Foodie gifts
7you have actually received (or given) that you really liked
not worried about it being meh cheap. but looking for enjoyment and quality.
I know penzys does some things, i know cheese and coffee sites and have one of the worlds best California Olive Oil producers easily available. Looking less for ‘ideas’ and more for actual items.
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Don’t forget the mag of vino…
An '07 Welly Victory would be just fine
French cookies, like Gavottes or Galettes ( but not macarons.) Nice jams & jellies, or fancy honey. My neighbors once brought us creamed honey.
Nuts & nut butters. Crunchy snack mixes like Harry & David’s Moose Munch.
@Kyeh
Nuts.com
Yes, those are all great choices! I was hooked on Nuts dot com for a while, my family LOVED getting them as much as we loved them! Their version of the chocolate covered popcorn with nuts and other goodies is called Bear Crunch. And another favorite from them is the honey roasted cashews. They’ve got a huge variety of healthy snacks too, you can even customize your own trail mix and I’ve never seen that before. Love their dried veggies too! I swear this isn’t going to get me hooked again! Lol
Definitely worth trying…
@Lynnerizer I’ve been getting candied nuts at Costco; another thing there that’s dangerously good.
The praline pecans are really good and also the honey roasted nut mix. At least with nuts you can justify having them because they’re good for you!
Baklava from an actually place that specializes in making it. When I worked in the psych hospital, every year this dr would get us these huge assortment trays of baklava and they were sooooooooooooooo good. So much better than the crap you find at the grocery store or deli. You could tell how fresh it was and the flavor was just amazing. Id usually work a double the day they came and he got trays for both shifts so id eat nothing but baklava all day. I’m definitely getting one for myself this Christmas.
@Star2236
Aaaand… you just summoned @lynnerizer
@capnjb @Star2236
Thanks to you I no longer know coffee without Maamoul cookies. 
I’ve got to admit my absolute favorite is the Maamoul cookies, and it makes no difference which variety, date, walnut, or pistachio filled, they’re ALL delightfully delicious and not too sweet! When you, capnjb, sent me that generous gift of the date filled Maamoul cookies along with your coffee beans you woke up a beast from within! 🫘
Last time I got baklava we ended up giving it away because it was WAY TOO SWEET!
I’m so excited… My sister’s birthday is coming up and just last night I ordered her a big tin container with a variety of the Maamoul cookies. She’s going to LOVE them!
@Lynnerizer @Star2236 Point noted for next box
I still need to try and make them from scratch 
And thank for the lesson in the difference between Baklava and Baklawa. Who knew I’d learn such interesting things from this dumb site? 
edit - I know I sent you the date and then the pistachio kind. Maybe for my first attempt at making them I’ll try the walnut variety. Star didn’t die from the loaf of bread I sent her, so, fingers crossed, you’ll live through my learning curve
@capnjb @Star2236
Well I didn’t intend to spark a baking fest but I know you’ve been wanting to try it for a while now. And I’m not going to turn down any homemade Maamoul cookies so have at it-!
@capnjb @Lynnerizer
Sounds interesting, never had them before.
@capnjb @Star2236
They’re a Syrian cookie that my Sitto/grandmother used to make, she made a ton of Syrian cookies but these were always my favorite. It’s a shortbread pastry dough stuffed with either dates, walnuts or pistachios. Here’s the link to one of my new favorites, they’re delicious, they taste just like Sittos did fresh from the oven!
These are the ones I’m sending my sister for her birthday.
Zalatimo Sweets Since 1860, 100%… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TP4XF53?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
These - in a few days. I just love a good taste test! We’ve been doing a lot of that lately, comparing all sorts of different types of foods.
https://a.co/d/0foZNylG
@Lynnerizer @Star2236 You should have them tomorrow. I do hope it’s not a box of regret
Although there may be a IRK bag involved
And remember you do owe me an HONEST review. Heh. I’ve never had them and I’ve never made them before. But I do like to bake 
These are the last two. Tasty
@capnjb @Star2236
I’ll be giving you my honest review! 
You better watch out, you might be getting orders from all over for cookies, it’ll be the Not So Secret Secret Coffee and Cookie Club! 
Ha! Those could be burnt and they wouldn’t be a box of regret! They look DELICIOUS and I might have to sit at the mailbox and wait for them! THAT’S how excited I am to get them!
@Lynnerizer @Star2236 Heh… I already have enough on my plate (of cookies
)
@capnjb @Star2236
@capnjb @Lynnerizer
That was so nice of you to send her home baked cookies. I need to start baking again. I loved it so much. The only problem is I end up eating it all.
@capnjb @Star2236
I know what you mean about eating everything you bake, I used to do it too! 
It was SUPER NICE of him to send me those cookies, I’ve nicknamed him Mr Generous!
@Lynnerizer @Star2236
To be honest, some didn’t leave the house.
I’ve never made these before so some never left the kitchen. Heh. They are BIG stuffed cookies so a few were cut in half and enjoyed. Still don’t know if got it right, but I think they tasted yummy 
Hold judgement until they actually arrive, Lynn
It might just be a box full of unfulfilled expectations… lol. 
@capnjb @Star2236
Maybe I should just give you tips for improvement no matter what they taste like so I can get another batch even sooner! 
Ha! 
I hadn’t thought of doing that! That would be pretty sneaky of me.
…and totally NOT my style! 
NOOOOOoooo never! Even if they are crumbles of cookies from the long ride with USPS I have faith that they are still going to be DELICIOUS! …and if they’re not I’ll be a good, kind, friend and tell you.
Hmmm
Depending on how well you know the person (this is something I would go gaga over) tropical/exotic fruit delivered from somewhere like Miami fruit or tropical fruit box. A lot of us don’t live in areas where we have access to that kind of fresh ripe fruit. It’s very different when it’s shipped fresh as opposed buying it from a store that they pick it before it’s ripe and ship it to the store.
I don’t know of your familiar with Kringle’s from Trader Joe’s but if you go to there website (O&H Danish bakery) they have so many different flavors and specialty ones for the seasons. The reviews are always positive on those too.
Just a couple more ideas.
Omaha steaks or someplace like that. Man I’m just a wealth of useless knowledge shit today lol
@Star2236 either that or you’re hungry
@Cerridwyn
I was hungry but not for beef lol
Depends on who you’re shopping for of course. When I was at a friend’s, I guzzled their vinaigrette and oils with my cooking. Didn’t know they were imported from their last trip to France, so I went around looking for domestic import stores for French imported goods (wound up also getting imported chocolate truffles and Sicilian GDO oil). Though I still stick with my homemade Dijon Mustard (regular mustard with crushed caraway, honey, and lemon juice) as the superior alternative, I felt bad for eating half their souvenir.
Speaking of which, homemade things like brownies or ice cream or brownie ice cream would be a fun adventure. Man I wish I still had a smoker.
My buddy who is a chef gave me a MAC knife. I owned multiple good knives like the ATK-darling Victorinox to Henkles to restaurant supply workhorses. I have a wall of magnet racks holding more than I would ever need mostly for display, but when I need to seriously cut things for any amount of time… I grab the MAC. It is simply better than any other knife I own. Keeps an edge longer. Cuts easier. Just overall a joy to use.
https://www.macknife.com/blogs/news/the-new-york-times-wirecutter-the-best-chefs-knife
I know a chef’s knife is pretty personal, and I hate suggesting things like that, but that is my favorite kitchen gift. (Also, though, because I am a foodie, I either have such a specific model already in mind, or I bought it myself, I don’t get a ton of gifts centered around food equipment.)
As for consumable / pantry items : I don’t think you can ever have enough salts. On that same note, if they bake, raw sugars, jaggery, piloncillo, whatever-cultures-word for unrefined brick of sugar/sap are very shelf stable. Vinegars.
@KNmeh7
I love this idea, I gifted quite a few knifes with a magnetic hanging strip in the past few years. I’ve wanted one of the magnetic strips for a while now. Funny how I’ll gift them but I won’t just buy one for myself!
@Lynnerizer
My wife would do the same thing when we traveled. She would pick out gifts to bring back for her friends, then when she got home she would wish she had gotten one for herself. I now insist that she do just that.
Rolling knife sharpener. I love the one I have. My aunt gifted it to me last Christmas and it’s ace. I would go downstairs and check but after three days of no sleep and a day in the ER with the silly Englishman, I’m just too bloody tired.
Knife Sharpener
This one on Amazon gets good reviews and isn’t crazy expensive. If they’re a foodie and you’re looking for snack options, well that’s a whole different kettle of fish.
@sillyheathen That thing looks cool! I’m ordering one!
Many great options in the lists above. My go-to gift when we travel is items from the local grocery stores that are unavailable back home. On this last trip we brought a bunch of maple containing products from Vermont and Canada. These will be distributed to assorted friends for Christmas or ‘thank you for having us’ gifts.
We received kringle wreaths that were delicious. The brand is slipping my mind at the moment, but I believe I have the nice box storing something else now.
@mikibell
My sister used to send us an O&H Danish Kringle at Christmas each year. And yes, they were quite tasty.
@chienfou THAT’S the brand!!! It is good, but fattening, so my dr doesn’t approve of its existence…sigh
@chienfou @mikibell Trader Joe’s has them, and they’re one of my very favorite food items! I love the almond ones, and I just got cherry ones last month. They have pumpkin right now but I haven’t tried it.
@chienfou @Kyeh @mikibell
I get them from Trader Joe’s all the time. The almond is my favorite. I would absolutely love the pumpkin if it didn’t have nuts on it. I’m good with nuts inside of things, I just don’t like them on the top. Like brownies with nuts, I can’t stand. Some things should have nuts and others shouldn’t. I’m weird.
@chienfou @mikibell @Star2236 I’ve had the raspberry, which has seeds and I don’t like stuff with hard seeds. And I’ve had pecan, which I thought I’d really like, but it & the raspberry just tasted kind of like regular coffee cakes to me, not nearly as good as the almond & the cherry.
@chienfou @Kyeh @Star2236 I hear you Star… raisins are my texture issue… they should not be cooked. Do like them right out of the box, tho.
@chienfou @Kyeh @Star2236 good to know… i think i gave the raspberry one to my mother. Again, any good tasting foods, the dr says i shouldn’t eat. Sighhhh…
@Kyeh @mikibell @Star2236
Ah yes… The “if it tastes good, spit it out” diet plan.
@chienfou @Kyeh @mikibell @Star2236 Well don’t drink that coffee then
@capnjb
Not a problem… MY diet plan is the seefood diet
if I see food I eat it …
@chienfou I’m glad it finally found its way
Eventually.
@capnjb
Gotta have faith!
@chienfou @mikibell If she hasn’t had the almond & doesn’t mind seeds it’s probably terrific! I’m so sorry you can’t have them.
They do make some no sugar ones, but of course they still have all the butter …
@Star2236, can’t you just pick the nuts off the top?
@chienfou @Kyeh @mikibell
Too many nuts to pick off the pumpkin ones (they’re diced pretty fine) and then the frosting comes off. I do agree about the raspberry and pecan ones. The raspberry’s okay, I just don’t make a point to buy it like I do the almond. I’ve never had the cherry bc I don’t like cherry flavored stuff. It all reminds me of cough syrup from being a kid.
@chienfou @mikibell @Star2236 Wow, that many nuts!
What I sent my daughter and SiL for Samhain.
I have no clue if it is good, just that it is expensive LOL
https://boarderie.com/products/halloween-mummy-baked-brie
@Cerridwyn Oh that’s awesome! I do a wheel of brie on a cedar plank (like you would do a salmon filet on). Put it on the grill for about 20 minutes until the wood starts to smoke and burn a bit. I typically cover it in honey and craisons. The cheese just oozes out when you cut into it
Also… my nap was interrupted by the doorbell ringing just now. You’ll hear more about why later. You clearly do not understand Rule #7. You’ll hear more later
VAN GOGH! MANGO! TANGO! AWESOME!
@capnjb
/showme a giggling raven goddess celebrating Samhain joyously
@Cerridwyn Here’s the image you requested for “a giggling raven goddess celebrating Samhain joyously”