I often get asked a lot about what foods make good gifts for others, and that also promote health and wellness too, so I decided to compile a list of edible food gift ideas just for you!
What is great about this food gift list is that the ideas compiled can work well for people who mean a lot and are close to you, who are friends, acquaintances, and even co-workers too!
When it comes to giving gifts of food, I always try to think of meaningful and thoughtful things, so in each of the listings you will see why I think each of the items makes for a great gift, and you will also find some places where you can purchase some of the items locally.
When it comes to giving gifts, as much fun as it is to give gifts to others, getting to know local business owners, learning about their passion for what they do, and the knowledge that they have of the products they produce, not only makes picking a gift for the person you are shopping for a whole lot easier, it also makes for a wonderful experience for the person buying the gift too.
5 Food Gift Ideas:
1) Specialty Olive Oils and Vinegars:
Not everyone will buy specialty olive oils, or flavor infused vinegars, for themselves, or even be aware of the array of single varietals or flavor infused options that are out there.
Gifting specialty olive oils and vinegars, can be a fun way to introduce people to all the varying tastes, mouthfeels, and flavor combinations that are available, and can be a fun way to spice up a salad dressing, impart beautiful flavor into foods, or create unique and mouth watering marinades.
If you are in need of some help selecting, or want to learn more about single varietal olive oils or flavor infused oils and vinegars, visit Cosimano and Ferrari Olive Oil Company, New York’s first olive oil and vinegar tasting bar, located at the Rochester Public Market. Cosimano & Ferrari features over sixty flavors of olive oil and vinegar to choose from. Taste a few different varieties and flavor combinations, learn about all things olive oil and vinegar, and while you are there, give their black garlic paste a try! A truly unique product that they carry and that is produced by NY farmers too!
2) Spices, Herbs and Seasoning Blends:
For the novice chef, who is just starting out in cooking, or the seasoned cooking/baking guru, spices, herbs and seasoning blends, can help stock a pantry with go-to staples, or introduce unique and different flavor combinations to the seasoned chef too.
Spices, herbs and seasonings, help to enhance, switch up, and bring out the flavor of food!
If you are looking for some ideas of what spices, herbs, or seasoning blends to give, check out Stuart’s Spices, located in the South Wedge of Rochester, NY. Stuart’s Spices has over 200 spice, herb and seasoning blends, and some that are unique to the Rochester area too. Their knowledgeable team will be sure to steer you in the right direction with what spices, herbs, or seasoning blends to give. Be sure to grab some recipe cards while you are there to give to your gift recipient a little inspiration for how they can use some of their new spices, herbs, and seasoning blends gift!
3) Bread:
Nourishment, sustenance, friendship, sharing, love, hope, prosperity. Did you know bread carries all of these meanings? Therefore, bread could make for a wonderful holiday gift for giving!
Make a loaf of your favorite, or a recipe that is family tradition, or consider supporting a local bakery, and picking up a beautiful loaf for gift giving and sharing.
Jen’s Artisan Bread, located in North Winton Village of Rochester, NY, creates beautiful bread and baked goods that look and are packaged like a piece of art! She views food as nutrition, and supports local farmers by using flour that is only grown in New York State. While you are in her shop, check out some of her other products she carries, from local businesses around town and New York State!
4) I Love New York Food and Agriculture Gift Basket:
Share a little bit about where you come from with those you love.
Milk is New York’s leading agricultural product, and we rank second in the production of apples and maple syrup, across the nation, so it only seems fitting to create a gift basket featuring the products that New York is known for.
Fill a basket, lined with a tea towel, a variety of NYS apples, cheese and maple syrup, and you are good to go!
With apples, cheese and maple syrup, what is there not to love?
5) Homemade Seasoned/Spiced Nuts Mix:
Whether you are team savory or are feeling a little spicy and sweet, seasoned mixed nuts are not only a delicious gift to give, they are also super easy to make!
Fill a mason jar with your homemade seasoned/spiced nuts, add a pretty gift tag, and you have a beautiful and tasty homemade gift to give to someone else!
Fair warning: you may want to make an extra batch to keep on hand for yourself!
I hope you found this food gift list to be useful!
Please feel free to leave a comment below and let me know if you did!
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