30 Gifts for People Who Love Food, Picked By People Who Love Food
There’s a special feeling in the air around the holidays, isn’t there? A sparkle, a warmth. We think it comes from the friction caused by credit card swiping, or the spark of a smart chip telling the computer to ch-ch-charge it! So much money! That’s why our under $100 gift guide is here. These are generous gifts for the people in your life who cook, entertain, or otherwise collect ceramics to serve olives in. Each gift is endorsed by someone on the Bon Appétit staff, who are the pickiest people we’ve ever met, and selected for very specific types of food people. See if you can find yourself among them. It’s the holidays, after all.
Find the rest of our 2019 gift guides right here.
All products featured on Bonappetit.com are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Photo by Chelsie Craig1/30For the person who never met a cae-sal she didn’t love
If you ever seen senior food editor Molly Baz in a From the Test Kitchen video, then you know that she pretty much only wears oversized, floppy linen jumpsuits in neutral tones, with an apron to match. She loves the comfortable cross-back design of this one in particular, which she says feels like “wearing a nightgown at work.” What could be better than that?
Photo by Chelsie Craig2/30For the person who Instagrams everything they bake
Loaf cakes are normally squat and plain—the type of dessert that fits squarely into the “humble and homely” category. But a loaf that’s baked in the Nordic Ware fluted loaf pan emerges like a butterfly from a cocoon: intricately designed and absolutely stunning, an entirely different creature. With its undulating curves and star-like design, this pan transforms even the plainest carrot cake or banana bread into a beauty queen—no glaze or dusting of powdered sugar necessary (though it sure is nice).
Buy it: Nordic Ware Anniversary Loaf Pan, $34 from Sur La Table
Photo by Chelsie Craig3/30For the person who believes there’s no such thing as “too many mugs”
Bespoke ceramics are a very now thing for restaurants to commission, making dining out one of the best ways to learn about new designers these days. That’s what happened when dined at Mill House and Lineage in Maui: We loved the pieces so much, we had to inquire who made them. Karina Subijana of Altar Ceramics makes wide, shallow bowls and chubby mugs with a satisfying heft and sturdy roundness that’s a pleasure to hold (and behold). They’re worthy investment pieces, but nothing too precious that wouldn’t want to actually use them.
Photo by Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh4/30For the person who always asks for a sip of your water
We’re all about the look and feel of this Japanese-designed bottle, which works for both hot and cold contents. Made with stainless steel, silicone, and vacuum insulated, it retains the temperature for hours, With a rounded handle that is comfortable to hold, it is perfect for carrying around on walks, day trips, and (who are we kidding) toting around the office.
Photo by Chelsie Craig5/30For the person who downloaded all the wine apps this year
You don’t have to be a wine person (or even drink “good” wine) to use a decanter. Our wine editor, Marissa Ross, says decanting is like stretching out your legs after a long flight—the extra space and fresh air takes the edge off the juice and allows it to mellow out a bit. Plus, it has the added touch of looking good on your table. We like the simple, curvy shape of this one, but our editor at large Andrew Knowlton digs his Mark Thomas MT Series Bottle (which he uses for a lot more than bottles of red). Either way, it’ll get the job done. If you want your wine to be better, it needs to breathe. Don’t we all?
PHOTO COURTESY OF PIECEWORK PUZZLES6/30For the person more likely to have a puzzle on their dinner table than food
ATTENTION PUZZLE PEOPLE. You know who you are. You spend your long weekends, holidays, and summer vacations hunched over 1,000 cardboard pieces until they cooperate into a scene so beautiful you’re tempted to glue it together and hang it on your basement wall. That’s passion. That’s joy. If that resonates, then you’ll love the arty, surreal, food-focused (or at least -adjacent) puzzles from Rachel Hochhauser and Jena Wolfe, which feel as fresh and fun as a just-stirred martini.
Photo by Alex Lau7/30For the person with seasonal cocktail preferences
You might never mix a cocktail as deftly as they do at New York’s Le Coucou or a L.A.’s Majordomo. But you can cop their barware, particularly these Nick and Nora glasses with a swank gold trim and curved silhouette. At five ounces, it’s far more sensible than those oversize martini troughs you get at the club—because, really, when you’re drinking a cocktail served up, you don’t want it edging into that lukewarm territory when you’re only halfway finished. Keep it small, keep it cold.
Photo by Alex Lau8/30For the person who sings “Shallow” at every karaoke party
Have you heard the news?! We love a shallow bowl! This 9-inch design from Sarah Kersten is one of those perfectly wide-but-also-a-little-deep sizes for soups, pastas, grain bowls, and (of course) brothy things. Another thing we love! Just ask Carla Lalli Music.
Buy it: Sarah Kersten Salad Bowl in Quail Egg, $46 from Sarah Kersten
Photo by Chelsie Craig9/30For the person who likes to gets saucy
When something is perfect, it’s worth treasuring. And hoarding. And finding even more reasons to keep it in your life. That’s how we feel about the Kunz spoon: the world’s greatest kitchen spoon. Artfully drizzle dressing over some crisp endive leaves; baste herby juices over a roasted chicken; flip, stir, sauce, plate whatever’s in front of you—oh, and taste it too. All that and more, from one spoon to rule them all.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle10/30For the person who currently keeps their wine under the sink
A wine rack is a good place to put your wine (when it doesn’t need to be put in the fridge). And it’s an especially good place when it’s innocuous looking—or even better, invisible. Clear and stackable, this acrylic rack hits all the right notes, so whether there’s 4 bottles or 40 to store, sky’s the limit with this unimposing little guy.
Buy it: Clear Wine Rack, $40 from CB2
Photo by Chelsie Craig11/30For the person with an extensive spice collection
Some people collect tchotchkes on their travels. Senior food editor Andy Baraghani collects mortars and pestles. (He has 14 so far, from Iran, Italy, Thailand…). We think that’s great, but you actually only need one to be able to make pestos and crush whole spices the Andy way. This 8-inch granite set is sturdy, wide, and deep enough to suit any need—including that of looking good on the kitchen counter.
Buy it: 8-inch Granite Mortar and Pestle, $45 from Grocery Thai
Photo by Laura Murray12/30For the person who shudders at the idea of boring white plates
For all their practicality and beauty, Melamine bowls and plates have replaced disposable ones in situations where we might, in the past, have turned to paper or plastic. Yes they’re great for picnics (they’re super lightweight and virtually indestructible so you never have to worry about tossing them in your tote). But they’re also perfect when you’re feeling whimsical, and your collection of hand-thrown ceramics just won’t do. There’s a style for everyone, so we picked a few of our favorites.
Buy ‘em (clockwise from top):
Camp Melamine Blue Speckle Dessert Plates (set of 6), $50 at Food52
John Derian Melamine Rose Plates, $9 at John Derian
Floral Print Melamine Plates (set of 4), $68 at Food52
Photo by Laura Murray13/30SPONSORED: For the person who dreams about getting better sleep
Yeah, we’re obsessed with sleep as much as the next guy, and even if there’s no magic bullet to achieving those elusive eight hours each night, we’re not opposed to investing in ways to make the experience of going to sleep a little more relaxing. For that, we’re turning to this non-toxic pillow made of GOLS organic certified latex, GOTS organic certified Kapok fill, and a GOTS organic certified cotton cover. It might not have the power to knock us out on contact, but with all its promises of hypoallergenic, sustainable, moisture-wicking, breathable, pesticide-free materials, we can breath a bit deeper, and rest a little easier.
Photo by Laura Murray14/30For the person who considers table-setting a sport
We are obsessed with these delightful Italian wax fruit and cake candles sold at John Derian, the eccentric home goods store that has no equal. There are two-wick red-wax cheese wheels with a wedge missing. Elaborate faux-frosted cakes in an array of tier options, as well as bulbous eggplants, spiky artichokes, ripe bananas, and shiny apples. These are perfect for the person with better taste than you who is impossible to buy gifts for. Or gather an assortment in a bowl and wait for unsuspecting guests to take a bite...
