Unique gift basket recommendations for a father who can't taste
December 5, 2024 7:36 AM Subscribe
We'd like to get my dad a really nice gift basket. The complication is that he lost his senses of smell and taste. He can just barely make out spicier food. Please help us find him something he will enjoy!
He still enjoys snack foods like chips and nuts, probably because he can still somewhat taste the salt and spices (especially 'flaming hot' types). He also enjoys trinkets (like fidget toys). The problem with a lot of gift baskets we've found is that they don't have a lot of variety (sausage and cheese, crackers, nuts, same ole, same ole). In the past, we've put together packages for him ourselves, but even ours are getting boring. We'd like to wow him!
Hopefully, someone here can recommend a specific basket or a website that has some great choices.
Thanks and Happy Holidays!
He still enjoys snack foods like chips and nuts, probably because he can still somewhat taste the salt and spices (especially 'flaming hot' types). He also enjoys trinkets (like fidget toys). The problem with a lot of gift baskets we've found is that they don't have a lot of variety (sausage and cheese, crackers, nuts, same ole, same ole). In the past, we've put together packages for him ourselves, but even ours are getting boring. We'd like to wow him!
Hopefully, someone here can recommend a specific basket or a website that has some great choices.
Thanks and Happy Holidays!
Does it have to be food?
Also, note that there are flavours that are processed along a different nerve that people who have lost their sense of taste and smell can still process. Mints and eucalyptus. There may be others that go along that nerve. If your father likes those flavours and can still smell/taste them you might look for foods that are based more along those things.
Barbecue chips and Ketchup chips are good choices are nice choices for this and there are so many different kinds of barbecue chips that you can really make a nice taster pack. There are also "Sweet and Spicy" Ketchup chips that would seem like a mix of the two, but I found the spicy to overwhelm all the other flavour, but since you say your dad likes "flaming hot" maybe he would enjoy that.
Maybe focus more on variety of textures, which can vary for chips and for sausage, instead of on variety of spices.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:16 AM on December 5, 2024
Also, note that there are flavours that are processed along a different nerve that people who have lost their sense of taste and smell can still process. Mints and eucalyptus. There may be others that go along that nerve. If your father likes those flavours and can still smell/taste them you might look for foods that are based more along those things.
Barbecue chips and Ketchup chips are good choices are nice choices for this and there are so many different kinds of barbecue chips that you can really make a nice taster pack. There are also "Sweet and Spicy" Ketchup chips that would seem like a mix of the two, but I found the spicy to overwhelm all the other flavour, but since you say your dad likes "flaming hot" maybe he would enjoy that.
Maybe focus more on variety of textures, which can vary for chips and for sausage, instead of on variety of spices.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:16 AM on December 5, 2024
Response by poster: No, it doesn't need to be food. I would actually prefer that it be both food and trinkets. Whatever, it is, it should be interesting! (well, not "freeze-dried squid" interesting. He's not that adventurous)
posted by Don_K at 8:29 AM on December 5, 2024
posted by Don_K at 8:29 AM on December 5, 2024
How about a bit of luxury/Cozy? When a friend visited my mom she brought a gift basket and it had a lux blanket, lotion, puzzle, cozy socks. You could get some flavored tea and pretty mug? Even if the taste isn't strong, warm tea might be pleasant.
My favorite fidget type toy are the mini-magnet balls from Spek.
posted by beccaj at 8:43 AM on December 5, 2024 [2 favorites]
My favorite fidget type toy are the mini-magnet balls from Spek.
posted by beccaj at 8:43 AM on December 5, 2024 [2 favorites]
Not sure about trinkets but a search on spicy pickles basket got some results and might be a neat one time theme. (I linked to one random result.)
posted by warriorqueen at 9:10 AM on December 5, 2024
posted by warriorqueen at 9:10 AM on December 5, 2024
Boston General has gift boxes, but they also will make one for you. They have a huge range of unique items, and I bet the could make something good.
posted by momochan at 9:25 AM on December 5, 2024
posted by momochan at 9:25 AM on December 5, 2024
A luxury trinket: a 40-piece puzzle from Wentworth. It takes just enough time to put together to be a light diversion (like an easy crossword puzzle) and the wooden pieces make it a pleasantly tactile experience.
posted by demi-octopus at 10:20 AM on December 5, 2024 [2 favorites]
posted by demi-octopus at 10:20 AM on December 5, 2024 [2 favorites]
Ginger stuff could be good, it can be really strong sometimes. Ginger chews, ginger snaps, ginger tea…
posted by A Blue Moon at 2:21 PM on December 5, 2024
posted by A Blue Moon at 2:21 PM on December 5, 2024
I was thinking Japanese snacks like Japan Crate or Bokksu, but those are subscription boxes and tend to be on the sweet side, rather than savory. :-/
Maybe pick something from Weee? https://www.sayweee.com/en Spicy bean curd, spicy crackers, and that sort of things are plenty on there.
posted by kschang at 7:00 PM on December 5, 2024
Maybe pick something from Weee? https://www.sayweee.com/en Spicy bean curd, spicy crackers, and that sort of things are plenty on there.
posted by kschang at 7:00 PM on December 5, 2024
If you end up putting together your own gift basket, maybe he'd find popping candy entertaining? After all, that one's not really about the taste.
On the fidgety side, perhaps he would like one of the Zen garden carved spheres (and a tray of sand to use it in!) from Olander Earthworks.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 5:58 AM on December 6, 2024 [1 favorite]
On the fidgety side, perhaps he would like one of the Zen garden carved spheres (and a tray of sand to use it in!) from Olander Earthworks.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 5:58 AM on December 6, 2024 [1 favorite]
I just ordered my dad, who loves spicy stuff, a gift box of hot sauces from Rancho Gordo for Christmas. So I haven't tried it yet, but they have a lot of fun gift boxes there.
posted by pangolin party at 5:59 AM on December 6, 2024
posted by pangolin party at 5:59 AM on December 6, 2024
I suggest small lego kits and spicy condiments or associated snacks, such as Korean fire noodles. There is a world of spicy foods, snacks and condiments.
posted by jadepearl at 10:10 AM on December 6, 2024
posted by jadepearl at 10:10 AM on December 6, 2024
The Universal Yums website will let you buy individual items and generally has lots of different unusual types of chips.
posted by yarntheory at 5:39 AM on December 7, 2024
posted by yarntheory at 5:39 AM on December 7, 2024
Response by poster: Thanks, everyone! I will now take some time to sift through these suggestions and put together something great for him.
posted by Don_K at 6:14 AM on December 9, 2024
posted by Don_K at 6:14 AM on December 9, 2024
« Older How to Build a Teaching Assistant / Tutor Hiring... | Where is my fountain pen of yesteryear? Newer »
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by soelo at 7:58 AM on December 5, 2024 [2 favorites]