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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Holly O'Neill

Organic wine boxes, fruit candles and dan dan noodle kits – what to buy food lovers for Christmas

Gift Guide composite

Rainbow sprinkles

Edible rainbow sprinkles.
OFM observer food monthly Gift Guide 2023 Photograph: Katherine Anne Rose/The Observer

The best looking (and tasting) party cake toppings from irreverent bakery Get Baked.
£15 for 1kg, getbaked supplies.com

Abstract enamel mussel pot

Abstract enamel mussel pot.
mussel pot Photograph: Katherine Anne Rose/The Observer

Makes cooking a moules feast as joyous as eating it.
£49.99, souschef.co.uk

Stepney City Farm potters and friends

From left, Jess Jos mug, Richard Fuest cup, Tony Joslin pouring bowl.

Beautiful to look at and hold: mugs, mixing bowls and more, from veteran and early-career ceramicists.
From left, mug £25, jessjos.com; mug £20, @richardfuest_ceramics, large pouring bowl £40, tonyjoslinceramics.com; all will have works at Stepney City Farm studio open day, 9 December

Squiggly vegetable napkins

Vintage linen embroidered knapkins.

Upcycled vintage linen embroidered with Megan Forbes Adam’s wiggly fruit and vegetable illustrations, each one unique.
From £15 each, studio-mink.co.uk

Secondhand glassware

Vintage glass celery vase.

We love all of RE-Found’s carefully curated vintage kitchen and serveware, but especially this niche-use celery vase. Would also suit fresh herbs.
From £26, re-foundobjects.com

I Wanna Be Yours tea towel

I Wanna Be Yours tea towel.

You wash the pots, you call the shots … Dry up with the nation’s favourite punk poet.
£11, johncooperclarke.com

Little by Little jewellery

Little by Little jewellery.

Collections themed around olives, oranges and watermelon, from a food stylist turned jeweller, with donations going to charity Luminary Bakery.
From £55, littlebylittlejewellery.com

John Broadley prints

John Broadley ‘Ceci n’est pas un ortolan’ print.

Secret ortolan, giant langoustines, abundant profiteroles and a Waldorf shortage – amusing food scenarios from the Quo Vadis menu illustrator.
£19, johnbroadley.bigcartel.com

Black Lines Oatnog

Bottle of Black Lines Oatnog.

Smooth and spiced, creamy and boozy; serve hot or over ice. A modish take on guilty boozy pleasure. Every bottle sold funds three meals for The Felix Project.
£18, blacklinesdrinks.com

Waitrose x Lulu Guinness bag

Waitrose x Lulu Guinness canvas tote bag.

For fashionable friends who shop with style.
£12, waitrose.com

Pickled brussels sprouts

Jar of Fortnum & Mason pickled brussels sprouts.

How to make sprouts more divisive? Aficionados will welcome these on a cheeseboard.
£9.95, fortnumandmason.com

Chocolate alfajores

Chocolate alfajores biscuits.

Perfectly stocking sized – a biscuity cake in a tin, filled with ganache or caramel, in flavours from coffee to lemon.
£4.80, surchocolates.co.uk

Christmas spirits

Christmas pudding gin and Christmas cake whisky.

We love a novelty bottle – but they have to taste good, too. The gin has been infused with Christmas pudding, then redistilled; while no cake has been near the whisky – rather, the name refers to tasting notes.
Christmas pudding gin £35.85, sacredgin.com; Christmas cake whisky £41.95, masterofmalt.com

Pasta and citrus notebooks

Pasta and citrus notebooks.

For recipe notes and thoughts on food.
£25 (A5) and £35 (A4), choosingkeeping.com

Food candles

Pomegranate candle.
OFM observer food monthly Gift Guide 2023 Photograph: Katherine Anne Rose/The Observer

Almost too pretty to light.
From £20, choosingkeeping.com

Refugee Community Kitchen apron

Refugee Community Kitchen aprons

Sturdy cotton to stand against spills; giant pocket for kitchen implements; funds 28 hot meals for displaced people. We love the RCK apron.
£30, refugeecommunitykitchen.org

Fruit and vegetable soaps

Italian fruit and vegetable soaps.

Beautiful packaging and heady fragrances by Italian brand Nesti Dante.
From £4.75, amazon.co.uk

Four in a Row chocolate game

Four in a Row chocolate game.

Part treat, part game – winner takes all?
£10, Marks & Spencer

Pasta-water candle

Pasta-water candle
candle Photograph: PR

Starchy, slightly warm – carb lovers will find comfort in this scent from offbeat scent masters DS & Durga, joining forces here with NYC restaurant Jupiter, helmed by ex-River Cafe’s Jess Shadbolt.
£60, e-scents.co.uk

Allday Goods knives

Allday Goods kitchen knives.

The fun rainbow-swirl handles are made with recycled plastic; the blades cut like a dream.
Table knives £75; everyday santoku £140; forged santoku £220; alldaygoods.co.uk

Bobo wine boxes

BOBO wine boxes.

Three bottles’ worth of organic French wine: good for a party; stays fresh longer; looks cool; tastes great.
From £39 for 2.25l, bobowines.co.uk

Inver hand lotion

Inver hand lotion.
MG 1515 (2cb72e1b26925df0190d191e6395628fe5ae5ba1) Photograph: Katherine Anne Rose/The Observer

Organic balm made in collaboration with chef Pam Brunton, inspired by flavours from her kitchen.
£27.50 for 200ml, celinelouise.co.uk

La vache qui rit apron

La vache qui rit apron

Prepare lunch dressed up as your favourite retro lunchbox snack.
£33.99, souschef.co.uk

Electric hand mixers

Pink Smeg electric hand mixer.
OFM observer food monthly Gift Guide 2023 Photograph: Katherine Anne Rose/The Observer

A home-baker’s best friend. Smeg’s retro-look version comes with three whisks (including dough hooks), nine speeds and seven colours.
£149.95, smeguk.com

Festive and spiced chocolates

Chococo festive and spiced chocolates.

Warming chai spice bars, and a box with (including a strong vegan selection and gingerbread truffle that’s worth the price alone) from the Dorset chocolate makers.
Bars £4, boxes from £13, chococo.co.uk

Nesting glasses

Four nesting glasses.

Clever, stackable crystal glasses – four different shapes, all 290ml volume.
£40, uk.aarke.com

Christmas coal chocolates

Christmas coal chocolates.
MG 1318 (a2d270429d372b49dc87cc8ce1eed5820b2af4d7) Photograph: Katherine Anne Rose/The Observer

Honeycomb covered in chocolate and glittery black sherbet, for bad kids and good goths.
£13.95, fortnumandmason.com

Piedmont gianduja spread

Piedmont gianduja spread.

On toast or by the spoon, the ultimate breakfast for lovers of chocolate-hazelnut spread.
£26, daylesford.com

Whisky tasting set

Master of Malt whisky tasting set.

If they don’t know their Islay from their Highland, get them up to speed with Drinks by the Dram.
£29.95, masterofmalt.com

Chocolate clementine

Chocolate clementine.

Traditional stocking filler facsimile, no need to peel.
£15, daylesford.com

Emergency dan dan noodles

Emergency dan dan noodles

Fight festive food fatigue with fire.
£15, baolondon.com

Mulled wine spice set

Mulled wine spice set

There’s always one friend who wants to mull everything … skip the dusty sachets and give them proper spices for maximum mulling flavour.
£45, honeyandco.co.uk

White T-shirts

White T-shirts

Chef-core fave from The Bear, the Merz B Schwanen T-shirt has a perma-waiting list (keep checking). Observer menswear editor Helen Seamons recommends Uniqlo and Arket as reliable alternatives.
£19.90, uniqlo.com; £17, arket.com

Lavoratti parmesan chocolate

Lavoratti parmesan chocolate.

For the friend who has tasted it all … bizarre, divisive, a talking point.
£15, souschef.co.uk

Ukraine recipe calendar

Ukraine recipe calendar
calendar Photograph: PR

Mark the year with vegetarian regional Ukrainian recipes from Olia Hercules, illustrated with etchings by artist Frances Whitfield. Part of the profits goes to the Legacy of War Foundation.
£18, franceswhitfield.co.uk

Summer harvest honey, Midwinter jam

Summer harvest honey, Midwinter jam.

Terrific toast toppers, for lazy breakfasts or cosy teas.
Exmoor honey £7.50, @the_broad_bean; spiced berry jam £4.95, rosebudpreserves.co.uk

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