It’s that time of year again, time to find holiday gifts for everyone on your gift list. We know shopping for some people is easier than shopping for others….but if you have a “foodie” on your list, well that may be the most difficult task of all. Sure you can give gift cards to their favorite restaurant but if you need something a little more unique, we’ve assembled our Great List of Holiday Gift Ideas for the Foodie on your List to help you out. Hope this helps!
As with all our Great List articles, we will concentrate our efforts on locally-owned, Central Massachusetts establishments. We are lucky to have so many local farms, way too many for us to list but our friends at Central Mass Grown lists them by town so take a look at their site for something close to you. Many of these farms are open right through the winter and they have lots of fresh, specialty items that would make wonderful gifts.
Got a BBQ lover on your list? Shop online at Alicia’s Homemade for interesting and tasty barbecue sauces, rubs, seasonings, hot sauces and more. Trust us, one won’t be enough so we suggest to buy a variety, assemble a gift basket of your own and give it as a gift!
Looking for something very unique? The Grafton Country Store, Bolton Orchard, Ed Hyder’s and the St. Joseph’s Abbey Gift Shop all have loads of specialty items that will certainly fit the bill.
Chef’s Best dinners from Mass Foodies is another great gift for someone who enjoys a unique dining experience. This dinner series gives a chef carte blanche to create his or her best dishes without hesitation and serve to an intimate group of diners. Programming at these dinners also includes a Q&A and an open discussion with the chef about their own personal journey within the food industry.
Here are a few more gift ideas in and around Central Massachusetts that the Foodie on your list will certainly appreciate.
Pecorino
Pecorino is filled with food and food related items, wine, cheese and so much more you will have a hard time deciding exactly what to buy. How about the Italian Dinner tote filled with wine, pasta, sauce and a whole lot more? Or a Do-It-Yourself Cheese Making kit….or an organic box of chocolate or cheese slates, utensils, and more.
Lock 50’s Chef Tasting Menu
OK we said let’s go beyond gift cards but believe us, this is way beyond just a gift card. Give the gift of incredible tastes when you purchase a Tasting Menu dinner at Lock 50 for that special Foodie on your list. Available every night, Chef Tim Russo creates a series of ultra-creative dishes, not on the regular menu. The guest does not know in advance what dishes are coming beyond that the experience will progress from starters through main course dishes to dessert. It requires the guest to be confident in the Chef and show a willingness to go beyond their normal eating comfort zone….and it is perfect for the Foodie on your list.
Worcester’s Best Chef
Worcester’s Best Chef is celebrating its 10th year and is an obvious choice for the Foodie on your gift-giving list. They can enjoy samplings from some of the area’s finest Chefs, vote for their favorites and watch an Iron Chef-type cook off at the end of the evening! And this being the 10th anniversary, WBC is bringing back many of the winners of past years for a very special event your Foodie will love!
111 Chop House Wine Dinners
Today wine dinners have become more common and are a nice way for both wine experts and novices to enjoy food, wine and the company of others. 111 Chop House has a series of seasonal wine dinners each featuring the wine of a different vineyard, country or region paired perfectly with a menu developed by their Executive Chef. Awarded Wine Spectator’s prestigious “Award of Excellence” every year since 2001, expect a wine dinner at The Chop to be special. These ticketed events can be purchased in advance and given as a gift to a food loving person on your list.