Gift advice, please!
December 10, 2009 5:17 PM Subscribe
What can I give my brother-in-law and his wife for Christmas? They really like ice cream but have a tiny kitchen so an ice cream maker is out. The limit is $100.
My husband and I are doing a gift exchange with his siblings, and of course we got his brother and wife who are difficult to buy for. They both love ice cream but have limited space in their kitchen and wouldn't appreciate an ice cream maker. I thought about an ice cream of the month club but it's too expensive, we are only allowed to spend $100. Any ideas?
My husband and I are doing a gift exchange with his siblings, and of course we got his brother and wife who are difficult to buy for. They both love ice cream but have limited space in their kitchen and wouldn't appreciate an ice cream maker. I thought about an ice cream of the month club but it's too expensive, we are only allowed to spend $100. Any ideas?
What about some nice ice cream bowls or sundae dishes? A study ice cream scoop? Tasty hot fudge or caramel sauce?
posted by shesbookish at 5:36 PM on December 10, 2009
posted by shesbookish at 5:36 PM on December 10, 2009
You could DIY an "ice cream of the month" club for them and send them a couple of mints a month for the year. Even buying super premium ice cream, that ought to be close to your budget.
How about a tour of an ice cream factory?
posted by hishtafel at 5:37 PM on December 10, 2009
How about a tour of an ice cream factory?
posted by hishtafel at 5:37 PM on December 10, 2009
Is there a Coldstone Creamery near them?? They have gift cards!
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 5:38 PM on December 10, 2009
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 5:38 PM on December 10, 2009
If they don't have room for a conventional ice cream maker, would they still have room for a Donvier? The aluminum interior bowl is stored in the freezer, and the lid/paddle/exterior can be stored in a cupboard.
posted by scody at 5:48 PM on December 10, 2009
posted by scody at 5:48 PM on December 10, 2009
I second the Ice Cream ball recommendation. They take up little room and are a lot of fun :)
Since they are substantially less than your target gift price add in some ingredients in a gift basket (rock salt, milk, flavorings, etc.) so they can enjoy the gift right away!
posted by labwench at 5:52 PM on December 10, 2009
Since they are substantially less than your target gift price add in some ingredients in a gift basket (rock salt, milk, flavorings, etc.) so they can enjoy the gift right away!
posted by labwench at 5:52 PM on December 10, 2009
Best answer: I vote for a gift certificate to Jeni's Ice Creams. Gourmet flavors that are amazing. I hear the Salty Caramel is especially good. :)
posted by KoPi_42 at 5:53 PM on December 10, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by KoPi_42 at 5:53 PM on December 10, 2009 [2 favorites]
A crazy-wide assortment of sundae accessories? You could make a basket with the scoop and dishes mentioned above, but also include small jars of toppings, syrups, nuts, chocolates (maybe I suggest a bacon chocolate bar?), chili powder, some kind of sea salt, shredded coconut, cookies, candy, etc.
posted by runningwithscissors at 5:55 PM on December 10, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by runningwithscissors at 5:55 PM on December 10, 2009 [2 favorites]
scody beat me to it; I was going to suggest the Donvier, too. The pint-size is very compact and lightweight -- last time I made ice cream, I carried it into another room to crank, which is really easily done.
posted by Zed at 5:55 PM on December 10, 2009
posted by Zed at 5:55 PM on December 10, 2009
Do they have a KitchenAid mixer, by any chance? KitchenAid has an ice cream maker attachment. You'd have enough money left over to buy them The Perfect Scoop!
posted by amarynth at 6:04 PM on December 10, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by amarynth at 6:04 PM on December 10, 2009 [1 favorite]
Seconding Jeni's...and the Salty Caramel. Bourbon Pecan is great too. They also ship.
posted by bwilms at 6:28 PM on December 10, 2009
posted by bwilms at 6:28 PM on December 10, 2009
I'm going to third Jeni's with the statement that the ability to ship just four pints instead of six is relatively new (this holiday season I believe). The bigger problem would be to only pick four (or six) pints - I've never had anything less than delicious there.
posted by librarianamy at 6:45 PM on December 10, 2009
posted by librarianamy at 6:45 PM on December 10, 2009
Coldstone Creamery is a hellish place, please don't buy them gift cards there.
posted by sully75 at 7:19 PM on December 10, 2009
posted by sully75 at 7:19 PM on December 10, 2009
Coldstone Creamery is a hellish place, please don't buy them gift cards there.
Elaborate please?
posted by kylej at 8:07 PM on December 10, 2009
Elaborate please?
posted by kylej at 8:07 PM on December 10, 2009
hahah! I was just coming in to suggest Jeni's Ice Cream! We just got two pints over thanksgiving (Gravel Road and Honey Vanilla Bean), though really, you can't go wrong. We love the following flavors: Bourbon Butter Pecan, Honey Vanilla Bean, Pistachio, Gravel Road, Salty Caramel, Thai Chili and Wildberry Lavender. And if they have it, Strawberry Buttermilk and Backyard Mint.
SO GOOD!
posted by ThaBombShelterSmith at 8:31 PM on December 10, 2009
SO GOOD!
posted by ThaBombShelterSmith at 8:31 PM on December 10, 2009
Coldstone Creamery is a hellish place, please don't buy them gift cards there.
Um, yeah. That's weird. It's not the fanciest ice cream store around, but lots of people (myself included) love it.
posted by ORthey at 8:32 PM on December 10, 2009
Um, yeah. That's weird. It's not the fanciest ice cream store around, but lots of people (myself included) love it.
posted by ORthey at 8:32 PM on December 10, 2009
While we are talking about places in Ohio that ship ice cream, I can't help but mention Graeter's. Their signature flavor is Black Raspberry Chip and it is delicious.
posted by mmascolino at 8:41 PM on December 10, 2009
posted by mmascolino at 8:41 PM on December 10, 2009
I adore my Donvier, as another data point. Actually I've got two, a pint size and a quart size. They work great, and the inserts make good wine bottle coolers too.
posted by padraigin at 9:23 PM on December 10, 2009
posted by padraigin at 9:23 PM on December 10, 2009
Um, yeah. That's weird. It's not the fanciest ice cream store around, but lots of people (myself included) love it.
Well it's just kind of like saying, oh, they love seafood? Red Lobster gift card!
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:54 PM on December 10, 2009 [1 favorite]
Well it's just kind of like saying, oh, they love seafood? Red Lobster gift card!
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:54 PM on December 10, 2009 [1 favorite]
Re: Coldstone Creamery
1) I find their ice cream to be borderline inedible. I'm not sure what it is but it has a bizarre texture. Grainy? gross.
2) I find making your employees sing for tips really objectionable. Not entertaining or fun. Annoying and bizarre. I couldn't get away fast enough.
3) oh god the memories are coming back. If I say I want a small, I want a small. I don't want a "like it". I definitely don't want a "love it" and I specifically don't want a "gotta have it". Also why I try to avoid Starbucks, although their annoying sizes aren't nearly as annoying.
4) I remember hearing (but I'm not sure about this) that Coldstone Creamery is sort of the Walmart of Ice Cream...targeting areas that have local ice cream chains and putting them out of business. Again, total hearsay.
I'm in an area blessed with a lot of (too much) good local ice cream (Boston). So I'm never tempted.
posted by sully75 at 4:08 AM on December 11, 2009
1) I find their ice cream to be borderline inedible. I'm not sure what it is but it has a bizarre texture. Grainy? gross.
2) I find making your employees sing for tips really objectionable. Not entertaining or fun. Annoying and bizarre. I couldn't get away fast enough.
3) oh god the memories are coming back. If I say I want a small, I want a small. I don't want a "like it". I definitely don't want a "love it" and I specifically don't want a "gotta have it". Also why I try to avoid Starbucks, although their annoying sizes aren't nearly as annoying.
4) I remember hearing (but I'm not sure about this) that Coldstone Creamery is sort of the Walmart of Ice Cream...targeting areas that have local ice cream chains and putting them out of business. Again, total hearsay.
I'm in an area blessed with a lot of (too much) good local ice cream (Boston). So I'm never tempted.
posted by sully75 at 4:08 AM on December 11, 2009
Jeni's definitely. Beats Graters any day, and all the flavors are wonderful.
posted by thejanna at 6:29 AM on December 11, 2009
posted by thejanna at 6:29 AM on December 11, 2009
I love the texture of the chocolate chunks in Graeters ice cream, and the quality of discussion suggests that ice cream generates discussion. get them a pint or quart from the 10 best ice cream places, and have a tasting. invite me?
posted by theora55 at 7:45 AM on December 11, 2009
posted by theora55 at 7:45 AM on December 11, 2009
You can order It's-it ice cream sandwiches online too. I sent some to my niece and nephew on the west coast last summer and they were much appreciated.
posted by bendy at 10:44 AM on December 11, 2009
posted by bendy at 10:44 AM on December 11, 2009
if your sending ice cream, i have to suggest bluebell (wikipedia link)
best ice cream in the world.
posted by knockoutking at 2:28 PM on December 27, 2009
best ice cream in the world.
posted by knockoutking at 2:28 PM on December 27, 2009
Response by poster: thanks so much for all of your wonderful suggestions. i ended up getting them the ice cream ball and some good vanilla, along with a good old generic gift card to target. they loved the ice cream ball. i think that my husband and i will have to try jeni's ice cream as the flavors look incredible. i figured that my brother-in-law and his wife might not appreciate the gourmet flavors but we sure will! :)
posted by traceymariel at 12:20 PM on January 10, 2010
posted by traceymariel at 12:20 PM on January 10, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by stefanie at 5:25 PM on December 10, 2009