Posted by Ed Levine, June 10, 2008 at 8:30 AM
We're coming to the rescue of gift-idea-starved sons and daughters everywhere with an absolutely foolproof Father's Day gift guide. These babies have been road-tested with half a dozen of my friends, all dads who appreciate some of the finer, not-so-fancy things in life. Prices quoted do not include shipping, unless otherwise noted.
Pastrami from Langer's in Los Angeles
I know serious eaters are asking: How could Ed Levine, Mr. New York Eats, be recommending an L.A. delicatessen's pastrami? Simple. It may be the best mail-order pastrami you can buy anywhere in this country right now. This pastrami is a deep reddish purple, it's rubbed with plenty of coriander and pepper, and it steams up in meltingly tender fashion. $20 a pound, two-pound minimum, from langersdeli.com
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Posted by Ed Levine, May 7, 2008 at 8:30 AM
I often find myself in a quandary trying to figure out what to get my wife or mother-in-law for Mother's Day. How do I get myself out of it? By ordering something seriously delicious online or by phone that I can serve easily for a Mother's Day breakfast, brunch, or lunch. Alternately, if you find yourself unable to be with your mom on Mother's Day you can have any one of these shipped to her so she can enjoy a foolproof Mother's Day repast. All of the following can arrive at your doorstep or your mom's by Saturday if you order today or tomorrow morning.
Granola and Scones Breakfast Gift Box from Zingerman's
I am all too familiar with the high quality baked goods made at the Zingerman's Bakehouse, so I can vouch for the quality of everything in this particular gift box. I don't know about the catalogue copy, though: "A homemade Sunday morning Mother’s Day breakfast always seems like a better idea in theory than in practice. Something burns, something’s soggy, something’s lukewarm, and you don’t get to sit down and enjoy yourself much. The foods in this box are foolproof, though. They’ll turn out great even if you’re not there to mess ‘em up." Aw, come on, Zingerman's. Give serious eaters and their moms a little more credit than that. This gift box contains a jar of Zingerman’s Granola, four Zingerman’s Classic Currant Scones, Devon Cream, a jar of American Spoon Strawberry Preserves, and a loaf of Cinnamon Raisin Bread. $70, from zingermans.com
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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.
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Posted by Jenn Smith, December 17, 2007 at 3:30 PM
After reflecting on the vast universe of cookbooks out there for just a few minutes, my head began to hurt. How do you whittle down even the basics to a manageable list when there are three versions of The Joy of Cooking alone to consider?
So instead of a general gift guide, I'm listing the some of the best cookbooks of 2007 with an eye toward what from this year's crop would make a jolly, useful, tasty present.
Prices don't include shipping unless otherwise noted.
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Posted by Dr. Vino, December 14, 2007 at 3:30 PM
What better time for some celebratory sipping than the holidays? Our gift guide for the wine lover will brighten the spirits of oenophiles or those struggling with what to give them. Prices don't include shipping unless otherwise noted.
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Posted by Amanda Clarke, December 13, 2007 at 1:00 PM
With their gift guides my cohorts have already supplied you with a bounty of great ideas for everyone from the cook to the baker to the cocktail maker, but what about those Serious Eaters left on your gift list who have everything already? Nobody wants to get somebody a duplicate, and gift cards just aren't much fun to give. But, while your cousin the cook may have a few spatulas in his kitchen, does he have a lime green one with a mouth that hangs on a tongue hook? And your sister-in-law with the amazing set of vintage ceramic tableware in some pattern with a name you can never remember, though it doesn't matter because all the circulating pieces cost more than your net worth? Surely she already has salt-and-pepper shakers, but how could she turn away a pair of white birdy-foot salt-and-pepper shakers?
With the stragglers left on your list in mind, I've assembled a merry band of misfits that are sure to find a place on the table or in the kitchen of the Serious Eater who has everything. (Prices do not include shipping unless otherwise noted.)
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Posted by Paul Clarke, December 12, 2007 at 2:00 PM
Nothing puts your guests in the holiday spirit like a little holiday spirits. From books to bottles to shakers and bitters, there are plenty of gift ideas from the cocktail world that can add pizzazz to celebrations throughout the year.
Prices don't include shipping unless otherwise noted.
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Posted by Emily Stone, December 12, 2007 at 8:00 AM
Save the frilly boxes of candy for Valentine's Day. And hold off on the chocolate-of-the-month club until your best friend gets married. This time of year, people need simple, warm gifts that will sustain them through the winter—like hot chocolate, or the tools to make good hot chocolate.
Despite what certain retailers may tell you, hot chocolate is not hard to make. It does not require overcomplicated kettles or overpriced gadgets. You can make extraordinary hot chocolate with just two ingredients: chocolate and milk. To avoid disaster, keep the heat low. To enhance the flavors, allow the hot chocolate to sit for several minutes, hours, or even days (after an hour, refrigerate it).
After the jump, the Serious Eats Hot Chocolate Gift Guide. Prices do not include shipping unless otherwise noted.
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Posted by Jamie Forrest, December 11, 2007 at 9:00 AM
The holidays are a great time to serve cheese at all of the 46 parties you're planning to host, but it's also a great excuse to give cheesy gifts to all the curd nerds in your life. And it doesn't just have to be a cheese of the month membership either. Here's our guide to the best in cheese-related holiday gifts, which range in price from ridiculously affordable to stunningly opulent. (Prices don't include shipping unless otherwise noted.)
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Posted by Robyn Lee, December 10, 2007 at 3:30 PM
What kind of food-related apparel is there? I thought of two categories: items that are useful to the food preparation process and are worn for an extended period of time (i.e., not an oven mitt) and items that contain food imagery but provide no functionality other than to make you less naked. Here are some of my top picks for things that may help you in the kitchen and things that definitely won't but may catch the attention of passersby who also have a penchant for food. (Prices do not include shipping unless otherwise noted.)
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Posted by Dorie Greenspan, December 7, 2007 at 1:15 PM
I don’t have solid research data to back me up on this, but I’ve always thought that when the holidays roll around even people who haven’t seen the inside of their ovens all year pull down the flour bin and bake. It’s part of what makes the holidays so jolly—and so surprising.
If you’re looking to surprise a baker on your list, here are a few gift suggestions. This isn’t a complete build-your-baking-batterie-de-cuisine list; it’s not just for beginners; and it’s not in any special order. Mostly it’s a sampling of some things I really like and think you and yours might like, too.
Because Raphael has already posted a great list of basics, I’m not going to repeat the wonderful KitchenAid stand mixer, the Cuisinart food processor, which is so good for making pie and tart doughs, or the nifty Silpat silicone baking mats, which I never want to live without—all of my baking sheets are stored with Silpats on them, so I’m always ready for the next batch of cookies. But any of these would be terrific to give or to get.
So, here’s my list of stuff to make the holidays sweeter. (Prices do not include shipping unless otherwise noted.)
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Posted by Ed Levine, December 7, 2007 at 6:45 AM
I've been ordering food by mail long before the internet existed. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate how easy the web has made ordering food. I like to order things I can't easily get near my house. I have taste-tested everything on this list, so there shouldn't be any surprises. I think you or somebody you care about will be very happy with any or everything on this list. Prices don't include shipping unless otherwise noted.
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Posted by Zach Brooks, December 6, 2007 at 12:15 PM
In lieu of a Serious Sandwich post this week, Adam asked me to provide a Serious Sandwich Gift Guide for the holidays. Rather than give you a list of all the things that I have—and recommend—I've decided to kill two birds with one stone, and just post all the sandwich-related gifts that I want. (Mom, please take notice.) I give you permission to steal any of my ideas for the sandwich lover in your life.
Prices do not include shipping unless otherwise noted.
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Posted by Amanda Clarke, December 6, 2007 at 11:00 AM
I've been an ardent cookie baker since I learned to reach the kitchen counter standing on a stool, and through the years I have accumulated a sizable collection of the tools of the trade. While most of these items are more likely to be found enjoying something like their tenth year of uninterrupted slumber in the bottom of a drawer than drying in my dish rack, there are a few that I turn to time and time again—particularly this time of year, when my cookie production spikes. Give these gizmos a try this cookie-baking season and you’ll be singing their praises, too. Prices do not include shipping unless otherwise specified.
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Posted by Alaina Browne, December 5, 2007 at 8:45 AM
In the last year or so, it seems that environmental issues have come to the forefront in the kitchen—both at home and in restaurants. From chefs cooking with seasonal, sustainable ingredients, to locavorism and the concern over food miles, to those I Am Not a Plastic Bag bags. For those of us wishing to minimize our impact on the environment, here's the Serious Eats Gift Guide to eco-friendly things to give and get for the holidays. Prices don't include shipping unless otherwise specified.
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Posted by Ed Levine, December 3, 2007 at 1:00 PM
You can never go wrong giving someone something sweet for the holidays. Sweet things make people happy. Not just chocolate or cookies or cake either. Perfectly ripe fruit brings a smile to my face as well. Here's our guide to sweet things to give and get for the holidays. Prices don't include shipping unless otherwise specified.
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Posted by Raphael, November 28, 2007 at 12:30 PM
If you know someone who's serious about cooking at home, what better gift is there than gear?
Some of these suggestions are more utilitarian than others—the kind that you might find in professional kitchens. They might lack the wow factor of expensive toys from those fancy home goods stores, but over time the recipient will actually find them useful.
Here's a recommended list of essential tools, generally inexpensive and totally durable, priced from lowest to highest.
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