Last year, my seven-year-old nephew fell in love with fishing. He went completely off the deep end (ha), wanting to learn everything about his newfound hobby and realized he needed a lot more gear. We bought him a rod for Christmas, his stocking was stuffed with lures, he received a tackle box for his birthday and his Easter basket overflowed with worms both alive and in gummy form.
Buying for a friend with a hobby is a gift in itself. It takes all the guesswork out of giving, practically guaranteeing you the top spot on the Favorite Aunt list. Lucky enough to have a friend who is a foodie? From kitchen tools to restaurant gift cards, mixer attachments to classic wooden spoons, the gifts are endless. Read on for a few of our tried-and-true foodie gifts.
Fancy Pants Dessert: Artisanal Chocolates
Grocery store chocolate bars in stockings are for kids. Upgrade your gift-giving to a collection of artisanal chocolates. The Chocolaterie in downtown Duluth is home to handmade truffles in unique shapes and sizes, all hand-painted and exquisite with vegan options as well. Order online or visit the store (in the oldest remaining building in downtown Duluth!) to select the truffle flavors yourself.The store also features a range of unique gifts, handmade fudge and house-churned ice cream that’s clearly a reward for getting your Christmas shopping done.
Find it at The Chocolaterie
3099 Main Street | Duluth, GA 30096
thechocolaterie.com
Perfect Hostess Gift: Organic Sourdough
Sure, we all learned how to make trendy sourdough in 2020. But how many of us mastered anything beyond the basic loaf? For those whose starter turned fuzzy and stinky, allow me to introduce you to River Birch Bread Co. River Birch Bread Co. features your basic offerings, along with unique, delicious flavors such as jalapeno cheddar, Nutella and blueberry goat cheese.Take a loaf as the perfect hostess gift, gift it to your mother-in-law for Christmas morning or eat an entire loaf yourself. It’s all organic so it’s probably fine. Good for you, even.
Find it at River Birch Bread Co.
526 River Birch Loop | Jefferson, GA
facebook.com/riverbirchbreadco
For the Charcuterie Devotee: A Handmade Cutting Board
If assembling the perfect snack board is your friend’s jam, imagine their delight at receiving a custom cutting board that is just as beautiful to display as it is to use.Tracy and Fran Maddox began making cutting boards in their Sugar Hill garage just for fun.After gifting several to family and friends, they realized they might have a burgeoning business which led to Maddox Wood Design! They hand-cut all-natural wood to use for their cutting boards, serving trays and other unique items.
Find it at Suwanee Wine Festival on November 2nd, or facebook.com/maddoxwooddesign
Bobby Flay is My Brother-In-Law: Gourmet Spices
Buying for a foodie, but not a foodie yourself? Oof, that’s scary. You need an expert. “Like a good neighbor….” No no no, wrong expert. You don’t need Jake, you need Nancy. Located on the Lawrenceville Square, Nancy’s Candy & Spice features elusive seasonings and blends, herbs and spices, infused olive oils, teas and more. Nancy is not only a purveyor of gourmet spices but will assist you in creating the perfect gift for your top chef. Can’t decide on just one? Eight crazy nights = eight crazy spices.
Find it at Nancy’s Candy & Spice
186 W. Crogan Street | Lawrenceville, GA
nancyscandynspice.com
Foodie Lit: Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat
The foodie in your life has surely binged Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat on Netflix, but have they read the book that inspired the series? This fascinating read uses the four critical elements of cooking to create a foundation for understanding the chemistry behind food. In addition to kitchen science, this James Beard award-winning book also features 100 essential recipes to put the lessons into practice. Pair it with a great bottle of wine and with a little luck your grateful foodie friend might invite you over for dinner in the new year.
Find it at Johns Creek Books
6000 Medlock Bridge Parkway | Johns Creek, GA 30022
JohnsCreekBooks.com