Holiday gifts for food & drink people
...that aren't just cookbooks
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I’m sorry! I know it is early for a gift guide but I promise there are good reason for it!
First, most of the gifts featured in this guide are offered by small makers and businesses of one (or few). Supporting small over the holidays requires a bit of foresight as production, shipping timing etc. will very likely be impacted the closer we get to the holidays. Ordering early helps make sure you get your gifts on time and can also help reduce stress on the person (or people) making, preparing and mailing out your goodies.
Second, though we know that individual consumption alone is not going to change the world, and that too often individuals are made responsible for bearing the burden of broader structural problems, our consumer decisions can still matter. They are not the be all end all, and differently resourced people are going to engage…differently… but it feels important to acknowledge the affordances of consumer activism around the holidays. Changing consumer habits can make a difference. That’s to say that if you’re in a position to avoid buying from places that exploit their workers and the planet (or who fund genocidal projects), do it. It might require a bit more planning but hey, it’s November 1st and I’ve already put together a cute little list to get you inspired!
Third, my very good friend Theresa of Baddie Sticker Studio designed these incredible bean stickers, pins, and keychains for a joint collaboration and holiday launch with me and I want you all to see how cute they are!!! All of the design work was done by Baddie Sticker Studio! I simply offered bean enthusiasm.
Some notes on the guide
On the content: I’ve broken things down into 6 broad categories— Art, Design & Decor, Ceramics, Classes & Events, Cooking & Consumables, and Reading— and have avoided the inclusion of cookbooks and cookware. While both cookbooks and cookware can be excellent gifts, I know that I and other food people can be picky with wares and recipes (or already have many of the popular cookbooks available at general bookstores). That said, if you have a good sense of what your loved one likes to cook and cook with, by all means get them cookware or cookbooks!
On cost: The ideas included in this guide sit across various price points. I hope that your budget is represented here. Be mindful of exchange rates, shipping costs and potential duties, which will depend on your location. Also be mindful that many of the items included here are handmade, made in small batches and/ or offered by an individual or small team. Prices will be different than mass produced items as they (should) reflect the time, energy, skill, and care of the maker(s) as well as the cost of material and other business expenses (ie. workshop space, website domain, marketing, packaging, etc.).
Art, Design & Decor
If you’re not into beans, Baddie Sticker Studio has some other adorable food-related pieces that would be excellent stocking stuffers!
Cute food prints and paintings!
Laurel Greenfield is an artist based in Boston MA who I discovered while visiting in June. She makes really fun and vibrant food prints including sunflower bagels, which I purchased to commemorate my bagel-filled trip.
Krista Kim Fine Art Studio has gorgeous oil pantings of fruits + kitchen scenes.
Libby Haines’s art is wow!
These incredible food themed tufted rugs and other gorgeous works would be beautiful as a wall hanging!
Aesthetic paraphernalia!
Brightside General’s pickle themed objects as well as their very cute egg dish for holding jewelry and other knickknacks. Some of their stock can be found online but they are also carried by Hamilton’s Studio 205.
These incredible fruit and veg themed beaded jewelry pieces by Dream Song.
The beautiful pearl cocktail picks that ren did with Alicia Kennedy. ren’s Moon Festival Collection is also very gorgeous… they have bean earrings!
Ceramics
Having a beautiful handmade ceramic dish or mug is probably one of the easiest ways to make a food/drink moment feel special.
Here are some of my Hamilton + Toronto favourites.
Casa Studio: Purchase their wares online or in-person at Mooncraft Market in Hamilton. They also offer curb-side pickup in Hamilton.
Good Stuff Pots can be found online, at Studio 205 or at Pinch Bakery and Plant Shop in Hamilton!
Zoë Pinnell’s stunning creations.
Moody Jooly does free pickup in Toronto and is sometimes stocked at Bad Attitude (also in Toronto).
Classes & Events
One of my favourite gift categories! Finding a class or event is going to depend on your location but food events are often put on by chefs, local food businesses (like restaurants and grocery stores), and chef supply stores. Some food people also offer online classes, which might be a nice option if you’re gifting to someone who lives in a different location than you, or in a location without many in-person options. One difficulty with this gift ideas is that it can be a bit difficult to plan in advance as events can sometimes be posted a month or two out. You may need to check back in closer to the holidays to see what events and classes will be available in the new year.
Cooking Classes! Online or In-Person
Online:
‘s Julia Turshen offers a range of online cooking classes.Hamilton:
This vegan dark chocolate making class, which has dates in January and February.
Other folks in Hamilton who have offered in-person classes in the past to keep an eye on:
Classes and workshops by Fraser Cooks
What about a food-adjacent class?
One of my favourite places, Hamilton Craft Studios, regularly host classes across the ceramic, textile, and wood studios where you can learn how to make your own kitchen companions like tea kettles, bowls, aprons, charcuterie boards, cutting boards and spoons!
Cooking & Consumables
Diaspora co. spice set. Build your own set or check out their curated gift sets.
My spatulas! For Hamilton folks, my wares are going to be at the Hamilton Craft Market hosted by HCS the second weekend of December. If you’re not located in Hamilton, or unable to attend the market, I’ll be posting some spatula gift sets for sale leading up to the holidays.
Revel Cider has some incredibly unique naturally fermented wines and ciders. They’ve also already started their holiday sale!
A beer membership from Grain and Grit
Nice beans! This is niche but personally I’d be thrilled if I was gifted some beautiful (and responsibly sourced!) dry beans like these from Primary Beans or, better yet, their fucking bean membership (!!!!!)
Specialty coffee beans. There is a lot of great specialty coffee out there. I encourage you to get a sense of what is happening in your area with coffee.
of Boss Barista also features the work done by some incredible folks in the coffee industry. One stand-out Canadian feature was David Lalonde from Rabbit Hole Roasters. You can listen to David’s episode on the podcast below and check out Rabbit Hole here. They even have a coffee subscription program, which would be an awesome gift for a coffee connoisseur.
A basket of local faves! I did this for my brother one year. He lives in a different city and loves to try new food and drink things so I brought a little Hamilton tour to him. If I was to do a Hamilton basket this year I would probably fill it with some of the following: sours from Grain and Grit and Fairweather Brewing Company, coffee beans from either Relay, Coffeecology, Vintage, or Detour, Artie’s fermented chilis, Humble Bee raw honey, and a loaf of Dear Grain sourdough.
Gift YOUR cooking/baking! Cookies, breads, compotes, ferments—whatever you like to make—package them up real cute and deliver them to whomever you please.
Gift Card! If you are going gift card, that’s totally cool but I encourage you to consider a restaurant, brewery, or coffee shop local to the person you’re buying for.
Some Hamilton options that do gift cards:
Coffee and Baked Goods: Smalls Coffee, Strathcona/Dundurn/Ottawa Markets, Pinch Bakery and Plant Shop, Durand Coffee and Bottle Shop
Food: Martello, Sushi Azuki (Takeout), Tomah
Reading
A cute Zine or small press food/drink print like the Depression Cooking Zine or Depression Cooking Manifesto, Serviette, Whetstone, Diaspora Drinks, or Cake Zine
An informative but very enjoyable non-fiction like No Meat Required by
, Taste Makers: Seven Immigrant Women Who Revolutionized Food in America by Mayukh Sen, or Ingredients for Revolution: A History of American Feminist Restaurants, Cafes and Coffeehouses by Alex KetchumFood-rich fiction like Butter Honey Pig Bread by Francesca Ekwuyasi, Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang, or Milk Fed by Melissa Broder.
Okay if you do want to get someone a cookbook but not just any cookbook, check out Good Egg’s cookbook catalogue. Good Egg is a super cute food-centred bookstore based in Toronto.
I really enjoy things I can eat or drink.
Personally I love getting baked goods as a gift. As an old lady now I generally just buy the things I want. But homemade goodies are always so welcome and they make me feel loved.
I know this is food based but I also think if you can find someone that makes their own bath bombs, lotions, or candles - anything made locally is a great gift.