Have you run the gift gamut from five golden rings to a partridge in a pear tree? Are you feeling distinctly uninspired when it comes to playing Santa this year? Never fear – we’ve got your back. Food truly is the key to most of our hearts (or stomachs). No matter if you’re buying for the kitchen fanatic in your life, or have a pan-averse friend who fancies themselves a whisky connoisseur instead, look to the hob, pantry or bar for this year’s best Christmas presents. Now, where’s Rudolph?
The best food products to gift in 2024
The Best Sellers Pack
Bold Bean Co
The Best Sellers Pack from Bold Bean Co
Lucy Bridge
Christmas time can feel fibre-barren at best, so give your loved ones the gift of, er, regularity with this Bold Bean Co Best Sellers Pack. Those who have frequented Bold Bean’s wares will know that their beans are cut from a different cloth, and this Best Sellers Pack lets you sample the best of the range. Think juicy queen chickpeas that blitz into velvety hummus, gigantic butter beans that elevate stews, and tender black beans that take your chillis to enviable heights.
£27; boldbeanco.com
Wholegrain mustard
Grey Poupon
Grey Poupon used in a salmon dish
A Christmas spread without condiments is a heart without a pulse, so lock in flavour with a dollop of trusty Grey Poupon wholegrain mustard. This French-made condiment, available at Waitrose, Sainsburys, Ocado and M&S, is sure to pique the taste buds, adding warmth and zest to your Boxing Day sarnies, mashed potatoes and roasted hams. Bon ap!
£2.99; greypouponmustard.com
Sommelier selection
Olive Oil Guys
Sommeliers Selection by Olive Oil Guy
Wine for Christmas is a sure-fire gift, but how about a bottle of olive oil? Or better, six bottles of olive oil? This selection from The Olive Oil Guy is picked out by Mazen Assaf, an olive oil sommelier (yep, you heard us right), so you can be sure you’ll be drizzling the tastiest Mediterranean nectar. Whether you’re into bright, herbaceous Andalusian numbers or bold, peppery Pugliese gluggers – this selection goes for gold.
Six-bottle selection £156; oliveoilguy.com
Christmas 'at home' menu
Simon Rogan
Christmas 'at home' menu from Simon Rogan
Know someone who would rather pull out their toenails than cook Christmas dinner? Absolve them from all culinary responsibility with Simon Rogan's killer at-home menu. The skilled team of Simon Rogan chefs have done all the hard work for you, whizzing up a five-course menu you can assemble at home. In true style, the menu showcases the Simon Rogan take on traditional Christmas favourites, including Goosnargh turkey served with pigs in blankets, Our Farm pumpkin and swede purée, celeriac terrine and fermented cabbage, along with cranberry ketchup and woodruff sauce. Each dish capitalises on the best local and seasonal ingredients for the perfect at-home dining experience. Forks at the ready...
From £95; simonrogan.co.uk
Wagyu dripping
FARMSHOP
Wagyu dripping by FARMSHOP
We all know the best part of Christmas dinner isn’t the parched turkey breast or singed sausages – it’s the roast potatoes. Take your festive spuds to the next level with this wagyu beef dripping from FARMSHOP – your secret weapon for achieving the crispiest pots in the game. Made from wagyu and wagyu X cattle reared on FARMSHOP’s Somerset farm, this decadent fridge addition will become a staple for Christmases to come.
£6.95; farmshop.co.uk
The Original Seashells
Guylian
Guylian's original seashells
There are few seasons more synonymous with gluttony, and no time of year where you’re more justified to mainline an entire box of chocolate than at Christmas. Equally, for that friend, colleague or family member who you don’t know what to buy, there is no safer gift than a good sharing box. Take things up a notch with this Original Seashells box, featuring the brand’s classic praliné seashells and seahorses.
£6.50; tesco.com
The Wonderbox: Christmas gift pack
Illy
The Wonderbox by Illy
Give the gift of caffeination this Christmas with the illy Wonderbox. Inside are two adorable espresso cups from the Judy Chicago illy Art Collection, two packs of Classico and Intenso roast ground coffee and an electric milk frother. Channel your inner barista and whip up steaming, frothy coffees to keep that depresso at bay during the cold and dark winter months.
£125.60; illy.com
Kaluga Hybrid
N25 Caviar
Hybrid caviar from N25
Not all caviars are made equal, and that phrase could not be truer when talking about N25. Thoughtfully harvested and aged, the caviar retains a depth of flavour and a truly indulgent texture that makes it a hot ticket among Michelin-star chefs. While the entire range is worth trying, we recommend the versatile Kaluga Hybrid. Made from a blend of Huso Dauricus and Schrenckii caviars, this is a little pottle of bulbous gold – with a creamy texture, and nutty, rich flavour profile, the caviar is perfect with everything from lobster to poultry, or simply dollop it on your thenar space and take a bump alongside a glass of bubbly for a truly glamorous approach to picky bits. Buy a pot for your foodiest of friends to help bring their on-hand fridge snacks up to scratch.
From £90; n25caviar.co.uk
Cornish Cheese Hamper
The Cornish Food Box Company
Cornish Cheese Hamper
Christmas without cheese is a sky without stars, so keep the festive period lactose-laden with this Cornish cheese hamper. This devourable selection is packed full of top-tier artisanal Cornish cheese, plus biscuits and chutney to accompany. With five award-winning soft and hard cheeses, there's something for everyone – making it the perfect present.
£54.99; thecornishfoodboxcompany.co.uk
The best tableware and homeware to gift in 2024
Candles
Pygmalion
Pygmalion candles
If lavender-scented jar candles are made for zenning out in the tub, then Pygmalion’s candles exist for the love of hosting. Ignite your Christmas tablescapes with these eye-catching hand-poured candlesticks made from natural wax. They come in a plethora of colours and patterns, so you’re sure to find the perfect pair that lights your fire.
£22 for a pair; pygmalionlondon.com
Les Grands Vins de France
Pullman Editions
France print on display
Got a Francophilic oenophile in your life? Buck the bottle tradition and help them wine up their walls instead with Pullman Editions’ Les Grands Vins de France print. Highlighting the country’s best wine regions, this conversation-starting piece of art will help them swat up from the dinner table, just as much as it will help trigger informative debate to liven up even the dullest of dinner parties.
£420; pullmaneditions.com
Middleton Speaker
Marshall
Marshall Middleton speaker
Heartland Foto
Drown out the Yuletide family feuds with this Middleton speaker from Marshall – a rugged rock and roll wireless speaker capable of blasting Mariah Carey all night long. Using True Stereophonic, a special variety of multidirectional stereo sound, it makes music immersive with more than 20 hours of playtime. Middleton’s party trick? Stack Mode, which lets you connect to multiple speakers when you’re ready to throw it down.
£269.99; marshall.com
Hip flask
Yeti
The Yeti flask in action
William Woodward
Looking to take your on-the-go drinking to the next level? YETI, in typical form for the brand, has overengineered the traditional hip flask with kitchen-grade, puncture-resistant stainless steel, as well as DuraCoat colours that don’t peel or crack, you can be sure that this baby will last the long haul, particularly when you’re on the go. Drink to your stealth this Christmas.
£50; uk.yeti.com
The best hampers and Christmas bits to gift in 2024
The Christmas Connoisseur Hamper
Panzer’s
Panzer's hamper feast
Giles Christopher
Harry Styles, Sir Paul McCartney and Yotam Ottolenghi are regulars at London stalwart Panzer’s, so you can be sure their deli wares hold celebrity status. Bag all the Panzer’s must-haves in the Christmas Connoisseur hamper, stuffed with Isle of Mull Cheddar, Burt’s Blue Cheese, crackers, gianduja hazelnut chocolate, panettone, cabernet sauvignon and of course, a pack of Panzer’s legendary smoked salmon. Your omega-3 levels will be the envy of your peers.
£169; panzers.co.uk
Flavours of Oldstead food hamper
Made in Oldstead
Oldstead hamper
If all the biscuit, cake and chocolate monoculture of Christmas yucks your yum, then strap in for this hamper from Made in Oldstead – a savoury tooth’s Shangri-La. The Flavours of Oldstead Food Hamper is bursting with goodies, including Black Bomber Cheddar, beef shin ragu, tortiglioni pasta, chicken liver parfait, beer and brown sugar-glazed ham, Yorkshire lomo and Oldstead salami. Heck, a trip to the supermarket might not even be necessary with the amount of food in this basket. Plus, if you cave into the sweet side, there’s chicory and apple mint fudge, salted caramel truffles, and homemade hot chocolate to scratch the itch.
£190; madeinoldstead.co.uk
The Drinks Hamper
Lyaness
Lyaness hamper
Who said hampers had to contain just fruit cake and fizz? This hamper from Lyaness, the flagship bar from award-winning cocktail bartender Mr Lyan (aka Ryan Chetiyawardana), promises to make Christmas a little… merrier, packed with enough booze and bar supplies to send Granny under the table. Inside are two of Lyaness’ signature bottled cocktails, an exclusive Thompson Bros Whisky blend, as well as more food and drink gifts from the bar’s favourite suppliers. One lucky hamper will offer a complimentary stay at the iconic Sea Containers Hotel with an evening of world-class cocktails at Lyaness Bar. Cheers to that.
£200; lyaness.com
Christmas Crackers
Petersham Nurseries
Petersham Christmas crackers set
Chloe Hardwick
For a chic addition to the Christmas dining table and a step away from the tat that often comes packed into supermarket Christmas crackers, head for Petersham Nurseries and nab their annual crackers. Coming in either a kraft brown or a festive marble pattern, the crackers contain artisan products from the much-loved brand. A practical gift for that friend that is simply impossible to buy for.
£55 for a pack of six; petershamnurseries.com
The best kitchenware to gift in 2024
40th Anniversary Collection
Global Knives
Global knife in action
Both Global Knives and the Roux Scholarship celebrate their 40th anniversary this year, so it seems fitting that Michel Roux Jr’s knife company of choice has released a limited edition 40th Anniversary collection, with a smaller 15cm version of its popular Kiritsuke Knife, used by Japanese head chefs as a multi-purpose knife, alongside a three-piece knife set, and a seven-piece knife block set featuring essential culinary knives.
From £135; globalknives.uk
Fry pans set
TUCCI by GreenPan
TUCCI pans
As if we couldn’t love Stanley Tucci anymore, he’s only gone and released a stunning collection of corrosion-resistant non-stick pans in collaboration with the award-winning cookware brand GreenPan. This set of two frying pans from the collection will be glued to your hobs all festive season – made with a woven induction base, heavy-gauge body and heavy-duty design that won’t warp or wobble. Whip up a cacio e pepe in one of these bad boys, and you, too, can feel like you’re Italian on both sides. Buy the whole set in John Lewis.
£199.95; johnlewis.com
Dutch Oven
Koch and Kochin
Koch and Kochin dutch oven
There are few things more joyous to cook with than a brightly hued dutch oven. There’s a reason this style of cookware has taken off among the kitchen-obsessed side of TikTok – we love nothing more than a multi-use tool that brings a dose of glamour to your nightly spag bol. The Koch and Kochin dutch ovens come in a range of shades, from classic red to a vibrant ocean blue, with enamel-coated cast iron to offer the ease of non-stick, and an oven proof finish that means the pot can go from stovetop to oven with ease. The perfect gift for the cooking-obsessed in your life, these colourful pots will last a lifetime.
Starting from £39.99; kochandkochin.com
Classic Chef’s Knife 20cm
Wusthof
Wusthof knife collection
There is something truly valuable about a good quality chef’s knife. Arguably the biggest kitchen flex, these things come with us from house to house, continuously chopping and slicing and generally becoming an inherent part of our culinary life. Give someone the gift of a forever item with the Wusthof Classic Chef’s Knife. The collection comes in a series of vibrant shades that make each knife distinctive – more than simply utility. Meticulously crafted from 100% German steel in Solingen, WÜSTHOF’s knives offer remarkable durability, exceptional agility, and sensational sharpness.
£139; wusthof.co.uk
T-1 Kitchen Knife Sharpener
Tormek
Tormek knife sharpener
Sharp knives are a Christmas essential for gliding through a roasted joint or, possibly, your in-laws’ vital organs. Keep your blades razor sharp with this T-1 knife sharpener from Tormek – the experts with over three decades of experience in knife sharpening tools for commercial kitchens. This is their first premium kitchen knife sharpener you can use at home. It’s quick, easy, clean and quiet – precisely sharpening blades of any length. Cutting edge.
£330; shop.tormek.com
Professional Series graters
Microplane
Collection of Microplane graters
Elisabeth v. Poelnitz Eisfeld
Make your kitchen, er, ‘grate’ again with the brand-new Professional Series line from Microplane. The series features six new blades with robust, high-quality, stainless-steel frames and an uber-stylish matte chrome finish on the handle. It wouldn’t be Microplane without its photoetched technology, which creates an unmatched sharpness that makes grating, zesting, shaving and ribboning easier than ever.
Starting from £29.95; microplane.com
Hydrate stainless steel water bottle
Sistema
Sistema bottles
Give the gift of hydration this Christmas with Sistema’s Hydrate stainless steel water bottle. Exactly the kind of thing you would never go out of your way to buy for yourself, but so appreciated as a gift, a good quality water bottle is just as much about looking good as it is a vessel for its contents. Did you know a shocking 53% of Brits aren’t drinking enough water every day? Your loved ones certainly will be, though, with this gift. Double-walled vacuum insulation keeps drinks hot for six hours or cold for 12, while the leak-proof design keeps it full on the go.
From £12; amazon.co.uk
The best drinks products to gift in 2024
Wine elevator gift box
Di-vine
Di Vine gift box
Have a wine lover in your life and want to take their gift to the next level? Make a beeline for Di-vine, where you can choose from a range of epic wines and have them housed in a grand gesture-worthy elevator gift box, complete with a handwritten note. From household name champagnes like Laurent-Perrier and Billecart-Salmon, to delicate Provence rosés and flavour-forward Italian reds, you can pick whatever bottle suits your loved one best and then have it beautifully packaged to up the ante – think Rowan Atkinson in Love Actually without the awkwardness. Following the advice of our wine guide later in the issue and think one bottle isn’t enough? Never fear – you can get two, too.
From £34.99; di-vine.com
Tequila Rosa
Tico
Tico with fruits and florals
This 100% agave, additive-free tequila from Tico Tequila is given an additional flavour boost thanks to five weeks ageing in ex-cabernet sauvignon barrels, giving it its distinctive rose hue. This time in the wine casks gives the spirit subtle floral notes, alongside its inherent citrus finish and clean, herbal undertones. As agave spirits grow ever-popular, Tico is aiming to redefine what tequila should taste like, combining tradition with purity and modernity.
£42; ticotequila.com
Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Elijah Craig
Elijah Craig bottle and drink
Recent years have seen some big-name bourbon distilleries come out swinging, making them the perfect ABV-packed gift for amber liquid-loving friends and family. This bottle, from storied Kentucky distillery Elijah Craig, is a blend of eight and twelve-year-old whisky, and has hints of caramel and fruit cake.
£42; waitrosecellar.com
Kavalan LÁN Whisky
The Whisky Exchange
Kavalan bottle and drink
Do you have a whisky connoisseur in your life who has exhausted the regions? Have they got stacks of scotch, barrels of bourbon, and a plethora of poitín? Introduce them to the industry’s hottest new up and coming region with a bottle of Kavalan’s LÁN, launched to celebrate the distillery’s 20th anniversary. Featuring the tropical fruit-forward house style that has become synonymous with the brand, LÁN also pays tribute to the distillery’s home of Taiwan’s nickname as the “Kingdom of the Orchids” with floral aromas that carry richly onto the palate.
Peony Blush Gift Set
Real Drinks
Peony Blush gift set
Recent stats have shown that around 20% of the population has gone alcohol free. But why should hopping aboard the sober train mean you can’t have any more fun in the glass? Capture the same depth and finesse as a beautiful flute of champagne with Real Drinks’ Peony Blush, a fine alcohol-free sparkling rosé made from white peony tea. Buttery and well-rounded on the palate, the liquid has flavours of strawberry, cranberry and raspberry leading to a soft vanilla-oak finish. This gift set comes complete with two tasting glasses to help give the full flavour impact, alongside a stopper to keep the bottle fresh for longer.
£35; realdrinks.co
Bacchus Reserve 2022
Wraxall
Bacchus wines
Ed Schofield
Navigating the relatively new world of English wine can feel as overwhelming as untangling the messy pile of fairy lights heaped by the tree, but grab a bottle of Wraxall Bacchus Reserve, and you’re onto a winner. Having nabbed gold at the 2024 Wine GB Awards, this is a rich and powerful style of bacchus from Somerset with layered flavours of chamomile tea, nectarine and a saline tang. We’re under good authority that it’s the perfect companion to a crispy roast chook or festive turkey.
Alternative Christmas wine hamper
Beckford Bottle Shop
Beckford Bottle Shop gift lineup
Ed Schofield
Christmas can glue us to tried and tested rituals, so isn’t it time to break tradition and shake up your wine repertoire? This selection of bottles from the Beckford Bottle Shop eschews tradition – made for the adventurous wine drinker who isn’t afraid to plonk a bottle of the unknown in front of the inlaws. This expertly curated detour covers all the styles and pairings you’d expect at Christmas but with a twist. You’ve got Sotovelo palomino instead of sherry, pomona instead of port, rabigato from Pormenor over chardonnay and much more.
£135; beckfordbottleshop.com
Valdibella x Manteca Collaboration
Modal Wines
Valdibella x Manteca collab
London’s beloved Italian, Manteca, flew its head of wine, Emily Acha Derrington, to Valdibella, a socially conscious and boundary-pushing 'beyond-organic' cooperative in Sicily, to create 1,000 litres of her own blend. Balancing catarratto extra lucido grapes from a single vineyard plot owned by one of the founders with grillo and catarratto from one of Valdibella’s oldest vineyards, left on skins for 10 days, this is a white wine that “jumps out the glass”. It's designed to pair perfectly with Manteca's grub, but if you can't bag a table, opening this bottle is the perfect excuse to whip up a duck ragu, right?
£24; modalwines.com
Sakari Sake no. 11
Japan Centre
Sakari Sake
If there was one drink that seemed to have its moment in the spotlight in 2024 it was sake. From Cate Blanchett joining Toku Sake as creative director, to Alain Ducasse embarking on a world sake tour with Shichiken, the Japanese rice wine has captured the food and drink world’s consciousness this year. Give the gift of the hottest drink in town this Christmas with Sakari Sake’s no.11. Polished and silky smooth, this sake has notes of tropical fruit and a round, full-mouth finish.
£28.89; japancentre.com
Bathtub Gin and punch bowl set
Bathtub Gin
Bathtub Gin and punch bowl set
The multi-award-winning craft gin Bathtub has an exciting collaboration with acclaimed ceramist Harlie Brown Studio that makes the perfect gift for the gin-lover in your life. A limited-edition design hand-wrapped Bathtub Gin bottle, which comes with a punch bowl that can be purchased as a set from Master of Malt. "Le Punch Bowl" features a hand-painted exploration of Bathtub Gin’s botanicals plus Harlie Brown’s iconic ‘wiggle’ details and a ‘gooey and gorgeous’ melted glaze finish. Harlie’s hand-building techniques and organically shaped design ensure that no two pieces are ever the same. As we all embrace the season of hosting (and drinking) what better duo to bring to the Christmas table that a bottle of gin and a punch bowl. Cheers to that!
Standalone bottle £34.95 or £130 for the set; masterofmalt.com
