What are some nice foodie gifts?

clevebride2006

... you know, the ones where you won't pay for yourself but would love to receive?

2 of my good friends' birthdays are coming up and they would love something like this but not even sure what to get?

I was thinking gourmet chocolates- Vosges, Jacques Torres, La Maison du Chocolate- if you have any favorites here, will you let me know?

... and I am totally stumped on any other ideas.

Looking for both sweet and/or savory, and preferably no more than $45-$50.

iteachkids81

vosges are my faves!

hubs picks some up for me whenever he passes through  O'Hare. 

I like their exotic truffle collection.  

2bJenniferT

I think chocolates are a wonderful idea! Maybe some fancy/exotic salts and spices? Like these:  http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/c-Gift_Boxes.html. 

booksncooks22

How about a more whimsical kitchen item? I was thinking little tartlette pans or a special cookie pan or something. I love that stuff but have a hard time buying single or limited-use kitchen items due to cost and space. You could probably find something and tie it in with a food gift - ie. baking spices from Penzys with the tartlette tins and a recipe to go with; special salts that you might put on fish with cedar grilling planks; etc.

Persa

Do you have cooking classes available in your area that you could get her? 

How about a pizza stone? I got one from WS that was about $45 

lujain

I would love some of the fancy food items from Williams Sonoma.  Gourmet olive oils and vinegars, simmer sauces, that sort of thing.

Molly Jean

Infused olive oils, vanilla beans, saffron, fleur de sel, unique peppercorns (green, pink, white), etc.

And Girl Scout cookies.  Definitely Girl Scout cookies

LexiMS

I have been wanting Massey vanilla paste, I like the chocolate idea, or a gift set from Penzey's.

groovygrl

Christopher Elbow Chocolates are like works of art & delicious...very beautiful to look at & eat

elbowchocolates.com

 Kingsbury Chocolate is amazing also, especially his dark chocolate with sea salt OMG but I just googled to find the info and it appears the store where it was sold went out of business & I can't figure out where he is selling now. It was located in Alexandria VA.

I love Penzeys also so a gift box or assortment from there would be great.

Cheese items from Murray's Cheese or Artisanal in NYC= yum 

Last idea, a weird one but not if you're  a pickle lover, McClure's  Pickles are awesome (mcclurespickles.com), I especially love the spicy ones but they're pretty spicy. The other kinds are all good too...mmmm.  They sell them at a lot of regular gourmet food stores (incl some locations of William Sonoma I think).

 

ch ch ch chia

groovygrl:

Christopher Elbow Chocolates are like works of art & delicious...very beautiful to look at & eat

elbowchocolates.com

 Kingsbury Chocolate is amazing also, especially his dark chocolate with sea salt OMG but I just googled to find the info and it appears the store where it was sold went out of business & I can't figure out where he is selling now. It was located in Alexandria VA.

I love Penzeys also so a gift box or assortment from there would be great.

Cheese items from Murray's Cheese or Artisanal in NYC= yum 

Last idea, a weird one but not if you're  a pickle lover, McClure's  Pickles are awesome (mcclurespickles.com), I especially love the spicy ones but they're pretty spicy. The other kinds are all good too...mmmm.  They sell them at a lot of regular gourmet food stores (incl some locations of William Sonoma I think).

 

OMG, I totally didn't know that AC/KC (Kingsbury) was going out of business.    Boo-hoo.

I totally second Christopher Elbow.  The caramels are really good, too...  I really like the rosemary caramels.

And Jacques Torres.  yum!

Actually, I like all of the ideas in this thread.