Hi everyone,
I’ll admit it: I did a lot of shopping last week. I take Black Friday very seriously — I have a running list of big-ticket items that I think will likely go on sale, and I also take advantage of discounts to grab things I purchase regularly, from replenishing skincare staples to replacing a worn-out pair of shoes.
After my marathon browsing weekend, I’m excited to share the food-themed gifts I have my eye on this year, whether for close friends, family, or even myself.
I was turned on to Kari Kari garlic chili crisp after a visit to Musang in Seattle this summer. The Filipino restaurant serves it at their restaurant, but the real move is to just buy a jar and take it home. I found the last jar at my local cheese shop back in New York, and we went through it unbelievably quickly. This is the gift I’m getting for any spice lover, and if you’re shopping for yourself, go ahead and just buy the big one. You won’t regret it.
I discovered Campo Grande’s Iberico pork charcuterie this year, and it’s now my favorite thing to add to cheese boards (it pairs beautifully with showstopper cheese). Pick up a few packs, and if you really love Iberico pork, their secreto is also incredibly delicious and nearly impossible to mess up.
I’m determined to get back into my smoothie routine after falling off because I hate cleaning my blender. When Julia Turshen sent out a newsletter recommending this mini Ninja machine that blends right into the drinking vessel, I knew I had to try it. This was one of my Black Friday purchases, and I’m very excited to no longer have to attempt to clean blades at the bottom of an absurdly heavy appliance.
And now for something totally adorable: I have my eye on these food- and drink-themed Haricot Vert earrings. Shop a premade set of cocktail hour-inspired dangling earrings featuring olives, bitters, and more — or make your own design. They’ll make any outfit holiday party-worthy.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention a few other gifts you can’t go wrong with: the Eater cookbook for any restaurant lover that wants to try their hand at recreating iconic dishes, our painstakingly made Eater x Heritage Steel pans that cook beautifully, and some food-themed apparel from our merch store. I’ve even got a special discount for the Eater store for newsletter subscribers: Enter code HOLIDAY15 for 15 percent off.
One last thing for those of you in New York — we’re partnering with Shopify again this year to bring back our pop-up holiday market in Soho, from December 8 to 17. We’re bringing our gift guides to life, with products from Dusen Dusen, Mogutable, Omsom, and more. Come shop our selection — it’s the ideal one-stop shop for all your last-minute gifts. We’re also doing events with special guests: I’ll be in conversation with chef Sohla El-Waylly on Saturday, December 9, talking about her new cookbook. I hope to see you there!
Below, as always, you’ll find some of my favorite reads from the past two weeks. If you liked this email, please forward it to a friend or encourage them to sign up here.