30 Gifts for People Who Love Food, Picked By People Who Love Food
There’s a special feeling in the air around the holidays, isn’t there? A sparkle, a warmth. We think it comes from the friction caused by credit card swiping, or the spark of a smart chip telling the computer to ch-ch-charge it! So much money! That’s why our under $100 gift guide is here. These are generous gifts for the people in your life who cook, entertain, or otherwise collect ceramics to serve olives in. Each gift is endorsed by someone on the Bon Appétit staff, who are the pickiest people we’ve ever met, and selected for very specific types of food people. See if you can find yourself among them. It’s the holidays, after all.
Find the rest of our 2019 gift guides right here.
All products featured on Bonappetit.com are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Photo by Chelsie Craig1/30For the person who never met a cae-sal she didn’t love
If you ever seen senior food editor Molly Baz in a From the Test Kitchen video, then you know that she pretty much only wears oversized, floppy linen jumpsuits in neutral tones, with an apron to match. She loves the comfortable cross-back design of this one in particular, which she says feels like “wearing a nightgown at work.” What could be better than that?
Photo by Chelsie Craig2/30For the person who Instagrams everything they bake
Loaf cakes are normally squat and plain—the type of dessert that fits squarely into the “humble and homely” category. But a loaf that’s baked in the Nordic Ware fluted loaf pan emerges like a butterfly from a cocoon: intricately designed and absolutely stunning, an entirely different creature. With its undulating curves and star-like design, this pan transforms even the plainest carrot cake or banana bread into a beauty queen—no glaze or dusting of powdered sugar necessary (though it sure is nice).
Buy it: Nordic Ware Anniversary Loaf Pan, $34 from Sur La Table
Photo by Chelsie Craig3/30For the person who believes there’s no such thing as “too many mugs”
Bespoke ceramics are a very now thing for restaurants to commission, making dining out one of the best ways to learn about new designers these days. That’s what happened when dined at Mill House and Lineage in Maui: We loved the pieces so much, we had to inquire who made them. Karina Subijana of Altar Ceramics makes wide, shallow bowls and chubby mugs with a satisfying heft and sturdy roundness that’s a pleasure to hold (and behold). They’re worthy investment pieces, but nothing too precious that wouldn’t want to actually use them.
Photo by Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh4/30For the person who always asks for a sip of your water
We’re all about the look and feel of this Japanese-designed bottle, which works for both hot and cold contents. Made with stainless steel, silicone, and vacuum insulated, it retains the temperature for hours, With a rounded handle that is comfortable to hold, it is perfect for carrying around on walks, day trips, and (who are we kidding) toting around the office.
Photo by Chelsie Craig5/30For the person who downloaded all the wine apps this year
You don’t have to be a wine person (or even drink “good” wine) to use a decanter. Our wine editor, Marissa Ross, says decanting is like stretching out your legs after a long flight—the extra space and fresh air takes the edge off the juice and allows it to mellow out a bit. Plus, it has the added touch of looking good on your table. We like the simple, curvy shape of this one, but our editor at large Andrew Knowlton digs his Mark Thomas MT Series Bottle (which he uses for a lot more than bottles of red). Either way, it’ll get the job done. If you want your wine to be better, it needs to breathe. Don’t we all?
PHOTO COURTESY OF PIECEWORK PUZZLES6/30For the person more likely to have a puzzle on their dinner table than food
ATTENTION PUZZLE PEOPLE. You know who you are. You spend your long weekends, holidays, and summer vacations hunched over 1,000 cardboard pieces until they cooperate into a scene so beautiful you’re tempted to glue it together and hang it on your basement wall. That’s passion. That’s joy. If that resonates, then you’ll love the arty, surreal, food-focused (or at least -adjacent) puzzles from Rachel Hochhauser and Jena Wolfe, which feel as fresh and fun as a just-stirred martini.
Photo by Alex Lau7/30For the person with seasonal cocktail preferences
You might never mix a cocktail as deftly as they do at New York’s Le Coucou or a L.A.’s Majordomo. But you can cop their barware, particularly these Nick and Nora glasses with a swank gold trim and curved silhouette. At five ounces, it’s far more sensible than those oversize martini troughs you get at the club—because, really, when you’re drinking a cocktail served up, you don’t want it edging into that lukewarm territory when you’re only halfway finished. Keep it small, keep it cold.
Photo by Alex Lau8/30For the person who sings “Shallow” at every karaoke party
Have you heard the news?! We love a shallow bowl! This 9-inch design from Sarah Kersten is one of those perfectly wide-but-also-a-little-deep sizes for soups, pastas, grain bowls, and (of course) brothy things. Another thing we love! Just ask Carla Lalli Music.
Buy it: Sarah Kersten Salad Bowl in Quail Egg, $46 from Sarah Kersten
Photo by Chelsie Craig9/30For the person who likes to gets saucy
When something is perfect, it’s worth treasuring. And hoarding. And finding even more reasons to keep it in your life. That’s how we feel about the Kunz spoon: the world’s greatest kitchen spoon. Artfully drizzle dressing over some crisp endive leaves; baste herby juices over a roasted chicken; flip, stir, sauce, plate whatever’s in front of you—oh, and taste it too. All that and more, from one spoon to rule them all.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle10/30For the person who currently keeps their wine under the sink
A wine rack is a good place to put your wine (when it doesn’t need to be put in the fridge). And it’s an especially good place when it’s innocuous looking—or even better, invisible. Clear and stackable, this acrylic rack hits all the right notes, so whether there’s 4 bottles or 40 to store, sky’s the limit with this unimposing little guy.
Buy it: Clear Wine Rack, $40 from CB2
Photo by Chelsie Craig11/30For the person with an extensive spice collection
Some people collect tchotchkes on their travels. Senior food editor Andy Baraghani collects mortars and pestles. (He has 14 so far, from Iran, Italy, Thailand…). We think that’s great, but you actually only need one to be able to make pestos and crush whole spices the Andy way. This 8-inch granite set is sturdy, wide, and deep enough to suit any need—including that of looking good on the kitchen counter.
Buy it: 8-inch Granite Mortar and Pestle, $45 from Grocery Thai
Photo by Laura Murray12/30For the person who shudders at the idea of boring white plates
For all their practicality and beauty, Melamine bowls and plates have replaced disposable ones in situations where we might, in the past, have turned to paper or plastic. Yes they’re great for picnics (they’re super lightweight and virtually indestructible so you never have to worry about tossing them in your tote). But they’re also perfect when you’re feeling whimsical, and your collection of hand-thrown ceramics just won’t do. There’s a style for everyone, so we picked a few of our favorites.
Buy ‘em (clockwise from top):
Camp Melamine Blue Speckle Dessert Plates (set of 6), $50 at Food52
John Derian Melamine Rose Plates, $9 at John Derian
Floral Print Melamine Plates (set of 4), $68 at Food52
Photo by Laura Murray13/30SPONSORED: For the person who dreams about getting better sleep
Yeah, we’re obsessed with sleep as much as the next guy, and even if there’s no magic bullet to achieving those elusive eight hours each night, we’re not opposed to investing in ways to make the experience of going to sleep a little more relaxing. For that, we’re turning to this non-toxic pillow made of GOLS organic certified latex, GOTS organic certified Kapok fill, and a GOTS organic certified cotton cover. It might not have the power to knock us out on contact, but with all its promises of hypoallergenic, sustainable, moisture-wicking, breathable, pesticide-free materials, we can breath a bit deeper, and rest a little easier.
Photo by Laura Murray14/30For the person who considers table-setting a sport
We are obsessed with these delightful Italian wax fruit and cake candles sold at John Derian, the eccentric home goods store that has no equal. There are two-wick red-wax cheese wheels with a wedge missing. Elaborate faux-frosted cakes in an array of tier options, as well as bulbous eggplants, spiky artichokes, ripe bananas, and shiny apples. These are perfect for the person with better taste than you who is impossible to buy gifts for. Or gather an assortment in a bowl and wait for unsuspecting guests to take a bite...
Photo by Chelsie Craig15/30For the person with a favorite type of olive, thanks for asking
You can ever have too many little bowls, and these terra cotta cazuelas are the perfect thing for laying out marinated olives, dips, and other snacky things. You’ll find them all over Spain, holding everything from Marcona almonds to piping hot shrimp in garlic-chile oil, which is one more reason to love them.
Photo by Laura Murray16/30For the person who knows their way around a jar of paprika
We love Meherwan Irani’s cooking (his Chai Pani restaurant is one of our Asheville go-to’s) as much as we love his spices. The quality, sourcing, and hand-processing that goes into every batch makes him one of the most trustworthy names in the trade. As promised, this pack of 18 spices includes all the essentials (crushed red pepper, smoked paprika, ground turmeric, and coriander, to name a few). The small stacking cans mean you'll get through them before they get old and dusty—and they’re cute to boot.
Buy it: Spicewalla 18 Pack Kitchen Essentials Collection, $95 at Spicewalla
Photo by Chelsie Craig17/30For the person who introduced you to tahini
If you or anyone you know likes tahini, then you’ll love this incredibly aromatic sesame paste made from seeds that are expertly roasted by Osakan Jedi masters. It’s insane when spread on toast and topped with honey and flaky sea salt. And that’s about all you need to know.
Photo by Chelsie Craig18/30For the person who always breaks their wine glass
After a decade of weird wine glass trends (bulbous stemless things; stackable Duralex tumblers; thin-walled CB2 bodega glasses; diminutive tasting glasses), we’ve found the vessel of our dreams. The bowl is delicate but not overly so. The volume is capacious enough for a bit of swirling and sniffing but not so big as to demand it. The stem is there, but squat and sturdy. Elegant without being intimidating, different without being obtuse, it drinks well with reds, whites, and bubblies. The best part? It’s not actually a wine glass at all.
Buy it: Riedel Vinum Water Glasses (set of 2), $30 at Amazon
Photo by Laura Murray19/30For the person who needs to graduate from paper towels already
We’ll go ahead and say it: Cloth napkins are the quickest, easiest, and most affordable ways to upgrade any dinner party situation. Nothing communicates “This night is special!” and also doesn’t get in the way of whatever you’re serving at the table (flowers, tall candles, we love you, but space is of the essence.) And that doesn’t mean they have to be fussy either. This set of organic cotton napkins designed by Susan Kare (a pioneer of early computer graphic interface design) have a thick weave, soft touch, oversized shape, and reversible pattern—which makes them even more perfect if you (or your recipient) is a spiller.
Photo Courtesy of East Fork20/30For the person with a bowl for every occasion
We at BA are unabashed groupies of Asheville ceramics company East Fork. They litter our desks at lunch time, and at home, we use them to hold eggs in the morning and spiced nuts come cocktail hour. We’ll take any shape and size and neutral-tone finish, but we’re especially partial to the breakfast bowl with its wide open mouth and shallower angle.
Photo by Chelsie Craig21/30For the person who jumps out of bed with one whiff of something cooking
Who among us would sacrifice an extra 30 minutes of sleep for a bowl of Wheaties? (Ummm, probably not this crowd: see above, under pillow.) Well this book from Emily Elyse Miller is bound to change all that. The author spent three years researching breakfasts around the world, and what she found makes getting out of bed in the morning a much more interesting proposition: Mexican chilaquiles, Chinese pineapple buns, Scottish morning rolls, the list goes on and on. (For more cookbook recs, see our gift guide to matching the right book to everyone in your life.)
Buy it: Breakfast: The Cookbook by Emily Miller, $31 on Amazon
Photo by Laura Murray22/30For the person who makes sure your glass is always full
This 16-ounce pitcher made by the Italian glassware maker Ichendorf makes us want to drink more water, just so we can make a show of pouring it. Two green and yellow glass leaves have budded within the pitcher, a detail we appreciate because it serves no purpose other than *beauty*. As delicate as it is, it’s also made of borosilicate glass, which means it can hold up to temperature changes without cracking—in the event you want to serve something other than H20. Just think of how fun it would be with iced tea or a batch of rosé Aperol spritzes or a whole jug of martinis? Either way, it’s a reminder to spike life with some loveliness once in a while.
Photo by Chelsie Craig23/30For the person who spends all weekend in the kitchen
If you’ve ever seen the inside of a professional kitchen, you’ve probably seen a lot of Danskos. They’re the certified shoe of those who spend all day on their feet cooking, including our very own Carla Lalli Music. That’s because they’re designed to keep your foot stable, with an anatomically contoured sole, rounded and rock solid “reinforced toe box,” an “anti-fatigue rocker bottom,” oh and a leather treatment that repels water and oil that also develops a lovely patina with age. Yes, they’re purposefully, functionally ugly, which makes them an acquired look, but we guarantee that after a while they start to appear downright beautiful to the beholder.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle24/30For the person who always notices the restaurant bathroom soap
You might not be able to give the gift of a trip to visit the Buddhist temples of Mount Koya in Japan, but you can evoke its essence with this Hinoki Sea Buckthorn hand soap. It’s the least you can do to treat the hands that have cooked for you at any point this year—including your own.
Buy it: Le Labo Hinoki Sea Buckthorn Hand Soap, $22 from Nordstrom
Photo by Alex Lau25/30For the person who goes everywhere with perfectly chilled wine
Yes, we’re aware this vintage wine carrier is MORE than $100, which technically breaks the rules of this guide, but we’re willing to let it slide ‘cause we think this one’s worth it. Designed by Richard Carlson in 1980, this vintage travel cooler is as functional as it is adorable. (There’s even one in the MoMA’s permanent collection, so you know it’s chic.) With a removable frozen insert, it’s ready to keep two wine bottles chilled and chuggable all afternoon, which is ideal because no one’s drinking a single bottle of rosé.
Photo by Chelsie Craig26/30For the vibe police
Lit candles are a non-negotiable for intimate dinner parties, and we especially love Beehive Alchemy’s long tapered beeswax ones come in elegant hues and carry a natural (not perfumed) scent. Plus, they cast a vibe-y glow that looks way more special than what you’d get from a tealight.
Buy it: Beehive Alchemy pack of 8 tapered candles, $52 at Food52
Photo by Alex Lau27/30For the person who brings up “Claire from Bon Appétit” at parties
After years of coveting and covering the status tote bags and limited-edition fusilli tees and custom jumpsuits of the restaurant world, we’ve started rolling out our own collection of merch. Like pretty much everything we do at BA, these hats, tees, and more are inspired by our eccentric, passionate, and occasionally funny crew. There’s a tee dedicated to Claire Saffitz’s beautiful hair. There’s a Brad Leone—approved “Wouder” bottle. There’s an apron that fits a cake tester in the front pocket just right. There’s a line of subtle-but-not-too-subtle sweatshirts. And it’s all designed by the same amazing art department that makes the pages of our magazine look so good.
Buy it: BA Merch, from on Bon Appétit
Photo by Chelsie Craig28/30For the person with perfectly mismatched grandma plates
You don’t have to have a set of Autumn Harvest Wheat mixing bowls passed down from your great aunt to appreciate a good bit of vintage Pyrex. So whether you’re hunting for something funky and rare or want to complement all that modern, monochrome cookware with a standout pattern (you've seen the tattoos, yes?) Etsy has some superb shops selling the stuff. Read this deep dive for more intel.
Buy it: Vintage Pyrex
Photo by Laura Murray29/30For the person who always has a mug in their hand
If anyone you know has a strong preference for the temperature of your drinks, and that preference is “hot,” then this mug of the future was made for them. Conceived of by entrepreneur and dishware disrupter Clay Alexander, it lets you regulate the temperature of your drink with a Bluetooth connection and an app on your phone. It sits on a saucer that doubles as a charger so it stays hot indefinitely, or you can walk around with it—to meetings, to the bathroom, to show off your steaming-hot beverage—for up to an hour before it’ll need to charge.
Buy it: Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug 2, $100 on Amazon
Photo by Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh30/30For the person who spends all their time in the bulk aisle
We like to BYO wherever we go (especially if it can help us limit our use of single-use plastic). This set of 100 percent cotton bulk foods and produce bags has a size for everything we’re buying: dried fruits, loose nuts and grains, round fruits, stalky vegetables, you name it. They’re durable and washable, but also biodegradable, which means they’re built to last, but won’t overstay their welcome.
