Our 2019 Food-Themed Gift Guide Is Here!

Last year, Kate (my colleague and daughter, for those of you who are new) convinced me to do a gift guide. As she said then, I’m more of an anytime, “just because” kind of gifter; I know in theory that holiday season is coming, but that fact doesn’t have tremendous bearing on my gift-giving life. That said, I’m glad we did because a) people seemed to enjoy it and b) it was kind of fun to stand around my kitchen and decide which things I actually like (and would be happy to get/give as a gift).

So, we’re doing it again. Same deal as last year: everyone in our little crew (Kate, Daniel, Kerri, Melissa and I) picked a few of our favorite food-related things, all of which would make for good gifts (either for others or for yourself). I think it turned out to be a pretty fun and varied list; it’s also a long list, so if it happens to get cut off in your inbox you can just click on the link to view the whole thing in your browser. Anyway, I hope you find it useful.

Also, I won’t see you again until after Thanksgiving. Have a wonderful holiday.

—Mark

Kate’s Picks

You may not think that storage bags are an exciting holiday gift, but when it comes to Stasher bags, I’m afraid I have to disagree. Look at how pretty they are! Think about how constantly tossing soggy plastic bags in the trash makes you feel (for me: the worst)! I have a bunch of these bags, and while they may seem pricey, they last and last and last (mine still look perfect), despite being dishwasher and microwave-safe—plus, I think you can sous vide with them?! Tons of sizes (the teeny ones are great for packing chargers, etc.) and colors. Consider me formally inducted into the cult.

Our morning coffee was really tasting crappy. I figured maybe it was because I was using a cheap grinder that was, oh, 20 years old? A couple people (one of MB’s newsletter readers—thank you!—and my dear friend Lynn) recommended the Baratza Encore to me, and I’m never not going to use it. I can’t tell you the difference it made; friends who come over are actually complimenting our coffee, which is unheard of in this apartment. Again, it’s not cheap, but it’s really worth it. This would be an awesome gift for a coffee snob or a novice like me, because it absolutely ups your game, regardless of your skill.

I know we talk about the Thermapen a lot, but there’s a reason for it: It’s awesome. I swear this thermometer has a brain. Take it out of the chicken, which it’s just registered at 170 degrees, and it immediately goes to room temp (I check the thermostat, and it always matches). I think about the thermometers I used to use and I laugh. Also, they’ve got a lot of cool colors, if you care about that sort of thing (points to self).