The Daily Meal Editor's Gift Guide 2015
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The Daily Meal Editor’s Gift Guide 2015
No matter how much you rack your brain, sometimes finding the perfect gift just doesn't come as naturally as you'd like it to. You want to grab not only something the receiver wants, but something they need — something that they can use to start the new year off on the right foot. In order to find that perfect gift, you don't need a Christmas or Hanukkah miracle, you just need The Daily Meal and our gift guide, which contains a little something for every food- and drink-lover on your list.
Compartés Premium Chocolate Bars (9.95)
For those on your list that are notoriously difficult to find gifts for, you can't really go wrong with chocolate. Compartés Premium Chocolate Bars are handcrafted artisan chocolate bars made fresh daily in Los Angeles from organic chocolate and the freshest ingredients. Some of their mouth-watering flavors include Donuts & Coffee, Birthday Cake, Cereal Bowl, Sea Salt Waffle Cone, Lavender Chocolate, and Vegan Zen. These chocolate bars are delicious and beautiful to look at both inside and out with their beautiful packaging and "stunning works of edible chocolate art within." — Abigail Abesamis, Associate Editor
Click here to purchase the Compartés Premium Chocolate Bars.
CB2 Cora Carafe ($10.95)
Need a lovely hostess gift, or one perfect for a homebody? CB2 has you covered with their two-piece hand blown glass carafe — an ideal bedside accessory — and it won't break the bank, either. — Kate Kolenda, Restaurant and City Guide Editor
‘The 12 Bottle Bar’ ($14.95)
Know someone who's passionate about their home bar? Or maybe Mom wants to start hosting cocktails parties for her friends. Be their helpful hero and gift them The 12 Bottle Bar: a concise and thorough guide to building a solid, uncluttered home bar. — Kate Kolenda, Restaurant and City Guide Editor
Small Honey & Beeswax Candle Food Gift Box ($18.99)
Tell someone this holiday season they're as sweet as honey — for under $20 — with this charming and unique gift box. Included are spring wildflower honey, an old-fashioned wooden honey dipper, a beeswax candle, honey candy, two miniature beeswax floating candles in the shapes of hearts, and honey soap with rosemary and essential oils. This indulgent gift box is perfect for family, a significant other, or anyone you want to know you're thinking about them. — Hayden Field, Travel Editor
Click here to purchase the Small Honey & Beeswax Candle Food Gift Box.
Window Box Oregano Seed Kit in Bamboo Container ($18.97)
Always wished that you can grow your own herbs? Now you can... or at least give someone else that dream. Window Box is the perfect way to grow your own herbs at home. Growing oregano, parsley, and mint is a breeze with these kits. — Milagros Cruz, Recipe Editor
Click here to purchase the Window Box Oregano Seed Kit in Bamboo Container.
Matthews 1812 House ($20-$50)
This second-generation baked good company, founded in 1979 by Blaine and Deanna Matthews (today run by their daughter Cynthia), is turning out some spectacular desserts, and they're all available via mail order. Everything made by Matthews is baked in small batches, from high-quality ingredients, and tastes homemade because they are. Our favorites include lemon bars, almond roll-ups, and their new bourbon blondie bars, and they also sell a wide variety of gluten-free as well as savory products. —Dan Myers, Eat/Dine Editor
Bourbon Against the World T-shirt ($24)
This inspiring message is emblazoned across a midnight blue soft cotton Bella Canvas tee. Take that all you single-malt snobs and hipster rye-swillers! (Sizes run a little on the small side.) — Colman Andrews, Editorial Director
Click here to purchase the Bourbon Against the World T-shirt.
Maxwell and Williams Sprinkle 4-Piece Place Setting, Sky (24.99)
Bright and bold, the Sprinkle Collection adds fun to your kitchen. Crafted out of stoneware, Sprinkle features organic shapes and is hand-finished with an embossed sprinkle of white dots. Also available in red, orange, yellow, bright lime, and purple to mix and match for an extra pop of color. — Milagros Cruz, Recipe Editor
Click here to purchase the Maxwell and Williams Sprinkle 4-Piece Place Setting, Sky.
W&P Design The Barware Set ($29)
For the budding at-home bartender, or the mason jar-obsessed friend, W&P Design's The Barware Set is a unique yet practical gift. The set includes the Mason Shaker, a muddler, and a jigger, 'everything necessary to start crafting delicious cocktails,' according to the website. Best of all, the set is packaged in a giftable cardboard box, which you can opt to wrap or, in a pinch, throw a bow on, and voilà! — Abigail Abesamis, Associate Editor
Click here to purchase the W&P Design Mason Shaker The Barware Set.
IMUSA Ceramic Caldero ($29.99)
This product brings a colorful twist on this staple cookware piece made for cooking a wide variety of dishes including rice and beans, braised meats, stews, and soups. The white ceramic surface is PFOA, PTFE, and cadmium free, which allows you to embrace a healthier approach to cooking, all while maintaining a superior nonstick surface that requires minimal oil or butter. — Milagros Cruz, Recipe Editor
Fishs Eddy Club Cumming Gift Box Set of Four ($31)
I'm a big fan of gifts that fall into the functional fashion category, especially when it comes to household items. These double rocks glasses from Fishs Eddy, which feature people dancing and partying, accomplish just that. Fishs Eddy says, "Club Cumming was the name given to Alan Cumming's legendary Cabaret dressing room after-party at Studio 54." A portion of the sales from these glasses, which are part of Cumming's bar set made just for Fishs Eddy, go to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, so gift them to someone who appreciates a good cocktail as well as a little bit of New York history and goodwill. — Dane Feldman, Copy Editor
Click here to purchase the Fishs Eddy Club Cumming Gift Box Set of Four.
Excalibur Spiral Vegetable Slicer (34.99)
This slicer is great for slicing your favorite vegetables and fruits. It beautifully shreds, slices, and chops most vegetables and fruits. It turns almost any firm vegetable into fine spaghetti-like strands or incredibly thin, long ribbons. It has three interchangeable blades (large noodle, small noodle, and slicing blade) to make curly fries, spiral strands, curled julienne strips, as well as slices and ribbon cuts. Whoever you gift this to will be in curly fry heaven. — Milagros Cruz, Recipe Editor
Click here to purchase the Excalibur Spiral Vegetable Slicer.
Jars by Dani ($40)
For only $40, you're getting a sweet, homemade treat sent your way! Choose from countless cupcakes in jars including Mrs. Claus' Cookies, Double Chocolate Cheer, Ho Ho Oreo®, Twinkles 'n Sprinkles, and Nutty The Elf for a holiday cheer dessert. You can also select from the seasonal variety with winter white chocolate; Holly, Jolly Gingerbread; and Peppermint Wish. These beautifully crafted Jars by Dani desserts taste unbelievable, and make fantastic stocking stuffers! Courtney Nachlas, Entertain and Holiday Editor
Black & Decker Slow Cooker ($54.27)
If you have an expert cook in the family, this is the gadget for them. The BLACK+DECKER 7-Quart Slow Cooker is great for making soups, mashed potatoes, chili, pulled pork, and even dessert. They'll want to be in the kitchen 24/7 now. — Milagros Cruz, Recipe Editor
Riedel’s Veritas Champagne Wine Glass ($64.86)
This is the first ever Champagne-specific shape from any glassware brand, making it essential for all of your holiday toasts. Available at Riedel.com, Bed Bath & Beyond, and other retailers, drinking Champagne out of this glass will provide the perfect finale to the holiday season. — Lindsey Gaterman, Drink Editor
Click here to purchase the Riedel's Veritas Champagne Wine Glass.
Hella Bitters Craft Your Own Bitters Kit (64.95)
If you know anyone who is an amateur (or even professional) bartender, this is definitely for them. This kit from the bitters masters, Hella Bitters, comes with everything you need to make fancy-schmancy drinks. We approve! — Joanna Fantozzi, News Editor
Click here to purchase the Hella Bitters Craft Your Own Bitters Kit.
Bacon Me Crazy ($83)
Robert Sinskey Vineyards Los Carneros Pinot Blanc 2013 en magnum ($92)
Robert Sinskey makes delicious wines, and one of the best is his luscious, citrus-and-melon-flavored pinot blanc, which he bottles only in half-bottles and magnums. A half-bottle isn't anywhere near enough, and the magnum bottles, tall and lissome in the Alsatian style, are simply beautiful. If your wine merchant can't get the wine, order directly from the winery (they can ship to many, but not all, states) at www.robertsinskey.com. — Colman Andrews, Editorial Director
Click here to purchase the Robert Sinskey Vineyards Los Carneros Pinot Blanc 2013 en magnum.
All-Clad Stainless Steel Digital Kitchen Scale ($99.99)
All-Clad has a reputation for producing quality kitchen products and this scale is no exception. Perfect for quickly and accurately measuring ingredients for baking, cooking, and portion control, this scale is also dishwasher safe for an easy kitchen cleanup. Any cook will love receiving this gift. — Angela Carlos, Cook Editor
Click here to purchase the All-Clad Stainless Steel Kitchen Scale.
T-Fal 10-in-1 Multi-Cooker ($99.99)
The new T-Fal 10-in-1 Multi-Cooker features all of the home cook's cooking and baking needs in a single machine. The T-Fal 10-in-1 Multi-Cooker includes 10 cooking programs: rice, risotto, reheat, oatmeal, slow cook, steam/soup, yogurt, baking, browning, and keep warm. This do-it-all gadget is the must-have gift for any busy chef who loves to cook. — Milagros Cruz, Recipe Editor
T-Fal Clipso Pressure Cooker ($111.99)
Pressure cookers are a great gift for the cook who is always busy. You can produce a delicious meal, like pot roast, risotto, and tender pulled pork, in a fraction of the time, and then just pop it in the dishwasher when you are done. — Angela Carlos, Cook Editor
All-Clad Waffle Maker ($129.95)
In love with breakfast and brunch? This waffle maker makes the best waffles — it is a breakthrough product. The results are golden brown, crispy, and tender. This is a must-have in your kitchen. You can even get creative with it and use it to make waffle brownies, potato waffles, and more. — Milagros Cruz, Recipe Editor
Ruffino Bruschetta Board ($175.00)
This is made of environmentally-sourced oak. It's great for making an appetizer or bruschetta bar! Just lay out chopped ingredients for guests to assemble their own favorite snacks! — Laura Pucillo, Assistant Editor
Lagostina Risottiera ($199.95)
Rich, creamy risotto is easy to prepare in this classic Italian stainless-steel pan. Its five-layer bonded aluminum and stainless-steel core ensures precise heating as you sauté Arborio rice with onions, then simmer the grains in broth and wine. A wide rim speeds evaporation and facilitates stirring. The cherry wood and stainless-steel lid features double-wall construction and ingeniously inverts to create a serving trivet. — Milagros Cruz, Recipe Editor
Keurig Kold ($369.99)
Keurig has made waves for its hot beverage maker, but its newest creation, one that makes cold beverages, is a game-changer. You add a cartridge, push a button, and in seconds you have a cold, carbonated beverage. These aren't knockoffs, either; these are real sodas and drinks from Coca-Cola and the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group. It makes the beverage cold even if the water you use is room temperature. It carbonates without the need for a CO2 canister. It's incredibly cool, and I've really been enjoying mine! — Dan Myers, Eat Editor