81 Delicious Gift Ideas for the Holidays
Gift Guide 2011 GiltTaste.com/giftguide
[1. Richart Holiday Macarons: $44.95, 25 micromacarons]
Our Favorite Champagne Under $40 There's something about bubbles that makes spirits bright. This lively cuvée is fresh and exotic with aromas of citrus fruit and hibiscus, and it’s handmade at an estate that celebrates sustainable agriculture and traditional techniques. Call us crazy, but we’re offering it at nearly 40% off...all season long. [2. Alfred Gratien, Brut Classique: $39.99 $64.95, 750 ml] [3. Vermont Creamery Cremont: $14.95, ½ lb]
What’s Inside
Ruth Reichl’s 10 Best Gifts The critic turned tastemaker reveals what's on her list.
[4. Handmade German Gingerbread Snowmen: $12.95, 3 cookies]
Welcome Presents are important. A gift is a message that says more than “I care about you.” It also says, “This is who I think you are.”
Gift Ideas For the sweet tooth, the meathead, the cheese lover, the wine geek, the gluten-free food lover, the baker, the cook, the hosts, your sweetheart, your boss, your clients, your intern and even the kid at heart.
Tart it Up Our versatile, go-to recipe for a fruit (or vegetable) tart.
Stocking Stuffers Some of the most delightful gifts of the season are under $35.
We thought about that as we were putting this catalogue together. We began by selecting our very favorite foods— the gifts we want ourselves this year. It wasn’t easy; we’ve hand-selected everything we sell, and choosing between so many products that we love was an agonizing process. When we were finished we thought about what each of these gifts will tell your friends. Some say, “You are a fabulous cook.” Others shout, “You’re the best host ever.” Some say, “You’re a kid at heart,” and others toast their taste in wine. American artisans are now producing extraordinary food, and this is the season to share it with the people you love. Because what these gifts will tell them is that you appreciate their taste—and want them to have the best.
Ruth Reichl Editorial Advisor, Gilt Taste
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Hate the sticky sweetness of soda pop? Stir some of this into a glass of fizzy water and discover a whole new world of savory sodas. [ Pok Pok Som
Aged Gouda is the most under-appreciated cheese I know. Sweet and nutty, I think of it as savory butterscotch. Nobody doesn’t like it. [ Artisanal
GREAT GIFT IDEAS
Apple Drinking Vinegar: $16.95, 16 fl oz ]
4-year Aged Gouda: $10.95, 0.5 lb ]
The perfect present for someone who can never have enough. (And these are the oysters Thomas Keller uses in his most famous dish.) [ Island
Great soy sauce is one of my passions. This one is expensive —and worth it. It makes black beans taste better, and is the perfect finishing touch for any vegetable. [ Yuasa Tarujikomi Soy
The best fish sauce I've ever tasted should not be reserved for southeast Asian food. I splash it into stews, stir it into soups and toss it into Caesar salad. [ Red Boat First-
Sauce: $51.95, 720 ml ]
Press Fish Sauce: $33.95, 2L ]
by Ruth Reichl
Creek Oysters: $150.00, 100 oysters ]
20% off purchases of $125 or more at GiltTaste.com/exclusive/giftguide
When a friend missed our burger bash last summer, I sent him some of this spectacular meat as a consolation prize. He said it was the best gift he’d ever gotten. Patted into halfpound patties it makes the best burger you will ever eat.
Every grillmaster I know is getting charcoal this year. Why? Because it burns hotter and cleaner than all others. [ Korin Binchotan Charcoal: $76.95, 5 lb ]
[ Flannery Beef, The Exclusive I’ve Got Wagyu for Days Burger: $57.95, 4 lb ]
I discovered vadouvan in Paris, where it is all the rage. One taste of this exotic onion-rich spice mixture and you'll understand why. [ Le Sanctuaire Golden Vadouvan: $11.95, 0.8 oz ]
A magnum of wine is a very impressive present. 2000 was a great year for Bordeaux, and this wine has enough age to be rich, round and satisfying right now. [ Château Marquis D’Alesme
Some people send flowers; I send vegetables. Chef’s Garden produce is so gorgeous that I often display it in vases while I’m figuring out what to do with all that wonderful produce. [ Chef’s Garden CSA-style Vegetables and Herbs: $89.95, Assortment ]
Margaux 2000: $139.95, 1.5 L ]
20% off purchases of $125 or more at GiltTaste.com/exclusive/giftguide
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These extraordinary sweets, handmade just for you, are almost too delicious to give. Send a cake slathered with chocolate fudge and sparkling with peppermint crumbles or festive ganache-filled ladybugs packaged in a beautiful box. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.
Blissful Brownies, Caramel Pecan Brownies: $21.95, 6 brownies Mariebelle Sweets, Signature Red Box Ganache: $59.95, 25 pieces John Kelly, Peanut Butter Truffle Fudge Bar: $15.95, 8 oz John & Kira, Chocolate Ladybugs: $28.95, 9 pieces Cranberry Island, Chocolate Peppermint Cake: $79.95, 9" cake
20% off purchases of $125 or more at GiltTaste.com/exclusive/giftguide
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for the
SWEET TOOTH
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for the
MEATHEAD
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If she swoons at the first whiff of bacon, she’ll go wild for Mangalitsa. If he’s a serious carnivore, he’ll flip for this beautifully marbled beef. Make a meat lover happy with these rare products from America’s best butchers and charcutiers. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.
La Quercia Easy Entertaining: $84.95, charcuterie assortment Pat LaFrieda Standing Prime Rib Roast: $239.00, 7-8 lbs, serves 6 D’Artagnan Cassoulet Recipe Kit and Cookbook: $159.00, serves 10 Mosefund Farm Hickory Smoked Mangalitsa Bacon: $31.95, two 12 oz Flannery’s Reserve Bone-in Rib Steak: $71.95, two 16 oz steaks, serves 4
20% off purchases of $125 or more at GiltTaste.com/exclusive/giftguide
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Not all cheeses are created equal. We have more than 80 hard-to-find cheeses from American artisans and affineurs. They’re sure to impress any curd nerd.
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Garrotxa Semi-firm Goat’s Milk Cheese: $12.95, ½ lb Humboldt Fog Ash-Lined Goat’s Milk Cheese: $21.95, ½ lb Mitibleu Sheep’s Milk Cheese: $12.95, ½ lb Cheese for Freeman’s 2009 Wines: $53.95, 3 cheeses, ½ lb each Cave-aged Haystack Peak Goat’s Cheese and Tremblay Honey: $35.95
20% off purchases of $125 or more at GiltTaste.com/exclusive/giftguide
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for the
CHEESE LOVER
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for the
WINE GEEK
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Rare finds, cult favorites, and great values— every one of our wines has been approved by a panel of industry veterans in a blind tasting. They’re guaranteed to please. And what oenophile wouldn’t want shatter-resistant stemware that feels and looks like crystal? 30. 31. 32. 33. 34.
Gilt Taste Dinner Party Collection: $315.00, five 750 ml bottles Korin Shatter-Resistant Crystal Champagne Flutes: $150.00, 6 flutes Hermann J. Wiemer Collection: $131.00, three 750 ml bottles Biodynamic Bubbles: $199.00, three 750 ml bottles Peay Pomarium Estate Pinot Noir 2008: $55.00, 750 ml
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Gifts that keep on giving: monthly deliveries from our favorite artisans—from butchers to bakers to chocolate makers.
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Honolulu Fish of the Month $315.00, 3 month subscription Valerie Confections of the Month: $129.95, 3 month subscription Byrd Cookies of the Month: $69.95, 3 month subscription D’Artagnan of the Month: $199.00, 3 month subscription Flannery Steak of the Month: $375.00, 3 month subscription
20% off purchases of $125 or more at GiltTaste.com/exclusive/giftguide
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TASTE OF THE MONTH
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GLUTEN-FREE GIFTS
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Gorgeous Italian grains, perfect macarons, crunchy granola, classic muffins and cakes— your gluten-intolerant friends will know you’ve been paying attention when you turn up with one of these delicious gifts. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44.
Gustiamo La Valletta Grains: $46.95, 500g each of 6 grains Babycakes NYC Gluten-Free and Vegan Brownies: $15.95, 12 brownies Mad Mac Chocolate and Fruit Macarons: $68.95, 48 macarons Good Habit Gluten-Free Granola: $20.95, three 12 oz bags John & Kira Chocolate Cherries: $28.95, 9 pieces
20% off purchases of $125 or more at GiltTaste.com/exclusive/giftguide
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Any Season Fruit (or Vegetable) Tart By Whitney Chen Serves 8
This unusual tart is a family recipe—and our gift to you. The batter is so versatile; it can be sweet (with fruits) or savory (with vegetables). For the tart pictured here, we cubed and roasted butternut squash before tossing it into the tart. 2 cups any fresh fruit or vegetable 1 stick unsalted butter 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon maple syrup 1 cup flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon Zest from ½ a lemon Slice or cut your fruit (or vegetable) into ¾-inch cubes or ½-inch slices, whichever works best with its shape. If you’re using a hard vegetable like butternut squash, parsnips or beets, you should partially cook the vegetables before adding them to the tart batter. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cream together the butter and 1 cup of sugar using an electric mixer until pale in color. Add the eggs and maple syrup and mix. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and zest in a separate bowl. In two batches, fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Pour the batter into a greased 9-inch round baking dish. Dot the batter with your chosen fruit or vegetable and gently press halfway into the tart. You can be as generous or as sparse as you wish with the toppings, but do not add more than a single layer of fruit or vegetables. Combine the remaining tablespoon of sugar with the cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over the top of the tart. Bake for about 1 hour or until the crust is golden.
[45. A gift from us! For more recipes, go to www.gilttaste.com/stories.]
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for the
BAKER
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Chocolate engineered by science geeks, crunchy cocoa nibs, or a box of just-picked pears from one of Alice Waters’ favorite farms will make even the best recipes shine brighter. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50.
TCHO 66% Cacao Organic Chocolate Drops: $35.95, four 8 oz bags Whole Spice Baking Spice Set: $85.95, 12 spices Whole Spice Cacao Nibs: $6.95, 1.9 oz Frog Hollow Farm Warren Pears: $39.95, 12 pears Noble Tonic No. 1–Bourbon Barrel Maple Syrup: $24.95, 450 ml
20% off purchases of $125 or more at GiltTaste.com/exclusive/giftguide
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Everything you need for perfect paella, golden Californian olive oils, Japanese knives and pretty pink finishing salts. We’ve sourced unusual, chef-approved gifts for those who love to cook. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55.
Calivirgin Olive Oil: $27.95, 500 ml La Boîte à Epice Seasonless Spice Trio: $29.95, set of three 1 oz jars Korin Japanese Trading Knife Care Starter Kit: $38.95 JDY Gourmet Paella Kit: $60.95 Salt Traders Pink Salt Collection: $9.95, 5.5 oz
20% off purchases of $125 or more at GiltTaste.com/exclusive/giftguide
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for the
COOK
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for
YOUR BOSS, CLIENT OR INTERN
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Celebrate a year of hard work, office gossip and done deals with beautiful handmade chocolates, bow-tied peppermint bark, juicy fruit packaged in lovely use-again baskets and wine, of course. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60
Valerie Confections Scotch & Stout Truffles: $44.95, 20 pieces Valerie Confections Peppermint Bark: $35.95, 1 box Manhattan Fruitier Sugar Hill Basket: $60.95, assortment Patel Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2008: $100.00, 750 ml DeLoach Vineyards Pinot Noir Series: $150.00, three 750 ml bottles
20% off purchases of $125 or more at GiltTaste.com/exclusive/giftguide
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How to get invited back: arrive bearing a stunning pear tart, a dozen dainty cakes or a bottle of sparkling rosé. Another idea: give them the best way to start their (next) day— great coffee. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65.
Blue Bottle Coffee, Coffee Geek Basics: $45.95 Bien Cuit Plain Grissini: $12.95, 2 bags Gratien & Meyer Saumur Brut Rosé 2009: $19.95, 750 ml Valerie Confections Chocolate-Mint Petits Fours: $50.95 Tatte Fine Cookies & Cakes Bosc Pear Tart: $40.95
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for the
HOSTS
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for
YOUR LOVER
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Cuddle up with a bit of bubbly while you share little indulgences like freshly shucked oysters or a few spoonfuls of caviar. Rich lobster pies are a sexy dinner, and chocolate “Big O” cookies are the perfect way to end the evening. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70.
Hama Hama Oysters: $29.95, 2 dozen Chasseny D’Arce Cuvée Premier Brut NV: $59.95, 750 ml Mikuni Wild Harvest Smoked Wild Gold Char Caviar: $58.95, 2 oz Hancock Gourmet Lobster Pot Pies: $84.95, four 7 oz pies Cake Monkey Big O’s: $42.95, 12 cookies
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Hours of fun and a healthy dose of nostalgia will keep anyone forever young. Build towers out of candy blocks, experiment with a mushroom garden and warm up with a cup of creamy hot cocoa. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75.
Monaco Baking Company Giant Gingerbread Man: $19.95, one 9" x 12" cookie Two Hearts Bakery Peppermint S’mores: $20.95, 5 pieces Mariebelle Sweets Hot and Iced Aztec Chocolate: $54.95, two 20 oz tins Grow-Your-Own Mushroom Garden: $19.95, 1 kit Droga Stackable Candies: $25.95, two 11 oz jars
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for the
KID AT HEART
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STOCKING STUFFERS
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Tired of the tried and true? Here are a few little suggestions. They’re small enough to tuck into a stocking or a grab bag. And big enough to leave an impression.
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Mikuni Wild Harvest Finger Limes: $32.95, 1 pint Blis Bourbon Barrel Mini Maple Syrup: $5.95, 50 ml 479 Popcorn Truffle and Cheddar Popcorn: $29.95, six 4.5 oz boxes Gourmet Attitude Truffle Honey: $19.95, 2.8 oz GoVino Go Anywhere Glasses: $25.95, 8 glasses
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R O F Y D A E R ? U E O V Y E E S ’ R R A A E Y W E N
[81. California Caviar Company Caviar Concert: $120.95, 2 oz caviar, 1 oz crème fraîche, 16 blinis, 2 mother-of-pearl spoons]