By Everyone’s favorite food and drink gift guide is back with all-new picks! Same same, but different.
It’s the 5th anniversary of this gift guide. Same rules apply:
- A distribution of gift options between $20-$300, with very few at the top end of that range, and plenty of affordable selections
- A diverse range of products that can accommodate various palates and dietary restrictions
- No mass market stuff
- We’ve tried to focus on small businesses and diverse ownership
- US & Canada focused, with every option shipping to the continental US
This time, we have a few recommendations that you can buy on Amazon or your local grocery or big box store because we realize this may be most reasonably accessible for some people. We don’t repeat any recommendations, though we still stand by all our past ones. This means each gift guide offers unique value, and it’s worth going back to the 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020 editions. Your distinguished panel of five foodie friends are back. Here’s why you should trust us:
Amanda Natividad: VP of Marketing for SparkToro, former test kitchen cook at the Los Angeles Times, Le Cordon Bleu graduate, and discerning consumer who dutifully notified the Wirecutter to update their infant formula pick when the manufacturer updated the ingredient list in 2018. She was also once quoted in the LA Times about Totino’s pizza rolls, and that quote has nothing to do with her prior affiliation with the newspaper.
Geraldine DeRuiter: Author of All Over the Place and the best-selling If You Can’t Take the Heat, founder of Everywhereist.com, and popular creator of clear pumpkin pies and crime-denial commentary. During one of Amanda’s recent stays at her house, she made a beautiful truffly (I think?) buttery drizzle for piping hot popcorn and you can tell that Amanda has not stopped thinking about it since. She’s also married to Rand, but even if she weren’t, we’d be soliciting her input.
Andrew Bohrer: A wonderful man whose food and drink opinions have never steered us wrong. He’s a cocktail-competition-winner, bartending legend, artist, connoisseur of all things tasteable and taste-worthy. He helped Rand put together SparkToro’s inaugural list, and we’ve sought his opinion every year since. Andrew not only brings an expert point of view, but he’s also consumed, used or visited all of his recommendations, which means he’s giving tried-and-true, thoughtful advice. He is tending bar at The Doctor’s Office on Cap Hill in Seattle— a 12 seat, global spirits tasting room with classic cocktails and NO SHAKERS (because it would be very loud in such an intimate space). Read The Stranger’s review, or just take a Seattle friend there for an extraordinary night of mixology.
Scott Heimendinger: A second-time co-author of this gift guide! He’s a culinary inventor and good friend of ours. You know that sous vide cooker tucked away lovingly in your kitchen? He invented that. Yes. He is a literal inventor. Most recently, Scott founded Seattle Ultrasonics where he’s on a mission to build a better chef’s knife. Scott is always testing things in his kitchen (usually with his robot, Dr. Choppenheimer), and we’ve never second-guessed his advice. He’s also much better at food puns than we could ever hope to be.
Rand Fishkin: Cofounder and CEO at SparkToro, married to a James Beard award winning food writer. Infamous for selecting one terrible restaurant in Lecce, and only slightly less infamous for suggesting a taste test of every Mountain Dew flavor. Rand’s also a ludicrously picky eater, surprisingly passable home chef, and mostly wants all his friends to buy the people they love good, consumable things that won’t clutter up their homes. Also, after the SparkTogether 2024 festivities ended after 10pm, Amanda whispered that she didn’t have a chance to eat and instead of throwing a bag of potato chips at her, Rand whipped up cacio e pepe from scratch and said, “Meh, it’s not a big deal.” It was a big deal. To her.
These are this year’s gift categories to better help you find the right gift for the right person:
- Actual holiday-related items for festive friends
- Tools and novelties for beginner and expert home cooks
- Beautiful food-related items for hosts/people who like beautiful things
- Fridge and pantry essentials for the gourmand
- Nonalcoholic beverages for (almost) everyone
- Boozy treats for those who partake
- Books for all kinds of food enthusiasts
- Snacks that can be purchased a number of ways
- Useful items for the eco-conscious
And now, without further ado, the list! (in our own, respective words):
Actual Holiday-Related Items for Festive Friends
Hanukkah Gift Baskets from Zabar’s
I look up an article on good gelt every year. I can tell you this, you often can’t get decent gelt delivered after mid November. So shop as soon as possible. But if you don’t want to shop around, Zabar’s can take care of you. I’ve sent out a couple of these gift baskets and they are overkill, but nobody complains. -Andrew
12 Nights of Cocktails Advent Calendar from Straightaway Cocktails
I struggle with gifting Advent calendars that typically have 25 days included. Towards the end of November, I’m still dashing to cross the finish line of Thanksgiving. I can’t even wrap my head around Christmas/holiday shenanigans. So every year, come December 1st, I feel like the holidays have snuck up on me and I’m already behind the curve with starting an Advent calendar, let alone gifting one. Fortunately, this Straightaway Cocktails calendar is only 12 days and it’s only $60. It’s a fun gift to help educate the aspiring home bartender, and a nice lazy treat for a more experienced one. -Amanda
Chocolat Moderne Hanukkah Chic™ Bonbons from ChefShop
Finally, some classy Hanukkah chocolates. Not that I don’t love the traditional, cheap, chalky Hanukkah geld, but given that Christmas and Hanukkah start on the same day for the first time in 20 years, the Red Sea Pedestrians in your life might be feeling a little left out compared to the exceptional selections of Christmas chocolates their gentile neighbors get. -Rand
Novelties and Tools for Beginner and Expert Home Cooks
Chicken Roasting Spit from PoulTree
Scott’s friend started PoulTree and it is the new foodie gift I am most excited about gifting. The PoulTree is a rod that attaches to your cast iron skillet which catches all the drippings while you roast your chicken on the grill. Brilliant. -Amanda
Fluicer by Dreamfarm
Listen, I don’t have small hands, ok? I’m not some tall orange freak with weirdly small hands. I’m a petite lady with weirdly big hands. And yet. Regular citrus squeezers really do a number on my hands and wrists, weakened from years of computer keyboard use. That’s why I really like the Fluicer. Because you need to engage both hands in a lateral squeeze, it’s easier on the wrists. Plus, the fold-flat style means your Fluicer will never get caught in the drawer. I really love many Dreamfarm’s products, including their Mini Supoon tiny spatula. The last jar of peanut butter I finished got super clean before I recycled it! -Amanda
Garject by Dreamfarm
Anthony Bourdain once said, “Garlic is divine. Avoid at all costs that vile spew you see rotting in oil in screwtop jars. Too lazy to peel fresh? You don’t deserve to eat garlic.” Well I’m here to tell you YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL, MY FRIEND. You can be “too lazy” or too busy or too tired or too smart about how you use your time in the kitchen, and still enjoy fresh garlic. With the Garject, you’ll have a garlic press that presses unpeeled garlic and scrapes itself clean. Just be sure to toss it into a bowl or cup of water when you’re done so that by the time you’re doing the dreaded post-meal cleanup, you don’t have sticky garlic rind crusted onto your Garject. -Amanda
FireKylin Silicone Rice Paddle
I never know where to put the rice paddle. I spoon some rice onto my plate then I awkwardly look around my kitchen, waiting for a spoon rest to materialize before shrugging and setting the sticky paddle down onto the counter. The FireKylin rice paddle stands on its end (no sticky mess anywhere!) and it’s made of silicone. If you or your loved one are into reducing plastic use whenever reasonably possible, this $9 rice paddle is a great gift. -Amanda
Baby Nessie tea infuser from Ototo
I’m not much of a tea drinker, so I really like using the Baby Nessie tea infuser for aromatics in my cooking. I’ll add some sage, thyme, and bay leaves to it for a braised dish. Or I’ll fill it up with cloves and cardamom pods for a mulled wine. -Amanda
Sizzler bottle cap from Umami Mart
I started using the sizzler at work this year and it’s been so great for sodas that I used to top cocktails. I would shop around a bit, I bought mine for five dollars, but it’s saved a lot of money on keeping tonic, Mexican Coke, or really any carbonated beverage fresh. -Andrew
Boston round bottles from GlassBottleOutlet
Boston rounds are normally a 2-ounce size bottle used for all kinds of things, but in my business to sample booze. These days, my buddy Neil and I exchange them when we buy expensive bottles. Frequently I find I can’t taste more than 4 to 5 things at a time. But he will load me up with bottles and I will load him up with bottles and we can go back to our tasting notes when needed. They are also great for movie theaters. -Andrew
Cocktail picks from Bull in China
By now, you probably have a nice cocktail glass, but you might still be putting your 50-cent-apiece-cherries on a bamboo splinter-filled cocktail pick. Don’t do that. You deserve some metal pics. You are an adult who can clean them when you are done. Your friends are adults and won’t throw them in the trash. Let’s step it up. -Andrew
Beautiful Food-Related Items for Hosts/People Who Like Beautiful Things
Gold-rimmed Nick and Nora glasses from Cocktail Kingdom
Andrew recommended a sour glass from Cocktail Kingdom in our 2022 guide. Since then, Cocktail Kingdom has become my go-to for glassware that lasts. For years, I had wanted Nick and Nora glasses (but I’m running out of cabinet space!). Finally, I made the leap with these gold-rimmed ones. Anytime I’ve seen copper or gold-rimmed glasses from stores like Williams Sonoma or Crate & Barrel, the wash instructions are strictly hand-only. But because Cocktail Kingdom’s glasses are designed for commercial use, they are dishwasher safe. And at $40 for the 6-pack, it’s a fantastic deal. -Amanda
Glassware by Glassybaby
You could gift the experience of taking your loved one to a glassblowing class. Or you could just buy hand-blown glass from the experts. Glassybaby is a Berkeley-based shop that offers classes and gorgeous houseware. Since everything is made by hand, no two items are exactly the same. -Amanda
Airy gauze placemats from Quince
For ages, I swore by wipeable placements. Spray and scrub, good to go. But life with a couple of kids makes even wipedowns inconvenient. These placements from Quince are machine washable and made from eco-friendly organic cotton. I bought more than I need and I toss ‘em in the wash anytime there’s an unfortunate spill. -Amanda
Textiles from Block Shop
Friends, are you still using an old t-shirt or a soggy newspaper as a napkin? Are your placemats just cut up pieces of a child’s raincoat? Then it might be time for you to fancy up your tablescape. Fortunately, Block Shop Textiles has you covered with a collection of handmade, ethically-sourced napkins, placemats, and tablecloths in an array of vibrant colors and prints. The quality is amazing, the customer service is incredible (I accidentally sent a shipment to the wrong address and they helped me even though it was my mistake) and the products are so, so pretty. -Geraldine
Ceramics from Forest Ceramic Company
One of the best parts about growing older is that you unabashedly start liking old lady things, like licorice and pottery (the downside: osteoporosis). But anyway, this is about pottery. Forest Ceramic Company makes some of the most lovely tumblers and mugs I’ve ever seen, in vivid rainbow hues. They’re made locally here in Washington, and they’re a small operation, so order soon in order to ensure delivery by Christmas. -Geraldine
Earrings from Cocoa Loves Grey
Look, we could all use some damn whimsy and these food-themed earrings by Cocoa Loves Grey are whimsical AF (I have the radish ones, myself). They’re lightweight acrylic, so they won’t weigh you down, and they’re so damn cute. -Geraldine
TOYO storage boxes
I hate clutter, but life demands stuff. TOYO Steel is a Japanese heritage brand. Their boxes are well-built and beautifully enameled, yet somehow still wildly affordable. And they look just as at-home organizing gizmos in your kitchen as they do storing tools in the garage. -Scott
Non-white bar mops from Utopia Towels
Perhaps not everyone will share my OCD-affinity for this pick, but this year we switched from regular white kitchen towels to dark gray bar mops and, my goodness, it classed up the joint. White towels show stains; colored kitchen towels elegantly conceal your messes while saying to the world, “I’m the type of person who matches my kitchen towels to my countertop color. Witness me.” -Scott
Fridge and Pantry Essentials for the Gourmand
Dos Manos Honey
I took a seminar from Noel earlier this year. I liked the guy quite a lot, and not just because he used to sell wine and Mezcal for a living. I really appreciate it his point of view on the way in which bees are tied to humans, that the hive not the bee is the organism, and how to just bother them as little as possible. You might not be able to find his honey specifically, But it’s always valuable to take the time to seek out some real honey from real beekeepers. I always like to bring a bottle home from all of my travels. -Andrew
Wisconsin Sampler Cheese Gift Basket from Wisconsin Cheese Mart
I once spent Christmas with real life actual Wisconsinites. They never complained about the weather and they always cleaned their plates. I ordered a box of sampler cheese from their homeland, a little bit so that they could reminisce, but mostly so they could do what everybody wants to do with their food: share and explain it. -Andrew
Spice blends from Diaspora
I like the name of this company as much as anything. I think it’s important to take back the history of spice and give it to the people who originally cultivated them. Buy spices and smaller amounts less often and share them with your friends for freshness. You’ll find that you need less and your food is better. -Andrew
Gourmet butter from DeLaurenti
Grocery-brand butter is sweet and reliable, sure. But have you ever had a butter love affair? A butter you couldn’t stop thinking about all day at work? A butter that whispers salty French nothings to your toast, or envelops your pasta in a sinful creaminess? Here are some BILFs (butters I like to feed myself): Payson Breton (French), Delitia butter of Parma (Italian), Plugra (an American butter with a European accent), Les Pres Sale (Belgian), Isigny Beurre de Baratte (French and full of crystals). -Scott
Food from Rainbow Tomatoes Garden
Our friend (and Glowforge founder & CEO) Dan Shapiro swears by this delightful, homey, online farm stand. They manually calculate shipping, but he swears the products are worth it! I’m curious about all the food products, especially the tinned fish. -Rand
Nonalcoholic Beverages for (Almost) Everyone
Fresh pressed juice by Suja
You can buy Suja’s fresh juices and shots at your local grocery store (or maybe even Target). You can also purchase online for orders you need to ship. These make for nice treats for your loved ones who are trying to make healthier drink choices, or for care packages for folks recovering from the latest cold season illness. -Amanda
Sparkling mood-boosting drinks from Recess
These canned and powdered drinks from Recess have adaptogens which can help relax and improve your mood. Classic canned Recess has hemp and adaptogens. Recess Mood contains no hemp but has magnesium and adaptogens. Recess Mood Powders are also hemp-free but have magnesium, adaptogens and electrolytes. They also have zero proof mocktails in flavors like paloma, margarita, mule, and more. Their canned drinks are one of my faves to pop open after a long work day. -Amanda
Non-alcoholic spirits from Pathfinder
My wife and I haven’t gone NA, just less-A. But I still crave the sweet, acidic bite of tonic balanced with bitter, herbaceous notes of an amaro. Pathfinder fills that void as well or better than any of the other NA spirits we’ve tried. -Scott
Boozy Treats for Those Who Partake
Salty Watermelon Whiskey from Ole Smoky
This is a party favorite. I first saw Ole Smoky’s watermelon whiskey at the grocery store when it was on sale for $20. It needs very little to be exciting. I’ve added a dash of bitters for a watermelon old fashioned. I’ve also served it with fresh lime juice topped off with a few glugs of lime sparkling water. Most recently, I added an ounce of fresh grapefruit juice and a splash of grapefruit Spindrift, and my happy hour guests loved it. I’m not a bartender though, and I’m sure Andrew is cringing. Don’t worry, I will not let him end our friendship. -Amanda
Pinot Noir from Meiomi
My aunt-in-law (is that a thing?) served this at our last family gathering and it was a hit across generations. It’s sweet, smooth, slightly oaky, and super easy to drink. If you feel compelled to bring a bottle of wine to a party and you don’t know what kind to buy, this will be a crowd pleaser. -Amanda
Madeira and port from Haus Alpenz
You can’t really buy high-quality Madeira at a grocery store. However, high-quality Madeira and Port is accessible to pretty much anybody from my mother who just wants to watch BBC dramas on PBS to full-sleeved tattooed, Gen Z kids who can sip it while scrolling through TikTok with their other hand. It’s a great gift to give because hardly anybody will want to spend as much as they should to get a good bottle, but $50 will get you something out of this world. Pro tip, even though it doesn’t really go bad after it’s opened, the best move from Madeira is to throw the cork away and finish the bottle with friends. -Andrew
Pickle Barrel Bitters from Patino’s
Chris Patino was a kindly man, quiet and generous, but only loud in his jacket fashion. He did a lot for the cocktail community and one thing that he pulled off as he was heading out the door was making pickle bitters. It tastes and smells like pickles, and they’re a little bit bitter. Use them in anything from a martini to a bloody Mary. Maybe add a touch of savory to a Manhattan or a Tom Collins. You can’t go wrong. Everyone misses you, Chris. -Andrew
Books for All Kinds of Food Enthusiasts
Bodega Bakes: Recipes for Sweets and Treats Inspired by My Corner Store by Paola Velez
Longtime fans of Paola Velez will know her as the James Beard Award nominated pastry chef and activist behind Bakers Against Racism or her pop-up donut shop Doña Dona (oh, and she’s an absolute delight on Instagram). The good news: her long-awaited pastry cookbook – Bodega Bakes is finally out. The recipes are inspired by her Dominican heritage and the treats found in local bodegas for a result that is something quintessentially and beautifully New York City. -Geraldine
The Bartender’s Pantry by Jim Meehan and Bart Sasso
Jim is a buddy from way back. You might’ve heard of him, he made PDT in New York famous and he is responsible for why people call fancy bars “speakeasies.“ But let’s forgive him for that. In his third book, he and Emma Janzen write about how to make home ingredients for cocktails, what actually matters, and the ethics of those ingredients. It is a delightful read and has a lot for anybody interested in a fancy drink alcoholic or otherwise. -Andrew
Books and Seattle-made products from Book Larder
I did an event with The Book Larder a month ago. I was embarrassed because I hadn’t been in before. I was really impressed that everybody there was so fluent in food and restaurants. Everybody knew all of the books coming out, which classics to recommend who would want what, the level of knowledge at the shop and professionalism was truly amazing. Swing by if you’re in Seattle, but you can also order online. -Andrew
Cherry Bombe Magazine
This real, physical, printed(!) magazine is dedicated to supporting women in the world of food and drink. Imagine that: supporting women. The world could use some Bombesquad spirit now more than ever. -Scott
Snacks That Can Be Purchased a Number of Ways
Colorful mini jelly cups from your local Asian grocery store
This recommendation is a relic from my childhood. (Fellow Asian kids, raise your hands!) My mom used to buy a big tub of these mini jelly cups and many of my summers were spent slurping cold jelly from these cups. (Pink was my favorite flavor.) You can buy any brand from your local Asian grocery store, but I like the assorted ones from Golden Boy and the lychee ones from Sun Wave. Chill and serve them at your next party, or toss ’em into foodie gift baskets for some extra flair. -Amanda
Veggie chips to trick your picky eaters
Now I’m just suggesting a grocery list for you. I have found that one (sometimes) helpful way to get your child to expand their palate is to “rebrand” foods for them. Air fried sweet potatoes can become “homemade french fries,” and seared scallops can be “um, kind of like octopus, don’t worry about it,” to your octopus-loving picky eater (who somehow cannot be tricked into eating dino nuggets). Next up: radish and carrot chips which we shall call “Santa Claus Chips.” -Amanda
Alicante Turrón Candy by El Lobo
When my mom hosts small parties, she likes to serve this almond and honey brittle. They’re not quite as difficult to eat as you might think, and the papery texture is quite nice with the sweet honey. Add some to a pretty plate and leave it on the coffee table for friends! -Amanda
Popcorn from BjornQorn
One time, Rand bought me what was essentially a trashbag full of stale popcorn from the grocery store. It wasn’t very good. I ate the entire thing. And while this doesn’t make me seem like a discerning snacker, the truth is that while I will eat any popcorn BjornQorn is particularly special stuff – the flavors are rich and amazing (truffle is my favorite, don’t @ me), and you can even assemble your own custom box. IWhile it seems bonkers to eat a food that will necessitate needing to floss IMMEDIATELY after, this is my absolute favorite snack. (Please note: it does not come in garbage bag sizes.) -Geraldine
Useful Items for the Eco-Conscious
Reusable Paper Towels by mioeco
In my house, we used to use a lot of paper towels. To dry produce, scrub countertops, absorb spills, clean upholstery, and more. I knew it was awful. But eventually, I found my way to these washable paper towels. The stiff waffle weave offers a bit of texture which is nice for scrubbing at countertop stains or rubbing peanut butter out of the couch. -Amanda
Countertop Compost Bin from Art Secret
We all know about your dirty little secret. The plastic bin of decaying food under your sink that you affectionately refer to as “the compost bin”. (Wait, what did you think I was talking about?) If you are looking for an upgrade, this little number is easy-to-clean and so stylish that you won’t even mind having it on the counter. We’ve had ours for over a year, and it still looks new, and smells never escape. -Geraldine
Frozen meats from Force of Nature
Rand cooks for me almost every week. I know that he does it because he wants to do it, but he also spends too much time and money doing it. So a couple of times a year I send him a gift certificate to Force of Nature. If it’s not wine, the most expensive thing on the dinner table is frequently protein that comes from an animal. If you’re a frequent dinner guest, it’s a good gift to give. -Andrew
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And there you have it. A pretty darn comprehensive and affordable guide. Buy consciously and generously. Drink well, eat better, and drive safe. Happy holidays, everyone!
-Your friends at SparkToro, and your friends of SparkToro friends