2024 Holiday Gift Guide for Home Cooks and Food Lovers

THE GIFT GUIDES ARE HERE!!!

I’ve got some very fun gifting ideas for a variety of humans: Home Cooks and Food Lovers (below), Beauty and Wellness Enthusiasts, Home and Style Mavens, and, of course, Dudes. 

We all know that holidays aren’t about the presents. BUT giving presents can also be a small joy, and I take great pride each year in helping some of you find the perfect thing for someone you love. Especially the tough giftees. (I feel this pain. Everyone in my family is shockingly difficult to shop for.)

As always, my hope is that these gift guides help make shopping for your people a little bit easier and more fun. And reminder that it can sometimes be helpful to forward these gift guides to significant others/family members with the subject “Hint, hiiiint.”

Happy shopping, friends! Wishing you and yours the happiest of holiday seasons. Sending a virtual hug.

2024 Holiday Gift Guide for Home Cooks and Food Lovers:

Walnut Boos Block. A lot of people are looking to ditch their synthetic cutting boards these days, and a John Boos Block is the Ferrari of wooden cutting boards. This one is a versatile size, reversible (one side has a juice groove for slicing meat, and the other is smooth), and will look great in any kitchen! A wooden board is much gentler on knives and free of microplastics, which is a beautiful thing. If you want to take this present to the next level, consider getting them this larger board, or a Boos bundle with the famed Boos Block cream, oil, and applicator to keep the board in pristine condition for many years to come.

Fieldbar Drinks Box. My sister gave me this awesomely retro beverage cooler for my birthday, and it really romanticizes every picnic and outdoor adventure. It comfortably fits two bottles of wine or an assortment of smaller bottles, is easy to clean, and comes in 6 colors. (I’m partial to the Bazaruto Blue and Parisian Green.)

Shun Classic 8-inch Chef’s Knife. I’ve included this knife in gift guides past, but I’m bringing it back should you be in search of an excellent knife. I’ve been using mine daily for 7+ years, and it remains my most used and beloved kitchen tool. It’s beautifully crafted, lightweight, and razor sharp.

Pizza Night by Alexandra Stafford. Ali is an unbelievably talented cook, baker, and recipe tester, and her pizza dough recipe is my go-to. This gem of a cookbook is filled with creative and mouthwatering pizza recipes AND salads to pair with each of them. If you’re looking to spoil a pizza lover, this pizza rocker would be a great companion gift.

Rubirosa Pasta Sampler. Rubirosa is my favorite Italian restaurant in NYC (you’ll find me there most Sunday nights), and I love that they’ve rolled out their own products in recent years! This year’s Pasta Sampler includes lumache, casarecce, and trottole in an old-school popcorn tin and would be a treat for any pasta lovers. Pair it with some of their famous sauces or olive oil to really deliver a taste of the Rubirosa magic.

Multi Bottle Wine Tote. This cute canvas tote has interior dividers to hold four bottles of wine without any clinking! You can personalize it with a monogram, but I’m really loving the “BYO” customization…

America’s Test Kitchen All Access Subscription. This would be such a fun present for new and seasoned home cooks alike! I’ve personally picked up so much fun culinary knowledge from Test Kitchen over the years (I love their scientific approach to cooking), and it’s a reliable go-to for recipes, technique videos, and general culinary tips and tricks. A subscription gives one access to all recipes and videos from America’s Test Kitchen, Cook’s Illustrated, and Cook’s Country, as well as thousands of product reviews, all seasons of their public TV shows, and a user-friendly members app.

Made In 13-Piece Stainless Set. If you want to make kitchen dreams come through, this set from my all-time favorite cookware brand includes pretty much everything a home cook could need. I’m a big believer that one needs multiple materials in their cookware collection, and this set delivers on the cookware diversity front. It includes 2 sizes of stainless skillets, 2 saucepans, a saucier, and stockpot, but you ALSO get a nonstick skillet and a carbon steel skillet and wok. If you purchase it during the Black Friday Sale, it includes a FREE 5.5-quart enameled Dutch Oven to round out the recipient’s cookware collection!!! I cannot stress the quality and durability of Made In Cookware. I’ve been cooking with their products almost exclusively for 4 years, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Kitschy Cocktail Picks. These cocktail picks add a touch of whimsy to any happy hour situation. I’m drawn to the safari animal picks, but there are lots of designs to choose from! I would also recommend just perusing the Weston Table site for any food lovers, entertainers, and design enthusiasts your shopping for. Their selection of tableware, barware, cookware, and home décor is just…chef’s kiss.  

Silicone Pan Protectors. For the home cook that has everything! These pan protectors are a game changer for protecting precious cookware–especially nonstick and ceramic—from scratching when stacked. And they’re much more aesthetically pleasing than shoving paper towels between one’s pans…

Sommelier Chef’s Apron. I believe in a little kitsch when it comes to aprons, and this unisex beauty would be perfect for your favorite home chef or wine lover. If the wine bottles don’t speak to you, there are tons of other fun patterns available. (And the apron is $20!)

Gummy Club. This is a niche present, but I can’t imagine a gummy lover who wouldn’t be thrilled to receive a box of surprise gummies on a monthly basis! (Especially during the seasons that Trader Joe’s offers us nothing good…)

Ceramic Fondue Set. Fondue set pusher reporting for duty. I’ve hosted a winter fondue lunch party the past few years, and it’s SO FUN. Show me a person who doesn’t love dipping things in melted cheese and/or chocolate, and I’ll show you a liar. 😉 A fondue set is one of those things that one rarely buys for themselves, which is what makes it such an excellent present!

MEATER Plus Smart Meat Thermometer. Give the gift of perpetually perfect meat! Every home cook needs a meat thermometer to ensure properly cooked proteins, and this is a great one. It allows you to monitor both the internal meat temperature as well as the external temperature of your grill or oven as well as set alerts for time and temperature.

Silicone Bacon Bin Grease Holder. For the bacon lover! This cute little bin allows you to easily strain, cool, and save or discard bacon grease with minimal mess. Saves a whole lot of hassle (and clogged sinks…).

Scandles Food-Shaped Candles. Scandles makes adorable soy wax candles in the shape of favorite foods! I’m partial to the heirloom tomato and block of butter.

For more gifting inspiration, check out the Gift Guides for Home Cooks and Food Lovers from 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013. You may also find some ideas in my Wedding Registry Guide and in my “Kitchen Essentials” highlight on Instagram.