Editorial TeamFood and family go together like coffee and Baileys. Each year, we pour it on thick to bring you our favourite foodie finds, from gotta-have-it gadgets to gourmet goodies, each gift at every price range to suit every tastebud on your list.
Or maybe you’re looking for some holiday inspo to make your hosting duties lighter. Check. Treat yourself or the ones you love, the kitchen is where it all happens!
From stocking stuffers to beyond, here’s our favourite gear for holiday gifting.
🎁 ~OUR ULTIMATE FOOD GIFT GUIDE FOR 2023~🎁
General Assembly Pizza Subscription: for the pizza lover in your life, gift this awesome pizza subscription created by this Toronto-based pizzeria. Several variations to choose from. Perfect for those nights you need to get the kids to the skating rink, or date night, or when you’re just too damn tired to cook. Their Impossible Meat variation is seriously delish!
Charlie’s Burger’s Wine Club (Sonya): For the wine lover on your list, gift them a subscription to Ontario’s most exclusive wine club. They curate an exclusive selection of imported wines from the world’s best vineyards that you won’t find at the LCBO. Each month members received 2 to 6 wines that are sourced by their experts. Each delivery will include a note that explains everything you need to know.
Scout Market Goods Holiday Bundle (Libby, lead photo): Italians love to celebrate the season with seafood, so of course take their cue and ensure there are some omega-rich finds at your next holiday shindig. Scout Canning– Chef Charlottle Langley’s operation- features fantastic seacuterie boards The set includes the board, hardware and serving dishes to make it a lasting gift. Comes with Scout Seacuterie 3-Pack (Atlantic Canadian Lobster, PEI Mussels in a Smoked Paprika & Fennel Tomato Sauce, and Rainbow Trout with Dill) but you can also shell out for a subscription for the gift that keeps giving.
STUFF FOR THE STOCKINGS
Lucky Iron Fish (Nathalie): This handy kitchen gadget fortifies your food with iron, easily. A perfect stocking stuffer, especially for women, the Lucky Iron Fish (or leaf) is added to anything you can bring to a boil, like duh, water, or also stews, curries or soups. Like magic, your food and drink benefit from extra iron, which can help prevent anaemia and other health ailments. (And get the recipe for this Kumquat Shrub sipper here).
blume Superfood Latte (Heather): Shove a few sleeves of blume’s seasonal superfood lattes into that special one’s stocking – with flavours like Gingerbread, Mint Cocoa and Salted Caramel, these holiday hits are sure to thrill. Vegan-friendly and caffeine-free, inject a little self-care into your mug in the morning or use the powders to make your own energy balls. Bliss.
Sacha-ish by Pay Chen and Zing Pantry Shortcuts (Sonya): This savoury chili condiment is already a favourite. The collaboration between the tv and radio personality is a winner. Pay is a Taiwanese-Canadian and this flavourful jar of goodness was inspired in part by her favourite food memories like hot pot where the sauces are always a favourite. Use this on noodles, dumplings, stir-fries and anything else you can think of.
GIFTS FOR UNDER THE TREE
KILNE Everything Pan (Sonya): not all pans are created equal and Canadian company KILNE proves it again with this latest pan. It can take you from stovetop to oven seamlessly so your pasta bakes and casseroles finish with perfection. And food just slides off the non-stick surface effortlessly making Sunday morning eggs and pancakes a breeze. Works great on induction stove tops too. Cleaning is a dream and we have it on repeat. Made in Italy.
KitchenAid Burr Coffee Bean Grinder (Sonya): The freshest way to start of your day? Begin with grinding your own roasted beans. This grinder offers coffee aficionados the precision they long for in their cup of joy. With the ability to grind bean sizes for a variety of coffee options (French Press, Espresso, Coffee etc) this is the most versatile grinder we’ve explored.
Gingerbread Wooden Board (Sonya): if you’re looking for a sweet hostess gift, this Gingerbread cut-out wooden board will be cherished for years to come. Fill it with cookies and leave it behind for the host at your upcoming holiday gathering. Available at Indigo.
SAVE THE WRAPPING FOR SOMEONE ELSE
Just Vertical- The Eve (Libby): Is it furniture or is it a living wall? Either way, this gorgeous show-stopper fits right into any space, injecting greens and herbs into everything on your plate. As a bunny owner, this would be a welcome addition to Billy’s repertoire. Choose your colour of cabinetry and plant fresh vegetables like bok choy, basil, dill and lettuce, on repeat. Add a subscription to keep ’em green all year long.
T-fal ActiCook& Stir Multi-Cooker (Libby): Multi-purpose, multi-function, all form and stupid simple to use, I keep singing the praises of this kitchen beast. It’s literally like an extra set of hands in the kitchen, your own countertop sous chef that never needs a break. It makes the best rice and keeps it warm as long as you want it to. Soups are also a cinch. It can even make yoghurt. If you’re looking to make your own food, save a few bucks, and do it simply, this gadget really does it all.
Philips 3200 Series Espresso Machine (Libby): This impressive beast brings everything you need to run your own cafe in one posh-looking coffee maker. Explore the series of machines, from 2200 to 5400, Philips has a barista ready for whatever you want to brew.
Ciselier Kitchen Scissors (Sonya): For as long as I can remember, my mom always had kitchen sheers and food scissors. She always had a small pair in her purse – might be a cultural thing, but she always has them handy if food needed to be portioned out and she didn’t want to hassle the restaurant staff for knives. But food scissors have come a long way. This site has a specially curated selection of the world’s best heritage-crafted scissors. I’m eyeing the ones perfect for our incredible pizza nights at home…and a set for my mom’s purse.
EASY EATS by the Edgy Veg: The latest cookbook by Candice Hutchings delivered plant-based recipes that even carnivores get excited about. Yes, vegan food but built different and still very satisfying. We are fans of her first cookbook but this one is faster, simpler for those in a hurry to get a meal on the table. Each recipe takes no longer than 45 minutes to make and are super tasty!
