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Serious Eats Gift Guide Roundup

Posted by Jenn Sit, December 21, 2007 at 2:00 PM

For all you last-minute Serious Eat shoppers, here's a "best of" from our Serious Eats Gift Guide series full of presents that you can pick up this weekend before it's too late. All these items can be shipped overnight or picked up if you're in the NYC-area.

Eileen's Cheesecake

You could just give a Junior's Cheesecake to the cheesecake lover on your list, and that would be acceptable if predictable. Eileen's Cheesecake is lighter, fluffier, and maybe a tad more satisfying. (With overnight express shipping anywhere in the US!) eileenscheesecake.com

Alice Waters' The Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons, and Recipes From a Delicious Revolution

You can't argue with Alice Waters, the patron saint of the farm-to-table food movement. Basic cooks looking to expand their repertoires, new enthusiasts to culinary localism, or anyone who wants advice about shopping and cooking seasonally will enjoy her Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons, and Recipes From a Delicious Revolution. The recipes really are simple and wonderful, ideal for the newly independent cook, and the menus she presents would be a great help to the novice entertainer in giving dinner parties. $21, from Amazon

Artisanal Gougères

Robyn posted a recipe for French cheese and bacon puffs, but let's face it—it can be pretty challenging to make pastries at home. And depending on the results you might not want to give them as a gift. Here's an alternative. If you've never tried these unbelievable gougères from Picholine Chef Terrance Brennan, you must! They are available in his restaurants of course, but now you can mail-order a box of 60 from the Artisanal website. Pop them in the oven to warm, and you have a flaky, delicious ready-made hors-d'oeuvre. They come in three flavors: classic (made with gruyère), smoked salmon and dill, and cheddar with bacon. $45 to $55 for 60 pieces, at ArtisanalCheese.com

Zingerman's Mixed Tape

The cool thing about Zingerman's is that not only do they gather delicious things from around the world for us all to enjoy, they also make great stuff. Like handmade, artisanal cheese and rustic breads. The Zingerman's "Mixed Tape" package features a sourcream coffeecake and hearth-baked farm bread from Zingerman’s Bakehouse, Zingerman's Zzang Chocolate Bar, Little Dragon tarragon-spiked goat cheese from Zingerman’s Creamery, a bag of freshly roasted whole bean coffee from Zingerman’s Coffee Company, a Pecan Blondie, and a Magic Brownie. In other words, all the stuff you or someone you love would like to have around the house at the holidays. Zingerman's "Mixed Tape," $79

Carbon Offset Credits

Taking a page from Slice's book, why not contribute some offset credits in honor of your loved ones' consumption habits? Cows produce manure which emits methane, a greenhouse gas that's 21 times more potent than carbon-monoxide when it comes to global warming. Purchasing verified emission reductions supports projects which allow farms to reduce methane and turn it into renewable energy. How cool is it to say you helped purchase a BioDigester? Very cool. There are many choices in the carbon offset market, but DrivingGreen is specifically concerned with livestock and agricultural pollution, so it's particularly relevant to the thoughtful burger consumer. $8.00 per metric ton from DrivingGreen

Taz Ah! Animal Mugs

On the surface of things, these are nothing more than plain white china coffee mugs, but tip them back, and TAZ AH! you’re mugging like a monkey (or rabbit or dog or pig or tiger). A great gift, particularly for big kids that like their caffeine. $23, from Charles & Marie

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