Five Fabulous Gift Ideas for Foodies
PIN IT!It’s the most wonderful time of the YEAR! (I say in my jubilant, opera singing voice).
I’m definitely a certifiable Christmas junkie, but this is nothing new. My family does Christmas big. My grandma hosts a Christmas Eve party every year, in which my mom makes way too many appetizers and over 2,000 cookies, and everyone gets to together to laugh over way too many glasses of wine. It’s amazing to know that no matter how much I change, where I go, what happens in my life, we’ll always have Christmas Eve and Christmas morning at my grandparents. I’m not naïve to think that this will last forever, but for now, having this constant holiday tradition in my ever-changing life is incredible. That’s part of why I love this time of year so much, the warm fuzzies and nostalgia I feel each December.
Also, my mom loves holiday decorating and it’s hard not to get in the spirit when you grow up in a house decorated like this.
I told you, she loves to decorate.
Now, another awesome thing about December is that my birthday lies just a few weeks before Christmas [Dec. 6th to be exact]! So, as a kid, I’d write one list of what I wanted for my birthday and then one list, to go to Santa of course, of what I wanted for Christmas. Although my lists have dwindled substantially, I still write down what I’d like. It makes holiday shopping a little easier on everyone! Unlike the past years where I asked Mom, Dad & Mr. Clause for an iPod, new Ugg boots, an Iphone and the like, this year my list is filled with light boxes, baking utensils, cookie sheets, a food processor and a new camera lens. I’m officially a food blogger. So, as I work on my letter to Santa, I’m compiling some of the ideas y’all gave me yesterday into a list of the top 5 gift ideas food bloggers would love. Let me know if you agree!
Note: these aren’t ranked, just listed in a random order!
1. Dutch Oven
[photo via]
A bunch of the foodies I asked, virtually and in real life, wanted just one thing this holiday; a dutch oven! These brightly colored pieces of cookware are amazingly verstaile, pretty to look at and last FOREVER. We got one (a Martha Stewart brand) as a wedding present and I’ve already used it 10 times, on pot roasts, lasagna, casseroles and even steak! Although the price tag can be hefty (close to $250), this is the gift that will give years to follow. It’s well worth the investment and will make a foodie’s dreams come true! (And they may even invite you over for the delicious concotions they conjure up in these lovely ovens!)
Price: Varies anywhere from $50-$300
Where you can buy:
2. Camera equiptment
No foodie is complete without a camera to take photos of the beautiful masterpiece you just created in the kitchen. You don’t need a fancy camera to take fancy photos, just need proper lighting and composition! That’s where light boxes, external flashes and tripods come in handy! There’s nothing worse than spending hours prepping, cooking and staging a food shot only to have it come out poorly lit and blurry. I know I’m asking Santa for a lighting kit this Christmas!
Price: Equiptment varies, anywhere from $10-over $10,000
Where to buy:
3. Fun table clothes and placemats
[photo via Anna Williams]
My mom asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I told her “trendy placemats!” As gorgeous as food is placed on a crisp white plate on a wooden surface, fun and colored placemats add a fabulous look and feel to your presentation. In the photo above, the food would have sold itself, no matter what, however, the fun pink tablecloth and brightly colored placemats add such a unique and artistic flair and enhance the composition. To me, these additions make your picture a piece of art versus just a shot of some cake. Plus, placemats come in so many different colors, designs and shapes, you can please even the pickiest of food bloggers and foodies in your life!
Price: varies
Where to buy:
4. Bakeware and Baking Utensils
[via Anthropologie]
No foodie is complete without proper baking utensils! Although I’ve rolled dough out with a wine bottle and measured baking soda in a small spoon, having the proper equipment has really improved my baking and my sanity in the kitchen. And with the fun, brightly colored pie dishes, measuring cups and spoons and cookie sheets out there, you can really add some vibrancy to your holiday baking! I’m a huge fan of Anthropologie’s ornately decorated and vibrant utensils and bakeware!
Price: Varies from $2-$100
Where to get them:
5. Kitchen electronics
[image via]
One of the top items my food friends told me they wanted this year were electronics for the kitchen! Food processors, Kitchen Aid mixers and hand held blenders were the top items they suggested. Trust me when I say this, these machines will change your life! I can’t tell you how many mornings I’ve worken up with massively sore (in a bad way) arms because I had to hand mix multiple kinds of cookie dough the night before! In addition to saving your arm, these machines can cup up to 20 minutes off baking and cooking prep! That means more time to drink wine and catch up on Lifetime. 🙂
Price: Varies, depending on item
Where to buy:
Hopefully this makes your holiday shopping a little easier when it comes to your foodie friends and family! And if you can’t find something that works, I don’t know many foodies who would turn down a nice gift card to a snazzy local restaurant. We like to cook, but some nights we like others to cook for us!
What is number one on your gift list this year?
Looks like you;re all set for Christmas!