The food lover’s festive gift guide

Thoughtful presents for people who love food, made by people who love food.

Working on the Christmas gift guides at my first gig writing for Jamie Oliver’s magazine was always one of my favourite parts of the job. So now that the gifting season is in full swing (not that I’ve bought a single one yet), here are some food-themed present ideas for this year.

Whether you’re looking for cute bits for the kids, Secret Santa ideas for work or something special for the foodie in your life, this list is curated from producers and makers I love. Since many of them are smaller, independent brands, you’ll be supporting small businesses into the bargain.

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For stylish kitchens

These Allday Goods table knives, in an old-school design, are made in Sheffield from recycled materials (in this case, waste plastic from Maldon Sea Salt) and have Instagrammable pastel handles. Each one is unique.

I’m obsessed with these handmade glass coasters, which come in a spectrum of retro colours.

This poster would bring some Parisian wine bar vibes to their kitchen.

My sister-in-law is a talented jewellery maker based in Hexham, Northumberland, and this year she’s branched out into homewares. Her gorgeous handmade candle holders come with a pair of beeswax candles, hand-dipped in Cumbria

.A Japanese-made enamel tea pot will make a cracking brew and look great on their counter top.

For would-be chefs

A stylish, hardwearing canvas and linen apron in olive green hues, with practical big pockets.

How about a tiny pestle and mortar, the perfect size for grinding spices for curries?

They can present their culinary creations with pride in these hand-painted earthenware bowls.

Jess Dennison is a former Jamie Oliver colleague who now runs a fantastic café in Edinburgh, Elliot’s. She’s written, photographed and self-published all the midweek-friendly recipes in this lovely, useful cookbook. The first print run has sold out but there’s another one coming later this month.

For the office Secret Santa

Magnetic toast tongs, so they never have to worry about getting their toast out of the toaster again.

Sous Chef have loads of brilliantly kitsch food-themed baubles – this tiny stick of butter is my fave.

Fancy, Scandi-designed candles will go down well with your coolest colleague.

Gift them a tiny tin of Halen Mon sea salt to keep on their desk and pep up boring work-day lunches.

Keep your colleague sweet with some prettily-packaged handmade nougat studded with wild figs, honey and vanilla.

For stocking their pantry

A jar of Croissant butter, made by Manchester’s Pollen Bakery, will take breakfast crumpets to the next level.

I can’t think of anything I’d rather find under the tree than a giant tin of the world’s best crisps – I’d use the tin as a herb planter afterwards. 

This addictive crunchy chilli oil, from the best noodle bar in London, is made for spooning over ramen or scrambled eggs.

Treat them to a can of excellent small-batch, unfiltered Greek extra virgin olive oil in a beautifully illustrated tin. Pre-order now and get the November 2024 harvest – way better than wine.

Who wouldn’t love a box of beautiful, star-lit sky-inspired hand-painted chocolates?  These, made by Glasgow-based Ard Bakery, come in flavours like Bischoff and coffee, maple and pecan, and orange and cardamom. Pre-order now for Christmas delivery.

For little people

Pray that they’ll heed the message on this pint-sized, carrot-emblazoned organic cotton T-shirt from Patagonia.

What do you get the kid who has everything? An aesthetically pleasing play sushi set, of course.

Ed Smith and his wife – poet and author – Laura Mucha’s book, Welcome to my Table, explores the way children eat all over the world.

Fun food-themed graphic A-Z prints for their bedroom. I love the ‘Pickles’ one.

Get the youngest on board with eating avocados early with this cute (and practical!) teether.

Little cooks will love this apron (currently on sale here for a fiver!) designed by Sophie Conran for Ulster Weavers.  

For drinks geeks

A subscription to the coolest wine magazine around, Noble Rot (run by the people who own the iconic wine bar of the same name). Expect contributions from the likes of Marina O’Loughlin, Simon Hopkinson and Diana Henry, between the pages flanked by eye-catching covers.

Shake up a pitch-perfect margarita in seconds – this pre-mixed version hits all the right zesty, heady notes.

Beautiful French bistro-inspired short-stemmed glasses for wine, cocktails and more.