Let’s get right down to brass tax. If you haven’t yet secured everyone’s gifts for Christmas, there is not a moment to waste. If you’ve missed a shipping cut-off or forgotten someone or suddenly feel that your gifts are lacking and need a little extra something, this is your final warning. This is the moment we turn to Amazon, gift cards, and homemade food gifts.
Let’s start with the homemade food gifts:
Feeding people is just the best gift
A truly great gift would be two logs of chocolate chunk coffee cookie dough, wrapped in parchment, for them to slice and bake as needed.
For my brother-in-law’s birthday this summer, I gifted him a bag of homemade vanilla almond biscotti, which he devoured.
I also LOVE gifting homemade chocolate truffles, which are far easier than you’d expect. Flavor and decorate how you like (roll them in cocoa powder or crushed candy canes perhaps? A drizzle of Grand Marnier in the ganache? Go crazy.)
This granola makes a gorgeous homemade gift, especially if you pair it with some local fruits, honey, really good coffee.
Many restaurants have returned to offering pantry items and, now, holiday goods on their websites. And we all know that restaurants could really, deeply, sincerely use our support right now. In LA, consider Petit Trois’ cookie tin or French onion soup kit or hot cocoa mix as a gift for a friend.
Gift cards
They stand the test of time
Why not remind them (and yourself) that we will someday be able to eat out safely again, with a restaurant gift card? In LA, I recommend Bestia, Jon & Vinny’s, and Guelaguetza.
Another way to support restaurants right now is with services like Goldbelly, which delivers iconic foods from restaurants and bakeries around the country to your door.
Gift cards to great online food shops, like Gustiamo or Zingerman’s, lets them choose exactly how and when to indulge.
A gift card to your local wine shop would be such a good gift. If it’s a wine AND cheese shop, all the better. In LA, that might be Helen’s Wines or Ester’s.
Amazon
I don’t like it any more than you do, but it’s quick and they sell everything
Start with some of the best cookbooks of 2020, obviously: Dessert Person, Season, Ina Garten’s newest Modern Comfort Food, In Bibi’s Kitchen, or East by Meera Sodha.
Good cookware, like a Le Creuset set of two baking dishes, says “thoughtful” not “rushed”. Same for a Lodge cast iron skillet or a nice new cheese board (which you should give with some cheese…do I have to tell you everything?).
Best yet, a set of champagne glasses and a good bottle of bub to toast to the new year!
Now if you have already finished shopping, might I suggest some food and drink to accompany your wrapping and ribbon-ing?
A roast chicken in the oven, the Christmas lights on, and gifts to be wrapped? That’s a fine evening, I’d say. There’s comfort to be found in Yasmin Fahr’s garlicky charred greens with whole wheat pasta, which is healthy and cheesy and simple and delicious. In either case, cap the night with boozy Nutella hot chocolate, which is required this time of year.
I finally decided on my menu for Christmas Eve. It’ll be me, my 5 year old son, and my mother, so the stakes were high. With that: We’ll start with French 75s, then some Caesar salads (which my son will love…), followed by bouillabaisse served with a crusty baguette for dipping, and a chocolate ganache tart with vanilla whipped cream to finish.
Happy happy happy holidays,