Holiday Ideas - Gifting With Food

An unusually nice way to let friends know that you are thinking of them during the holidays is to send or bring them gifts of food. Not only are food gifts always usable but they are the fashion in gift giving today. What simpler way is there to find a find for the person who has everything or the one who has very little? To meet your holiday needs, many gourmet cookware shops and food stores specialize in food gifting, or if you love to spend time in the kitchen you can prepare you own favorite specialties for your friends.

In the last number of years, 'Food Gifting' has become so popular that a whole new industry of 'Gourmet Basket' making has emerged. Baskets come in many different forms and are not only made from woven wicker but are now hand crafted from wood and other materials. In addition to baskets there are beautifully designed gift bags and old-fashioned cookie tins for food gifts. One nice way to present a food gift is to fill a cooking utensil with related items. An example would be a Pasta Pot filled with gourmet pastas and sauces, Italian cheeses and red and white checkered napkins.When gifting with food it is especially nice to choose a theme for your gift and fit the packaging and the contents into it. Below is a list of food themes which suggest ideas for holiday food gifts. You may like to choose one of these or decide on your own. Whichever you do should be our own choice, and fit the tastes and needs of the person receiving the gift.


Wine & Cheese
Fine Spirits
Bread Baking
Pasta & Sauces
Childhood Delights
Coffee & Tea
Sugar & Spice's
Fruit & Nut's

Gourmet Popcorn Treats If you feel creative and have enough time, you may enjoy purchasing the gift container and contents, and putting the package together yourself. However if you, like many people today are very busy and do not have the time, most shops will put together the gift for you with little or no charge as long as you purchase all the items from them. If you do package your own gift, be sure to wrap it in a see through wrapping paper such as clear or colored cellophane. Food gifts are so pretty and delightful to look at that you won't want to cover them up with opaque wrapping paper.

Retail outlets that do put together food baskets and other related items can be found in your local Yellow Pages or in local newspaper ads and or mail-order companies, or you can choose from one of the stores from the listed below.

Specialty Food Stores: Gelson's Markets, Bristol Farms, Whole Foods

Culinary Stores: Let's Get Cookin' (Westlake Village, CA) Sur La Table, Williams Sonoma

Don't forget the Candy Stores, Wine Shops and even some Bakeries. Last but not least, don't omit your own favorite specialties which your friends would probably love to receive along with the recipe, if you are willing to part with it. Whichever you do, you will enjoy selecting and or putting together your gift and your friends will enjoy getting them and using them.

Finally, a delightful bonus derived from 'Food Gifting' is that you don't have to rack your brain trying to decide what to give people. 'Gifting with Food' comes naturally and easily without struggle and is a joy and pleasure to the giver as well as the recipient!

I have been a children's cooking teacher and educator for over 35 years. In addition I have worked for Cuisinart as a Consumer Adviser and taught classes on the proper use of food processors. I teach monthly classes in Ventura, County California for children, teens and their parents. I love to share my ideas to help kids be safe, learn and have fun in the kitchen. I hold a MS in Nutrition and Food Sciences from California State University.

Please check out my website at http://www.sylveeeskitchen.com