Christmas Gift Guide (for Foodies) 2022

Whether you are looking for presents for others, or are just looking for something a bit different for yourself, I hope you find some gift giving ideas below.

These picks are mostly aimed at the food lovers in your life, however I have also added a gift idea that does some good (outside of bringing your recipient joy), that will help others in need. I know this time of year can feel like its all about spending and buying things, but really it can also be about helping others and giving thoughtful gifts to those you love.

1. I have bought a few of these tea towels by artist Whitney Spicer and Bespoke Letterpress, I think they would be a lovely gift for any foodie. They are available from both Bespoke Letterpress and Whitney Spicer.

2. I also have my eye on many a thing in Marley and Lockyer’s online store which is filled with beautiful handmade ceramics. They would be a great gift for anyone who loves handmade things and kitchen pieces in particular.

3. In terms of cookbooks I recently bought a copy of Knead Peace and I think it would make a great gift. A portion of the price of the book goes to help a charity assisting people in Ukraine, and the based on the contributors to the book, I think the recipes will be good! 

   For those who like Christmas baking specifically Advent by Anja Dunk is an excellent choice. I have also heard great things about First, Cream the Butter and Sugar by Emilia Jackson when it comes to cookbooks about baking specifically, so that could be a good one for the bakers in your life.

   I have Salamati by Hamed Allahyari and Dani Valent on my wish list, and I think Mabu Mabu by Nornie Bero would make a great gift and should have a place in every Australian kitchen.

4. For other gifts, I thought buying a gift subscription to a Substack newsletter or Patreon would be a great idea (maybe the new magazine subscription of our increasingly online world?). In terms of food related subscriptions, I really enjoy the paid Substack newsletters from Something to Eat and Something to Read, The Jewish Table and Emiko Davies’ Newsletter. 

5. For edible gifts nothing can go past a jar of delicious savoury spread Tumami by Alice or any brand of crema di pistacchio for a really indulgent treat. For the chocolate lover I would recommend the drinking chocolates from Grounded Pleasures - there’s no risk of them melting in transit and they can be enjoyed all year round! 

6. Finally, for a gift with an impact I would recommend the empowering gifts from Australia for UNHCR. You can purchase gifts that give assistance to refugees around the world with things such as clean water, vaccinations, shelter, thermal blankets, school supplies and much more. There are a variety of options and price points and you can nominate a gift recipient to be notified of your gift to them via email or you can chose to print out a pdf card for them yourself.

Christmas Gift Guide for Foodies 2021

It’s that time of year again, Christmas Gift Guide time. Christmas seems to be rolling around incredibly quickly this year, I’m sure our various lockdowns have had something to do with it.

Whether you are looking forward to it or feel like having a year off, here are some fun local Australian based gifts from (mostly) small businesses for the foodies in your life. Or just yourself - we all need a pick me up now and then! 

Tea Towels from Bec Fing Designs

Bec Fing Designs* Tea Towels - Finally some super bright and colourful linens! Bec Fing Design’s Tea Towels (and her whole range really), are such a fun sight to behold and are great for the colour lovers in your lives. Everything is made in Goondiwindi Queensland, and are based on paintings by Bec. 

Pantone Tea Cups from Rabbit Hole Tea - When I saw these I was instantly in love. I haven’t bought any for myself (yet), but I feel it’s only a matter of time. I really like the pink and the green cups, and paired with one of Rabbit Hole’s teas (I can highly recommend Ginger Snap), it would make a lovely gift.

Tea & Blooms Tea Towel from Tilly’s Table

Tilly’s Table Tea Towels - I am still obsessed with everything Tilly creates, and her tea towels are no exception. These are the type of tea towels that will instantly beautify your kitchen and take pride of place as ‘the good tea towel’. I also love the cards Tilly produces, especially these new Australian Summer ones. Everything made by Tilly are photographs by her, with her amazing styling and use of florals.

Small Rock Candy Vases by Yo-Dan

Yo-Dan Glass Vases - These amazing glass vases are made in Adelaide, and they are truely some of the most beautiful work I’ve ever seen. The vases come in different sizes (pictured here are the small size - light pink and green vase is called ‘paradise rock candy’ and darker pink and purple vase is called ‘rose rock candy’), and there are cups too. There is a Yo-Dan online store restock planned for this weekend (Sunday November 28 2021, 7pm Adelaide time).

Harvest Apron by Gorman x Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation - This is the cutest apron I’ve seen in a while! And I know I’ll be pretty disappointed if I don’t manage to get myself one. Along with a few other items like kids clothes and a picnic rug, the profits from this collab will be contributed to the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation.

Small Jug by Ruby Pilven Ceramics

Ruby Pilven Ceramics Jug - I love everything Ruby makes, especially the kitchen/baking ware like this jug (this is the small size). I love her colourful style and use of metallics in some of her designs. Everything is handmade by Ruby in Ballarat, Victoria.

Spreads by Messina - I think these sets of Spreads made by Gelato Messina would make a lovely gift. You can buy them from their online store so you don’t need to live close to a Messina store to get them. They have two sets, the Christmas Spreads which contains Dulce De Leche, Choc Hazelnut Spread and Pistachio Fudge Spread and Signature Spreads which has Waffle Cone Spread, Choc Hazelnut Spread and Dulce de Leche. You know which set I picked!

A Year at The Market Subscription from Naomi Loves

Naomi Loves A Year At The Market Subscription - I have been subscribed to A Year at the Market all year and have so enjoyed receiving a guide each month. Each guide is designed by Naomi with her magnificent illustrations, along with two printed cards each month with an illustration of the fruit or vegetable which is the topic of that months guide. A lovely present for a food or market lover in your life, or a year long present to yourself. 

Italian Food from La Dispensa - For the Italian food lover in your life (all of us?!). I recently found La Dispensa when I was googling ‘crema di pistacchio australia’, as I do every few months and finally came across a local business who not only sells crema di pistacchio, they sell 1kg tubs of it (!!!), AND so.many.other.Italian.goodies! They have what looks like every type of panatone possible, and the fancy Dolce & Gabbana food collabs too which would make a great gift (I obviously want this one).

Iced Voco and Strawberries Felt Food by Catering by Lucy Alan from Wattle and Twine

Handmade Felt Food by Catering by Lucy Alan from Wattle and Twine - These are just so cute! I know they are made for children, but I really couldn’t resist these when I first discovered them. The selection of food available has expanded since I first bought some, and you can also get choc chip biccies, fried eggs, fairy brad and more, along with the Iced Vovos and strawberries pictured here.  

Feather and Nest Tea & Toast ’Bake’ Letter Parcel - For the stationary lover! I adore Kim’s Tea & Toast Boxes, and this little Tea & Toast Letter Parcel is the perfect little gift to pop in the post for someone who loves baking and stationary. Kim curates these parcels and there is always a gorgeous illustration from her son Lew in there too.

Variety Gift Box from Grounded Pleasures

Grounded Pleasures* Variety Gift Box - The ultimate gift for the chocolate lover in your life! A 50g mini of every Grounded Pleasures drinking chocolate, plus their chai. A great way to try them all. Add a packet of their marshmallows to your order and you’ll be set for hot or iced chocolates for the festive season!

Handmade Chocolates by Meltdown Artisan, Ms Peacock and Chocolate on Purpose - If you are looking for delicious, interesting handmade chocolates from excellent small businesses these are the businesses I would look to first!

Olsson’s Sea Salt Flakes Stoneware Jar

Olssons Sea Salt Flakes Stoneware Jar - I bought this canister of salt a few months ago, well, because the canister is really nice looking! However I’ve actually used quite a lot of the salt, and have found having the canister on the bench really handy, especially with it’s little spoon attached to the jar. It would make a lovely gift, as would the Christmas special Gift wrapped version of the salt. I also really like the Sea Salt Flakes made in collaboration with EmmyLou Loves. 

*The tea towels by Bec Fing Designs are a mixture of those I have purchased myself and been gifted by Bec. 

*The Grounded Pleasures Mini’s Gift Box was gifted to me by Grounded Pleasures as part of a paid photography job. Image used is from that paid project, however the recommendation is my own and not part of the paid project in any way. I love the Grounded Pleasures products and buy them myself when I am not working with them.

Christmas Gift Guide for Foodies 2020

For the past couple of years I have put together a small Christmas gift guide aimed at the foodies in your life.

This year I have curated a list of gifts, cards and stationary that are predominately by small businesses or creatives. I don’t know about you, but I think Christmas and gift giving generally is a great time to shop small and support cool people (especially women) doing really fun and interesting things.

Enjoy!

. . .

For more ideas check out my previous gift guides: Gift Guide 2018 & Gift Guide 2019.

Books

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Everyday Bakes

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Olive and the Larder

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The Art of Cake

1. The Art of Cake by Alice Oehr - I have fallen in love with Alice’s illustrations this year and this book contains so many of them! And they are all of cake! Perfect for a cake loving friend. This book contains a short history of each cake along with the colourful illustrations, plus a few recipes from Alice at the end of the book too.

2. Everyday Bakes by Kath Vincent (me!) - I couldn't not recommend by own recently published cookbook Everyday Bakes! I really believe in the usefulness of this book and the recipes inside. They are all fairly simple and many can be made in an hour or less. These recipes will see you through busy weeks, tough times and sweet craving time and again, great for yourself or as a gift to a avid baker or baker to be. Select the Everyday Bakes Bundle to get the cookbook and Everyday Bakes tea towel (and save $5!).

3. Oliver and the Larder by Bianca Tzatzagos - my friend Bianca created this all ages picture book this year (along with a gorgeous set of cards too) with illustrator Inga Campbell. The short story follows Olive, a gentle food loving lady who has the most amazing larder (and garden!).

4. Graziher Magazine - I discovered this magazine this year, and have been really enjoying it. The stories from the bush are engaging, the photography and design is stunning and each issue I have has excellent recipes too. You can buy Graziher as single editions or as a subscription.

5. The New Way to Cake by Benjamina Ebuehi - This book by UK based Benjamina, has a stunning collection of cake recipes. I haven’t had a chance to bake any myself yet, but I have multiple post it notes marking the pages of recipes I desperately want to try. I love the way the book is set out, each section is based on a type of ingredient e.g. spices, floral and citrus. This is a great gift for yourself or for a cookbook loving friend.

Foodie Gifts

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Fairy Bread Iconic Tea Towel

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Everyday Bakes Tea Towel

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Bikkies Iconic Tea Towel

1. Garlic from Longview Garlic - sign up to Lee’s newsletter and you can then place your order with her once the garlic is ready. Great for an avid cook and lover of all things organic and Australian.

2. Fairy Bread and Bikkies Iconic Tea Towels from Add to Cart by BabyMac - These are so fun, and extremely nostalgic if you grew up eating fairy bread at birthday parties and assorted Arnott’s biscuits like I did.

3. The Somewhere Co Picnic Cooler Bag - I bought one of these earlier in the year, thinking it would make a great work lunch bag. I was very wrong about that (besides working from home most of the year, this bag is very much a large sized cooler bag, not a lunch bag!), however it has come in handy when I’ve been taking food to a gathering or transporting shopping home. If you know someone who loves a good picnic or outdoor event, this is the gift for them!

4. Baked Goods from the Sweet Chick, Sydney - While I am yet to get to this bakery in Sydney’s Surry Hills, the Christmas menu looks amazing. If you aren’t into baking or just don’t feel like it/have time this year you can get a selection of things from a bakery like Sweet Chick and give them as gifts or use them as your Christmas Day dessert. Keep an eye out in your area for independently run bakeries and delis, you will find some great food gift ideas in there whilst supporting a local business.

5. Everyday Bakes Tea Towel - My tea towel! 100% cotton tea towel screen printed here in Australia, with the Everyday Bakes motto ‘bake share eat repeat’. A trusty and sturdy piece for your kitchen, or a great addition to a gift for a baking loving mate. Select the Everyday Bakes Bundle option if you would like to buy the teat towel and Everyday Bakes cookbook together (and save $5).

Cards and Stationary

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Cards by Borrow Street

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Cards by Tilly's Table

1. Christmas Cards from Borrow Street - I stumbled across this brand recently which is designed and printed in Adelaide. I love the fun, very Australian designs and bright colours. Borrow Street also prints wrapping paper with the same designs, which I know I will have trouble giving away it’s so nice!

2. Cards by Tilly’s Table - Lovely stylist and creative Tilly has these wonderful botanical cards, some Christmas themed some that would suit any occasion. I adore Tilly’s styling and photography and was so happy to stumble across these cards in the Blue Mountains recently. Tilly also sells tea towels with the same prints, which would also make a lovely gift.

3. Xmas Cakes Cards by Alice Oehr - As soon as I saw these cards by Alice I ordered some. These are the perfect cards for all your food loving friends and family, featuring Alice’s illustrations of plum pudding, ice cream bombe, pandoro, panettone and classic fruit cake. Printed in Melbourne.

4. Bespoke Letterpress - There is nothing Bespoke Letterpress does that I don’t like. I love their classic and rather romantic style, and they have a great range of cards and paper for your Christmas presents. Printed in Bowral, NSW.

5. Farmers Market Food Calendar by Naomi Bulger - This is the perfect gift for any avid market goers in your life, or anyone who is new to cooking and wants to know more about seasonal produce. Naomi has illustrated the calendar herself, and I think it would make a lovely addition to any kitchen wall.

Christmas Gift Guide for Foodies 2019

After putting one of these gift guides together last year, I thought I would make it a yearly thing where I seek out all the great food related gifts for the food lovers in your life (or for yourself!). 

This year I have also included some homemade (mostly edible) gift ideas too. I love gifting people food at this time of the year. It’s thoughtful and also can be a more cost effective gift option if you have many people to buy for.

Merry Christmas!

NB: If buying online from these great small businesses, please note their Christmas delivery cut off dates so you aren’t disappointed. 

BOOKS

1. Just Desserts by Charlotte Ree, $21.35 - This newly released title is super fun and colourful and contains the perfect baking recipes for those who are new to the game. 

2. Bake Australia Great by Katherine Sabbath, $29.95 - This book looks like it is full of fun and amazingly creative recipes. Possibly the replacement for the 1980s Women’s Weekly Birthday Cake book we all looked at as kid - but even more fun!

3. Taverna by Georgina Hayden, $40.75 - This is one of my favourite releases of 2019. Georgina takes the reader through her Greek Cypriot family history through food. The recipes are delicious and it’s a book you will come back to again and again. 

4. Farmer Cookbook, $29.95 - I recommended this book last year when it was still on a fundraising platform, but now the book is available from most bookstores. It is filled with great recipes from such a variety of people, and is still raising money for farmers in need. 

5. Blushing Confetti x Nectar and Stone Dessert Journal, $39.95 - For those who love pretty things and the written word. The cloth bound notebook is a super sweet addition to any bakers collection, which over time can be filled with all your own recipes. 

6. Fortnum & Mason: Christmas and Other Winter Feasts, $63.75 - This one has been on my list for quite a while. I love Fortnum and Mason, and there is something about an English Christmas that just seems so appealing. 

FOOD GIFTS

1. Grounded Pleasures Christmas Gift Box, $69 - These boxes are the sweetest gift. There are four to choose from, all with a handmade mug from a local Ballarat ceramicist. I bought the Dreaming of a White Christmas one as a gift to myself, and I am absolutely loving it.

2. Sprinkle Spices Sweet Gift Hamper, $99 - This would make a great present for that person (or family) in your life with a sweet tooth. Filled with three of the best sweet spices from Sprinkle, plus a few other goodies (including a couple of things from Grounded Pleasures), this hamper is sure to please. 

3. Flour and Stone Gingerbread Trees Gift Box, $35 - For those that love baked goods but hate being in the kitchen! These gingerbread are the best you can buy in Sydney, and are always perfectly decorated. 

4. Gewurzhaus Christmas Advent Tea, $18 - I love a good festive tea, and particularly those like this one, that are great made warm or cold. This tea has a warming Christmas flavour, and is a very festive red colour once brewed.

5. Hey Tiger Oh Crumbs! Chocolate Bar, $15 - This chocolate bar is the bomb. Caramelised white chocolate (my all time fave), with gingerbread crumbs. As Hey Tiger say, is it even the holidays without gingerbread? No, is definitely the answer to that one for me. 

6. Frank Green Reusable Cup (Regular Size), $34.95 - This the gift that keeps on giving. I have been using mine for about a year now and I love it as much as I did when I first bought it. Dishwasher safe, and spill proof, these reusable cups are worth the small investment. They are also bright and fun, and I find having a colourful cup means the barista always remembers my order!

Grounded Pleasures Dreaming of a White Christmas Gift Box

HOMEMADE GIFTS

Homemade Jam and Muesli

If you have time, edible homemade gifts are super special and heartfelt. They can also be a more cost effective option which is great. Glass jars with a little ribbon and label or sticker are all you need to dress them up. Here are some ideas for what you could fill your jars with:

1. Jam - see recipes for Strawberry Jam, Mixed Berry Jam and Peach & Passionfruit Jam.

2. Muesli - see recipe for Honey Muesli here.

3. Biscuits - shortbread, gingerbread, chewy macaroons, spiced Christmas Biscuits.

4. Rocky Road - see Pink Rocky Road Recipe here and recipe for a Rocky Road Wreath I developed for Grounded Pleasures here.

5. Marshmallows - see recipe for Blackberry Marshmallows here, Bergamot Marshmallows here, plus more marshmallow recipes in my Cosy Winter Bakes eBook.

6. Nougat - see recipe for Rose and Pistachio Nougat in my Baking with Rose eBook.

A Christmas Gift Guide for Foodies

Heavily inspired by Betty Magazine’s lust worthy gift guide, and after much deliberation over what I will be buying people for Christmas, I thought I would put together a Christmas Gift Guide for the foodies in your life (or for yourself of course!). 

These are a selection of my favourite cookbooks I love to give as gifts and one’s that are on my wish list this year!

I have also included a selection of food or food related gifts from Australian based small business that I love, to give you some extra inspiration for the festive season.

Each picture has click through link, so if you want more information about any of the books or products, click their picture.

NB: If buying online from these great small businesses, please note their Christmas delivery cut off dates so you aren’t disappointed. 

Farmer - The Cookbook

WILD Adventure Cookbook - by Sarah Glover

Ottolenghi Simple - by Yotam Ottolenghi

Now & Again - by Julia Turshen

A Table in Venice - by Skye McAlpine

Greatest Hits - Katherine Sabbath

1. Farmer - The Cookbook, starting at $40. This book is a charity project supporting Rural Aid for farmers affected by the drought. The book is due to be released in February 2019, however there is a great Christmas gift option for $50, where you get a Gift Voucher mailed to you to give to the recipient for Christmas, and the book itself will get mailed to them come February next year. For more information check out their Chuffed fundraising page.

2. WILD Adventure Cookbook by Sarah Glover, $69.95. This book started as a Kickstarter project between Sarah Glover and photographer Luisa Brimble, and since then gone on to be released in the USA and is also available in bookstores here in Australia (David Jones and Booktopia to name a couple). This is a really different style of cookbook and is filled with beautiful images of food being cooked outdoors.

3. Ottolenghi Simple - by Yotam Ottolenghi, $34.95. I don’t know many who don’t want this book! Yotam Ottlenghi’s recipes are always fantastic and this book has an edge of comfort and simplicity, whilst maintaining his characteristic flavour combinations and interesting ingredients.

4. Now & Again - by Julia Turshen, $40.75. Julia’s recipes and food writing are so enjoyable, and I can’t imagine anyone not getting some good use out of this book. This book creates magic from leftovers in Julia’s trademark friendly and inviting style.

5. A Table in Venice - by Skye McAlpine, $46.25. This book is a dream, visually and in terms of the recipes. The photography and design of the book are stunning and would make a lovely gift for any lover of Italian food.

6. Greatest Hits - by Katherine Sabbath, $125. This book is like nothing else you’ve seen before! A pop-up cookbook filled with Katherine’s fun and colourful creations would be the perfect gift for any keen baker.

Rocky Road Bon Bon -Sweetness by Adora

Toasty Block-O-Choc - Bakedown Cakery

Sun Dried Smyrna Quince - Singing Magpie Produce

Real White Drinking Chocolate - Grounded Pleasures

Cornersmith Gift Voucher

Crumpet Rings - The Lost & Found Department

1. Rocky Road Bon Bon from Sweetness by Adora Chocolates, $12. These are the best rocky road you can get. Coming in dark, milk and white chocolate each bar contains handmade SweetMallows (Sweetness by Adora’s handmade marshmallows) along with their handmade pâte de fruit.

2. Toasty Block O Choc from Bakedown Cakery, $12. This chocolate bar is unlike any other - it’s caramelised white chocolate! Much more addictive than it’s regular white chocolate sibling, this bar is well worth a try. But get in quick as Bakedown are changing their chocolate offering in 2019 and Toasty will be no more! All Bakedown chocolate bars come in beautifully designed packaging so they make the perfect gift.

3. Sun Dried Smyrna Quince from Singing Magpie Produce, $33. You've probably heard me go on about this dried fruit before, but they are just so good! Sun dried in Monash, South Australia these quinces come from trees planted over 100 years ago, and have won many a food award, and for good reason!

4. Real White Drinking Chocolate from Grounded Pleasures, $12.90. I love this white drinking chocolate! White drinking chocolate can be very hard to find, but Grounded Pleasures has you covered. The chocolate is beautiful and creamy, yet not too rich and is great for a warming winter drink. It can also be used in baking and for iced drinks too. Grounded Pleasures also make a variety of other drinking chocolates which are well worth checking out.

5. Cornersmith Gift Voucher from Cornersmith, from $50. Who wouldn’t want to do a cooking class at Cornersmith? From bread making to pickling and preserving Cornersmith offers a wide range of classes during the year which are super enjoyable and informative.

6. Crumpet Rings from The Lost and Found Department, $2.50 each. The Lost and Found Department sells a range of baking ware handmade in Tasmania, and one of these products are these crumpet rings. Used to cook crumpets on the stove, these rings are a rare gem as they are otherwise extremely hard to come by! The are a great little present for any keen baker.

Toasty Bloc-O-Choc by Bakedown Cakery (stars are Christmas Limited Edition Toasty Caramel & Praline by Bakedown Cakery)

Greatest Hits The Pop Edition by Katherine Sabbath