Gifts for the Food and Drink Lovers in Your Life

Twelve tasty gifts to satisfy the foodies on your list this year

Twelve tasty gifts to satisfy the foodies on your list this year

You’ve got all sorts of people to buy for this year and there’s bound to be some who love to receive food and drink more than anything else. Here’s a list of some of the newest items hitting the shelves this holiday season for those who’ve been nice and deserve to be spoiled. The best thing about buying food- and drink-related gifts? They are bound to be shared with you, the gift giver. Go forth, give and receive!

Sons of Vancouver Amaretto, $50.25 for 750 ml

Over on the North Shore in a rather hidden warehouse, a few gentlemen are distilling and macerating small batch spirits. Sons of Vancouver are making vodka, a spicy chili vodka, and the star of the show, an amaretto. The recipe was inspired by their mothers’ canning recipes and is made with apricot kernels (imparting the almond flavour), bourbon vanilla beans and orange peel and is then sweetened with demerara and B.C. blackberry honey; it’s a perfect after-supper sipper. Available at private liquor stores such as Legacy Liquor in Olympic Village.

XFour Vodka Gift Pack, $69.95

Do judge a book by its cover in the case of this three-pack of naturally flavoured vodkas. The gorgeous XFour Vodka gift pack was designed by Kara Love Eaton, a fabric designer for Lululemon, and comes in five different versions. In the pack, you’ll find B.C.-made vodka, crafted by Marcus Von Albrecht, in locally grown blueberry flavour, chocolate and lemon. You’ll probably need at least a sip or two yourself to assist you with your gift wrapping. Available at Legacy Liquor.

The North Shore Foodie Recipe Book, $44.95

Even if you don’t live on the North Shore of Vancouver, you’ll be interested in reading through The North Shore Foodie Recipe Book. One hundred delicious recipes are revealed in this hard-covered gem, as well as well stories behind the area’s restaurants, bars, cafés, bakeries, breweries, butchers and chocolatiers. The author, Brad Hill, is a professional photographer and you and those on your list will enjoy the current and historical photos that accompany each well told passage. Available at Books to Cooks.

KitchenAid Torrent Blender, $599

KitchenAid recently came out with one the most stylish blenders around: the Torrent Blender. With a single push of a button, all the blending is taken care of for you with four pre-set options (juice, soup/sauces, milkshakes and icy drinks/smoothies), and the machine even stops automatically once it’s done. Add ingredients during the blending process by removing the top cap without even stopping the blend. Powerful and pretty, and even dishwasher safe. Available at Cook Culture.

Bittered Sling Bitters Limited-edition Tales of the Cocktail Travel Pack, $49.95

For the cocktail enthusiast, bitters are just as important as the right martini shaker and proper glassware. Locally made Bittered Sling Bitters presents this limited-edition Tales of the Cocktail Travel Pack, in collaboration with Tales of the Cocktail—the world’s premier cocktail festival held annually in New Orleans, LA. Bittered Sling’s Lauren Mote states that “These bitters are infused with the authentic flavour and spirit of each Tales on Tour city”; they are indeed a very unique collection. Available at Legacy Liquor Store and UVA Wine & Cocktail Bar.

Vancouver Island Sea Salt, $44 for the full line (pictured above)

What is the difference between a great dish and an average one? Correct seasoning! Buy local and add some Vancouver Island Sea Salt to the stockings of those deserving. These handcrafted artisan salts are harvested from the cold, clear waters of Vancouver Island. Former chef Andrew Shepherd is the founder of these unique salt products that include the first Canadian fleur de sel, pure sea salt, smoked sea salt and seasonal sea-salt flavour infusions. Available through your local food purveyors and quality grocers such as Whole Foods and Cook Culture.

Womy Bar, $599

Mobila buyers travel the world to source the most unique furnishings and accessories for the home. Their bar carts and decanters are so beautiful you may want to give these only to someone you share a residence with, or at least visit often. The “Womy” or “Nori” collections are equally beautiful and the decanters range from $129 to $199—the carts from $599-$1099—definitely for someone who has been very nice this year. Availalbe online with quick shipping.

DeLonghi Multifry, $249

Multi-cooking appliances are just getting better and better and the DeLonghi Multifry is the newest technology in this arena. Combining a low-oil fryer with a multicooker, this appliance allows cooks to enjoy their favourite foods without sacrificing taste. Easily prepare a wide variety of recipes on your countertop, from crispy French fries to sauces, steaks and salmon. Multifry even allows you to bake pizzas, cakes and pies. Available at Best Buy.

Home on The Range Organics, platters start at $5 per person

Big store party platters aren’t going to cut it for the food lovers in your life, so if you’re tasked with bringing the meat and cheese course, make it a locally-sourced one and give family-run Home on The Range Organics a  call. Chef and owner, Allen Ingram, makes a wicked duck liver pate, and their sausage rolls and pies are a must for holiday entertaining. While you are there, you can pick up a gift basket full of gourmet goodies, stock up on sausages for your stuffing and holiday breakfasts, and enjoy a cup of bone broth to give you the energy to finish your shopping. 235 East Broadway, 604-876-8755

Cactus Club Gift Gard and Domenica Fiore Olive Oil, $100

For those who love to cook at home and dine out, you might want to pick up a gift certificate to Cactus Club, which conveniently comes with a 500 ml bottle of the amazing Domenica Fiore. Organically grown in Orvieto, Italy, Domenica Fiore olive oil is grown and harvested with extreme care of both the olives and the land that supports them. This holiday promotion comes with a gift bag and tag, all ready for giving. $75 Gift Certificate with the $40 bottle is just $100. Details here.

Vancouver Food Tour, prices vary

If someone on your list seems to have everything, give them the gift of an experience: a Vancouver Food Tour. Vancouver Food Tour company hosts tours through Gastown, modern Chinatown and also runs custom group excursions should you need something last-minute for a holiday party. Tours are run by local chefs, beer experts and food writers, including yours truly. The evening or afternoon might include stops at various breweries, distilleries and unique restaurants and bars, with plenty to sip and drink along the way. Questions are welcome and guests leave with tips for future foodie exploration. Gift certificates are available here.

Microsoft Surface Pro 4 With Intel Processor, starting at $899

Don’t forget that the food lovers in your life need technical equipment too! While cookbooks are always a must, the online world provides access to recipes, videos on cooking techniques, and all those Instagram photos from chefs and food bloggers to inspire creativity. The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 comes with a stand to prop up the screen for easy viewing and has voice-recognition technology should the cook’s hands be full or messy. This is a state-of-the-art experience for your techie food lover; they can control this computer using voice with no need for wires or passwords (and they can email you their thank-you letter too). Available at Best Buy.