Gift-giving fatigue is real. Picking out the right present for everyone in your life isn’t always simple, and it seems like the list of people to shop for gets longer every day. So, to give you a little extra inspiration, we’ve rounded up the things that we’re asking for this holiday season. From some really nice Italian balsamic vinegar that our kitchen team obsessed over to an indoor garden that does the growing for you, this list is full of the best finds from the Milk Street Store that are worthy of wrapping paper. We hope it’ll help you cross off a few people on your list.
Villa Manodori "Dark Cherry" Balsamic Vinegar of Modena IGP 250ml
We think this Dark Cherry Balsamic Vinegar is elegance in a bottle. In the words of the Milk Street kitchen staff, it tastes like “wine-soaked chocolate covered cherries.” Need we say more? Unlike your run of the mill balsamic, this luxurious Italian one, made in Modena, is thick, with a viscous consistency and full-bodied flavor that makes it the perfect candidate for finishing and glazing.
Milo by Kana Ultimate Skillet
A good enameled skillet is the gift that keeps on giving. It’ll last you years and can pretty much handle any kind of cooking. Milo’s 10-inch Ultimate Skillet goes even further, offering non-stick protection without needing to be seasoned, and is available in a variety of beautiful colors. The long handle of this skillet has a flat top and a rounded bottom for better gripping, while a smaller secondary handle provides extra support, making it easy to pour out sauces or rendered fat—especially with the two spouts on either side. And the best part? This high-quality skillet is under $100.
Mount Mansfield Maple Products Maple Syrup XL
What’s better than maple syrup? An extra large bottle of maple syrup! (Good things don’t always come in small packages.) Mount Mansfield’s incredibly rich syrup has notes of butterscotch, honey and toasted sugar, with a heady base of vanilla and dried fruit. A member of our kitchen team likened its richness to a melted Werther's candy. It’s medium-bodied, which means it can easily be drizzled, but never too watery like store-bought versions. Compared to others, this one has a strong “true maple” flavor to it—nothing like more run-of-the-mill syrups that often have an off pine taste. And because it comes in a huge bottle, you'll practically never run out of the sweet stuff. We can't think of a better gift than that.
Vietri Campagna Collection Pasta Bowl
We’re in love with these playful hand-painted ceramic pasta bowls from Vietri’s flagship Campagna collection, which can be mixed and matched to serve pasta, soup, salad and more. Inspired by pastoral southern Italy, every unique piece features a whimsical hand-rendered animal motif, from horses, roosters and cows, to pigs, fish and birds. Made from terracotta and carefully fired in a kiln, these dishwasher-safe, heirloom-quality bowls will make a beautiful addition to any tabletop.
Veritable Classic Indoor Garden
Not everyone has a green thumb—we don’t judge. But the Veritable Classic Indoor Garden eliminates the need for one with a compact, fully automated indoor growing system that keeps the plants watered and mimics the light cycle of daylight. Energy-saving LEDs and a light color spectrum encourage faster growth and maximize flavor while automatic irrigation does the work for you, so your plants will get all the light, water and nutrients they need. With a variety of seeds to choose from, growing herbs, baby vegetables and flowers in any season has never been so easy. Even those who claim to kill cactuses will love this.
Baratti & Milano Assorted Cremino Color Art Gift Box
No one has ever complained about being gifted a box of chocolates, and boy do we have the box of all boxes for you. These three-layer Italian confections from Baratti & Milano, called cremino, stack a top and bottom layer of silky-smooth gianduja (chocolate and hazelnut) around a creamy flavored center. Offering six different flavors, including rich pistachio, bright lemon and punchy almond, these rich confections cater to every palate. Each gift box features 25 individually wrapped cremini treats packaged in a pop art-style box, so no extra wrapping required. We start drooling just thinking about these melt-in-the-mouth beauties, they really are that good.
Milk Street Gift Cards
Can’t decide? Give the gift of choice, no one can get mad at that!
Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
And if you're looking for more Milk Street, check out our livestream cooking classes with our favorite chefs, home cooks and friends for global recipes, cooking methods and more.
