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1. When they ask 'How did you know?!' after opening Fortnum & Mason's tea-filled advent calendar, I promise there is zero obligation to mention your late-night BuzzFeed list trawls.
2. The part of my brain that this 2.4kg box of Celebrations unlocks is feral, ravenous, and keen to avenge all the big-family fights I used to have with my sisters over rapidly-dwindling chocolate supplies.
3. Speaking of childhood memories, this retro sweets collection contains lemon fizz dip (which I've always maintained is culinary high art).
4. This cult-status eight-in-one Always Pan is perfect for everything from steaming to boiling and frying – and if they're always posting their creations on Instagram, its grid-worthy design is sure to impress. I use mine at least once a day.
5. Fortnum & Mason's musical biscuit tin is brimming with chocolate-studded shortbreads (I'm struggling to think of a more festive sentence).
6. I want you to look at this bottle of spiced cranberry ketchup, think very deeply about your Boxing Day leftover sandwich, and try to resist buying it. I certainly couldn't.
7. If they're a coffee lover, this hamper from Catalyst contains blends that are literally good enough to eat. It includes two bottles of their famed coffee sriracha (don't knock it 'til you've tried it, had your tastebuds completely rewired, and formed an incurable addiction), and three packs of their relentlessly delicious coffee beans.
8. Speaking of, this Hario V60 coffee dripper has probably been on their wishlist for a while now...
9. ...alongside a splurge-worthy gooseneck kettle, which promises the steady pour and temperature control that really makes filter coffee sing.
10. If they love fun, easy-drinking, limited-edition wines almost as much as you love not spending over a tenner on booze, M&S' bottle of the feverishly-followed Beaujolais Noveau 2022 has all the answers. Beaujolais Noveau wines come out on the third Thursday of November (a short few weeks after harvest), and are so hotly-anticipated that festivals are held annually on their release date.
11. I sort of don't want to meet the kind of person who can resist this massive 850g Dairy Milk bar.
12. Drumshanbo's ridiculously well-reviewed Irish Gunpowder gin turned me from a gin skeptic to a fervent convert. You'll want to keep the gorgeous bottle, too – I use mine to house gin-themed (and v festive-looking) juniper branches come Christmas.
13. Lord finding their new favourite beer over them forever after gifting 'em Bacchus' tart, sweet, almost wine-like Belgian fruit beer that contains 15% cherries.
14. When it comes to cookbooks, nobody's doing it like Nigel – I've been a Slater girl ever since I bought A Cook's Book, which contains recipes for everything from buttery tarts to perfectly comforting stews.
15. Three words: Lindt hot chocolate.
16. Fortnum & Mason's extensive 'Family Christmas Hamper' is brimming with festive treats, from Brut reserve champagne to the brand's own St James Christmas pudding – basically, you won't need to buy anything else for the festivities bar the roast.
17. Whether they adore Jessie Ware, gin, holding parties, or all three, Bombay Sapphire's Murcian lemon Premier Cru x Table Manners hosting kit is bound to bring them joy. It comes with menu, thank you, and place cards, a calligraphy pen, a booklet full of cocktail recipes, and, of course, a bottle of unforgettably tasty gin.
18. They haven't tried olive oil until they've tried Berio's rich, mildly fruity cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil – it's perfect for dipping, marinading, drizzling, and dressing, when you really need a flavourful oil to do the heavy lifting. Stunning taste aside, it's almost worth it for the tin alone, right?
19. Yes, of course St. JOHN's cult-status Christmas pudding has sold out by now, but fear not, foodies! Their site still offers everything from an at-home ox cheek and pickled walnut pie kit to legendary St. JOHN label wines – I can't think of a better night in.
20. Hello, chocolate and churro-making set.
21. This Pukka tea advent calendar is brimming with 24 delectable herbal options...
22. ...but if they wave a teaspoon-calloused hand to say 'already had that' every time you attempt to surprise them with a new brew, hit 'em with Mr. Ames' peppermint teabags. They're the best brand they've never tried.
23. All I want to talk about for the next two months are these mini chocolate hedgehogs that come in a tiny matchbox, thanks.
24. If you know someone who always orders the hottest item on the menu and then spends the whole meal loudly commenting on how mild it is (hi, dad), then this Carolina Reaper chilli might keep them quiet for a bit. It claims to be the hottest chilli in the world; if the reviews are anything to go by, it certainly feels like it is.
25. There's nothing better than discovering that the delicious booze you tried at that fancy place that one time is actually ridiculously cheap (which was my exact experience with this fruity, spicy bottle of Graham's port).
26. 'Tis the season for Bollinger's Special Cuvee champagne – sorry to rattle on about reviews, but it has got a practically unheard-of 4.9-star average rating from 2,713 reviews.
27. This bargainous pasta maker has the solid build and restaurant-worthy finish you'd expect from much pricier brands.
28. They can grow their own chillis with this all-inclusive kit (be warned, though: the monetary price is less than a tenner, but the true cost will be hearing 'these are fresh from our garden :)' every time they cook something up with their homegrown peppers).
29. If you know a foodie, they want the Le Creuset casserole dish. We all do. Someone buy me one.
30. And this heart-shaped Le Creuset option is frankly too cute to exclude.
31. Okay, okay, one more and I'm done: look at this adorable (and much more affordable) Le Creuset mug that comes in 12 different colours. I like the sunny yellow option, if anyone I know is reading.
32. I might be imagining this, but I feel like there was a huge 2018 cast iron pan trend that's since died out. It shouldn't have, IMO – they sear better than almost any other option (I didn't bother with steaks until I bought mine), they can go straight from the hob to the oven (tarte! tatin!!!), and they don't cost nearly as much as I'd expected. I swear by my sub-£50 Lodge one that seems to do thousands of other reviewers nicely, too.
33. And if they've already got one, this chainmail scrubber, silicone handle, cleaning brush, scraper, and towel set is bound to make them smile.
34. Well, it looks like I'm ordering myself this ceramic pot of stilton cheese today (fine, fine, I guess I'll get one for my giftee too). It's made with milk from the three ‘Stilton counties’ (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire), resulting in the kind of creamy, sweet bliss that makes your dreams remarkably similar to Ben Gunn's in Treasure Island.
35. I can't stop calling this set of German-engineered, stainless steel knives (that make slicing onions a 20-second dream) my 'big boy blades'. Just thought you should know.
36. If they're all about 'experiences, not things', then they'll be delighted with this champagne high tea for two gift card. They'll be able to enjoy an elegant afternoon in Fortnum & Mason's Diamond Jubilee tea salon (don't mind if I do).
37. This gorgeously-illustrated 2023 Seasonal Eating advent calendar will show them which fruit and veggies reach their prime each month. It comes with recipes from Joe Woodhouse, Ed Smith, and more too, so expect its corners to go blunt from their thumbing by about March.
38. They can make their own cheese with the help of this beginner-friendly kit.
39. I'm very fussy about biscuits, so trust me when I say that the buttery, crumbly options in Cartwright and Butler's 'Brew & Biscuit' hamper are worth every penny.
40. And if their tastes run more savoury, I suggest nabbing them either this cheese, chutney, and cracker-filled hamper from the Snowdonia Cheese Company...
41. ...or, if you want to give them a true treat, they'll remember this decadent wine and cheese hamper from Mouse & Grape for years to come. It's brimming with artisanal cheeses, luxurious wines, and tart chutneys, and it comes with a tasting guide too – be still, my cheddar-loving heart.
42. Budding foragers and seasoned hedge-hunters alike will adore this copy of the Forager's Handbook.
43. Once you try Crosstown's cult-status doughnuts, you'll never be able to eat them from any other brand. They offer same-day delivery in London and next-day delivery across the rest of the UK, making them perfect for longer-distance or last-minute gift options (look, we won't tell if you don't).
44. Of course, you can always Deliveroo them something delicious (personally, I'd send anyone I want to wow a whole babka or challah loaf from Karma bakery, or literally anything from Phoenicia's deli – you'll be able to spot the best spots in your local area).
45. If they keep their drinking wine separate from their cooking wine, 1) they're better than me and 2) I reckon they'll love these vacuum-seal stoppers that'll keep their fave vinos fresh for days.
46. Am I taking advantage of my job to rant about my favourite bakery? Sure, but for good reason – if you're anywhere remotely near Kossoff's in Kentish Town, I reckon their delicious-for-days sourdough bread and much-anticipated mince pies will win you multiple unspoken 'best Christmas food contribution' awards. That said, you can't beat a visit to their gorgeous premises: I'll be giving my friends DIY vouchers filled with promises of trips to try their life-changing croissants (why not do the same with your fave local spots?).
47. As a Reese's lover, I genuinely can't remember a happier time than when I got gifted this incredible variety pack. It includes the usual cups and bites, alongside some novel gems (why did nobody tell me the wafer-filled 'Reese's Sticks' existed until now?!).
48. I'm a bit fussy about vodka, so I tend to stock up on the ones I know and love. Belvedere's 'Organic Infusions' lemon and basil one never misses, and I don't need to buy any super-sweet mixers to make it taste great other – it's perfect with just soda or still water (the true mark of a great tipple).
49. These reusable whiskey stones will keep their drinks cool without diluting them and come in a gorgeous velvet pouch.
50. The hot sauce aficionados in your life will be able to fill and reuse this Sriracha keyring as often as they like.
51. Aspiring chefs will adore this food presentation kit that'll take their plates from "well it's all about the flavour really, isn't it?" to grid-worthy. It comes with tweezers, metal rings, a detailed instruction book, and more.
52. I can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than with Bakesterbox's very handy pre-measured baking kit, which is a dream for seasoned kitchen pros and baking newbies alike.
53. If they love Irish cream liqueur, Coole Swan's velvety-smooth, whiskey and Belgian white chocolate-infused one is the best I've tried.
54. Make the foodie in your life wonder if you've been going through their search history by nabbing them a yearly subscription to the cult online newsletter Vittles. Speaking of, you'll be swimming in brownie points if you can lay your hands on the coveted London Feeds Itself – I haven't been able to spot a copy online anywhere other than this one in Waterstones, but it's worth keeping an eye out for new stock elsewhere (they're bound to sell like hot Stoke-on-Trent oatcakes).
55. Nothing makes an avid home cook happier than something disgustingly bacterial, like this live San Fransisco sourdough starter that I affectionately refer to as my pet yeast.
56. The philosophy stands for this kombucha SCOBY too – it;'s designed for large 5L jars, so you'll (hopefully) eventually reap the rewards of giving this gift yourself.
57. If you want to surprise them with a sweets hamper or just give them the gift of a shared snackathon, fear not: I've done the thankless, strenuous work of rummaging through my local supermarket's sweets aisle to find some binge-worthy faves.
58. Finally, every home baker I know (myself included) has gone through the cycle of needing a sugar thermometer, promising themselves they'll buy one, and then realising they've forgotten to do it when they go to make the exact same recipe again. Help them to break the painful loop for under £6!
