Christmas Gift Guide 2016 – The Ultimate Gift Guide for Food Lovers
Looking for the best Christmas gift ideas for the foodie in your life? Look no further, TheTaste team has shared their Christmas lists with you: a handpicked selection of the best gadgets, homeware, artisan hampers, cookbooks and more culinary goodies that we have been lusting over all year. Whether its for someone who loves to cook, or for someone who just loves to eat, there’s something for everybody in this foodie gift guide.
With every budget in mind, we have everything from bargain Secret Santa picks, to budget blowing Luxurious Foodie Gifts. Of course, the drink lovers haven’t been forgotten; we have gift guides for coffee addicts, craft beer geeks, the wannabe mixologist, and the wine guru too.
To avoid that last-minute dash for a net of chocolate coins, our selection of foodie gifts are all available to buy direct online, even those from Irish independent shops and artisan producers, so get ready, steady, shop!
Coravin
This brilliant system allows you to enjoy wine by the glass without removing the cork. This means that you can have a taste of a great wine without having to finish the bottle right after.
Price €299
Le Nez du Vin
Those passionate about wine tasting will love this set of 54 concentrated aromas that will help them tune their sense of smell. The set includes guide cards and a manual to help you get the most of it.
Price €288
Candella Scented Candle
These award-winning handcrafted candles come in many exquisite aromas and are made with up-cycled wine bottles and high quality soy wax.
Price €24.99
Tipperary Crystal Connoisseur Set of 2 Wine Glasses
An exquisite set of 2 x 650 ml red wine glasses from Tipperary Crystal and now at a stunning price. Presented in a signature Tipperary Crystal box.
Price €20.00
Personalised Wine Bottle
Choose between award-winning red Sainte Croix (red) or La Merechale (white) from Domaine Bonfils. Personalise the label with the name and/or message you’d like for a unique bottle to mark a special occasion.
Price €27
Maryborough Hotel and Spa Luxury Escape
Luxury Escape 1 or 2 Night Stay for 2 people with Breakfast, Bottle of Prosecco on arrival, €20 Spa Credit each, €20 Dining Credit and use of Leisure Facilities from only €179
Price €179
The Ice House Hotel Luxury Escape
1 Night for €199 or 2 Nights for €299 for 2 people in a Deluxe Room with Full Irish Breakfast, 3 Course Dinner, €40 Spa Credit & Late Checkout
Price €199
Root 7 Chillsner Beer Cooler Steel
Two stainless steel chillsners filled with a non-toxic thermal gel that once frozen will keep a beer cold for up to 45 minutes.
Price €33.95
Coopers DIY Beer Craft Brew Kit
This kit has everything you need to make 8.5 litres of craft beer, including the fermentation vessel, bottles and caps and an instructional DVD, among other tools and supplies.
Price €69.99
Slainte: The Complete Guide to Irish Craft Beer and Cider
Award-winning blogger Caroline Hennessy and Kristen Jensen offer an insightful, entertaining and very well informed book on Irish craft beer and cider, ideal for those who want to learn more about their favourite styles and discover new and exciting flavours.
Price €19.99
Irish American Craft Beer Gift Pack
Sample a wide range of different craft beers from Ireland and the United States! This gift pack includes 8 bottles (4x50cl and 4x35cl) and it’s ideal for comparing and savouring top examples from both countries.
Price €32
James Fox Beer Stein
Drinking your favourite beer from this beautiful handmade beer stein will surely take the experience to the next level. It’s made exclusively for James Fox, and it has a solid pewter lid.
Price €69.95
Simple by Diana Henry
No-one is better than Diana Henry at turning the everyday into something special. This superb collection of recipes will help you create effortless food, with big flavours
Price €11
The Cultured Club By Dearbhla Reynolds
Learn the simple art of fermentation, enjoy its delicious, vibrant flavours and watch your health flourish.
Price €27.99
The Ketogenic Kitchen By Domini Kemp and Patricia Daly
The Ketogenic Kitchen offers advice and delicious recipes that will aid weight loss and leave you with higher energy levels and glowing good health
Price €29.99
Sirocco by Sabrina Ghayour
From the golden girl of Middle Eastern cookery, Sirocco will bring tastes of the East to Western-style dishes in a collection of 100 delicious and accessible recipes
Price €8
Rib Ticklers & Choux-Ins by Glynn Purnell
Packed with 110 tempting recipes, from steaks & bakes to cheesecakes, this is a great choice for anyone who wants to get creative in the kitchen.
Price €15
While there are many gifts you can give via Concern’s website, from sweet potatoes to apple trees, why not give the gift of learning a new skill? You can send a member of a vulnerable community in Africa on a cookery course which utilises local available ingredients.
Price €32
Dublin Cookery School offers courses tutored by the very best in the business, making it a stand out choice for a foodie Christmas gift voucher. From evening courses on topics like Cafe Cooking to week long intensive classes like Perfect Patisserie, expect to be taught by experts like Darren Hogarty from Chapter One and Luna’s Aoife Noonan, amongst many other big names.
Prices from €70 for an evening course
Dunbrody Cookery School in Wexford? Here you can both take a one or two day course and check into the luxurious Dunbrody House Hotel, a Blue Book property. Classes are designed by owner and TV favourite Kevin Dundon, so you know you’re in good hands.
Prices from €175pp for Cooking Course and €95pps for accomodation
Firehouse Bakery Bread-Making Course
For the bread enthusiast, there is no course quite as comprehensive as Firehouse Bread School, conducted on the wilds of Heir Island by Patrick Ryan.
Price €125 per person
Kilkenny’s perfect venue for kids or teens looking to hone their kitchen skills, Anne Neary’s country farmhouse school offers one and two day cooking camps to get your young ones passionate about cooking. A gift voucher for Ryeland House Cookery School could see them discover hidden talent and find their calling!
Price €65 per person for 2 day Cooking Camp
Aniar Boutique Cookery School Course
If you really want to spoil your gift recipient, a trip to Aniar Boutique Cookery School, Michelin Starred J.P McMahon’s hands on facility, will win you major brownie points. Day long workshops focus on themes like Nose to Tail Dining at Home and Introduction to Tapas.
Price €195 per person for 1 day workshop
Kimchi Making Kit
Make kimchi, the sweet spicy Korean pickle, at home in just a week with this completely foolproof, mess free kit, using authentic ingredients imported from South Korea.
Price €17.12
My Kitchen Food Dehydrator
Give the gift of healthy, dried fruit and veg snacks with this easy-to-use Food Dehydrator.
Price €56
Kenwood Electric Spiralizer
Add a healthy twist to your meals with the Kenwood electric spiralizer.
Price €49
LifeBox Food Co. Subscription
Sign up to a LifeBox Food Co. monthly subscriptions to get an ever evolving selection of health and superfood goodies delivered to your door each month.
Price From €16
WelleCo The Super Elixir Alkalising Greens & Caddy
Look as good as Elle Macpherson with her highly specialised supplement created to assist wellness and vitality, encased in a refillable, luxury, bespoke ceramic black Caddy.
Price €108
Champagne Gun
Who of us has not dreamt of having Dom Perignon sprayed all over our face, well the wait is over. For all you bubbles lovers out there who want to party like a VIP you can now splash out on and comes in an array of colours—from platinum to gold. This is the ideal centrepiece for the ultimate home bar.
Price From €459
Linley Cocktail Box
For the ultimate mixologist, The LINLEY Cocktail Box is a handcrafted treasure trove of cocktail essentials. It features a glass mirror etched with classic cocktail recipes for inspiration.
Contains a Trafalgar cocktail shaker, four Trafalgar martini glasses, four Trafalgar shot glasses, four Trafalgar olive sticks, four magnetic coasters, silver ice tongs, silver cocktail swizzle stick and silver spirit measure. A chopping board and knife are housed in a secret drawer at the base of the box.
Price From €16,000
Leica M-A
For the insta loving foodie in your life, this Leica M-A is the holy grail of food photography. Beautiful images brought to life with this precision instrument. Your feed will never look the same again.
Price From €4,050
Teeling Whiskey Fixie Bike
What whiskey connoisseur would not be impressed if they found this under the tree on Christmas morning. Probably one of the slickest Irish whiskey brands on the market and quite tasty too. Spread the “Spirit of Dublin” with this funked Up Fixie.
Price From €500
De Viehl Espresso Coffee Cup
This lacquered zebrano wood coffee cup with fine porcelain coating incorporates advanced insulation technology to keep coffee at its optimal temperature for longer. An espresso cup like no other, Deviehl’s unique creation is the stuff of coffee lovers’ dreams.
Price From €490
Handmade Rough Edged Chopping Board from Created + Found by Jette Virdi
One of only 50 pieces lovingly handmade from oak using traditional methods. With unique markings, each board is entirely unique.
Price €28
Fab Food Trails Gift Voucher
Become a food tourist in Dublin, Cork or Kilkenny visiting a range of bakeries, food halls, street markets, cheesemongers, delicatessens and other speciality shops.
Price €55
Drop Scale
Drop’s connected kitchen scale works seamlessly with the Drop Recipes app to ensure great results every time you step in the kitchen.
Price €73
Boska Home Fresh Cheese Maker
Master the craft of making your own fresh soft cheese or fresh sliceable cheese from cow’s, sheep’s or goat’s milk.
Price €22
Six Month World Kitchen Spice Subscription
Each month you’ll receive a box full of spices and recipes to explore different world food.
Price €47.98
Give the Gift of a Dylan McGrath Dining Experience
Enjoy dinner in Rustic Stone, Fade Street Restaurant or Gastrobar with 3 Courses for 2 people with Bottle of Wine and 2 Cocktails
Price €60
Five Star Conrad Hotel
Lemuel’s Story Teller Cocktail Afternoon Tea for Two at the Five Star Conrad Hotel
Price €60
The Irish Cheese & Wine Hamper
The very best of Irish Cheeses to round off any meal. Send this hamper of Irish Cheese & Wine & you send more than a gift, you deliver an experience. Presented in a Classic Wicker Gift Basket with Leather Straps & Tartan Cotton Lining.
Price €52
The Irish Craft Beer Gift Crate
The Irish Craft Beer scene is blossoming and is well represented with these Irish classic Ales.This fabulous Craft Beer Crate can indeed be shared and enjoyed by all.The Keoghs crisps make a nice addition & are Irelands most popular gourmet crisps. This makes a great gift for Dad & he is sure to find plenty of uses for the hand painted crate.
Price €59
The Deluxe Prosecco Gift Box
If its luxury you are looking for this Deluxe Prosecco Gift Box has it in abundance. Everyone appreciates a little luxury at any time of the year and who doesn’t love bubbles !
Price €55
Super Retro Sweet Hamper
Relive your childhood with this sugar rush hamper of retro classics which will fit even the sweetest of teeth.
Price €29.99
Large Gin Themed Foodie Hamper
“It’s never to early for gin o’clock” . A beautifully presented Pamper Hamper for that gin loving friend, with gourmet Gin & Tonic flavoured caramel popcorn, lip balm and themed mug.
Price €49
“Brew: Better Coffee at Home” by Brian W. Jones
Brew isn’t a book for coffee professionals, but rather an indispensable and accessible guide for any specialty-coffee lover who wants to make better coffee at home.
Price €35
Chemex Brewer
The Chemex Coffeemaker is a manual, pour-over style glass-container coffee maker, one of our all-time favourites.
Price €61.50
Aeropress
This device is most popular among home speciality coffee enthusiasts as it delivers an exceptionally smooth cup.
Price €32.50
Silverskin Coffe Roasters – The Coffee Club Subscription
Each month you’ll receive fine coffee directly to your home, allowing you to sample and taste coffees from the best growing regions all over the world.
Price €60 (6 months subscription)
The Bean Society by Java Republic – Subscription
Members are invited to exclusive Bean Society events in their Roastery in Dublin and throughout the year they’ll surprise you with little gifts to ensure you’re always experiencing something new.
Price €140 (6 months subscription including starter pack)
The perfect gift for the co-worker who enjoys a wee dram after a hard day’s work, these whiskey rockers will definitely bring a smile to your secret santa recipient’s face.
Price €8
For the super organised co-worker, make their meal prep creations more fun with these cute little lunch and snack boxes.
Price €10
For the co-worker who treats tea breaks as an hourly ritual, this biscuit holder mug will ensure they can stroll around without leaving a trail of crumbs.
Price €8
For the chocolate lover in the office there is no better bar to receive than the delicious hand-crafted Bean and Goose, also available in Butler’s Pantry, Liston’s and Avoca Stores.
Price €5.60 for 80g
For the baker who loves bringing their goodies into the office to share, let them put their stamp on it with a tempting ‘eat me’ demand.
Price €9
The ultimate laissez-faire meal maker, fill it up and switch it on in the morning, come home in the evening to a delicious slow-cooked dinner.
Price €47.00
The newest addition to the iconic range of stand mixers that every baker swoons over, this streamlined model is perfectly sized for city kitchens and is oh so stylish.
Price €549
The Sansaire is a thermal circulator that ensures everything from fish to eggs to meat will be perfect every time, the ultimate kitchen gadget.
Price €181.90
This is the experimental home chef’s dream gift, allowing them to impart subtle and delicious smokey flavour into absolutely any ingredient with ease – the possibilities are endless.
Price €73
The iKettle allows you to program times for boiling such as when you wake up and you can control the kettle via your phone. It even knows the perfect temperature for different types of tea – for example green tea is best with water heated to 80C and black tea 100C.
Price €120.90
Oak Bottle Infuser
This 16 oz. bottle shaped oak infuser will let you experiment with spirits, wine and even craft beer! Get wood aromas and flavours quickly and have fun with this stylish and innovative vessel.
Price €100
Cocktail Making Class
For the person that loves a good cocktail, here’s one of the most exciting, hands-on experiences that Dublin Bar Academy offers. Not only it will be valuable knowledge, it will be great fun.
Price €69
Irish Whiskey Stones
These Connemara Marble rocks are hewn from Joyce’s Marble Quarry and are beautifully crafted by master stone mason Eric Byrne. Ideal for cooling your favourite spirit (if you want to take the present to the next level, why not including a bottle of Irish Whiskey to match?).
Price €29
Barcraft Luxe Lounge 6 piece martini set
This set includes all the basic accessories to make amazing cocktails at home. It includes two Martini glasses and a recipe book so you can start mixing right away!
Price €40.50
Glencairn Whiskey Glass Set
A lovely set of two Glencairn Irish Whiskey snifter glasses that come with a small water jug and a wooden tray. The perfect companion for a premium whiskey!
Price €46.50
Gourmet Gadgetry Retro popcorn maker
The new Retro Diner Popcorn Maker, from Gourmet Gadgetry can create fresh warm popcorn in 3 minutes! Fun and easy to use, this will bring movie nights to the next level.
Price €32.50
Chocolate Coin Maker
Let the kids enjoy hours of chocolatey fun with Golden Coin Maker. Make and personalise chocolate coins and medals with 20 different messages to choose from.
Price €24.99
Chocolate Monopoly
The traditional family board game gets a chocolate makeover on an edition that comes with 32 individually wrapped chocolates, a paper playing board and an arrow spinner.
Price €22.50
Mini Babycakes Cake Pop Maker
With the Mini Babycakes cake pop maker, you’ll enjoy cake pops in the blink of an eye. The non-stick coating and easy-to-fill cooking reservoirs make baking cake pops fun and easy.
Price €13.50
Great Gizmos Kitchen Science Experiment Kit Multicolour
Introduce your child to the world of science conducting experiments using everyday items found in the kitchen; generate electricity with a fork and lemon, propel a rocket, build a volcano, and more!
Price €16.00