We’d all smother our mothers for a chunk of a certain chocolate or a specific type of pasta, right? That dreamy dish you tasted on honeymoon; a slice of your grandmother’s apple pie?
Food, the cooking, eating and sharing of it, is an important part of life, so you can be sure there’s a bit of a foodie in everyone. That makes gastro-inspired gifts a brilliant idea for friends and family of all ages.
This year, help them up their cocktail game, become the king of the school bake sale or chop their veg just so.
Here’s what we’re craving this year…
For the vintage collector: Still refusing to throw away that chipped patterned plate or or Granny’s ancient teapot? Kintsugi is the old Japanese art of fixing pottery with gold. This brilliant kit will give your broken bits and bobs a design edge. €25 here.
For the caffeine fiend: This coffee bag clip by Danish company Hay doubles as a measuring spoon. Just €4 from Droog.
For the sweet toothed: Hadji Bey’s Turkish Delight has been part of Ireland’s food tradition since 1902 when a young Armenian named Harutun Batmazian set up his stall at the Great Cork International Exhibition. We love the tin almost as much as its contents. €9 here.
For the domestic goddess: Designed to be the ultimate kitchen companion (and displayed like a prize on the counter forevermore) the Artisan Stand Mixer from KitchenAid is fast, reliable and quiet. And it’s gorgeous in green, €585, Brown Thomas.
For the spaghetti chef: Finally; a handy tool that tells you exactly how much pasta is really necessary for each meal. I Could Eat A Horse Spaghetti Measurer, €19.22, Not on the Highstreet.
For the cheese lover: Bunbury Boards produce exceptionally beautiful chopping boards from trees grown at the historic Lisnavagh in County Carlow. Tough enough for everyday use, some prefer to protect their boards from the knife and serve cheese on it instead. From €15 here and at the Kilkenny Shop.
For the baker: These Helen James Considered Tart Pans are pleasingly simple – just the thing to let the contents do all the talking. €8 (set of four) from Dunnes Stores.
For the minimalist: This timeless six-piece bowl and colander set in traditional white and blue will delight any retro home bird. €75 from Industry.
For cocktail queens: The simplicity of this lemon reamer is what makes it so stunning – crafted from beech wood and dipped in white; perfection. €8 from April and the Bear.
For the wine connoisseur: Broken stems are a thing of the past with this beautiful set from Bavarian company Riedel. The set includes a crystal decanter and four Cabernet/Merlot O glasses; the first varietal specific wine tumbler in history. €60 here.
For the junior salad star: The Cucumbo is a handy spiral slicer perfect for creating dishes with wow factor. €12.50 here.
For The Virtuous Tart: Specialist cook and food columnist with The Sunday Independent, Susan Jane White has her cake and eats it… daily. How? Because all of her treats, drinks and snacks are packed with nutritional hits that love your body, boost your brain and make you feel and look great. This is the book that contains all her secrets. €19.99 here.
What are you buying the foodie in your life this year? Let us know on Twitter @HerFamilydotie.
