If you’re like me, you knock out your easy holiday presents early every year: like the sweater your sister’s been dropping hints for. But I procrastinate on the hard-to-shop-for crowd—in-laws, teenagers, teachers, picky friends, gourmands and, of course, the person who has everything—until I’m stumped enough to resort to a scarf or plate of cookies (sorry, everyone).
This year, I’ve turned a corner. I’ve rounded up gift options early at the Milk Street Store, many of which I’m giving—or asking for—myself that I know will be slam-dunks. My picks are organized into the categories that puzzled me most this year, but don’t feel tied to the recipient; you may find just the thing for someone left on your gifting list, including yourself.
For the Person Whose Phone Eats First
Whether it’s for teenagers, Gen-Zers, millennials or anyone at brunch who bats away your fork before they photograph the meal—guilty—try these picks for the social media-savvy. They’re the perfect mix of trendy and timeless, useful and aesthetic, and they’ll work across a range of tastes.
Graza Co. Squeeze "Drizzle" and "Sizzle" Olive Oil Set
You’d be hard-pressed to find someone under the age of 30 who doesn’t instantly recognize olive oil company Graza’s gorgeous packaging from the internet. But the oil is actually fantastic. Grown in Jaen, Spain, Graza uses 100% picual olives for both their blends of extra virgin olive oil: Drizzle, a sassy, peppery finishing oil with a spicy zip, and Sizzle, a mellow, grassy cooking oil perfect for roasting, searing, frying and marinating. Both versions come packaged in an easy-to-use squeeze bottle, so they’ll feel like a chef.
Matcha Kari Japanese Matcha Tea Set
Bright green and full-bodied, not only is matcha a delicious, popular alternative to coffee, its accoutrements are also very giftable—especially when they come in a kit with everything you need. Matcha Kari’s tea set comes with a traditional bamboo scoop, matcha whisk, sifter and ceramic bowl, all handmade in Japan. And the organic Superior Matcha has a sweet, rich flavor with subtle umami for a perfect sip.
Hebel & Co. Halva
I tasted Hebel & Co’s artisanal halva—a tahini-based confection—at Milk Street headquarters for the first time and was blown away by its flaky, melt-in-your-mouth texture and addictive flavors. Hebel & Co makes theirs by hand, churning out flavors like Vanilla, Pistachio Nigella, Chocolate Chunk and Peanut Butter Chocolate Crisp, a special collaboration with popular chef Molly Yeh in extra-sweet packaging.
For Hard-to-Shop-For Family and Family-ish
I’m often lucky enough to see dozens of family and family-adjacent friends over the holidays—which also means occasionally phoning it in when planning many presents and treats. Not this year. These picks balance wide appeal with a little something extra, so they’re just right for your nearest and dearest.
Crookedwood Hand-Sculpted Muddler & Elevated Craft Hybrid Cocktail Shaker
I got this combination of thoughtfully designed tools for my brother-in-law, a cocktail enthusiast (Andy, I hope you aren’t reading this). We found Crookedwood’s Hand-Sculpted Muddlers from an artisan in Wisconsin, who individually sculpts each by hand from lustrous hardwood. The striking design is whittled for comfortable use—and beautiful enough to display. I paired that with the Elevated Craft Hybrid Cocktail Shaker, cleverly designed to solve common problems for a home bartender. With double-walled stainless steel and vacuum insulation, this shaker will make the drink ice cold without freezing your hands, and the generous size holds up to 750 milliliters (a standard bottle of liquor) even as the slim design makes it easy to grip and shake.
Kamā Shatta
Kamā’s electric red or herbacious green shatta—a chili paste staple to the cuisines of Palestine and Jordan, used similarly to American hot sauce and North African harissa—is delicious spooned anything from meze items to rice, stews, meats, breads and more—whatever could use a punch of bright heat. One or both are a particularly great gift for someone who appreciates when their gift gives back: Kamā—a Jordanian, women-operated maker—was founded by Jumana Jacir to bring high-quality Levantine foods to the world while providing economic independence to the women she employs.
KOBO Plant the Box Candles
I didn’t know fruit and herb candles could smell so realistic until I encountered KOBO’s Plant the Box collection, and at the risk of sounding cliché, they’re truly the gift that keep on giving. Vegetal and rich, every candle highlights a different herb or vegetable—my favorite is the tomato, which smells like sun-ripened fruit—and every candle comes packaged in biodegradable, plantable boxes infused with seeds. So in addition to the impressive 60-hour burn time, every box plants thyme, lavender or tomatoes, meaning the gift can be enjoyed again and again.
For the Non-Basic Baker
As a serious home baker, I’m always tickled when someone gets me a baking tool that’s a cut above flimsy craft store options. I keep a running list of the special tools I want (hint hint) and would happily give to other baker friends.
J.K. Adams Pastry Board
A lot of folks will have a plastic or silicone pastry mat with helpful measurements for pie dough and pastry, but an heirloom wood version? Much nicer. Made in Vermont by J.K. Adams, this maple hardwood pastry board is engraved with five circular diameters to indicate the most common sizes of pies, plus engraved rulers for pastry measurements. A walnut cleat is easily attached to brace the edge of your counter and a rolling pin rest has been carved out to keep it in place. They’ve thought of everything for this keepsake piece.
de Buyer Copper Eggwhites Bowl
Another one I’d be thrilled to receive: This stunning bowl from French company de Buyer is as beautiful as it is functional, made of 100% solid copper. This style of half-round mixing bowl is the classic tool used by bakers to whip egg whites into stiff peaks to incorporate into desserts and beyond, as the shape adds extra air to the mixture and the copper keeps the peaks glossy and supple through its ability to promote a certain type of bond between the egg proteins. So elegant.
For the Person Who Has Everything
When in doubt, give a food gift—they can be an experience as transporting as a trip, or an indulgence that becomes a new favorite (without forever cluttering up someone’s home).
Fermín Cured Meats
We trust family company Fermín, based in Salamanca, Spain, for the highest-quality Ibérico products. Their ultra-luxe Jamón Ibérico, a beloved Spanish ham, is cured for about 36 months with salt as the only preservative; a ham master decides by smell, sight and touch when the pork is perfectly cured. But don’t sleep on their melt-in-your-mouth dry-cured sausages. I like the combo of the intensely aromatic 50% Ibérico Sausage — Set of Three and tender, nutty Ibérico Sliced Ham (Jamón Ibérico), tucked into a basket with crackers, jam, pickles and cheese, especially for friends who studied abroad in Spain.
O-Med Molino Basil Olive Oil
Not only is this infused olive oil delicious—the olives used to make this mild, buttery Spanish extra-virgin oil are pressed with fresh basil leaves—it comes in a beautiful painted bottle that sets it apart from other food-based gifts and guarantees oohs and aahs. It has a fruity flavor, herbal aroma and just the right amount of peppery basil essence—not too strong but with enough to make it distinctive. It’s ideal as a finishing and dipping oil or as a savory hint in desserts.
And, last but not least, for everyone on this list, I'll always recommend a gift card to the Milk Street Store—the gift of discovering the new ingredient, knife or tool that unlocks someone’s love of cooking—and that confidence in the kitchen is the greatest gift of all.
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