Holiday Bites: Top 10 Gift Ideas for Your Fav Foodie 2013

Happy Black Friday! While the deal chaser in me is tempted to brave the crowds, the other part of me that likes to give more unique gifts than what you can find at the local mall would rather focus on scouting the best gift ideas from my couch.

So here they are, my picks for your fav foodie in your life this holiday... (edibles to come in separate post). There are options at various price ranges, but I upped the self-imposed upper limit this year to $250 as there were some things that were too cool not to include!  Where deals are available, they are noted under each product listing.

Happy holiday shopping!

1. For the Baker and Egg White Hater: Yolk Separator 

Yes, you did first see the idea for this in that video with the water bottle (and using suction to separate an egg yolk from egg white).  This is that idea come to life in a way more stylish and giftable form.

As someone who'd rather have an all egg yolk scramble anyday than a bland, boring egg white one - I think this lightbulb-shaped gadget is a brilliant idea.  I don't cook much if at all (though I do find creme brulee super fun to make), but these Yolkrs are so fun looking and seemingly easy to use, I kind of want to find more things to cook/bake just so I can justify buying one of these...

And btw, love that this product was a Kickstarter project that met its goals, so apparently enough people thought it was a good idea too, that it got the funding to move forward!

Check out the video...



Actually, put 1 or 2 of these in a gift basket with a creme brulee torch and/or ramekin set and your foodie friend just may become your BFF :)

Buy from: Yolkr £18 (~$24.50 USD)

2. For the Food Pornographer: iZZi Orbit Rotating Lenses for iPhones

Friends don't let friends take bad foodporn.  Trick out their iPhone with pro-grade, rotating lenses that will help them take better shots.

The Orbit 5 iPhone case features 4 different camera lenses: 

• 180-degree fish-eye lens
• 0.67x wide-angle lens
• 2x telephoto lens
• macro lens (located under wide-angle lens)

The case is also made of aircraft-grade aluminum so it's  lightweight and sturdy!

This one is also launched by a successful Kickstarter campaign - love crowdfunding that allow good ideas to get to market!

Buy from iZZi Gadgets $239.99

[Deal Alert: BOGO Orbit 5 on Black Friday between 6am-6pm PST, or save $50 on one from 6pm-midnight PST]

3. Flask Bangle by Cynthia Rowley

Yes, you read that right. It's genius, really.  Style meets function for those who don't have time for Happy Hour, but bring Happy Hour with them everywhere they go.  This one is totally out of the regular budget but is just so cool that I had to include it on the list.

Buy from: CynthiaRowley.com $225

4. For the Forgetful Foodie: Rococo Chalkboard Decal

Beautifully designed decal beats post-it notes or messy notepaper tacked on their fridge with magnets. Chalk included and the decal is removable and reusable!

Buy at OpenSky $36

[Deal alert: $28.80 sale price if you buy by 12/2]

5. Food + Art + Info Fans

Know someone who loves food, art and infographics? Combine all three in one perfect gift with these awesome prints featuring fun and informative designs covering everything from cheese to varieties of fruit to martinis!

Buy from: Pop Chart Labs $28 print only / $73 print mounted on panel (options for hanging rail or framed available as well at higher prices)

6. For the Foodart Fan: Salvador Dali Cookbook

The charismatic/enigmatic artist...was also a chef?!!?

Makes sense as food can be like art that appeals to more senses than visual, presents more of a challenge to control many 'live' variables, and can also create deep emotional connections / responses.

[Apparently Michael Voltaggio hosted a dinner at ink. one NYE inspired by this book, which I will be eternally sad that I missed!]

Buy from Amazon $140 for hardcover

[Deal Alert: Get $25 statement credit when you spend $75 or more at Amazon: just sync your American Express card to your Twitter account, then tweet out @AmericanExpress with #AmexAmazon to enroll in the offer.  See Amex terms and conditions for details here.]

7. Dominique Ansel Cookbook

From the super creative inventor of Cronuts (in case you've been living under a rock: that ingenius mashup of croissants and donuts which caused a frenzy of hours long queues at his shop in NYC) and magic frozen s'mores...Chef Dominique Ansel's first cookbook. It's not releasing til October 2014 - but like Cronut-fever, the book has already commanded 'lines down the block' with pre-orders already being taken a little less than a year out from release.  For those who don't live in NYC or can't spend hours in line for a chance to taste the now infamous original cronut...maybe the recipe and DIY route may be easier once the cookbook is out.

Pre-order now from Amazon $12.74 on Kindle

8. For Foodies Who Appreciate the Beauty of Seafood Marine Life On or Off The Plate

Sea urchins are a bit of an obsession lately...and this extends to their beautiful form, captured here in lovely serving bowls.

Buy from Michael Aram $59

9.  For the Easily Bored: AdNArt Flavour It Water Infusion Bottles

I.hate.water. It's a necessary part of life, yes, but I don't actually enjoy drinking it - it has no flavor!  So I was excited to see these infusion bottles - perfect for gifting to SoCal residents, who are blessed with amazing farmers markets.  So they can fill the infuser with the latest organic, seasonal, farm-fresh fruits and/or veggies and make their water taste good and deliver healthy vitamins, antioxidants etc. etc. And change it up whenever they want.

Love that this version is made of glass as well, so no worries about any flavors lingering in the plastic...and it also means this bottle can withstand hot or cold fill.

Buy from Amazon $13.05

10. For the Impatient Wine Lover: Corksicle

For those who (maybe have had a really long day and) can't wait for their wine to chill out. This is basically an icicle-shaped freeze gel rod attached to a cork, that they can keep in the freezer and when needed, simply stick into their wine bottle when they want cool wine, fast.

Buy from Amazon $24.95 (Prime eligible)



Daydreaming / If Money Were No Object...

Cirrus Ice Ball Maker

For cocktail / spirits connoisseurs.  You've seen all the A-list bartenders / bar chefs do it: use one giant ice cube / sphere vs. the traditional multiple ice cubes: the better to chill the drink without diluting it.

This kit makes it simple for your fav cocktail / spirits fan to make a pro-grade drink at home without having to get a 'lake ice' making machine and chainsaw.

• Press produces one perfectly formed ice sphere at a time.
• Small press makes 2" diameter ice sphere

Kit includes:

• Cirrus ice ball press.
• Drip tray.
• 3 cup molds.
• Tongs.
• Premium die-cut storage and travel case.

Buy from Williams-Sonoma $699.95 for small set


Have fun, and good luck with the holiday shopping!

Holiday Bites: Top 10 Gift Ideas for Your Fav Foodie 2012

Fun, functional, foodie-friendly.  Here are the Top 10 finds so far for holiday gifts that won't cause an acute case of boredom, nor break the bank.  Where there are deals, or high/low cost options, I have noted them below - but all are $80 or under.  Edible gift ideas are in a separate post.

1. Sugar & Spice: Master Spice Blends from Spice Master Lior Lev Sercarz

To state the obvious: spices change the entire flavor profile of a dish.  And spice blends are the gift that keeps on giving for working professionals who don't have time to cook multi-course meals but still want to enjoy something that tastes gourmet.  This kit includes The Art of Blending e-book, by Lior Lev Sercarz, who has created custom blends for some of the world’s top culinary minds and counts chefs Daniel Boulud, Eric Ripert and Top Chef judge Gail Simmons among his clients.

Sercarz’s first cookbook tells the stories behind the blends, with recipes for each contributed by his clients. Also included in the kit are 3 jars of his popular spices: Pierre Poivre Spice Blend, Cancale Spice Blend, and Reims Spice Blend.

For a lower priced option, choose from over 40 unique sounding, intriguing blends from Orchidea (orchid root, lime, sichuan pepper and spices) to Ana (sumac, rose blossom, sesame seeds, middle eastern spices) to Dali (saffron, lemon, cayenne, and "seafood essence").

Buy from: The Ingredient Finder

Love 'em: The Art of Blending Spice Gift Collection  $55.99

Meh acquaintance: Single jar spice blends $15-27


2. For the OCD: The Obsessive Chef Cutting Board 

For those who like to cook - and follow recipes to the letter: give the gift of precision prep with this beechwood cutting board, printed with graph lines to help the OCD chef attain that elusive level of exactitude and consistency.

Buy from: ThinkGeek.com ($25.99) or Paper Source ($26.95 buy from store location to avoid shipping charges)


3. Urban Cheesemaker: DIY Cheese Kit

I don't know about things tasting better when you make it yourself (certainly not true for me) but this kit definitely sounds like fun for cheese lovers! Make your own all-natural ricotta and mozzarella (oops I guess this one really belongs in the edible gift ideas post)! 

Uses whole or low-fat milk, 1 gallon per batch.

Kit includes (makes 10 batches of cheese 1.5-2lbs each):

.2 oz. vegetarian rennet.
4 oz. citric acid.
3 oz. cheese salt.
Cooking thermometer.
Fine cheesecloth.
Instruction/recipe book.

Buy from: William Sonoma $25.95


4. Drink.Play: Molecular Mixology Kit

Mix it up - break free of the tradition of drinks you drink just because it's the holidays and that's what you drink.  Do something that is both fun to make and imbibe, and serves as a great ice-breaker at holiday parties - with this Mojito R-evolution molecular mixology kit.

Includes:
- 3 natural food additives in pre-measured sachets (10)

- 1 slotted spoon

- 2 plastic pipettes

- 1 silicone mold

- 3 recipes

Buy from: Uncommongoods.com $30


5. Presentation Counts: Handcrafted Pottery Dishware by Eri Sugimoto

They take great care with the food they serve - give them a beautiful canvas to present their works of art on!  When it comes to dishware, most things that are gorgeous usually canot withstand actual life - and there's nothing worse for time-crunched foodies than dishes that can ONLY be handwashed and handled with white glove service etc. Eri Sugimoto's lovely pottery dishes are gorgeous to behold AND dishwasher and microwave safe. LOVE these!!!

Buy from: Eri Sugimoto Etsy Shop small plate $14 each - see full collection at Etsy store.


6. All About that Personal Touch: For Wine Lovers 

A great customizable keepsake that's got form and function down: a serving tray that lets your favorite wine lover display that brag-worthy cork collection.  Tray fits 100 corks. Or if you're not sure the size of their collection, Red Envelope will supply corks for you to fill the tray for an additional charge.

Buy from: RedEnvelope.com $49.95 tray only, add $14.95 for corks

[Deal alert: Gilt has a deal right now $25 for $50 merchandise credit towards any item at RedEnvelope, so you can pretty much get this tray for half price with that offer!  Ends 12/13.  Planning on spending more than that? Pick the $50 for $100 option instead - tab on the same page]


7. Fresh Herbs Year Round?! Turn Black Thumbed Urbanites into Proud Indoor Gardeners

Fresh herbs are awesome, but they always wilt and wither far too soon. Keeping live plants is ideal, but what urban apartment dweller has room to grow much less tie to tend their own herb garden?  AeroGarden is a cool solution - they're compact, dirt-free, indoor gardens that tell you when it’s time to add water and nutrients, and even turns grow lights on and off to simulate the sun, making it super easy for anyone (presumably even those like me with black thumbs) to grow and have access to fresh herbs year round!

Buy from: AeroGarden.com  $59.95 (sale price: regularly $99.95) also get 20% off with code "SAVE20" this weekend only) Free shipping with orders over $50

8. Finishing Touches: Flowers Do Double Duty as Home Decor and Plate Garnish

Make them feel like a Michelin chef with fancy edible flowers at the ready to turn their culinary creations into a work of delectable art.  This is low-tech, a traditional style mini-garden for your kitchen windowsill, but comes in a lovely presentation of elevated pots that serves as a great decorative piece with purpose.

Buy from: RedEnvelope.com $59.95

9. Wear Your Heart on Your Phone: Foodie Cases

For those who haven't upgraded to iPhone 5 yet (and maybe don't plan to as a statement of rebellion against the marketing machine that keeps churning out new models just as you're recovering from the dent the last model made in your paycheck) - a cool case for the iPhone 4 or 4S that looks good enough to eat! From Peter K Designs.

For those who have upgraded: love this chocolate bar case for the iPhone 5.

Buy from: Peter K Designs Etsy Shop (macarons case for 4/4S) $26

Zero Gravity (chocolate case for 5) $24.50

OR let them create their own so they can show off their favorite food photo from Instagram, Facebook or other pic archives - this company does more than iPhones, Galaxy and others also on the list: Casetagram starting at $34.95


10. All-Natural Skin Products That Smells Good Enough to Eat: Eminence Organics

Eminence Organic Skincare products are made in Hungary using all organic ingredients that smell amazing.  With all the often stressful holiday travelling, give them a little bit of pampering via this spa on the go.  This little travel gift set includes 1/2 oz jars of some of my favorites: Sweet Red Rose Cleanser, Rosehip and Maize Exfoliating Masque, Stone Crop Masque, Apricot Whip Moisturizer for Day, Naseberry Treatment Cream for Night - in a lovely wooden box.  Yes this line o product is a bit pricey but they worked well on my skin (combo) and I am literally addicted to the amazing smells! 

Buy from: BuyNaturalSkincare.com  $49


****STOCKING STUFFER****

Ok some bonus ones beyond the main 10 gift ideas.  Just because they are adorable. 

Handcrafted food miniatures from this Etsy artist are mouthwatering!  Most of the people I know are too old to wear these as jewelry, but these would make cute zipper pulls for bags or makeup case etc.

Buy from: Allies Minis charms start at $11 each
 

Un-Grumble Slider Plush
Buy from: ScoutMob $18

This is just a start.  Got any cool gift suggestions? Send 'em my way or post in the comments!

Holiday Bites: Gift Idea for Your Favorite Foodie - Edibles Under $80

Just getting started on your holiday shopping?  Here are a few gift ideas for edible gifts for your favorite foodies - a list that may or may not be disproportionate weighted in favor of chocolate (but gourmet ones, that won't look like you just picked up a box of whatever, last minute at the drugstore).  And all under $80!

1. Forget the Jewelry - It's all about Gem-like Chocolates & Love Nuts - Compartes

There's the perception that LA is all about the visual.  Compartes breaks this stereotype with handcrafted truffles that not only look beautiful (almost like jewelry boxes!) but are made with organic seasonal ingredients, in the European tradition, using a lush chocolate ganache filling.

And if your recipient is into the hype: Compartes has been featured in Bon Apetit, Food & Wine, LA Times and more.
 

And for my favorite thing to get from Compartes of all time - Almond Love Nuts - these things are insanely delicious.  Nuts are caramelized, lightly sprinkled with sea salt, then tossed in an organic chocolate blend, then rolled in extra brut cocoa powder. Consider yourself warned: One bite and you'll develop an instant addiction.

Buy from: Compartes Chocolatier Organic Truffle Box 20pc $42 Love Nuts (Almond) $10

2. Proof of Divine Design - Macarons

If you ever wondered whether we are here from random astronomical incidents, or if there is a higher power and meaning - take a bite of a Laduree macaron.

So, those of us who can't always hop over to France (for the treat that has been an institution in Paris since 1862) or New York won't be able to get our fix easily, but what we can get our hands on are 'lette macarons, made Parisian style.  Disclaimer: it's not even close to the divine experience that is Laduree, but will satisfy a macaron craving well enough. And it comes in cute packaging.

Further torture Step it up a notch for your fav foodie with a recipe book from Laduree beautifully packaged in a box set inspired by the classic Laduree pastry box. Choose from sweet or savory recipes (yes, Laduree is a tea house in Paris that also serves cafe fare)

Buy from:
Paulette macarons gift box of 24 $38
Barnes and Noble: Laduree Sucre $39.95 Laduree Savory $25.24

3. Tea, S'il Vous Plait - Imperial / Mariage Freres

By now teas that start out as a tightly wound ball that unfurl into beautiful blossoming gardens in the bottom of your teapot, are a fairly common sight (when you start seeing things being offered at Walmart, you know the cool factor is done).  BUT, this one comes from a legit traditional style, no cheesy gimmicks tea house in the foodie beloved Ferry Building in San Francisco.  Their Blossoming Tea Gift Set includes one of each of four spectacular blossoming teas, and a 12-ounce Dancing Blossom Glass Teapot.

Looking for a more straightforward tea gift? Does tea get any better than Mariage Frere? A company started by the tea-trading Mariage family in France in 1854, their passion and endless pursuit for perfection in the art of teas shines through. My favorite is the Vert Provence, an amazing green tea with layers of floral and fruit notes, which is hard to find in the US, but Dean and Deluca offers their Imperial Wedding tea.

For a more modern looking gift set, check out Le Palais des Thes flavored blends gift set, which offers a large variety in chic tubes.  My fav is The des Sables which is floral and fruity but light and not overly sweet, but this set allows your lucky recipient to sample from their collection!

Buy from:
Imperial Tea Court Blossoming Tea Set $40
Dean & Deluca  Mariage Freres tea $22.50
Gilt Taste Le Palais des Thes gift set $65.95




4. The Dom Perignon of Champagne Truffles - Teuscher

Of the champagne truffles I've had, the most luxurious / mind-blowing is from Teuscher.

The lushest and smoothest champagne creme is enveloped in rich but not overwhelmingly dense dark chocolate ganache, then the whole thing is surrounded by a delicate milk chocolate shell rolled in powdered sugar.   All I have to say is: perfection. 

Buy from: Teuscher 16 pc box $46.50 24 pc box $69.50 Save on shipping - stop by their store in Beverly Hills (yes their store decor is a bit garish, but the champagne truffles are incredibly well made and will make your eyes roll all the way to the back of your head)

5. Local Handcrafted Jams & Preserves - SQIRL

For the locavore and fan of handcrafted goods in your life - SQIRL has the most amazing jams and preserves I've ever tasted.  Owner/chef Jessica Koslow sources her ingredients and even cooking equipment from local sources, and her super-creative products are ever changing with whats in season. 

My fav that I got from last year's Artisanal LA show was the Kumquat & Chamomile preserve.  Right now at their webstore SQIRL has an amazing sounding preserve called "The Snow Queen Nectarine" made with "a great white fleshed stonefruit of legendary status. So fragile that it melts in your mouth, but not before providing a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity, and intense, complex, lingering aromatics and flavor."  Apparently the fruit peaks for only a few weeks of the year, so the preserve is only available in limited supply and will make for a nice unique gift. 

Get a few jars and make your own gift basket (Cost Plus has some nice sized baskets and get some floral moss from your local flower supply store) for a personal touch.

Buy from: SQIRL online $14 each or gift box of 2 for $25. Stop by their booth at Artisanal LA's Holiday Pop-Up Shop tomorrow December 11th in Pasadena, buy online (and save on shipping by using code "SHIPONSQIRL"), or visit their store in Silverlake!

6. Student of Chocolate - Vosges

I love breakfast any time of day - but especially on Christmas morning.  Give the gift of a luxurious breakfast and make it unforgettable with Vosge's original Pancake mix with Mo's Bacon Bar chocolate chunks.

Mix includes chunks of Exotic Candy Bar, which combines Hickory smoked bacon and Alder sea salt with deep milk chocolate.

To make this into a more substantial gift set, put in gift basket with mixing bowl and wooden spoon and/or a bottle of champagne (for mimosas to go with breakfast!).

For the studious chocoholic in your life: Vosges has a fun, nicely packaged Holiday Mini Candy Bar Library - a box set that includes nine ½ oz mini candy bars in holiday inspired flavors including gingerbread toffee and peppermint candy cane!

Buy from: Vosges Haut Chocolate Mo's Bacon Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix $12 Holiday mini-candy bar library $25

[Deal alert: Free standard shipping with orders over $75 - use code "DECFREE"]

7. Just Say Cheese - Murray's Cheese at Gilt Taste

If you've ever been to Murray's Cheese at Grand Central Station in NYC, you've experienced a cheese lover's idea of heaven.

Through Gilt Taste, Murray's has put together a stellar gift pack that features one of my favorite cheeses of all time, Sottocenere - a semi-soft cheese studded with intoxicatingly fragrant black truffle and enrobed in a beautiful edible vegetable ash rind.  Other cheeses in the pack include Robiola "swaddled in chestnut leaves is aromatic and drippy", Comte, "nutty and firm", and Bayley Hazen Blue a bright, delicate blue cheese.  You get a 1/2 lb of each cheese with the pack.

Buy from: Gilt Taste $75.95



This is just a start.  Got any cool edible gift suggestions? Send 'em my way or post in the comments!

For my picks for more durable gifts - see my Top 10 Gift Ideas post here.

Holiday Bites: 10 Gift Ideas for Your Favorite Foodie under $80

It's the day after Thanksgiving - have you started your holiday shopping yet? (Semi-sarcastic) Retailers seem to push the holidays upon us earlier and earlier each year.  This year there were tree-lightings at outdoor malls in LA before we so much as started to think about Thankksgiving! 

And now Black Friday is here.  And I am afterall a big fan of thoughtful gifts (that is the whole point, right?) so I do tend to look way ahead of time.  So here's a head start on some fun gift ideas for your favorite food-loving friend/family member/lucky secret santa target.  The natural thing to give to a gourmand would be something edible, I know - but I wanted to start off with items that make more lasting/memorable gifts.  Where there are deals, or high/low cost options, I have noted them below.  Look out for a separate post on edible gift ideas.

1. Play with your food: Molecular Cuisine Starter Kit

Know someone who's always wanted to try their hand at molecular gastronomy but can't afford to take out a second mortgage to get the gear?

This kit lets the amateur spherify, gelify and emulsify their way to creative dishes that will at the very least be great conversation pieces. Make spaghetti from tomato soup or arugula; caviar from fruit-juice; foam, gels, creams...

Kit includes DVD that walks you through recipes with helpful videos - because not everyone was born with mad molecular gastronomy skills like Michael Voltaggio.

So go ahead, give the gift of playing with food: Molecular Cuisine Starter Kit   $79.99


[Deal alert: $10 Off Orders $60+ - use code "SUPERSECRET123"]


2. Feast your eyes on this: Food Landscapes by Carl Warner

Carl Warner is a London-based photographer who creates unique works of art with food - fantasy landscapes made with vegetables, herbs etc.  Some of these are inspired by iconic cityscapes (e.g. London Bridge with asparagus and crackers), and some are purely from his imagination.  Fans of food+art will appreciate and be inspired by the gorgeous collection.
Love'em:
Food Landscapes Hardcover book ($22.50 SRP)

Meh acquaintances:
2012 Calendar ($13.99 SRP)

3. Hands Off My Cookie Jar: Verdant Canister

This Italian ceramic jar is a gorgeous piece for any kitchen - and the olive wood lid can double as a serving tray!  And as a bonus, it's dishwasher safe which makes it much more convenient to use.

For a personal touch, fill it with homemade cookies and include your recipe with the card. 

Buy from: Anthropologie $78




4. Form & Function: Himalayan Salt Plate
These are not just gorgeous to look at - they have style and substance.  The salt’s crystal structure makes it good at holding any temperature you bring it to for a while. And its non-porous / dry composition allows them to be safely heated or chilled to virtually any extreme (other companies have tested theirs from 0°F to 900°F). This means you can cook and serve on these plates - from searing/sauteing steak/scallops to serving sushi. When used hot, the plate also adds a mineraly saltiness to the food while it cooks!


Love 'em:
Buy from: Oliana Oil $59.95

Meh acquaintance:
Buy from: Oliana Oil $18.95


5. Brilliant Scents - Vanilla & Fig Illume Candles
Candles with scents inspired by kitchen finds - like Vanilla & Fig - will have your rooms smelling like something fantastic is in the oven!

Buy from: Anthropologie $16


6. For the Home: K Hall Designs Reed Diffuser - Fig 
K. Hall reed diffusers smell amazing and draws from scents that will appeal to foodies.  My personal fav is Fig, which looks like it's unfortunately discontinued, but there are many others in her line that are fantastic.

[Deal alert: 15% off all items at Monarch's Heaven until midnight Sat 11/26 - use code "BlackFriday"]

Buy from: Gifts That Give $46



 
7. Happy Tea Hour: Tea Forte Mixology Kit

Get your daily dose of antioxidants with Happy Hour...

Tea Forté is known for its gourmet whole-leaf teas and elegant, pyramid-shaped silken infusers. Now you can use them for your cocktails as well!

The kit comes with flavored tea infusers, glass infusion chambers and recipes.  To mix up unique cocktails such as martini with white tea and lavendar, or mojito with lemograss and spearmint, just place an infuser into one of the chambers, pour alcohol over it, then wait as tea flavors release. Just add remaining cocktail ingredients and you're good to go.  Fun for the amateur mixologist who wants to mix up a unique cocktail!

Buy from: DailyGrommet.com  $24 for starter set (Love 'em? Get them the supplemental box of 40 teas for an additional $42 - which would still keep your total under $80)


8. Shaken, Not Stirred: Martini Travel Bar Set in Case

Shaken or stirred, this dapper, locking, travel-ready Martini bar set has the essentials for serving up Martinis whenever and wherever the mood strikes.

Buy from: Kegworks $59.95



9. Serious Tea on the Go: Yixing Tea Tumblers
For serious tea drinkers and travellers / on a time crunch - this mixes thousands of years of Asian tea tradition with modern day convenience:  stainless steel exterior with Yixing interior (clay used in traditional tea service pots which absorb tea flavors over time). Comes with removable stainless steel strainer so you can brew loose leaf teas on the go.  Only drawback is that it's handwash only - NOT microwave nor dishwasher safe.

Buy from: Teavana $29.95


10. Beauty Buff - Skincare That Smells Good Enough to Eat: Eminence Organics

Eminence Organic Skincare products are made in Hungary using all organic ingredients that smell amazing.  This little starter gift set includes a 4oz Cranberry Pomegranate Sugar Scrub, 2oz Naseberry Cranberry Body Wash, 2 oz Naseberry Body Lotion and a loofah in reuseable spa bag.

Buy from: BuyNaturalSkincare.com  $49


****STOCKING STUFFER****

Ok, this is kind of a bonus one beyond the main 10 gift ideas.  Just because they are that delicious.

Ganache for Lips chocolate hazelnut lip balm 
Buy from: Surfas or Au Marche $3.80

Gift set of 4 'Chocolate Parfait' flavors
Buy from: Beauty Habit $18

This is just a start.  Got any cool gift suggestions? Send 'em my way or post in the comments!

Happy Holidays - Selamat Hari Krismas!

Happy Holidays from Sabah, Borneo!

 





May it be filled - from morning...

...til night...

...with all things merry and bright!

And looking forward to a new year filled with fun new adventures and discoveries - culinary and otherwise!

Selamat Hari Krismas! :)