Gourmet Hampers - Much More Than Gift Baskets

So we all know what gift baskets are - carefully arranged gifts for delivery filled with a few tastefully chosen items. But gourmet hampers? Well let's just say the gourmet hamper is the bigger, better option when you're talking gift baskets. More products, a diverse selection of tastes and inclusions, and simply a bigger impact on delivery - that's what to expect when you order a gourmet hamper. Here's our unique twist on what to expect and how to put together a gourmet hamper for a gift idea, sharing with family and friends or for a work commitment experience.

By definition gourmet usually brings to mind an impression of quality, handmade and taste driven products - perhaps inspired by well known chefs, or made to secret generations old recipes. Whether the product is a niche driven pate made from the finest local ingredients to by a small restaurant holding, or an additive like honey sourced from local flowers and bees, gourmet products do have a certain something that lifts it above the mass produced ordinariness of other products.

For me, gourmet means a connection between the maker and the product - whether by having a hand in producing the finished good, or in managing the product itself. A perfect example of this is a locally blended lavender honey cookies - sourced from regionally specific bees, harvesting from lavender grown in the paddocks, and used as a flavor in home style cookies. What could be more unique, handmade and regionally authentic?

In the same vein, a gourmet hamper is the ideal gift decision as a combination gift reflecting regional authenticity. This is where local hampers and gift baskets can really make a meaningful impact as a delivered gift. Firstly, having all of the products from the same regional area makes for a brilliant themed gift, and concentrates the recipient's expectations on that specific location. Secondly, the single source theme associates any experiences and expectations to that region - for example a romantic vineyard locale will ignite memories of personal experiences in that region. And these two ideas simply increase the enjoyment of opening and sharing a gourmet hamper from the region.

Here's what to expect in a gourmet hamper, as compared to a gift basket. Immediately you will notice the size - hampers are larger and heavier, because of course they contain more products. Taking the time to look at the hamper you will see several products of different sizes and shapes arranged around the basket, most times it will be in a basket, although sometimes you may just receive all the products in a box. Once you have unpacked all the products and assembled them together, you will notice you have a sampler range from across a wide spread of diverse tastes, treats and flavor combinations. This is the central idea of this gift - to share with you a multitude of tastes, flavors and food experiences in a single gifting experience.

Overall, you will be impressed with the sheer size and range of tastes and flavors in a gourmet hamper. As distinct from a gift basket, which is usually a little smaller and may contain non-food items, a hamper is purely for the food lover. Next time you have the opportunity to share a significant gift occasion, make sure to take the time to consider a gourmet hamper.

BP Murphy is a makes hampers and gift baskets for a living over at http://www.huntervalleyhampers.com.au and has considerable experience working with large Corporates making their Christmas Gifts.

Hunter Valley Hampers is a Gourmet Hamper specialist, the best known business for Gourmet Hampers Australia. Visit http://www.huntervalleyhampers.com.au anytime for all your hampers and gift baskets.

Food And Wine Hampers Shouldn't be the Boring Gift Nobody Wants!

Gift hampers can be imaginatively themed for any occasion and should be filled with high quality traditional and stylish or fun and funky gifts to suit the personality of the recipient. A gift hamper should be bursting with quality food and wine making them a triumph of taste bud temptation filled with goodies the recipient really, really wants to get stuck into.

For most people, the pleasure is in the detail, a hamper should be exquisitely chosen and carefully packed so that the lucky recipient will know that you have spent time choosing a gift hamper that's just right for them making them feel extra special.

Instead of a look of dismay when they spot a a dreaded wicker basket filled with food that will languish at the back of the kitchen store cupboard and maybe a bottle of cheap plonk, picture their face as they pull out gift after gift... a gift hamper packed to bursting with gifts they realise that they really, really want!

Gift hampers should be Stylish and Unique, look Beautiful and Luxurious, be Imaginative and Magnificently Enticing, yes, you've spotted it, that spells the word SUBLIME! Irresistible and sublimely delicious cookie and muffin hampers go down a treat, retro sweet hampers are hugely popular at the moment and suit many an occasion, sensational chocolate hampers, cute and adorable hampers to celebrate the birth of a new baby, golf hampers with whiskey, gardening hampers with useful tools, romantic hampers, birthday hampers with helium balloons, the list is endless. Hampers should be exciting that fit in with any theme such as Italian food hampers, breakfast hampers, birthday hampers, thank you hampers, get well hampers, golf hampers, new baby hampers, apology hampers, sympathy hampers and lots, lots more. Hampers should also be able to be customised with the option to include exactly the right items to make the recipient feel extra special when they receive a selection of handpicked goodies including their favourite chocolates and sweets and with gifts that bring a smile and raise a laugh, maybe something a little quirky, to set it apart from other hampers.

Hampers can be the innovative solution not only for gift giving but for so many events and occasions such as competition prizes, promotions, welcoming occasions and many more. And a truly great hamper should always include a top quality reusable and lasting container that people will want to enjoy and use around the home, providing an everlasting gift.

So whether it's for your great Aunt, godson, or a work colleague a hamper should tick all the right boxes and have the essence of the occasion covered. For so many special occasions throughout the year such as Valentine's Day Gifts, Mother's Day Gifts, Father's Day Gifts and Christmas there's nothing quite like a gift hamper.

Deborah Carpenter is the founder of Smart Gift Solutions. For any additional information about gift hampers you can contact her on 0870 609 3448.

Deborah Carpenter
deborah@smartgiftsolutions.co.uk
http://www.SmartGiftSolutions.co.uk

Gourmet Hampers - Some Ordering Advice

I am frequently asked what makes a good gourmet hamper. Well a good hamper is one that is enjoyed by the recipient, not just appreciated but truly enjoyed. Knowing the recipient will certainly make this easier. Do they drink white wine or red wine? Do they like cheeses and pate? Do they have a sweet spot for chocolates? The more you know the better your gift will be, but it's not simply about eating habits, maybe the recipient enjoys long walk in the country or days spent on the beach. If this is the case a picnic gift basket or picnic backpack would be a great gift idea, most picnic hampers come filled with a picnic blanket, thermal area to keep foods cold, plates, glasses, cutlery and topped up with a few gourmet products.

What do you do if you don't know the recipient? You maybe sending a gourmet hamper on behalf of a company. What do you send under such circumstances? Well, first of all do not send a gift basket containing wine or any other form of alcohol. Religion, diets and health may prevent them from being able to drink alcohol. Imagine sending a gift basket containing wine to a recovering alcoholic? How will this make you look and feel?

Of course you won't please everyone, even if you know them well, so here is a list of "safe" hamper contents to consider

Cheese and biscuits, Savoury or sweet

Chutneys and relishes

Jams and cookies

Bread sticks and nuts

Marinated olives and pesto

Chocolates

Bear in mind that many gift basket companies offer great sounding products, such as seaweed flavoured biscuits, strawberry chilli jam and hot spicy chilli teas. While these sound great often they are less than satisfactory, they are usually sampled and then sit at the back of the refrigerator for years. Products which are commonly available at local supermarkets may also detract from your gifts appeal. While the products maybe fine, it will enable the recipients to calculate the value of your gift basket. That is not a good idea as more often than not they will think they are worth more than you spent on them. This is especially applicable to corporations sending gourmet gifts to good customers and employees. Instead find GOURMET products which are not commonly found but which can be consumed and used on a daily basis.

Many mass produced gift hampers often found in major chains and supermarkets can contain over sized packaging and cheap products. Oversized packaging is common in the gourmet hamper industry. For example manufacturing companies pack 100g of nuts in a box capable of holding 300g of the same nuts. It may make the finished hamper look bigger but the overall perception will be negative.

The old rule of "you get what you pay for" applies here, gourmet products are not cheap but well worth the extra expenses, remember that the gourmet hamper you send will be a reflection of you and your company.

Lionel Smitka is the founder and director of the award winning company Basket Basket. Australia's leading gift basket supplier. Basket Basket creates gourmet hampers and gift baskets for any occasion for delivery Australia wide. To view gourmet hampers and gift baskets online visit gourmet hampers Australia