Gourmet Gift Ideas Everyone Will Love
Giving gourmet gifts is special to giver and recipient alike. Gourmet foods offer a taste of luxury and give the recipient a sense of being pampered. Need some ideas? Here are six gourmet gift ideas for the special person on your gift list.
1. Mushroom Basket
Gather varieties of dried mushrooms (from the grocery store or gourmet food shop, of course!) and arrange them nicely in a classy basket. Dried mushrooms are unique and some varieties, like Morels, are rare and special. Include recipes with your gift if you like.
2. Artisan Chocolate
The artisan food revolution is fully underway. You can find some amazing chocolates from small makers, either locally, through catalogues, or online. Chocolate spiced with red pepper, chilies, lavender, and other exotic flavors are available.
Spun sugar – sugar that’s cooked and then spun into crisp threads – can be coated with chocolate for a crispy, gourmet chocolate treat. You can even find chocolate-covered potato chips! A box of artisan chocolate is a gift that will not soon be forgotten.
3. Artisan Candy
From sea-salt caramels to chili and cinnamon-spiced nuts, artisan candy is definitely part of the artisan food resurgence. Individual candy makers are using time-honored methods to produce candies that are both modern and timeless. Look for locally-made candy, or order from any of a growing number of artisan candy makers.
4. Pickles
It’s not your average dill out there these days! Homemade pickles in gourmet flavors and varieties are all over the internet…and possibly in your community. More than just cucumber pickles are making it into pickle jars these days – from beets to hot peppers to cabbage, an assortment of pickles in various flavors and colors would make a great gourmet gift.
5. Gourmet Sauces
It’s amazing what gourmet sauces are out there. Hot sauces abound, each claiming to be hotter than the last. Relish, salsa, barbecue sauce, and ethnic sauces (such as Asian, Indian, and Italian) are making their way into the edible gourmet gifts realm. Why not put together a sampler of hot sauces, or a “world tour” of ethnic sauces? Include some classy blue corn chips with a jar or two of gourmet salsa.
6. Wine and Cheese
Wine and cheese make a classy gift that are always a hit. Gourmet cheeses are available in many wine shops, and also in some grocery stores. Experts say to match the level of tartness when choosing a wine and cheese combination. A more sour wine goes with a sharp cheese, while sweet wines do better with soft cheeses. If you like, choose a wine and cheese from the same region or area of the world.