Viva’s Holiday Gift Guide 2023: What To Buy The Food Lover In Your Life

Welcome to Viva’s week of holiday gift guides, where we offer special, carefully selected ideas for what to buy your loved ones every day. Below, our favourite gifts for the foodie who cooks, eats and compulsively watches The Bear.

They’ve already bought one (or a few) food advent calendars for themselves, popping open a perforated cardboard door daily for the small thrill of chocolate baubles and full-sized packets of toasted almond and sesame seed dukkah.

So why not add to that feeling these holidays by gifting them something they both need and want? On this list compiled by Annabel Dickson, you’ll find genuinely useful kitchen tools. A new cast iron pot. A cheese baker for macaroni or moussaka. An apron that features an adjustable neck strap with bronze hardware.

Of course, there are some tasty options too, from dehydrated oranges (perfect for cocktails) to hot sauce bundles and Lebanese restaurant Gemmayze Street’s silky-smooth hummus, handmade in small batches and only recently available to eat at home.

Father Rabbit tea towel $27.

Made from 100 per cent linen this tea towel is both durable and sweet and sure to take pride of place in the kitchen. Tea towels are also a great option for eco-wrapping — try bundling another gift inside. Find Viva’s sustainable wrapping tips here.

Tom Muir pizza serving board, $325, from The Poi Room.

Fazeek salad servers $110.

Chic but with a playful edge, these stainless steel salad servers are the ideal addition to an alfresco lunch setting.

Maison Balzac wine decanter $221.

A grape bunch-topped glass decanter is always a good idea for the wine buff in your life.

Mockamaster 1.25-litre filter coffee machine $595.

If you’re looking to splurge on a coffee lover, then this iconic filter coffee machine is just the ticket. Available in a suite of lively colours, this not only looks fab on your benchtop, but keeps your brew warm for as long as you need it to.

Martino Gamper grinders, $295 each, from Simon James.

Inspired by the mountains of Italy, these grinders are made from ash and walnut from the designer who brought us the Arnold Circus Stool.

2023 Atipico chilled red blend, $35, from Everyday Wine.

For the babes on a budget, a bottle of natural wine with an artful label is a no-brainer. Just add cheese and crackers.

Cali Woods reusable baking mats, $34, from Good For.

These clever baking mats take the place of single-use baking paper, are easy to clean and can be used again and again.

Marcato pasta machine, $349, from Milly’s.

From family-owned Italian pasta machine makers, Marcato, this new model from the ‘Wellness’ range has 10 different dough thicknesses and three cutters for lasagne, fettucine or taglioni.

Gohar lemon slice squeezer approx $50.

Nothing fishy about this jaunty little individual lemon slice squeezer. For the person who has everything.

Karen Walker x Acme mug $32.

Acme Co’s latest collaboration with fashion designer Karen Walker renders the popular Bobby Mug in confectionary shades from Walker’s latest collection.

Hendricks Flora Adora gin $105.

A beautiful bottle of gin, this edition of Hendriks is infused with the aroma of fresh flowers.

Le Creuset three-piece tapas dish set $100.

Ideal for dips and dressings, these stoneware dishes would look right at home at a Mediterranean-style feast.

Modern Chinese by Sam Low, $50, from The Women’s Bookshop.

Winner of MasterChef NZ Sam Low offers unique takes on nostalgic traditional Chinese classics with recipes for weeknight meals and special occasions.

Serax cast iron pot, $530, from ECC.

Sleek and contemporary, this cast iron pot is compatible with all heat sources, designed by Dutch chef and entrepreneur Sergio Herman.

Em On Holiday oven mitt $45.

Australian-based brand Emma Mulholland on Holiday designs clothing and cute accessories, like these flame-covered cotton oven mitts.

Dryed dehydrated orange jar $35.

Packed, sliced and dried in the Bay of Plenty, these orange slices are ideal to have in your bar cart for adding to festive cocktails.

In The Roundhouse butter dish approx $54.

Because butter is so much better at room temperature.

Matt Nash apron $125.

New Zealand workwear designer Matt Nash makes a bloody good apron, and this 100 per cent drill cotton number in a zesty orange makes a lovely gift for the cook in your life.

Apostle Hot Sauce barbecue bundle $37.

Kiwi hot sauce maestros Apostle have kindly bundled their best barbecue sources into one handy kit.

Gemmayze St hummus, $16, from Daily Bread.

From the team at Lebanese restaurant Gemmayze Street, this silky smooth hummus is handmade in batches to a family recipe, topped with paprika-infused oil. Truly elite.

Six Barrel Soda seltz drops $10.

A nifty idea from syrup masters at Six Barrel Soda, these low-waste seltzer drops can be added to sparkling water. One bottle makes 50 drinks!

Sage & Clare board $110.

Terrazo is having a moment and you can have a piece of it at home with this funky chopping board.

Huffer x Parade burger smasher $50.

Perfect your smash burgers at home with this silver smasher from smash burger experts Parade.

Emile Henry cheese baker, $119, from Milly’s.

This ceramic cheese baker can also be used for all sorts of cooking, from moussaka to a roast dinner. Made with a high heat-resistant ceramic, it creates a uniform heat, ideal for pastry. Pastry-wrapped cheese, anyone?

Main Image: Photographer / Mara Sommer. Fashion director / Dan Ahwa. Model / Karen Valerie from 62 Managemen. Hair and makeup / Shirley Simpson. Fashion assistant / Annabel Dickson. With thanks to Corban Estate Arts Centre.

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