The 2015 Epicurious Gift Guide
Photo by Danny Kim1/23Based out of a tiny sugar shack in Londonderry, Vermont, Robert Hausslein (AKA Sugar Bob) is churning out one of the most unique maple syrups around. Infused with hardwood smoke, this heady stuff is not exactly for your pancakes. Instead think marinades, sauces, and cocktails. $12.95, sugarbobsfinestkind.com.
Photo by Danny Kim2/23This unique subscription starts with a tasting kit, which includes four varieties of single origin beans, all with different profiles like classic, fruity, or bold. Sip through the samples, hone in on the profile you prefer, and all future deliveries will come tailored to your preference. $36-$372, driftaway.coffee.
Photo by Danny Kim3/23An addictively crunchy and spicy mix of chiles, garlic, and onions, made in Park City, Utah by Mexico City native Susie Hojel. This stuff is incredible on pretty much everything—yogurt, soup, pizza, fried eggs, grilled meats, and even hummus. $9.95, chilecrunch.com.
Photo by Danny Kim4/23A pizza stone’s great, but this 18 x 14 sheet of low carbon steel is better. Why? Because it also works as a griddle, a cold plate, and an induction plate. $199, bakingsteel.com.
Photo by Danny Kim5/23Harvested from a single olive orchard in Northern California, this raw honey is thick and almost chewy, with hints of dried apricots and marzipan. $58 for a (massive) 40-ounce jar, quitokeeto.com.
Photo by Danny Kim6/23This curated selection of heirloom beans features California-grown chickpeas along with cranberry beans, fat Royal Corona beans, and extra creamy and unique Marcella beans—all perfect for those winter pots of minestrone and pasta e fagioli. $23.80, ranchogordo.com.
Photo by Danny Kim7/23True balsamic vinegar is made from wine, but this rebellious bottle? It's made with rich, malty, dark beer. Use it in a marinade for steak, drizzle it over Parmesan cheese, or whisk it into a vinaigrette $13-$28, podoroils.com.
Photo by Danny Kim8/23A single paring knife can sometimes cost more than $20; this colorful set of four from Flotsam + Fork gets all of your little kitchen jobs done for less than $10. $9.99 for a set of four, flotsamandfork.com.
Photo by Danny Kim9/23Fact: all treats deserve to be displayed on a pedestal. This bright and cheery stand is just the thing to display everything from that birthday cake to those Monday night brownies. $31.99, roveandswig.com.
Photo by Danny Kim10/23Based in Orem, Utah, this bean-to-bar, single-origin chocolate is the ultimate stocking stuffer. Choose from individual bars like Dos Rios (hints of bergamot and spice), or go for the 10 bar variety collection. $7.95-$74.99, amanochocolate.com.
Photo by Danny Kim11/23An urban barbecue fiend's dream come true. From the makers of industry-grade sous vide circulators comes this battery-powered smoking “gun,” which allows you to add real smoke flavor to everything you can point it at—salmon, chocolate, even spirits. $99.95, polyscienceculinary.com.
Photo by Danny Kim12/23These bourbon-soaked beauties are named for larger-than-life adventurer Jack Rudy. One (or several) makes your bourbon Manhattan makes you an adventurer, too. $16, jackrudycocktailco.com.
Photo by Danny Kim13/23While traditional Worcestershire sauce contains anchovies, this version from Louisville, Kentucky gets its umami punch from soy sauce instead, and is sweetened with sorghum. But what makes it really special is that it’s mellowed out in bourbon barrels, making it the perfect addition to Bloody Marys. $6, bourbonbarrelfoods.com.
Photo by Danny Kim14/23Made by Audra Lawlor on Washington State's tiny Orcas Island, these jams are just as incredible slathered on bread as they are alongside cheese. Try the Orcas Pear with Fresh Bay, made with the island’s own unique fruit, or go for the Quince Cutting Preserves, a take on Spanish membrillo. $12, girlmeetsdirt.com.
Photo by Danny Kim15/23Umber Ahmad’s cookies—particularly her cardamom snickerdoodles and salty chocolate chip—are magical little things. And her NYC-based bakery will deliver a half of dozen cookies every month to your favorite person. (Better hope they share.) $50 for 3 months, $100 for 6 months, mahzedahrbakery.com.
Photo by Danny Kim16/23This achaar (a traditional Indian relish) packs more tamarind-sweetness and chili-heat than should be legal for a six-ounce jar. Use it in curries, in dips, on eggs, or even achaar-topped nachos. $8.75 brooklyndelhi.com.
Photo by Danny Kim17/23Nudo’s olive tree adoption program is perhaps the only way to get truly one-of-a-kind olive oil. The adoption consists of a certificate of the real estate you own in an Italian olive grove (um, cool?), plus the olive oil that tree produces. Adoptions start at $79, nudoadopt.com.
Photo by Danny Kim18/23Espresso Barbecue Sauce
Let the hype of Austin's nationally acclaimed Franklin Barbecue come to you with founder Aaron Franklin’s best-selling brisket sauce. There are a few flavors available, but the espresso version is what made the place famous. $7.58, heb.com.
Photo by Danny Kim19/23Our favorite non-stick pan. The curved sides make it easy to sauté; the fact that it's oven-proof and dishwasher-safe makes it hard to put down. $150, scanpan.eu.
Photo by Danny Kim20/23Sorry, Chemex—we've found something even more beautiful. The grinder gets a fine grind, the copper pot keeps things warm, and the mug—well, the mug just looks good. $65 for the grinder; $65 for serving pot and two mugs, turkishcoffeeworld.com.
Photo by Danny Kim21/23This Charleston-sourced sauce is a lot less ketchup-y than most mass market cocktail sauces. So don’t stop at shrimp and oyster shooters—this also works as a finishing sauce and a punchy addition to cocktails. $16, valinesfamous.com.
Photo by Danny Kim22/23Never regretted but rarely bought, this is perhaps the cheapest and most thoughtful gift you can give an avid home cook. They'll use it to lift doughnuts from oil, dumplings from steaming water, and for amping up their stir fry game. You can find these for less than $10 at Asian markets, but if you’re going for a holiday splurge, this nice piece from Cuisinart won’t set you back much more. $13, bedbathandbeyond.com.
Photo by Danny Kim23/23Indie-gredients Subscription
Available in both a three- and six-month option, Mouth’s indie-gredients subscription injects a regular dose of energy into tired, same-old pantries. The shipments often include products you can’t find anywhere else. $65-$70/month, mouth.com.
