I think I speak for everyone when I say we’re all tired of the unbridled consumption we’re expected to partake in every holiday season. No, I don’t want yet another plastic back scratcher or an ugly set of Christmas pajamas I won’t wear until next year or a board game I’m going to have to cram in the back of some cabinet in my tiny apartment. I don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on gifts my loved ones will probably never use anyway, forcing them to feign excitement when they open a box full of sweaters or wool socks.
What I do want, though, is to spend time with the people I love, to take a break from the seemingly ever-quickening pace of life we’re subjected to and, of course, to eat. That’s why I wholeheartedly believe that food is the best gift. You know people are actually going to use it, and it won’t take up space in their homes after it’s been consumed. Here are our picks for the best food gifts of 2023.
All Things Ziba Variety Pack ($87)
Give the gift of snacking with the All Things Ziba Variety Pack from Ziba Foods. This holiday snack pack offers nine bags of mixed nuts, berries and other snackables from Afghanistan. These aren’t your average grocery store aisle nuts and dried fruits—the quality of this snack box is top-notch (and the packaging is beautiful, too), so it makes for a worthy present for the snacker in your family.
Frankies 457 Calabrian Chili Oil ($21.99)
Olive oil has never been sexier than this Calabrian Chili Oil from Frankies 457. Not to be dramatic, but I don’t want to live without this stuff in my pantry. If your loved one can handle a bit of spice, they can put this chili oil in basically everything: in salad dressings and marinades, on pizza and pasta and in anything else they want to give a spicy kick to. It’s a little bottle of luxury the spice lover in your life will adore.
The Wine List by Grant Reynolds ($28)
Okay, this one’s technically not food or drink itself, but if you have a burgeoning wine lover in your life, this book can help them enjoy their beverage of choice more than they already do. In The Wine List, author and sommelier Grant Reynolds makes connections between wine, culture and politics, underscoring the fact that wine is so much more than a beverage. It’s a fun way to learn about wine (and you can always include a bottle with the book).
EspressoWorks 15-Bar Espresso Machine ($219.99)
Sure, this EspressoWorks 15-Bar Espresso Machine isn’t the cheapest gift on this list, but if you’re trying to find something for the coffee addict in their life that’ll save them some time and money, they’re going to love this gift. You don’t need to be a barista to make a solid espresso with this espresso machine—it’s incredibly easy to use. It comes with a milk frother, too, so your giftee can make all their favorite coffee drinks at home.
Magic Bullet Portable Blender ($39.99)
The Magic Bullet Portable Blender is a game changer for anyone who’s constantly on the go but is still trying to eat healthy. Your loved one can add their frozen fruits and veggies (and any other extras they might want) to the blender in the morning before they leave the house, and they don’t have to actually blend anything until they’re ready to drink their smoothie. This blender has saved me from countless watery, past-their-prime smoothies.
Canaan Olive Oil (prices vary)
Support artisan family farms in Palestine by gifting your loved one a bottle of olive oil from Canaan Palestine. These oils showcase olive oil at its best: bitter, spicy and ecologically sustainable. The brand also sells a variety of other products, ranging from Wild Caper Olive Tapenade (!) to freekeh and maftoul.
Momofuku Goods Noodle Lovers Box ($49)
You know that person in your life who’s somehow always making ramen when they don’t want to cook? Up their instant noodle game with the Momofuku Goods Noodle Lovers Box, which offers three different flavors of upscale instant noodles along with a set of chopsticks. There are a total of 15 servings in the box, which means the noodle lover in your life isn’t going to go hungry anytime soon.
Yo Mama’s Classic Pasta Sauce Gift Set ($32)
Everyone loves pasta, but not everyone loves the time and effort often required to make a good sauce, which is why the Yo Mama’s Classic Pasta Sauce Gift Set is a great present for the pasta lover in your life. In this gift set, they’ll receive roasted garlic, marinara and basil pasta sauces that can transform a pot of naked noodles into an undeniably delicious dinner.
Patagonia Ten Tins of Fish Gift Box ($72)
There’s perhaps nothing the tinned fish lover in your life wants more than this Patagonia Ten Tins of Fish Gift Box, which will allow them to try a wide variety of different kinds of tinned fish, ranging from lemon herb mussels to Spanish paprika mackerel. This will keep their pantry stocked with easy snacks they can pop open whenever they want a salty, savory treat.
Sakuraco Japanese Snack Box (prices vary)
Forget the ol’ fruit basket and introduce your friends and loved ones to new flavors with the Sakuraco monthly gift box. I’ve never eaten as well in my life as when in Japan, but it wasn’t until I checked out the TokyoTreat Box from Sakuraco’s sister company that I realized I could get an assortment of Japanese packaged snacks right to my door. The Sakuraco box is a bit more upscale in its presentation but both provide tasty exploration for that person in your life with an adventurous palate. The Sakuraco Box is available as a one-off or monthly subscriptions of various lengths, and each month comes with a new seasonal or regional theme. —Josh Jackson