This holiday season, we searched high and low to find the very best gifts that would satisfy even the pickiest of people. From coffee-flavored extract to cookbooks to finishing salts, browse our holiday gift guide for our picks on what to give the foodie in your life.
The Soul Food Expert
Chef and owner of trendy outpost Brown Sugar Kitchen Tanya Holland knows a thing or two about soul food! Her new cookbook, Brown Sugar Kitchen: New Style, Down Home Recipes from Sweet West Oakland, is a visual and culinary history chronicling the diversity, comfort and authenticity that is the bustling California community. Featuring 86 of the restaurant’s most beloved recipes including Macaroni & Cheese, Shrimp Gumbo and B-Side BBQ Braised Smoked Tofu with Roasted Eggplant, these no-fuss dishes are what embodies the true spirit of American roots and African influences.
$22.64 (hardcover), www.amazon.com
The Soul Vegan
Celebrated chef Bryant Terry’s newest cookbook, Afro-Vegan: Farm-Fresh African, Caribbean & Southern Flavors Remixed, is a culinary collage of African island-based and Southern recipes! Reworking and remixing classic dishes, indicative to the African Diaspora, to create flavorful cusines like Smashed Potatoes that even vegans, vegetarians and carnivores alike will appreciate.
$27.50, www.randomhouse.com
The Snacker
For those who cannot seem to keep themselves out of St. Nick’s cookie plate, Wiliams-Sonoma Cookie & Brownie Gift Set is a must-have item. Packaged in a holiday wooden Shaker-style box with red ribbon, the brownie sampler includes Chocolate Chunk, Salted Caramel and Peanut Butter while the cookie sample includes molasses-clove, triple-ginger, snickerdoodle and triple chocolate chip. Remember to save a few for Santa!
Williams-Sonoma Cookie & Brownie Gift Sets, $55.00, www.williams-sonoma.com
The Finisher
Need an extra boost to liven up your side or main dishes? Yellow Wishing Salts from Laura Santtini’s Flavo{u}r 21 adds a slight kick to any course. Composed of Fleur de Del, Mango & Coriander, this tangy enhancer is perfect for salads, pastas and grains and a great coating for popcorn or roasted nuts.
Yellow Wishing Salt, $18, www.deandeluca.com
The Chocoholic
Made from all-organically grown cocoa, Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat is a chocolate lover’s delight! Created in Saigon, each “bean to bar” uses only the highest quality Vietnamese ingredients in French method and are considered some of the world’s richest and boldest treats. Plus the opulent and luxurious packaging mean on does not have to use wrapping paper.
Marou, $9 each, www.darkchocolateimports.com
The Coffee Enthusiast
What is you had a way to incorporate coffee into everything you consume? Well now you can with Whole Spice Coffee Extract from Kaufmann Mercantile. Just think of infusing fresh basked cakes, pies, muffins, cookies and smoothies with the taste of Joe. Coffee drinkers meet your new best friend!
Coffee Extract, $17.95, store.kaufmann-mercantile.com
About Tyrus Townsend
Cultural expositor Tyrus Rochell Townsend has written for Essence, Uptown, Vibe, BET.com, The Atlanta Post, Bleu Magazine, Details Style Network and numerous other publications. Read about his style musings at The Gentleman’s Daily and follow him on Twitter @gentlemansdaily and on Instagram at @tyrusrochelltownsend and @thegentlemansdaily.
