Gifts for the food, drink and coffee lover in your life
For the foodie on your holiday list — or just people who might appreciate a good tequila or pie pan — we offer a gift guide. It’s got coffee machines, adult beverages, chocolate and more. FOR THE ENTERTAINERS: Opinel Cheese Knife and Fork Set , $45
Opinel is an iconic French knife maker. They are recognized and famous for their picnic “pocket” knife which is made the same way today as it was in 1890 when Joseph Opinel invented it. This compact set of an interlocking fork and cheese knife is made from stainless steel and a blond beech-wood handle. The set of two is perfect for anyone who entertains and loves cheese — which pretty much means all of us!
JK Adams Cherry Cheese Server with Double Handles, $75 plus
If you are a fan of cheese and charcuterie boards, this JK Adams Cherry Cheese Server is a must have. JK Adams is located in Dorset, VT, and has been making high-quality wood products for 72 years. The cheese server is beautifully made from a solid piece of cherry wood and sports handles on either side for easy transport. The burnished edges give it a more finished look and the teak oil finish brings out the natural beauty of the wood. A gift giving plus is that the board can be personalized with either initials or a custom message for a small upcharge. This is a great holiday gift and a special way to commemorate a milestone. FOR THE SPIRTS LOVER: Herradura Selection Suprema Extra Anejo Tequila, 750 ml bottle $295-$412
First introduced in 1995, Selection Suprema is reported to be the first extra-anejo or “extra aged” tequila in the industry. It is distilled twice and aged in American white oak barrels for four years before being bottled. When you pour the extra anejo into the glass, you first notice the deep amber colour that is produced naturally — no caramel colouring is added. Next, you smell a floral freshness and caramelized sugars from the cooked agave. Finally, you taste the soft, round, rich flavours of vanilla and dried fruit with a spicy finish. This complex extra-aged tequila will appeal to any fan of smooth high-end brown spirits.
Paradiso by El Tesoro, 750 mL bottle $119.99
Paradiso is a mash up of Mexican tequila production and French cognac blending. The herbal nose gives way to scents of caramel and butterscotch, and the flavour is sweet and oaky with a smooth elegant finish that you would expect from tequila that has been aged for five years in cognac barrels. This is a tequila that you want to sip on after dinner or on a cozy day when time is on your side. FOR THE BAKER: Baking Steel, $89 Pretty much everyone loves pie, and this is the season for pie. But many pies need to be baked twice and that is a deterrent for even the most patient bakers. Blind-baking pre-bakes the crust so that it is not a mushy mess in the bottom of the pan, under the filling. But now, you can bake pies on the Baking Steel and eliminate the need to pre-bake your crust. Made from low-carbon steel, Andris Lagsdin created the baking steel because he wanted to make a better pizza without building a wood-fire oven.
You preheat the oven with the steel inside for an hour before baking and then place your pie plate directly on the Baking Steel — if you are baking a fruit pie or a pie that might overflow while baking, I would put a piece of parchment paper or foil on the Baking Steel just to make the clean-up easier. You can also bake pizza and bread directly on the Baking Steel and, you can use it on your grill as well.
Revol Les Naturals SoftCream Pie Pan, $59.99
If you bake, you probably collect baking pans. Many of my favourite pans are made by Revol. Revol is the creator of the original French porcelain and makes bakeware, serving pieces and even coffee cups that are both beautiful, functional and easy to clean. This 9-inch porcelain pie dish from Revol is the perfect pie-pan upgrade for your favourite baker. This is a perfect pie pan because it is 9 inches wide and a perfect 1.5 inches deep. The cream-colored culinary porcelain pie dish comes in a gift box that is so durable that I use it to store my pie pan. FOR THE COFFEE LOVER: Illy X1 iperEspresso Anniversary 1935 Machine, $595
Years ago, espresso machines were cumbersome and messy but that all changed with the coffee pod, or capsules as Illy calls them. In honour of the 20th anniversary of the Francis Francis X1 machine, a special edition multi-beverage machine was designed. Now you can make espresso, cappuccino, regular coffee and lattes at home with one machine. Two types of capsules are available for the machine; one for espresso and one for brewed coffee. Both capsules comes in medium roast and dark roast. Espresso is also available in decaf, long espresso and three single origin varietals.
FOR THE CHOCOLATE LOVER:
La Madison du Chocolat "Bien Etre" Wellness Vegan Chocolate Gift Box, $34
If anyone could make a delicious vegan chocolate that didn’t trade down in any respect to quality, flavour or texture, it is La Maison du Chocolat. The box comes with a beautiful colour brochure that guides you through each fruit-infused chocolate as you sample them. The “Grenade” pomegranate literally tastes like pomegranate seeds bursting with fresh juice ending with a tart finish. The Mango Curcuma mixes mango and turmeric in a softer way with hints of mango, and turmeric but more dark chocolate forward. Other flavours in the box are Praline Squash Seeds, Green Apple Aloe Vera and Peach Propolis — and all are pure luxury. The chocolates are all gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free.