Welcome to the Foodie Gift Guide!

This guide is done a bit differently and has the categories separated into gadgets and consumables to make it easy to shop for your foodie. The first half of the Foodie Gift Guide will be items they can use again and again, and the second half will be food and drink items you can wrap up or have ordered straight to your recipient’s door. So, check out both categories and tell me which items are your favorites, which you have tried, and which you now want to check out.

Foodie Gift Gudie: Gadgets and gizmos

1) iDrink OmniFizz   

If you haven’t tried making your own sodas, you definitely should. We have been making our own sodas at home since 2009, and it’s always the hit of every teen gathering. But, as much as we liked making our own sparkling water from regular tap water, there were so many times we wished that we could carbonate other liquids other than water.

That’s where the OmniFizz comes in, perfect for infusing any beverage with delightful carbonation.

The Drinkmate OmniFizz is the most versatile soda maker as it allows you to carbonate any drink, from juice and tea to cocktails and more. Not only can you carbonate whatever drink you want, you also still have full control over the fizz so you can further customize your drink. The OmniFizz is incredibly easy-to-use and needs no outlets or batteries at all as it is powered entirely by CO2. The whole unit is small enough {8” L x 5” W x 16” H} to tuck anywhere on your countertop, or you can put it up in a tall cabinet as it’s extremely lightweight.

To buy: Check out idrinkproducts.com website to see all the various bundles and models they have available. The Drinkmate OmniFizz comes with one 0.5L PET bottle and one 60L CO2 Cylinder (which is enough to carbonate up to 60 liters of your favorite drinks). The OmniFizz is available in 4 colors to match your décor.

2) HORL3 CRUISE

Be honest: when was the last time you sharpened your knives? If you are like anyone else that I know, the answer is “I have no idea”. So, I think we can all assume we all need to add that to our to-do lists. But, before you pull out an old whetstone or something else from the 50s, let me introduce you to the HORL3 CRUISE. The HORL3 CRUISE has two sharpening angles {15° and 20°} that your knife magnetically attaches to so you can easily sharpen just about any blade – from kitchen knives to pocket knives.

The HORL®3 CRUISE is made from ocean-bound plastic that is processed into a granulate. This is what gives it that lovely sandy color you see in the picture above. I was surprised at first by how much I liked this granulate-looking color in person, and having seen it in person now, I would think it would look great in most kitchens. I love that they manufacture their knife sharpeners in the Black Forest, giving those discarded plastics a new life in the form of granulate.

The HORL3 CRUISE comes with a block diamond disc for fast initial sharpening that you can use to grind knives of any hardness efficiently. It also comes with a stainless-steel disc on the other end of the sharpening cylinder that gives a clean edge after sharpening. Thanks to the integrated grooves of the stainless-steel disc, you can remove any grinding dust in just a few strokes. My first time trying this on one of our knives was a little nerve-wracking, but the instructions are really simple to follow, and the way that the HORL3 sharpener moves in your hand is so fluid, it honestly feels like it would be hard to get it wrong. It feels like it will just get more natural each time I use it, but even the first run-though was easy.

To buy: Check out the HORL website and see all the various sharpening models they carry, from budget models to pro versions. If you have a great set of knives you want to protect, this is the perfect way to keep them sharpened and ready to slice and dice.  

3) Fritaire Airfryer

In the recent years, we have all started to realize that all those Teflon nonstick pots and pans we were sold are terrible for our health. We got rid of all of our Teflon pans years ago, but unfortunately, lots and lots of cooking appliances use it still, so quitting non-stick isn’t as easy as you might hope it would be. That’s where Fritaire comes in. Fritaire can replace your non-stick airfryer and replace it with a much healthier glass version that is Teflon-free and BPA-free.

But, this isn’t a wimpy airfryer that barely toasts, this is a 1,500W, 400°F hot convection airfryer that uses a unique cooking method where heat flows around the edges of the bowl, cooking your dish evenly and deliciously every time. It comes with three cooking accessories to help you cook just about anything: a Rotisserie, a Tumbling Basket, and the Air Stand. 6 built in one-touch cooking functions allow you to easily cook steak, chicken, seafood, french fries, baked dishes and it even has a dehydrate function with pre-set temperatures and cooking times.

Oh, and did I mention it is SELF-CLEANING? It’s true! ​​Just rinse, dry, then fry! Fritaire’s self-cleaning glass bowl does the clean-up for you after every meal, just rinse the glass bowl with soapy water, press the start button and let the hot air stream circulator rinse it out from the inside.

To buy: visit Fritaire.com and see all the beautiful colors you can cook with in the Fritaire line. You will see quickly why it made the foodie gift guide when you watch it in action.

4) AWAZ Whiskey Tumblers

AWAZ Whiskey Tumblers are the perfect present for the whiskey lover in your life. This set of 2 stunning hand-blown old fashioned whiskey glasses has a beautiful engraving of the “whiskey making production process” and have a 24k Gold rim. Not only glasses, these are also artwork to be admired. As an added bonus, the laser etching provides a much-needed grip when the glass sweats.

The AWAZ tumblers use a crystal glass production technology that results in high transparency and a heavy-duty strength. This whiskey glassware weighs more and has a more substantial feeling than other whiskey glasses, which I love. Even with the gold rim and intricate engraving, these glasses are still dishwasher safe and incredibly easy to clean as well as durable enough to keep for years to come.

The AWAZ glasses come in a beautiful and protective gift box, and are 100% guaranteed not to break during shipment as well as a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

To buy: Visit the AWAZ Amazon store to see their whiskey glass sets. Not only are the tumblers beautiful, every purchase gives back 1% of the proceeds to non-profits for women’s economic empowerment.

5) Prepara EVAK Container

I would be willing to bet that most foodies have a few Prepara items in their cabinets as they make so many kitchen gadgets of all kinds. My new favorite Prepara product is the Evak container that is perfect for bulk storage. Everyone that has a pantry knows that when air touches food, it loses flavor. EVAK containers are even better than air-tight lids because they don’t trap stale air in with the food. Instead, EVAK containers have a patented twin-valve system that expels air when you simply push down the lid to the level of the container contents. To open the container, you to simply pull up the lid to remove it—no buttons or levers required.

Whether you are storing coffee beans or tea, grains, dried fruits, snacks, and more, there is a EVAK container size for you. They are made from high-quality borosilicate glass, which ensures that only premium materials touch your food.

Once you wash and dry your EVAK, it is all ready to help you preserve all of your pantry staples. They come in so many sizes, from bulk ingredients all the way down to small spice jars, so it’s easy to keep all your expensive pantry items fresh. Or, in our case, our elves. They got into our EVAK on its first night here and spent the night here for their first Elfcapade.

To buy, check out the Prepara site and see all the many sizes of EVAK containers available.

6) UVI Heating lunchbox

If you love a hot lunch, but aren’t reliably near a microwave or breakroom, the UVI plug-in heating lunchbox is for you. In 25 minutes or less, you can heat refrigerated food and keep it warm for 2 hours. Or, in 45 minutes you can heat frozen food. The detachable power cord allows you to place the UVI heating lunchbox into the refrigerator before or after lunch, which means you don’t need a separate refrigeration container in addition to the heating lunchbox. It comes with an internal divider that can be placed anywhere in the lunchbox to make two compartments instead of one 32oz compartment.

But, want to know what I love almost as much as the heating and keeping warm functions? It’s self-cleaning! An integrated UV light kills 99% of bacteria and the odor-resistant liner keeps your container from smelling like that onion-filled meal you had three weeks ago. No bacteria. No smells. Just rinse and then start the UV light to clean on the go.

To buy, check out uvilunchbox.com and see all the colors of lunchboxes available.

7) OutIn Nano Portable Espresso Machine

Do you like coffee and time spent in the woods? Or maybe you just like coffee on the go and you want it brewed fresh for each cup? Or, maybe you travel a lot and don’t want to spend your time tracking down a coffee stand or spending a fortune on specialty coffee? Whatever your reason for wanting portable coffee, the OutIn is going to blow your mind.

The OutIn Nano Portable Espresso Maker is the best and most portable of all the travel-sized coffee makers we’ve tried, and we absolutely adore it. Get your favorite coffee-loving foodie the OutIn and they can enjoy their coffee wherever they may roam, and at their own pace with almost no prep ahead of time. Because the Nano heats the water quickly, it means you can make amazing coffee in mere minutes.

The OutIn Nano 2-in-1 and is compatible with Nespresso Original coffee pods as well as espresso-ground coffee that can be brewed in the provided brew basket. No matter whether you do pods or grounds, you will get perfect extraction and easy cleanup each and every time. Many suggest using grounds at home and then pods when they are on the go for ease of clean up and portability, but try it out a few times and see which you prefer.

I must say, the OutIn Nano Portable Espresso machine may be purely functional, but it is also a beautiful piece of machinery and so smartly designed. It weighs only 670g but achieves up to 92°C/198°F at 20 bars of pressure for a creamier coffee. The 7500 mAh battery can handle 5 cold water brews or over 200 hot water brews, and did I mention it heats up in just 200 seconds? Seriously, this thing is amazing.

To buy: check out the OutIn site and see all the gorgeous colors the Nano comes in as well as videos and tutorials so you can see this thing in action.

Foodie Gift Guide: Food and drink

Here is the second half of the Foodie Gift Guide, featuring all the consumable food and drink items your foodie would love to open this holiday season. From gourmet candy to bartending favorites, you are sure to find some great, delicious gifts for any foodie in your life.

8) Issei Mochi Gummies

I’ve tried lots of mochi before, and we even tried to make it ourselves at one point {the results were disastrous and very expensive}. So, when I heard about a new type of mochi that everyone was raving about, it was only a matter of time before I tracked it down. I finally tracked it down and got to try the Issei Mochi Candy Rainbow Pack that features six delicious flavors in a beautiful box: Strawberry, Mango, Tangerine, Sour Watermelon, Yuzu, and Peach Mochi Gummies.

Issei Mochi Gummies embraces the ancient Japanese tradition of mochi, a delicious rice-based treat with centuries of history. These shelf-stable gummies are meticulously crafted to meet the highest standards and are non-GMO, Kosher, gelatin-free and gluten-free. And, more importantly, they are delicious and crafted from the best ingredients with natural colors and flavors.

It should be noted that these aren’t gummies like you are probably used to. If you were thinking of fruit snacks, Hi-Chews, or sour gummies, think softer. Issei Gummies describes their candies as more of a chewy, pillowy texture – somewhere between a gummy bear and a marshmallow – and infused with natural flavors. It’s a more delicate texture, and a more refined flavor than other gummies, if that makes sense. However you want to describe them, they are delicious.

To buy: you can find Issei Mochi Gummies at Whole Foods, Amazon, and so many local retailers.

9) Hazy Fudge

Have you heard of Hazy Fudge before? It’s a truly unique, adult-only treat that is like nothing you’ve tried before. Hazy Fudge is a premium alcohol-infused 5% ABV fudge that isn’t traditional fudge, and definitely isn’t traditional booze. It’s both, and neither.

Hazy Fudge is made using premium wine and spirits from the Finger Lakes region. They offer two flavors, Cabernet-Infused or Bourbon-Infused, and both flavors come in individual glass jars with wooden spoons or twin packs that feature both flavors. Their 1.9oz jars are easily packable and are even TSA allowed, which makes them a great, indulgent treat while traveling.

Hazy Fudge should always be enjoyed responsibly, as it is an alcohol product, but it should also be truly enjoyed mindfully. Whether you eat it straight from the jar, serve it over ice cream, or dip cookies or grahams into the jar, just make sure that you slow down and enjoy. It’s worth it.

To buy: shop all the collection at HazyFudge.com

10) Dandy Blend Coffee Alternative

I still love coffee with a passion, but sometimes I just want something different. Maybe something with less caffeine. Maybe something bold and rich, like coffee… but not coffee. Dandy Blend is a caffeine-free herbal beverage featuring dandelion that is a great alternative to coffee.

I’ve tried mushroom coffee in the past, and cacao options, but nothing quite like Dandy Blend. I will admit that it might not be for everyone {I’m talking to you, “Death before Decaf” crowd}, but I thought it was really good and definitely worth trying for those times you want coffee, but without the jitters.

Dandy Blend is made of only 4 ingredients — roasted barley extracts, roasted rye extracts, roasted dandelion root extracts, and roasted chicory root extracts. You can purchase it in individual packets, or in organic or regular bulk packs.

To buy: check out Dandy Blend at their website or at select retailers.

11) Eastern Standard Provisions Pretzel Gift Box

Imagine this: delicious soft pretzels delivered right to your door, ready to warm and serve up with gourmet sauces and dips for parties, gatherings, or just to be enjoyed slowly throughout the holidays. This is not a dream; it is an actual thing you can order right now to be delivered to your home or the home of your favorite foodie.

The Soft Pretzels & Sauces Variety Box from Eastern Standard Provisions is a delicious and versatile gift for just about anyone on your list. With an assortment of artisanal soft pretzels {2 wheelhouse signature, 12 turnbuckle, and 1 bag of one-timer soft pretzels} with pretzel salts as well as white cheddar cheese sauce and Maui Onion Mustard dipping sauce, it feels gourmet while also feeling like the ultimate comfort food.

Each gift box includes a folded greeting card with your personalized message inside and a Happy Holidays sticker on the outside of the box, making it perfect for gifting from afar. All of their pretzels are vegan and made with the highest quality ingredients, with no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Oh, and did I mention they are delicious and super quick to heat and serve? It will look like you slaved over a hot oven all day long if you serve these at your next party or bring them to someone else’s shindig, but it really couldn’t be any easier to wow than this.

To buy: visit esprovisions.com and shop all their soft pretzel gift packs and more. Order them for you to share with your foodie, or order them directly to your foodie – either way, they will definitely appreciate it!

12) Silky Gems Crystal Candies

Have you been on TikTok this year at all? Well, then you probably saw the Silky Gem TikTok-viral crystal candy at some point. With over 1.5 million followers and 40 million likes across socials, this unique crystal candy has become a viral sensation on TikTok. It is adored by ASMR lovers for its satisfying crunch and bright, crystal-like appearance and has become the “it” candy of the year, as well as a top pick for anyone looking to add a little sparkle to their festivities.

The Silky Gem collection is inspired by traditional Vietnamese candy with a modern twist, and appeals to both kids and adults. Their goal is to bring joy through every candy they produce, and I can attest that their mission is complete. How could anyone see these fun shaped candies and not get excited? Let me tell you, they certainly brought a lot of joy to my kids when they saw the delivery of the famous candy on our doorstep.

So, is it worth it? The candies, admittedly aren’t cheap. But, neither is fast food these days. Or groceries. Or anything, really. A gift box of Silky Gem crystals can range from $8 – $45, which is roughly the same as if we all got concessions at the theater or if we all went out for milk shakes. And, that would certainly be less memorable than THE crystal candies they had been coveting for months. Enjoying these together was a really fun experience, and I loved seeing so much joy from my kids over something so sweet and wholesome.

The mom in me appreciates the beautiful, artistic designs and quality ingredients without any artificial additives and preservatives, and the kid in me loves the perfect balance of flavor, texture, and beauty in every bite.

To buy: shop the whole collection of handcrafted gems and delights from Silky Gem on their website. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silky.gem/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@silkygem

13) Meliora Forever Instant Cocktail Cubes

If the foodie on your list moonlights as a home bartender, these Instant Cocktail Cubes from Meliora Forever will definitely make them swoon. Basically, they are sugar cubes infused with bitters, fruits, and all the flavorings you need to turn your liquor into a fancy cocktail. They are small, portable and can fit into any bar cabinet or bar cart. It may be a small package, but these little cubes make it so literally anyone can bartend, even on a last-minute whim. No need to keep multiple bitters, fruits, herbs and bottles of flavorings on hand for every drink you might make. Just purchase a few packs of Meliora Forever Instant Cocktail Cubes and you will be ready whenever inspiration strikes.

How to shop Meliora Forever: first, choose your alcohol of choice. They carry a line of vodka, whiskey, champagne, tequila, gin, rum and even chocolate Instant Cocktail Cubes so you just need to narrow it down to your favorite spirits. Then, you can shop each line as there are several varieties in each, and many variety packs so you can try a good selection of flavors.

Once your Meliora Forever Instant Cocktail Cubes arrive {yay!}, you are all ready to bartend with whatever mixers/liquor you have on hand. To use, you simply muddle 1–2 cocktail cubes with a splash of warm water until dissolved. Then you add 2oz of your preferred spirit, add a splash of mixer {if desired}, and serve over ice. Yes, it’s that easy to create a handcrafted cocktail on a whim.

I will admit, I was worried the cocktail cubes would have either a chalky or gritty taste to them, but I was so relieved to find that they all dissolved really well in a splash of water, and they didn’t have ingredients in them that made my throat hurt, which has been an issue in the past with lesser cocktail mixers. If you are on the fence, I hope you consider trying them. They are perfect as a gift on their own or as a stocking stuffer, or you can add a spirit or two for an entire gift pack for your favorite foodie.

To buy: Meliora Forever Instant Cocktail Cubes can be purchased directly on their website as well as select retailers online and locally. Their Cocktail Cubes come in 8-count tubes, 16-count boxes, 32-count boxes, and variety packs. This year they even have a 12 Days of Christmas calendar that includes a different cocktail for each day, including some whiskey, vodka/champagne, and gin.

14) St. Supéry Wine Box

If you really want to wow the foodie on your list, a St. Supéry Elegant Blends wine gift box is sure to do it. The Elegant Blends collection includes one bottle each of St. Supéry Napa Valley Estate Virtu and St. Supéry Napa Valley Estate Elu in a beautiful, ready-to-gift custom gift box. Both wines are versatile, food-friendly options that are perfect for the party host you barely know or for a close friend or family member.

Added bonus: no need to wrap! The custom gift box comes with a green bow that takes the standard gift of wine up a few dozen levels to “expert” gifter.

2018 Napa Valley Estate Élu – Black plum, juicy blackberry and black olive are threaded with anise, graphite, and vanillin from the toasted barrel. Flavors of dried black plum and blackberry are complimented with a hint of black licorice. The wine has a freshness to it with texture and a graceful, fine grain tannin.

2022 Napa Valley Estate Virtú – Brilliant pale yellow hues present this white blend. Aromas offer notes of pink grapefruit, lemon grass, and kiwi with an undercurrent of seductive toasted French oak. Flavors of citrus including lemon and key lime, and dried peaches are focused and encouraged with creamy, toasted oak. This is a terrific white wine with great texture.

The St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery, a CHANEL owned winery, is one of the rare 100% estate-grown Napa Valley wineries. The winery specializes in sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon and red Bordeaux varietals and has great gifting options for all your 21+ foodie friends.

To buy: check out stsupery.com and see their holiday gift boxes as well as individual wine that you can gift directly on their website.

Happy shopping!

I hope you enjoyed the new Foodie Gift Guide this season as part of our Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide. Maybe you found a few new items, were re-introduced to a few favorites, and found some items you would like to try in addition to gifting to your favorite foodie.