A fun food themed gift for a family winter gift exchange?

November 29, 2021 6:49 PM

I know, I know! Usually I love this in-law event, and, what with its absence for 2 years I should be more excited, but I'm already exhausted and out of ideas and you all are so so creative! HELP

We do a multi-religion-al Winter gathering with the in-laws. The kids get gifts, we do a potluck, all are loved. The adults do a "white elephant" in name, but in fact, each adult buys and brings a wrapped gift, valued up to $50 (aka valued at about $50) and then we play white elephant rules. Frequently, and this year, it is food/beverage themed gift (doesn't have to be edible ... can be tools, books, socks, etc as long as it is related to food/ beverage). Some examples of gifts past: a "spices" cookbook and several spices, bottles of liquor, that fancy mixing bowl from GBBO and flour, sugar, etc; wine mulling spice kit and bottles of wine.
So, friends, I need ideas for 2 separate $50 entries, PLEASE! Preferably vegetarian, if actual food. (but if a cookbook, for example, can have recipes for meat).

posted by atomicstone to Food & Drink (21 answers total)

Gourmet popcorn? Gourmet nuts? In nice serving bowls? Exotic candies/cookies/soda/boxed teas from an ethnic grocery store?
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 7:05 PM on November 29, 2021 [1 favorite]

How "value" interacts with discount purchase prices is up to your family's culture, but The Very Best Tool Set, pretty much literally ever, is currently (today!) $66 for the 10-piece set or normally around $50 for the little one (also great). Then over at AeroGarden you can have a miniature indoor garden system for $50. (But shush please because those are what I'm getting my parent-type-people.)
posted by teremala at 7:08 PM on November 29, 2021 [1 favorite]

This make your own hot sauce kit looks pretty fun! I stole the idea from Helen Rosner's food-themed holiday gift guide which may have some other ideas for you.
posted by Mender at 7:09 PM on November 29, 2021

Burrito blanket!
posted by farkleberry at 7:11 PM on November 29, 2021 [3 favorites]

A few pounds of Rancho Gordo beans/grains/condiments and the Cool Beans cookbook. I especially recommend the Royal Coronas, Ayocote Negros, and Scarlet Runners, although the Super Lucky 2022 Black Eyed Peas would be timely for the holidays. This would be fought over at my vegetarian-friendly white elephant gathering.

Miracle berry tablets and a bunch of tart things to try with them. This would probably fall below budget, so maybe you could add something else along a molecular gastronomy theme?
posted by Otis the Lion at 7:12 PM on November 29, 2021 [2 favorites]

Go to a big Asian grocery and get a bunch of assorted frozen dim sum. Stick it in a square styrofoam cooler and gift wrap the cooler.
posted by shadygrove at 7:16 PM on November 29, 2021 [1 favorite]

Oh, and Target has pizza wrapping paper that seems really relevant here regardless of what you put in it.
posted by teremala at 7:17 PM on November 29, 2021 [4 favorites]

Chef's press and a cast iron skillet.
A thermapen thermometer.
A copy of Salt Fat Acid Heat and a good bottle of olive oil
A preseasoned carbon steel pan
An infused salt set
A delicious coffee gift set like this or this
posted by Pretty Good Talker at 7:18 PM on November 29, 2021 [3 favorites]

Food-related board games like New York Slice or Point Salad, etc.
posted by jozxyqk at 7:21 PM on November 29, 2021

Ceramic or stoneware taco holders -- mine are from Pier 51 and no longer sold there, but you can find them on Etsy and other places as well.
posted by sm1tten at 8:02 PM on November 29, 2021 [1 favorite]

Rancho Gordo has a bean sampler.
posted by jamjam at 8:20 PM on November 29, 2021

Do any of your scratch-off lottery tickets feature foods?
posted by CathyG at 9:05 PM on November 29, 2021

Maybe a Penzey's spice gift box?
posted by metahawk at 9:38 PM on November 29, 2021 [7 favorites]

One year as a white elephant gift I gave random foods/drinks beginning with the letter J: Jam, Jerky, Jägermeister. It was a hit. I had a piece of paper on the top explaining that the gift was brought to you by the letter J.

I also just got this crepe pan, which you could pair with a crepe cookbook or ingredients, which is easy to make vegetarian friendly.
posted by skunk pig at 9:45 PM on November 29, 2021

Cascatelli gift box

Pizza Party spice set from Burlap and Barrel plus either a pizza cookbook or pizza stone

Aeropress and a nice bag of coffee beans

Omsom sauces and some nice Asian rice and noodles
posted by leastlikelycowgirl at 9:52 PM on November 29, 2021 [2 favorites]

This cheeseboard and knife + a nice cheese
posted by leastlikelycowgirl at 10:04 PM on November 29, 2021 [1 favorite]

Seconding Rancho Gordo! They also have pre-selected gift boxes which are within your budget and would also allow you to get a couple extra somethings to throw in.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:31 AM on November 30, 2021

I'm giving a smores kit with graham crackers, chocolate, marshmallows and telescoping skewers for marshmallow roasting.
posted by ruddlehead at 4:59 AM on November 30, 2021

I have someone I want to get chopsticks, a sushi-making kit, and an alternative-sushi-like foods cookbook for, but I haven't found the right cookbook. Like a sushi version of Will It Waffle? There's also a Will It Skillet? title.

So if anyone has cookbook suggestions, message me... I've been trying to figure out the book for a couple years.
posted by stormyteal at 6:30 AM on November 30, 2021

I love the baking options on the King Arthur Flour website - they even have mixes that go with the specialty pans, for people who can't be bothered to follow recipes.
posted by Mchelly at 8:02 AM on November 30, 2021 [2 favorites]

If you have enough bakers to make this desirable in the exchange, you could choose a set of uncommon flavoring extracts from Apex Flavors.
posted by jocelmeow at 5:53 PM on November 30, 2021