What do you get the gourmand who has it all? A restaurant voucher is always welcomed and you know that a fancy bottle of wine or whiskey might do the trick but if you want to really impress your favourite foodie this Christmas it’s time to think outside the box. So here I’ve gathered a selection of gorgeous things that I, as a foodie who sort of has everything, would love to receive for Christmas this year.
Basket case
Chopping boards are often seen as a safe bet for a foodie present – but who wants to play it safe? Instead, why not opt for a beautiful Irish-made basket? I’ve been lusting over Sarah Jenkinson’s masterpieces since spotting chef Jess Murphy using them.
Galway-based Jenkinson weaves contemporary and traditional willow baskets inspired by the colour palette of the Connemara landscape. Choose from shoppers, a mushroom basket or, for a real foodie, go for the skib – a traditional west-of-Ireland potato basket. Available from Ernie’s Shop, 6-8 Sea Road, Galway and at etsy.com/shop/willowbasketsbysarah
For the wannabe Carmy
Anyone who’s into food is likely to have watched and obsessed over the award-winning restaurant-based TV show The Bear, so how about giving a wannabe Carmy or Sydney an actual kitchen item from the show?
Eagle-eyed fans might have spotted that the tweezers, grilling tongs and scissors used in Season 3 were from a company called Oui Chef – and guess where they are based? Right here in Dublin. Don’t forget to take advantage of the complimentary engraving of a name, date or logo on the tools. From €9.95, available from ouichef.kitchen
To top things off, how about getting hold of one of Carmy’s pristine, hard-working white T-shirts? These classic wardrobe staples were sourced from a German apparel brand called Merz b. Schwanen. Go for the 215 model so your gift receiver can shout “Yes chef” with confidence. merzbschwanen.com
Uncorking alternatives
As I said, nice wine is always nice but if you want something a wine lover might not buy for themselves, how about some high-end olive oil? Sarah & Olive imports excellent single-estate-produced oil from Spain which wine aficionados will appreciate. A bonus is that the bottles are gorgeous too. From €15, available from sarahandolive.com
Or what about some fun pre-batched cocktails? Dublin-based Vice Coffee release two excellent options for the Christmas season that are available for nationwide delivery. Choose from award-winning Irish Coffee or their trademark Espresso Martini – both are made with top-notch ingredients and you can add glasses to the gift also. Drinks that are guaranteed to put a pep in any foodie’s step over the festive season. From €22.50, vicecoffeeinc.com
A feast for the mind
To impress even the most well-read foodie, go beyond cookbooks this Christmas and instead delve into Irish food history with these two brilliant books.
This hefty tome is the first of its kind on Irish food. Edited by Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire and Dorothy Cashman, it features 32 contributions from experts in their fields, giving incredible insights to the rich tapestry of Ireland’s food history. €45 from shop.ria.ie
An Irish Food Story: 100 Foods That Made Us
Chef JP McMahon looks at history, culture and identity of Ireland through 100 foods. From farmhouse cheese to Findus Crispy Pancakes and everything in between. ninebeanrowsbooks.com
Sip and solve
And finally for something fun and foodie and classically Christmas, how about a jigsaw? Water and Wines specialises in very fun and very informative sommelier-made, artist-illustrated puzzles.
Choose from the wine regions of Italy, Champagne or New Zealand, or how about the recently added Irish Whiskey puzzle? PS: These are even better received when winning a bottle of something. From €45, available in Avoca and The Corkscrew and at waterandwines.com
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