Katie’s Favorite Food Gifts

“Everything — yes, even chocolate chip cookies — is better with Maldon salt, and a big tub is such a welcome present in my house!” It’s only $25 for a three-pound tub of the salt on Amazon, and if you pair it with a cute salt cellar like this one from Material, you’ve got yourself a gift for every home cook.

We don’t know who started the tinned fish trend, but we do know that Fishwife sure helped keep it going. This gift set includes your choice of three tins of any the brand’s fish, ranging from smoked rainbow trout from Denmark to Cantabrian anchovies from the coast of Spain. To top it off, the trio comes with a limited-edition set of silverware that can be used by the recipient to eat whatever they want (fish-related or not).

“These delicious pears never disappoint,” Katie says. “I love them, and they’re such a wonderful, healthy snack. I often send them to my siblings and so far, no complaints!” Reviewers feel the same way, describing the pears’ flavor as “out of this world.” A box comes with about five pounds of pears, so there will be plenty to go around.

The grill masters in your life will be thrilled to receive a box full of the freshest, highest-quality meat around. Omaha Steaks has both individual gift boxes and subscriptions you can send directly to your recipient, all of which contain top-of-the-line butcher’s cuts, like filet mignon, sirloin, burgers, chicken, pork, salmon, and more.

Popcorn has a reputation as a boring holiday gift, but this isn’t one of those aluminum tubs from the clearance aisle — this is next-level snacking. Opopop is reinventing the crunch classic by ensuring every single bite is wrapped in flavor. The brand wraps each kernel in scrumptious flavoring (ranging from savory butter to sweet cinnamon sugar), which transfers to the fluffy outside as it cooks. This set comes with seven pouches of popcorn and the bowl to make it in, so it’s an easy all-in-one gift for those who love a quick treat.

For the host with the most, consider giving them an entire case of wine — that way their next few dinner parties are well-stocked. Oenophiles and wine amateurs alike will appreciate the variety a case has to offer, and you’ll love the fact that you can save $100 off your first case and get three free bottles with your first order (that’s 15 bottles for $80 total, including shipping). If you’re looking to stretch your dollar, consider giving out bottles to friends and family individually; that way you end up with 15 gifts in one fell swoop.

This citrus package won’t ship until January, but Katie says they’re worth the wait. “These are so delicious and obviously packed with vitamin C,” she says. “They’re another go-to of mine for the holidays, but they’re wonderful to gift any time of year.” Despite not shipping until the new year, Harry & David does promise that they’ll send a gift notice to your recipient in December to let them know that something sweet is on the way.

“Everyone knows that green tea is super good for you, but let’s face it, sometimes it tastes like your sipping lawn cuttings — but it doesn’t have to,” Katie stresses. “The Republic of Tea has wonderful offerings: blueberry, pomegranate, pineapple ginger, and ginger peach, which is my personal favorite. I often put together my own gift set by buying an assortment of teas for my recipient. It’s a thoughtful way of telling people you love them and care for their health.”

We all know that one person who can’t start their day without a cup of joe. Brighten their mornings with more than just great beans, but a gift that keeps on giving month after month. This coffee subscription from Trade Coffee delivers freshly roasted coffee from independent roasters in small towns across the USA, making each sip a chance to support local businesses. You can customize their subscription to match their preferences, from the number of bags to tasting notes, so that the gift fits their taste buds.

“I love maple syrup and often use it as a sugar substitute,” Katie explains. “Nothing compares to real maple syrup from Vermont. There are so many to choose from, but my latest favorite is from a small brand called J.J. Hapgood, in Peru, Vermont, which has been around since 1827.”

Runamok, another Vermont maple syrup brand, just released this liquid gold concoction for the holidays, and it’s a gorgeous, festive option to gift anyone in your life.

Named after the founder’s hometown, Lopaus Point Waffles makes some of Katie’s most-eaten breakfast foods. Not only are the waffles easy to cook and delicious (“Pop ‘em in the toaster and they’re good to go!” she says), but they’re also allergen-free. Katie’s giving the holiday gift set, which includes toaster tongs and an insulated lunch tote, to several people this year.

According to Katie, crackers, cream cheese, and hot pepper jelly are a match made in heaven — and we’d have to agree. This holiday-themed set comes with both a regular pepper jelly and a festive cranberry pepper jelly, all wrapped up in a gorgeous gift box, so you can save yourself the trouble of wrapping it.