Gift Guide | For Kids & Adults
A gift for everyone on your list
I love gift-guide season. I love reading them. And somehow, 10-plus years in food media later, I still love writing them.
I’ve organized this year’s gift guide by interest. From there, I’ve got ideas for kids and adults, across a range of prices. And as you might expect from a food newsletter, there is a definite theme.
No brands have paid to be included in this gift guide — these are my genuine recommendations. I have asked some of the featured brands to share discount codes with readers, however, so keep an eye out and use those codes to save!
This send is a long one. You might want to read on your desktop or head right to the even larger, fully shoppable list (with additional discount codes and over 100 gift ideas) at my storefront.
As a special perk for paid subscribers, I’ll be doing personalized gift recommendations in the chat all holiday season. Feeling stumped about what to buy for the trickiest person on your list? I’d love to help you with that!
You can also check out the past gift guides for more inspiration:
With that, here we go! 🎁
I love to bundle a cookbook with an on-theme present. Here are ideas from some of my favorite 2025 cookbooks:
Third Culture Cooking: Classic Recipes for a New Generation by
+ Rancho Meladuco Signature Hand-Packed Mejdool Dates | They’ll want to make Zaynab’s iconic date shake right away.Linger: Salads, Sweets, and Stories to Savor by
+ Crow Canyon Home Splatter Large Salad Bowl | For the veggie lovers on your list.Steak House: The People, The Places, The Recipes by Eric Wareheim + Zwilling Pro 6’‘ Meat Cleaver | If they always dine at the oldest restaurants in town.
Russ & Daughters: 100 Years of Appetizing by Niki Russ Federman and Joshua Russ Tupper + Russ & Daughters Smoked Salmon Medley | New York does still have the best bagel culture.
Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love by
+ Le Creuset Round Dutch Oven | As wonderful for beginners as for devotees of Samin’s first book and her Netflix show.
And a few more cooking gifts, all under $100:
What Are We Having? Gift Subscription | For anyone on your list who loves food but is too busy to cook as much as they’d like to. You can also print the digital gift certificate shown above to give them something physical, or add the graphic to an email!
Zwilling Twinny Kids Chef’s Knife | For kids who are ready to graduate from plastic or wooden knives.
Villa Manodori Balsamic Vinegar | From star chef Massimo Bottura, a perfect gift for restaurant trophy hunters.
Jamboree Jams Sampler | Mini jars make jam even more charming.
Spicewalla Made With Love in Asheville 10 Pack | Fantastic spices that support Asheville restaurant recovery.
Amanda Paints and Pots Fried Egg Spoon Rest | Dopamine decor that’s also practical.
Heydoh Artisan Soy Sauce Duo | Small-batch soy sauce founded by contributor
. Use code Hillary10 for 10% off through 12/31/2025.Gold Ridge Organic Farms Olive Oil Sampler | The strategy: Gift a luxe version of a kitchen staple.
When it comes to games, toys, and activities, I look for gifts that cultivate quality time.
Sushi Go Party Game | Ideal for family game nights.
Le Puzz ‘Juicy’ 500-Piece Puzzle | Chic and challenging, great for a snow day.
Venba Video Game | A heartwarming narrative game with plenty of South Indian cooking.
Leapfrog Ice Cream Cart | My daughter has played with this she was an 18-month-old and STILL loves it as a kindergartener.
Picklish Pickle Paddle | More pickleball equipment should be pickle themed!!!!
Sparkly gifts are always a great idea! And luckily, food is still very much trending when it comes to jewelry right now.
Super Smalls Make It Fruity Mini Bead Kit | Hands down my favorite kids’ jewelry-kit brand.
Larissa Loden Shrimp Studs | On-trend and under $40.
Snash Jewelry ‘Pizza’ Nameplate Ring | The brass option has old-school aura.
Link Up Chili Pepper Cufflinks | More cufflinks in 2026.
Stone and Strand ‘The Salt to My Pretzel’ Charm | For charm lovers and pretzel lovers (you can add a chain, too).
Anthropologie Beaded Croissant Bag Charm | Super sparkly and under $30.
Clare V. Sardine Chain | Fashiony but extremely wearable.
Gifts for every kind of drinker, including the sober and sober-curious. Plenty of these would also work great as a host gift.
Smart Mouth: Wine Essentials for You, Me, and Everyone We Know by Jordan Salcito + Set of 2 Zalto Universal Wine Glasses | A fantastic book from one of the best sommeliers in the biz, and a pair of whisper-thin wine glasses beloved by pros, perfect for someone who’s getting more serious about wine.
Âme Atendre Carafe and Glass Set | Sipping water can be impossibly chic, too.
Gohar World Swizzle Murano Glass Cocktail Sticks and St. Agrestis Amaro Soaked Cherries | Cocktail drinkers will enjoy these.
Wool + Clay Inner Glaze Copita by Ana Beatriz Martínez | For a generous gift, get two handmade copitas with their favorite (or your favorite!) mezcal.
Yeti Rambler 34 oz Pitcher | Attention tailgaters and campers.
2025 was a big year for hobbies, right? Here are some ideas for beginner and more experienced crafters.
PiperLou Farmers Market Needlepoint Canvas | My cousin-in-law (hi, Christine!) designs these gorgeous canvases for needlepoint.
Klutz Sew Mini Treats | Clear instructions and super-cute fruits for big kids (and adults).
Hot Dang Press Food Embroidery Iron-On Sheet Set | For entry-level crafters (perfect for tweens or teens).
New Heights Studio Pasta Washi Tape | My daughter and I both love washi tapes (this one is more grownup-feeling).
Street Food Coloring Book by Alexander Rosso + Kuretake Zig Brushables 48-Color Marker Set | For meditative coloring.
Thistle and Hope DIY Herringbone Tray Woodworking Kit | A few of the dudes in my life have gotten into wood-working lately. This is a good starting point.
Here I’m highlighting gifts for folks who love dinner parties and entertaining and gifts for people who might be hosting you over the holidays. Houseguests and party attendees, take note!
Quince European Scallop Edge Linen Napkins | Meant to be tablescaped.
Pixie Candle Studio Lemon Candle | Equally at home in a college dorm room or a fully set table.
Superstitchous Cherry Blanket | Bold design but still comfy-cozy.
Potluck Desserts: Joyful Recipes to Share with Pride by
+ Great Jones Little Hottie Baking Dish | Lean into Justin’s nostalgic Americana baking vibes with a cute, retro baking dish.Boarderie Happy Holidays Classic Cheese and Charcuterie Board | Consider self-gifting this one if you’re hosting this year.
Joanna Buchanan Dot Print Tablecloth | If you’re a houseguest traveling with your kids, gift your host a tablecloth to protect their table.
Nights & Weekends: Recipes That Make the Most of Your Time by
+ Talbott & Arding Hudson Valley Wood Serving Boards + Greentree Home Everyday Taper Candles | So they can bring the energy of Alexis’s epic Catskills dinner parties to their own table.
When in doubt, give a book and write a lovely inscription in it. I love gifting classics and new releases. Think of the suggestions below as starting points for the book lover on your list.
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain | A throwback for the high schooler or college student who’s getting really into restaurants.
Soy Sauce! by Laura G. Lee | Excellent for little ones.
Paper Source Reading Journal + Moehren Kunstshop Bookish Stickers | Kickstart their reading-log journey.
Miledi Tablet Pillow Stand | Bed rotters, this one’s for you.
Lash Next Door Berry Sweet Kindle Case | Cute e-reader cases are a perfect under-$50 gift. Use code HILLARY15 for 15% off.
Royce New York Leather Bookmark | Turns out a bookmark can be dapper.
When it comes to gifting clothing, consider giving something with whimsy: The kind of thing that they might not buy for themself, but will be so thrilled to have in their closet.
Bombas Youth Fruits & Veggies Calf Socks | High quality and the right height.
Aw Shucks Cabana Shirt | He’s already dreaming of (size-inclusive) Spring Break.
Lingua Franca ‘Yes Chef’ Sweatshirt | Is there a Carmy fan in your life who would love this?
Lola + the Boys French Fries Sweatshirt | For the coolest kid on your list (wish it came in my size). Use code HILLARY15 for 15% off.
Rachel Antonoff Cori Martini Cardigan | She wants this (and it’s size inclusive). Use code HILLARY15 for 15% off through 11/23/2025.
Sun in Meal ‘Needs Salt’ Tee | Probably does!
Mochi Kids ‘Kimchi’ Tee | You can also get a matching grownup shirt.
Damson Madder Salad Boyfriend Tee | Gen-Z compatible (with tons of other options for prints).
Still not sure what to get? Browse more ideas here or join the chat and tell me more about who you’re shopping for!
This is the best gift guide I have seen in YEARS! So many great ideas 😊 Yes to bundling gifts —I've been doing this for a while, and it just makes the recipient's experience 10x better! ❤️
Wow such good recs!