn’t have a temper tantrum digesting. It’s also delicious. Their Monte Etna gift set is the secret ingredient to your next authentic Italian meal at home, including ancient grain Rigatoni pasta, their spicy Arrabbiata pasta sauce, Aglio e Oglio Herb Blend, and Sicilian Sea Salt with Organic Garlic. Bon Appetito!

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Dreamfarm Garject 2-In-1 Garlic Peeler

Say hello to the most innovative garlic press and mincer on the market, the Garject. I discovered this Australia based brand while writing my cookbook and can confidently say, Dreamfarm’s Garject is one of my most used kitchen tools. This chrome-plated zinc gadget not only minces whole garlic cloves, but ejects them efficiently in the process. Imagine never having to peel garlic, ever again. It’s a grand feeling, isn’t it? Now, put a giant red bow on that feeling and gift it to the cook in your life.

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Pizza Czar: Recipes and Know-How from a World-Traveling Pizza Chef

Is there anyone on planet Earth who doesn’t love a good slice of pizza? My family and I have owned a few pizzerias over the years and along the way, taking notes from pizza aficionados like Anthony Falco tremendously helped our process. A classic recipe as simple as dough, sauce and cheese may not appear to be complex, but there’s a true chemistry to mastering the perfect pie. Anthony Falco, the author of Pizza Czar, worked at Roberta’s in Brooklyn for 8 years before going on a pizza fueled global tour. Today, he’s the world’s leading pizza consultant and I can’t think of anyone better to teach you how to ace your ‘za game at home.

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Croissant Twins T-shirt

There’s a time and place for kitschy gifts and this one deserves a spot under the tree this year. It’s trendy, it’s cute and it makes you want a croissant. A great option for the Paris enthusiast in your life or anyone who loves a soft 100% cotton t-shirt. I can totally see wearing this to the farmer’s market with your favorite tote bag and a pair of sambas. It also comes in a sweatshirt if that’s more your speed. This company makes a lot of fun hats and shirts for men, too. Check them out!

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Flamingo Estate’s Roma Heirloom Tomato Candle

If you’re unfamiliar with Flamingo Estate, it’s a home, it’s a garden, it’s a bee keeping oasis, it’s a sun-drenched mecca in California that has so many functions I still struggle to wrap my head around everything they are. One thing I do know is that their Roma Heirloom Tomato candle is not to be missed. What stands out about this brand is their stunning aesthetic and commitment to craftsmanship that honors Mother Nature. Their cookbook is also a fan favorite in my house — 10/10 recommend.

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Maldon Salt

Finishing salt can take a dish from an 8 to a 10 in a matter of sprinkles. Maldon Salt is a staple in our kitchen and this season it’s doubling as a stocking stuffer. For gift exchanges with $20 budgets, this gift is the golden goose for chefs, home cooks or anyone who appreciates flaky salt.

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Le Creuset Dutch Oven

What can I say about Le Creuset? It’s simply the best investment you can make when it comes to enameled cast iron cookware. Their dutch oven is the heartbeat of every soup, stew and Sunday Sauce I’ve made in the last 10 years. Their signature Dutch Oven is available in multiple sizes and a myriad of beautiful colors. Every piece in the product line also comes with a lifetime warranty, is incredibly easy to clean and of course, hails from France. When you buy this gift, you’re gifting it for an eternity. It’s truly an heirloom addition to any kitchen.

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Ravioli Spoon Rest

Supporting small makers is always on my radar, and this gift checks the box. These handmade ceramic raviolis are made in California and are basically the cutest accessory that will ever grace your kitchen. They’re 4.5”x4.25” wide, making them an effortless accomplice to any saucy spoon or ladle. Bonus: this maker’s ceramics are made with lead-free and non-toxic glazes, and are microwave safe. Chef it up.

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Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Pro

For those looking to test out new cooking techniques in the kitchen, this sous vide is a game changer. The Anova comes with a wildly intricate app that shows you step-by-step how to cook by putting food in a vacuum sealed bag and cooking it in a controlled, low-temperature water bath. We have the Anova oven (another great gift if you’re going for a higher ticket item!) and browsing through their app to find new recipes and explore different preparations has quickly become my new favorite scrolling activity. The sous vide is notorious for cooking meats perfectly to temperature, BUT there are so many desserts you can make with it, too. Who knew cooking in a plastic bag could be so exhilarating? Get this for the home cook who’s hungry for more than the standard kitchen set up. This kitchen tool means that your food will never be overcooked, ever again.

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If you’ve made it to the end of this guide, thank you so much for reading.

Happy Holidays, friend!

Melissa