Photo courtesy of iStock / M_a_y_a
Foodies will love these items
Give the gift of flavor this holiday season with one of these 10 foodie-centric gift ideas. We asked a panel of travel and food experts to nominate their favorite food-centric gifts, then 10Best readers chose their favorites. These are the results.
Photo courtesy of Hedley & Bennett
No. 10: Hedley & Bennett Abalone Apron
This heavy-duty black denim chef’s apron was built to withstand any kitchen abuse you throw its way. It’s fade-resistant with a bit of stretch for comfort and has four pockets to keep your favorite kitchen tools close at hand.
To buy: hedleyandbennett.com, $78
Photo courtesy of Magnolia Bakery
No. 9: Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding Kit
You don’t have to go all the way to New York to indulge in the signature banana pudding from Magnolia Bakery. The DIY Banana Pudding Kit (available in classic or gluten-free) comes with everything you need to make this sweet treat: vanilla pudding mix, sweetened condensed milk, Nilla Wafers, Magnolia Bakery pudding cups and spoons.
You provide the bananas and heavy cream.
To buy: magnoliabakery.goldbelly.com, $29.99
No. 8: Beyond Good Chocolate
Beyond Good crafts chocolate from Madagascar cocoa, considered among the most flavorful in the world. Get it in a variety of flavors, including toasted coconut, pure dark, salted almond, sea salt and nibs, crispy rice, orange zest or salted caramel.
To buy: beyondgood.com, from $4.50
No. 7: Magic Bullet Kitchen Express
This small and mighty food processor and personal blender has one base with two attachments, so you can blend, mix, chop, slide and shred your way to faster meal prep.
To buy: nutribullet.com, $69.99 (Use code THANKFUL20 for 25-percent off site-wide Nov. 25-Dec. 1)
Photo courtesy of House of Mana Up
No. 6: Ultimate Hawaiʻi Foodie
Your taste buds can travel to the Hawaiian Islands without leaving home thanks to this gift set. The collection of favorite foods from Hawaii includes ‘ulu chips, roasted coffee, island-grown tea, tuna jerky, chocolate, spice blends and more, all in an exclusive Market Jute tote.
“It’s a great way to experience Hawaii from afar…as you plan a future trip!” suggests 10Best contributor Marla Cimini.
To buy: houseofmanaup.com, $175
Photo courtesy of Topper’s Rhum Distillery
No. 4: Topper’s Rhum
Topper’s Rhum was voted the Best Caribbean Rum Distillery by 10Best readers. A bottle of this award-winning rum from Sint Maarten makes an excellent gift for the mixologist in your life. It comes in several flavors, including Mocha Mama, Coconut, Banana Vanilla Cinnamon, Spiced, White Chocolate Raspberry and classic Caribbean white.
“Drizzling any flavor over ice cream is my recommendation, although straight up on ice is also fabulous,” recommends 10Best Caribbean Expert Melanie Reffes.
To buy: phoenixinternationalwineandspirits.com, $23.25 (Use code USATodayF4 for 15-percent off)
Photo courtesy of Hudson Valley Marshmallow Company
No. 3: S’mores Gift Basket
Hudson Valley Marshmallow Co. lets you design your own S’mores Gift Baskets for gifting or indulging. Choose your marshmallow flavor (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, salted caramel or French toast) and two graham cracker flavors (cinnamon sugar, chocolate or chocolate chip) for the ultimate customized s’mores.
To buy: hudsonvalleymarshmallow.com, $20
Photo courtesy of Green Fig & Lionfish
No. 2: “Green Fig and Lionfish” by chef Allen Susser
Bring the flavors of the Caribbean into your home kitchen with this cookbook from chef Allen Susser. The book features 70 eco-conscious recipes, as well as references for how to prepare and handle fish and prepare your own Caribbean spice mixes.
To buy: greenfigandlionfish.com, $25.15
Photo courtesy of Sweet Heat Jam Co.
No. 1: Sweet Heat Gift Box
This limited edition gift box from Sweet Heat Jam Co. features three 4-ounce bottles of jam and a jam spreader engraved with the phrase “spreading <3.” The company was founded nearly 10 years ago by Nolan Stilwell, a culinary artist with Down syndrome who employs a whole team of young adults with intellectual disabilities.
To buy: sweetheatjam.com, $18 (Use code 10BEST for 10 percent off during November)
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The Experts
The ExpertsMarla Cimini
Marla is a journalist with a passion for travel,… Read More
Marla is a journalist with a passion for travel, music and culinary adventures (combining all three whenever possible)! An avid globetrotter, she has covered topics such as exotic Tahitian getaways; Santa Fe’s chocolate trail; Argentine wines; and Japan’s Washoku cuisine. Marla is co-author of the book, A Century of Hospitality, a historical exploration of US hotels. Her articles have appeared in numerous publications worldwide. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter or see more of her work on her website.
Marla Cimini
Marla is a journalist with a passion for travel, music and culinary adventures (combining all three whenever possible)! An avid globetrotter, she has covered topics such as exotic Tahitian getaways; Santa Fe’s chocolate trail; Argentine wines; and Japan’s Washoku cuisine. Marla is co-author of the book, A Century of Hospitality, a historical exploration of US hotels. Her articles have appeared in numerous publications worldwide. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter or see more of her work on her website.
Eric Grossman
Eric Grossman is a travel and food writer who has… Read More
Eric Grossman is a travel and food writer who has visited more than 50 countries. Always up for an adventure, Eric is constantly searching for new and inspiring experiences, with a keen interest in luxury travel and urban exploration. Memorable experiences have run the gamut from discussing the future of food with Ferran Adrià to sharing a stage with Coldplay.
Eric Grossman
Eric Grossman is a travel and food writer who has visited more than 50 countries. Always up for an adventure, Eric is constantly searching for new and inspiring experiences, with a keen interest in luxury travel and urban exploration. Memorable experiences have run the gamut from discussing the future of food with Ferran Adrià to sharing a stage with Coldplay.
Gerrish Lopez
Gerrish Lopez is a food and travel… Read More
Gerrish Lopez is a food and travel writer/photographer whose adventures have taken her from tiny islands (Isle of Man, Lanai) to mega-cities like Mexico City and Hong Kong. A former vegetarian, Gerrish has grown to appreciate carnivorous fare through sampling the best meats in the world, including smoked pork jowl in Thailand and whole hog barbecue in South Carolina. Gerrish is always looking for products and services to make her travels easier and more efficient.
Gerrish Lopez
Gerrish Lopez is a food and travel writer/photographer whose adventures have taken her from tiny islands (Isle of Man, Lanai) to mega-cities like Mexico City and Hong Kong. A former vegetarian, Gerrish has grown to appreciate carnivorous fare through sampling the best meats in the world, including smoked pork jowl in Thailand and whole hog barbecue in South Carolina. Gerrish is always looking for products and services to make her travels easier and more efficient.
Christopher Parr
Christopher Parr is the Founder and… Read More
Christopher Parr is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief for Pursuitist, the leading luxury travel and leisure website. An award-winning travel writer, Parr is also a luxury marketing veteran, a frequent speaker at luxury and interactive marketing conferences and a pioneer in web publishing. He launched Pursuitist in 2010 as a curated list of the good things in life, with guest contributors from Forbes, Mashable, TechCrunch, Glamour, Saveur and more sharing their favorite luxuries. Follow along on Twitter.
Christopher Parr
Christopher Parr is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief for Pursuitist, the leading luxury travel and leisure website. An award-winning travel writer, Parr is also a luxury marketing veteran, a frequent speaker at luxury and interactive marketing conferences and a pioneer in web publishing. He launched Pursuitist in 2010 as a curated list of the good things in life, with guest contributors from Forbes, Mashable, TechCrunch, Glamour, Saveur and more sharing their favorite luxuries. Follow along on Twitter.
Melanie Reffes
Melanie Reffes is a seasoned travel journalist… Read More
Melanie Reffes is a seasoned travel journalist specializing in the Caribbean. She is often circling the globe in search of a good story or racing through airports trying to make a flight. Melanie is a contributor to USA TODAY Travel and CaribbeanTravel.com, she covers the Caribbean for Montreal’s The Suburban newspaper and she is the author of the blog The Caribbean Romance Report on MarryCaribbean.com and a contributor to the travel aviation publication Captain Jetson (captainjetson.com). When she’s not taking five the under a palm tree, you’ll find her at home on the sunny island of Montreal. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Melanie Reffes
Melanie Reffes is a seasoned travel journalist specializing in the Caribbean. She is often circling the globe in search of a good story or racing through airports trying to make a flight. Melanie is a contributor to USA TODAY Travel and CaribbeanTravel.com, she covers the Caribbean for Montreal’s The Suburban newspaper and she is the author of the blog The Caribbean Romance Report on MarryCaribbean.com and a contributor to the travel aviation publication Captain Jetson (captainjetson.com). When she’s not taking five the under a palm tree, you’ll find her at home on the sunny island of Montreal. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Lydia Schrandt
Lydia, Senior Photo Editor and Readers’ Choice… Read More
Lydia, Senior Photo Editor and Readers’ Choice Production Manager for USA TODAY 10Best, has traveled to more than 40 countries in Europe, Asia and North and South America, and has lived in Albuquerque, Galveston, Austin, Thailand, Korea, China, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Spain and now Houston. When she’s not at her computer in a cafe, she’s out photographing the city, writing fiction or cheering on Barça.
Lydia Schrandt
Lydia, Senior Photo Editor and Readers’ Choice Production Manager for USA TODAY 10Best, has traveled to more than 40 countries in Europe, Asia and North and South America, and has lived in Albuquerque, Galveston, Austin, Thailand, Korea, China, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Spain and now Houston. When she’s not at her computer in a cafe, she’s out photographing the city, writing fiction or cheering on Barça.
