Homemade Digestifs Are Impressive & Delicious

During the winter, you could use another kind of medicinal vitamin D: a digestif. Bright and sometimes herbal, sometimes citrusy, digestif drinks do what they say they do. They make your stomach feel better, help you digest a big meal, and, well, they still give you a nice, smooth buzz. The infused liquors soothe and settle your stomach with their herbal mixtures. They are a touch sweet, intensely flavored, and often served chilled and sipped slowly. Make some yourself and see how good (and easy) they can be.

Related Reading: Get Acquainted With the Art & Science of Cocktail Bitters

The definition of a digestif is broad, and usually refers to a hard liquor that’s been steeped with various herbs and/or citrus. Limoncello is perhaps the best-known digestive liqueur out there, but you may only have had that cheap Lysol-flavored bunk served at many Italian trattorias. The digestifs listed here—including homemade limoncello, of course—are a handful of our favorites, though we encourage experimentation (say, with bay leaves or tangerines).

Tie a ribbon around the bottle and it makes a fantastic homemade gift.

Swing-Top Glass Bottles with Extra Gaskets and Labels, 6 for $19.95 on Amazon

A step up from Mason jars, these leak-proof, swing-top bottles come with charming chalkboard labels.

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Related Reading: DIY Infused Liqueurs to Make the Season Bright

Lemon Digestif

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Warming with a slight astringency, this is what limoncello should taste like. Get our Lemon Digestif recipe.

Use it in this Paradiso Limoncello cocktail recipe. A twist on the classic screwdriver, the Paradiso welcomes a splash of astringent, slightly sweet lemon digestif that pairs well with Aperol or Campari, plus orange juice and orange-flavored vodka.

Mandarin Orange Digestif

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Deceptively orange-like in flavor with a hint of acidity, this is the most understated of the lot. Get our Mandarin Orange Digestif recipe.

Then make this Mandarin Orange Old Fashioned recipe. It’s appealing, easy, and tasty, but try something a little different with it. Instead of the packaged mandarin oranges in syrup, use some fresh orange slices and the digestif for an even more sophisticated Old Fashioned option.

Meyer Lemon Digestif

Chowhound

Meyer lemons make for a more subtle flavor than the regular lemon digestif, with a nice floral note; this could be mistaken as a lemon-orange mixture but just uses the one type of fruit. Get our Meyer Lemon Digestif recipe.

Try it in The Chunnel cocktail recipe, a French-accented martini with St-Germain elderflower liqueur. With your Meyer lemon digestif infusion in the mix, it will be out of this world.

Basil Disgetif

Chowhound

A brief break from citrus for a few other options to show how versatile digestifs can be. First, fresh basil leaves infuse this easy liqueur with their herbal, spicy flavor. Get our Basil Disgetif recipe.

Use it in our Basil and Rye recipe in place of the muddled basil and simple syrup called for.

Fennel Digestif

Chowhound

Fennel infuses its licorice-like flavor into this digestif, which manages to be both delicate and potent. You use fennel fronds and seeds for this, so you can reserve the bulbs for braising. Get our Fennel Digestif recipe.

Try using it in place of the muddled cucumber and simple syrup in this Cucumber Gimlet recipe.

Related Reading: The Ultimate Guide to Fennel

Aquavit

Chowhound

The ingredients in this Scandinavian digestif vary, but some of the most common are caraway, anise, fennel, and cardamom. We use all but the anise and add cloves, lemon, and orange to the vodka base as well. Get our Aquavit recipe.

You can mix up aquavit cocktails, but honestly, we like it best sipped straight, ice cold.

Pomelo Digestif

Chowhound

Back to simple citrus, though we’ll close with two less common varieties. This second-to-last digestif relies on the peel from pomelos to create a wonderfully aromatic liqueur. Get our Pomelo Digestif recipe.

Then make this Pomelo Chili Paloma cocktail recipe. It’s a tongue-twister. Substitute or simply add your pomelo digestif into this tequila-based, spicy, and bright cocktail by Brooklyn Supper for another layer of flavor.

Blood Orange Digestif

Chowhound

Sweeter, redder, and more intense in flavor, color, and aroma than regular oranges, the blood orange is more of everything you love about the plain old…well, orange ones. Get our Blood Orange Digestif recipe.

Then use it in in place of Cointreau in our Perfect Margarita recipe.

Related Video: How to Make Insta-Infusions When You’re Short On Time

— This article was originally published in 2008 and was updated by Amy Sowder.

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How to Get Your Holiday Potluck Food to the Party in One Piece

We rounded up some of the best products for packing food and bringing it to a potluck or party—because sometimes plain old plastic wrap just won’t do.

If you’ve been invited to a holiday potluck, figuring out what you’re going to make is only the beginning. You also need to transport it to the party in one piece, ideally still warm—or cold, if it’s meant to be. Whether you’re making cookies, cakes, or casseroles (or dip, deviled eggs, or drinks), these are some of the best products for transporting your food to a secondary location—without ruining all your hard work.

Related Reading: Holiday Party Etiquette to See You Through the Season

From casserole carriers that keep your scalloped potatoes warm to pie-protecting boxes so not one crimp comes to harm, and even a couple cute containers you can pack with leftovers for lucky guests, these will ensure everything travels well.

Fancy Panz To-Go Casserole Carrier Set, 2 for $40 on Food52

Food52

Making your casserole, brownies, vat of mac and cheese, or sheet cake in one of those disposable aluminum pans makes cleanup so easy, but they’re admittedly not as pretty on the table, nor as sturdy as a glass or ceramic pan. These casserole carriers are designed to keep your flimsy aluminum pans secure and gussy them up at the same time—simply pop out the clear lid to serve your masterpiece straight from the carrier-covered pan. These come in two sizes (10-by-12 and 8-inch square) and multiple colors (including green, red, charcoal, and white), and are also available on Amazon in even more shades.Buy Now

Picnic Time Insulated Potluck Casserole Tote, $34 each on Food52

Food52

This insulated carrier lets you leave your house with a piping hot dish that’s ready for the table when you get there. A real lifesaver if your host is short on oven space (they will be—and they will be thankful to have one less dish to wrangle and reheat)! There’s an upper section where you can stash utensils (with elastic loops to keep them in place) and smaller sides or other accessories. But if you’re bringing two casseroles (show-off), this two-tier insulated casserole tote will keep them both warm at once.Buy Now

Hamilton Beach Insulated Slow Cooker Carrier Bag, $14.99 on Amazon

Hamilton Beach/Amazon

Whether you’re contributing Crock-Pot dip, butternut squash soup, a warm slow cooker cocktail, or anything else you make (or can heat up) in a Crock-Pot, this carrier will keep it nice and toasty in transport; it fits slow cookers from 4 to 8 quarts.Buy Now

Aglahome Christmas Cookie Boxes, 20 for $18.99 on Amazon

Aglahome/Amazon

If you’re bringing your famous Christmas cookies, classic cookie tins are pretty easy to transport, but if you don’t want to have to bring anything back home with you, consider these paper boxes with festive snowflake designs instead. You might want to tape the edges down just in case things shift in transport.Buy Now

PieBox Pie Carrier, $35 on Food52

Food52

You didn’t know you were missing a box for pies in your life, did you? Made out of sturdy, unfinished pine, the PieBox will keep your 9-inch beauty from crumbling. Spring for the extra leather strap ($28 on its own or $55 when bundled together with the box) to help carry your pecan pie to Grandma’s house; you can never be too safe. And if you’re not a big pie fan, think about putting the CakeBox, CookieBox, and/or BiscuitBox to use instead.Buy Now

VonShef Snap and Stack 2-Tier Cupcake Carrier, $29.99 on Amazon

VonShef/Amazon

Cookies, cakes, and pies will happily welcome cupcakes onto the dessert table too, and a tiered cupcake carrier is non-negotiable if you’re transporting anything over a half dozen. This snap-together, snap-apart carrier is great for storing in a small apartment and you can also use it for dinner rolls, or anything else you don’t want to get smushed.Buy Now

Wilton 10-Inch Cardboard Cake Box, $4.84 at Walmart

Wilton/Amazon

If “investment pieces” aren’t your thing when it comes to baking (see: PieBox and CakeBox above), look to these cheap, disposable cake boxes to transport your dessert instead. They’re fairly sturdy and make any cake or pie look like it came straight from a bakery.Buy Now

Ball 16-Ounce Mason Jars, 12 for $10.99 at Target

Ball/Target

If you’re bringing something on the smaller side—like your famous pickles or chow chow for the relish tray, or maybe homemade Irish cream—the classic mason jar is the best way to go. It’s cheap (so it won’t matter if you don’t get it back), and more importantly, it won’t leak in your bag or over your holiday party outfit.Buy Now

Snapware Snap ‘N Stack 2-Layer Deviled Egg Holder, $14.10 on Amazon

Amazon

This may not be the prettiest deviled egg platter around, but what really matters is that (a) there’s no chance of losing your grip, and (b) you can fit a full dozen eggs in here, or 24 halves. As the name implies, you can snap and stack even more container layers together if you want to make a bigger batch of eggs—never a bad idea, because these always go fast.Buy Now

Samshow Insulated 4-Bottle Wine Carrier with Corkscrew, $23.99 on Amazon

Samshow/Amazon

Not assigned to bring anything but the wine? Make sure it stays chill (and avoid taking up valuable fridge space) by packing it in this insulated tote bag that holds four bottles. It also includes a corkscrew that attaches under the lid in case the house wine opener gets misplaced or you just can’t get into the kitchen with all the commotion.Buy Now

Rosti Mepal Microwaveable Nesting Storage Bowls, 4 for $62-$72 on Food52

Food52

These are fantastic for storing leftovers (especially since the shallow design easily slides into short crisper drawers and tight freezers), but we’re keeping them above the leftovers line because they’re also great for bringing dips and sides that are served at room temp or just need a quick nuke to reheat. The lids are airtight and leak-proof for safe travels, and the colors are gorgeous enough to fit in at even the swankiest soiree.Buy Now

Bonus: Leftovers

Prep Naturals Meal Prep Containers, 30 for $15.99 on Amazon

Prep Naturals/Amazon

If your concern is transporting leftovers, whether you stockpile these from your favorite Chinese restaurant or order them in bulk online, these classic to-go bowls are great for reheating food in the microwave. Since they’re disposable, you can send home extra ham and potatoes with guests and not have to hound them for your meal prep containers next week. If you’d rather cut back on waste, though, there’s always Pyrex!Buy Now

Retro Holiday Paper Take Away Cups with Lids, 6 for $4.99-$5.99 at World Market

World Market

Somewhere between those two options lie these compostable paper containers with charming holiday designs. The mint green ones at left are medium size, while the red containers at right are larger (quart-size), in case you’re feeling more generous with the spare sweet potato casserole.Buy Now

For more tips, tricks, and recipes, see our Ultimate Christmas Guide and visit our Holiday Headquarters.

Related Video: How to Make Your Sugar Cookies Sparkle

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A Banana Just Sold For $120,000 (No, Really)

If you thought the organic avocados at Whole Foods were pricey, hold on to your helmet. A banana (yes, a literal banana) which had been duct-taped to a wall (yes, a literal wall) just sold for $120,000 (yes, a literal $120,000) at Miami’s Art Basel this week.

The work, entitled “The Comedian,” was a creation of Maurizio Cattelan, the Italian artist who made an, umm, splash with his 18-carat gold toilet called “America” in 2017, which was subsequently stolen from England’s Blenheim Palace this past summer. (I hate when that happens).

There are three editions of “The Comedian” which debuted to big buzz this past week at the massive Miami art show, with the one still unsold expected to nab as much as $150,000.

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Maurizio Cattelan is at it again 🍌 The art world’s favorite prankster came in hot for Art Basel Miami Beach with a duct taped banana that sold for $120,000. Follow along with our stories for more Miami Art Week highlights. — #MaurizioCattelan #ArtBasel #ArtBaselMiamiBeach

A post shared by Artsy (@artsy) on Dec 5, 2019 at 2:19pm PST

Emmanuel Perrotin, founder of the gallery responsible for the work, told CBS News that Maurizio’s work is “not just about objects, but about how objects move through the world” and that every time he [Cattelan] traveled, “he brought a banana with him and hung it in his hotel room to find inspiration…making several models: first in resin, then in bronze and in painted bronze (before) finally coming back to the initial idea of a real banana.”

Related Reading: 9 Flatbread Recipes That Look Like Works of Art

Though many—in and out of the art world—are critical of the seemingly simple work and the Warholian hubbub it’s caused, Perrotin added that “the spectacle is as much a part of the work as the banana.”

In any case, here’s to Cattelan on his show-stealing work, and here’s hoping the buyer doesn’t accidentally throw it in a smoothie. But when it does eventually start to brown, might we suggest this delicious banana bread recipe?

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Does Starbucks Have a New Holiday Hit on Its Hands?

A lot of foods blow up on Instagram, but just how good are they in reality? Chowhound’s social media producer Connor Bower is determined to find out which ones are worth your time and which are simply not worth the ‘gram.

An ordinary day in December goes like this: Starbucks releases a seasonal drink, social media and the news cycle reacts, the sun sets in the west. I wish I could say that I’m above adding my own voice to the clatter, but here we are.

Related Reading: Is the Popeyes Fried Chicken Sandwich Worth the Hype?

In case you’re out of the loop, a quick recap. When Starbucks dropped the lineup for this year’s seasonal drinks back in November, a ruckus emerged when fans of the chain noticed that the Gingerbread Latte, considered by many as a holiday menu staple, had been discontinued. Fast forward to present day and we’ve been rewarded with its successor: the Irish cream cold brew. Per the online description, it’s “Starbucks cold brew with Irish cream syrup, topped with vanilla sweet cream cold foam and a strike of cocoa powder.” TL;DR? Baileys-flavored cold brew.

Storm’s a (Cold) Brewin’

Fun fact about me: I really don’t like Irish cream! I find it heavy and cloyingly sweet, so when I picked up a batch of the Irish cream cold brew to taste test, I was predisposed to be heavily against this drink. 

But after receiving my order I was actually a big fan of the presentation. The sweet cream cold foam rests atop the coffee, slowly drizzling down and just barely incorporating itself into the drink. It reminds me a lot of Tiger Sugar’s brown sugar milk tea, famous for its streaks of caramelized sugar that cascade through milk. In an era of fast food menu pictures vs. reality listicles, it’s a small treat to have something that matches up to your expectations.

Connor Bower

Related Reading: 8 Delicious Pumpkin Spice Coffee Drinks That Aren’t from Starbucks

And then, the first sip. It’s sweet, yet incredibly mild. Because of the layering of ingredients, the flavors fluctuate and transition as each component swims across your tongue—the cream, the cold brew, the cream again, and a burst of cocoa right at the end. When tasting in the office, the consensus was unanimously positive, and many of my coworkers (like myself) were surprised to enjoy it so much. I will caveat that my office neighbor thought the teensiest amount of sugar in the cold brew would really amplify the flavors, so if you’re in the mood for a more sugary experience this is the way to go.

The Verdict

This is good. Really good. It’s weird to say for a Starbucks concoction, but the drink is complex. It hits all the right notes, but doesn’t clobber you over the head with its flavors. Yeah, it’s Starbucks, and yeah, at $4.75 a pop for a medium grande it’s not cheap (I literally just wrote about a toast I found too expensive two weeks ago. Oops.), but after tasting it, I have nothing bad to say.

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This German Kitchen Tool Is the Key to Konbi’s Famous Egg Salad Sandwich

Welcome to “Kitchen Essentials,” a new series from Chowhound where chefs and bartenders from around the country invite viewers into their kitchens and bars, unveiling the five tools that are simply essential to their work. 

There’s an unassuming restaurant in Echo Park, Los Angeles, called Konbi that, no matter the hour, is fronted by a line spilling out of its red doorway. Inside Konbi, this sliver of a space is strewn with a fistful of stools perched under a counter, the narrow open kitchen just across the aisle. The lucky ones who are able to nab an elusive seat have come with a few particular things in mind: to eat photogenic sandwiches, a smattering of flaky French pastries, and sip mugs of hot coffee.  

Related Reading: Elevate Your Cocktails with This One Knife Bartenders Swear By

It’s thanks to two friends, Akira Akuto and Nick Montgomery, that Konbi is in operation. A daytime Japanese sandwich counter, Konbi has developed the sort of cult following and coveted fame few casual restaurants can ever garner. That fame is particularly due to Instagram, where the now beloved egg salad sandwich has become a bit of a celebrity, those neon yellow half-moon yolks sandwiched between soft white bread. But there are other things worth plucking off Konbi’s tiny menu, like the crisp pork katsu sandwich, summer squash flecked with pickled plums and sesame, and warm, buttery chocolate croissants, fresh out of the oven if you arrive by 10 a.m. 

And while Konbi has made its mark in the restaurant world this past year, it’s just like any other restaurant where the tools that are employed in the kitchen are equally important as the food. Chowhound visited Konbi to ask Akira and Nick what their most essential kitchen tools at Konbi are for the third episode of “Kitchen Essentials.” Keep reading to find out what tools Nick and Akira can’t live without in order to run Konbi.

German Egg Slicer, $16.64 on Amazon

The crown jewel of Konbi, this German egg slicer has been used thousands of times to perfectly chop and dice hard-boiled eggs for the egg salad sandwich. Akira and Nick actually replace it every six months, but for most home cooks, this would last for several years. Buy Now

Thermapen Thermometer, $49.99 on Amazon

Ready to find out when your roasted chicken is done without playing a guessing game? Time to invest in a Thermapen thermometer, an instant-read thermometer that is very effective in measuring the temperature of anything you probe. Akira and Nick employ it to measure the temperature of chocolate ganache and pork katsu, but it can be used to measure the temperature of just about anything you’re cooking. Buy Now

Japanese Chef’s Knife, Various Prices on Amazon

Akira and Nick swear by this custom-made Japanese chef’s knife, which they use religiously to chop Japanese eggplant for the eggplant katsu sandwich. It’s light, well-balanced, and the sharp blade easily slice through hard-to-chop items. Buy Now

Right-Handed Ladle, $14.99 on Amazon

While most Americans simply boast a rounded ladle, in Japan you can find both right- and left-handed ladles. The curved edge on the right side allows you to pour liquid without spilling and wasting anything. Akira and Nick’s version was purchased on Kappabashi Street (a famed Japanese lane lined with restaurant tools), but if you’re not planning a trip to Tokyo anytime soon, it can also be found online. Buy Now

High Heat Silicone Spatula, $11 on Amazon 

This rubber spatula is designed to get all the last dregs of melted chocolate or bits of jam from containers—saving you all those final smears you would ordinarily leave behind. “This is the best tool for an aspiring restaurateur,” Nick explains, because it makes sure you’re not wasting any food.  Buy Now

For more about Nick, Akira, and Konbi, watch the third episode of “Kitchen Essentials.”

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This Puerto Rican Pernil Is Guaranteed to Become Your New Christmas Centerpiece

Tucked into the corner of the newly opened Market Line—a bazaar-like food court on New York City’s Lower East Side—is a Puerto Rican restaurant called Que Chevere. Translated from Spanish as “how fantastic,” Que Chevere peddles traditional Puerto Rican food, a cuisine that is overwhelmingly lacking in prominent representation in this city. This dearth of Puerto Rican food in New York is one of the main reasons why Michael Petrovitch and his daughter Lillian Quinones opened Que Chevere in the first place. 

“I’ve been here all my life, [and] there’s no Puerto Rican restaurants near me,” Que Chevere’s culinary director Lillian Quinones says. “I feel like our culture’s slowly dying.” 

Related Reading: Christmas Dinners You Can Make in Your Crock-Pot

When she does find restaurants hawking roasted pork or stewed red beans, it’s certainly not up to her standards: “It’s always dry and hard [and] not sauced. I never like it,” she says.

But Que Chevere is doing Puerto Rican food the way it should be done. Lillian developed all of the recipes for the restaurant, stringing together a tightly edited menu. Here, you’ll find golden tostones, or sweet fried plantains shaped like round coins, half-moon empanadas jammed with cheese and chicken, and crisp hunks of fried chicken. But what Que Chevere is most proud of is its pernil. 

Pernil is typically slow-cooked pork leg or shoulder, roasted in the oven or speared on a stick and crisped-up over a spit (a practice most often employed in Puerto Rico). After emerging from the oven, the pork is wrenched apart into tender ribbons, just like pulled pork, and served with a side of potato salad and rice strewn with plump pigeon peas. It’s a dish prepared for the holidays or big celebrations, a plate that can be shared with many people. “It always brings family together,” Lillian says of pernil. “It’s just a love thing.”

Lillian learned how to make pernil from her grandfather. “He used to season [the pork] in our kitchen sink,” she says. “He cut holes in the shoulder and put vinegar, lemon juice, and lime.” Then, without relying on measurements, he would massage the pork with a slew of spices—everything from pepper to onions and garlic and culantro—then slide it into the oven to slowly cook overnight.

Andrew Bui

“[My grandfather] told me: ‘Don’t forget your culture,’” Lillian says. “Pass it on.” And that’s exactly what she’s doing at Que Chevere: introducing pernil and other Puerto Rican favorites to the neighborhood, along with allowing Puerto Rican locals to experience a taste of home through shredded roast pork sandwiches and crackly tostones.

So far, Que Chevere has seen a lot of success and feedback, with high praise from people comparing the pernil to their grandmother’s cooking. I, too, am a fan, having sampled the sweet pernil, yellow rice with pigeon peas, and chunky potato salad on a recent visit to the food hall.

Related Reading: Herbs and Other Ingredients Perfect for Decorating Your Christmas Table

But for those who can’t make it to Que Chevere, making pernil at home is still possible. Below you’ll find their recipe for pernil, one smeared with sofrito (a pepper, tomato, and cilantro sauce that is the foundation for Puerto Rican cooking) and adobo for a bit of a kick. Once you’ve picked up the pork shoulder, make sure to really get in there and massage it with all of the spices—it makes for a crispy skin and a soft, tender interior.    

Calphalon Classic Hard-Anodized 16-Inch Roasting Pan with Nonstick Rack, $68.42 on Amazon

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“You gotta love [pernil] and massage it,” Lillian says. “It’s got to taste good—not just for you, but for everyone else.”

Pernil Recipe

Pernil is often prepared for Christmas and other big celebrations, as a 10-pound pork shoulder is plenty big to feed a crowd. The pork shoulder must be massaged with a slew of uniquely Latin ingredients, like adobo seasoning, sazonador, and adobo seasoning with saffron, spices which can be purchased on Amazon and are often found in the international aisle of the grocery store.  

Pernil

Makes: 8 quarts

Ingredients

• 10.5 lbs bone-in, skin-on pork shoulder
• 1 cup sofrito
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 7 cloves garlic
• 5 tablespoons adobo seasoning (like Goya Adobo)
• 5 tablespoons sazonador
• 1 tablespoon adobo seasoning with saffron (like Goya Adobo with saffron)
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 6 cups water

Instructions

1. Poke holes in the pork shoulder & separate skin from the meat to allow it to crisp up. Do not remove the skin entirely.
2. Cover the pork in lime juice, sofrito, spices, and salt. Stuff garlic cloves into the holes created in step 1.
3. Marinate for at least 24 to 36 hours.
4. Preheat oven to 400°F.
5. Roast in the oven for one hour.
6. After one hour, lower the heat to 250°F and roast for an additional 6 hours.
7. Briefly let cool. Pull pork apart & serve.

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Chowhound Gift Guide 2019: The Best Gourmet Food and Drink Gifts

The holiday season is officially here, and you only have so many shopping days left.

If you’re still searching for the perfect present for your best friend, favorite family member, co-worker, good neighbor, or mere acquaintance, we have suggestions. From fabulous individual food and drink gift ideas to ongoing food and beverage subscriptions and even tools to help your foodie friends and fam make great meals at home, we’ve picked the best presents for all sorts of palates, personalities, and situations.

Related Reading: The Best Holiday Stress Relief Gifts for Yourself (or Someone Else)

Check out all of our gourmet food and drink gift guides below—and check back often, as we’ll be updating the list regularly. Click a link below to jump to a specific category or just keep scrolling to see them all!

• Gourmet Food Gifts
• Gourmet Drink Gifts
• Kitchen Gadgets, Tools & Cookware
• Cookbooks

Gourmet Food Gifts

Homemade Food Gifts You Can Make No Matter What Your Skills

Shutterstock

A homemade gift is always extra-special, and often a lot more affordable for the giver too. These easy homemade food gifts would make anyone smile this season.

Holly Jolly Host & Hostess Gifts for Holiday Parties

Food52

Invited to a party? Don’t show up empty handed. Take an expert’s advice on the best holiday host and hostess gifts to bring with you, including lots of edible (and drinkable) options.

Oprah’s Favorite Things on Amazon for 2019

Amazon

She’s back, and she’s picked some amazing products as usual, including plenty of food gifts, kitchenware, and home items! Yes, there are some splurges, but many of these are totally affordable. Check out Oprah’s Favorite Things on Amazon for 2019.

Super Secret Santa Gifts (That You Can Eat)

Amazon

These delicious gifts are great for present swaps at the office, but also perfect for lots of other people on your list. See our favorite Secret Santa food gifts, from chocolate to hot sauce.

Great Gifts for Acquaintances

Macy’s

Shopping for your close friends and family can be a trial, but picking a gift for someone you only sort of know is even harder. That’s why we collected some things practically anyone would love. See our picks for best gifts for neighbors, friends of friends, and acquaintances.

Hot Gifts for Spice Fiends

Amazon

Have a hot head on your list? These gifts are *fire emoji* (aka, perfect for them). See our picks for the Best Gifts for Hot Sauce Lovers.

Gourmet Stocking Stuffers Under $10

Macy’s

Looking for a little something? These stocking stuffers are all under $10 (most under $5), and sure to please any food or wine fan. See our Favorite Stocking Stuffers Under $10.

Vegan-Friendly Food Gifts

Mouth

Vegans love food gifts too, but you have to be careful about what you buy (hidden honey, animal-based gelatin, and other non-plant-based ingredients can crop up where you don’t expect them). To take the guess work out, we rounded up the Best Vegan Food Gifts to give.

Better-Than-Homemade Goodies You Can Order Online

Harry and David

Whether you need dessert for your own holiday table or want to show someone love via baked goods, these cakes, cookies, pies, and more can be delivered nationwide. See the Chowhound Gift Guide 2019: Best Mail Order Cookies, Cakes, Pies, and Treats to Order Online.

Best Gifts for Healthy Eaters

Sakara

Got a friend who loves to eat, but puts a premium on healthy habits? See our Chowhound Gift Guide 2019: Best Gifts for Food Lovers Who Are Also Health Nuts.

Great Gift Ideas for Cheese Lovers

Harry and David

Curd nerds, cheddar heads, and brie fiends will all melt for these delightfully cheesy gifts. See our Chowhound Gift Guide 2019: Best Gifts for Cheese Lovers.

Unique Food and Drink Experiences

The Safari Collection

From cooking classes and culinary cruises to fun food museum tickets, these gifts are great for every type of food lover on your list, and the memories will last forever. See the Chowhound Gift Guide to Best Food and Drink Experiences.

Related Reading: Our Favorite Eatwith Food Experiences Around the World

Star Gifts for “The Great British Baking Show” Fans

Amazon

Even those who still aren’t over losing Mary, Mel, and Sue will cheer up when they unwrap these showstoppers. See our Chowhound Gift Guide 2019: Gifts for Fans of “The Great British Baking Show”.

Edible Advent Calendars for 2019

Harry and David

It’s a little late to get your advent calendars, but if you can still find some of these in your local stores, you can just do the days you missed all at once! See our picks for the Best Food and Drink Advent Calendars for 2019.

Gourmet Drink Gifts

Best Beer Clubs and Beer Subscription Box Gift Ideas

Jack Andersen / DigitalVision / Getty Images

If you want to treat the suds lover in your life to an ongoing subscription, they’ll love you for it. See our Best Beer Clubs and Subscription Boxes guide.

Festive Craft Beers for Gifting

Teerapon Tiuekhom / EyeEm / Getty Images

If you’d rather put a bow on an actual bottle (or six), check out the best holiday craft beers to give.

Best Wine Subscriptions to Give as Gifts

Shutterstock

A nice bottle by itself is a great gift, but a wine subscription is the ultimate present for your favorite oenophile. See CNET’s Best Wine Subscriptions guide.

“Grape” Wine Gifts You Can Wrap

Amazon

Still, if you want something you can actually wrap up and tie with a bow, try these charming (and useful) wine gadgets and gifts on for size instead. See our picks for best gifts for wine lovers (and don’t forget these other fun wine accessories).

Chic Bar Cart Gifts Under $100

Food52

From lots of fun and thoughtful little extras to a couple of affordable bar carts themselves, these gifts are perfect for your favorite cocktail fan (with some picks for wine lovers and mocktail mixologists too). And there’s something for every budget, with nothing topping $100. See our Best Home Bar Gifts.

The Best Coffee Subscriptions to Gift Your Favorite Java Fiend

Trade Coffee

Whether your favorite coffee fanatic is into fair trade, trendy drinks, maximum efficiency, or just good old espresso, there’s an ideal coffee subscription to give them (even one for dog lovers!). Check out our picks for Best Coffee Subscriptions.

Kitchen Gadgets & Tools

The Best Big-Ticket Kitchen Gadgets & Cookware to Give

Mealthy

These kitchen tools, gadgets, and appliances are great gifts for anyone just starting to outfit a kitchen or in need of an upgrade (and anyone who’s been dreaming of an Instant Pot or air fryer but hasn’t gotten one yet). See our picks for the best cookware and kitchen appliances to give.

Tools That Make a Cook’s Life Easier

Sur la Table

These kitchen tools are on a smaller scale but will still prove infinitely useful to any cook. Check out our favorite kitchen gadgets and tools to give.

The Best Dutch Ovens for Every Type of Cook

Sur la Table

Everyone needs a Dutch oven—they can do so much, and they look so good. These are our 10 favorite Dutch ovens of the year; they’ll hold up forever and make their new owner happy for a lifetime. See the best Dutch ovens of 2019.

Sizzling Skillets to Wrap Up This Year

Sur la Table

A skillet is an absolute kitchen essential, and if you know someone who could use a new, high-quality pan, these are our favorites in every price range. See our picks for the best skillets of 2019.

Cookware Sets for Every Budget

Amazon

If you’re feeling generous and want to outfit a lucky cook with the works, we also picked out the best cookware sets for a range of budgets and preferences. See our collection of the best cookware sets of 2019.

The Best Direct-to-Consumer Cookware Brands to Buy

Made In

In a whole other category, direct-to-consumer cookware brands offer great quality, often-stunning looks, and competitive prices as well; the only caveat is that you have to buy them online—but most of us already do that anyway. Browse the best direct-to-consumer cookware brands and pieces of 2019.

Cookbooks

The Best New Cookbooks for 2019

There’s a slew of new cookbooks that have come out this fall (with a few more on the way) that are perfect for gift-giving season, whether your recipient’s a baker, a keto devotee, or a “Star Wars” fan. See our Favorite New Cookbooks for 2019.

The Best Holiday Cookbooks for a Truly Happy Season

Amazon

These titles, both new and classic, will help you celebrate in style—with less stress—from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve. Check out The Best Holiday Cookbooks.

Meaty Reads for Carnivorous Cooks

Amazon

Know a committed carnivore who loves to cook? See our picks for The Best Meat Cookbooks.

Toast-Worthy Wine Reads

Amazon

For wine lovers who thirst for knowledge about their favorite grapes and those who want to cook with the good stuff, check out The Best Wine Books and Cookbooks.

Eye-Opening Books for Coffee Lovers

Amazon

From cookbooks to coffee manuals, these titles are sure to give any java fan a jolt of pleasure. See the Best Books for Coffee Lovers.

Best Books to Give to Bakers

Amazon

From classic tomes to brand new baking books, these make great holiday gifts (but would also be a huge help to you during holiday baking season). See the Best Baking Books to Give as Gifts.

Global Cookbooks for World Travelers

Amazon

These international cookbooks let you go globetrotting in your own kitchen and help satisfy a little wanderlust along with simple belly hunger. See the Best Travel Cookbooks for International Cuisine.

See our sister sites’ tech gift guides, gaming gift guides, fashion and beauty gift guides, TV gift guides, and Rachael Ray’s gift guides, for more.

Related Video: Insta-Infusions Are an Ingenious DIY Holiday Gift

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