Got a food fanatic in your life? Yeah you do. An always appreciated gift for the food lover is a gift certificate to a local restaurant or bar, preferably a special occasion place. Need some other ideas? Here are some of my favorite food and drink products that I wouldn't mind seeing under my Christmas tree.
1. Almond Crack by Nosh This. Award-winning butter toffee with local California almonds, made by San Francisco local Kai Kronfield. It's habit-forming. (photo: Food 52) $3.50 to $14.
2. Waterproof Waxed Canvas Lunch Sack from Kauffman Merchantile. Stop brown bagging it and get classy with this reusable, indestructible bag. $48.
3. Hasami Black Mug at Umami Mart. This is my favorite mug. I use it to the exclusion of all other mugs. Perfectly proportioned for a 8 oz cup of coffee. Top it with the optional wood cover and your coffee will stay hot. I really really love this mug. $24.
4. The Original Bacon Kit. What's better than bacon? Nothing. $23.
5. Subscription to Lucky Peach Magazine. My favorite food magazine, full of art, long-form essays, recipes, and more. A little edgy, very informative, sometimes quite esoteric. It's awesome. Buy a gift subscription in December and you can get chef/editor David Chang to make a personal call to the gift recipient! Weirdness. (photo by Food52). $28.
6. Oishinbo comic books. For super Japanese food nerds only. Oishinbo is one of the longest running manga in Japan, and it is all. about. food. A collection of the comics have been translated into English, and bundled into subjects like Izakayas, Sake, Ramen & Gyoza, and more. They are hilarious, beautiful, and really damn informative, and would make a quirkly and unexpected gift. $12.99.
7. Old Fashioned Cocktail Set from Umami Mart. This set is baller. A really impressive set to give to the special cocktail fanatic. Two old-fashioned glasses, a mixing glass, spherical ice cube tray and a lovely mixing spoon. I can vouch for the quality of the mixing glass. $99
8. Salumi Calendar by Drywell Art. Yep, one of my own. I just really have a fondness for this ode to cured meats. $30.
9. Earl Grey Soap by Etta+Billie. It was hard to choose just one of Etta + Billie's culinary inspired body products, but this is a winner. Collaboration with SF local tea company T-We. $11.
10. Avocado Food Hugger. This one is one my list for Christmas. I think it is an ingenious way to save that half of an avocado without browning and without wasting plastic wrap or a baggie. $10.