Hi everyone,
I take Black Friday very seriously. Months ahead, I make lists of things I have my eye on in case they go on sale. Then I go through and make sure I haven’t doubled up on items, especially clothing (no, I don’t need to buy two more pairs of black pants, even if they’re very much part of my weekday uniform). And finally, I track how much I’m spending, especially compared to previous years, to make sure I haven’t gone (too much) overboard.
The thing I’m not great at on Black Friday is shopping for others — I tend to be extremely strategic about saving money on things I’m buying myself, and then in mid-December, remember that I need to shop for others and then buy a bunch more stuff, full price be damned. If you’re like me, I’m hoping this gift guide helps. Below are the items I’m watching this year. Hopefully you too can catch some early deals (and ensure you don’t have to pay for rush shipping down the line).
Motif mints ($6 each)
At just $6, I’d buy an entire case of these adorable statement mints. These are the absolute perfect buy-in-bulk gift to have on hand for when someone gives you a present you weren’t expecting, and now you feel the need to gift something back. Think of these as a way more chic version of Altoids, with a reusable tin for the future.
Una Pizza Napoletana panettone ($110)
Unsurprisingly, the man who runs the pizza shop named the best in the world also makes an excellent panettone. The sweetness is well-balanced — the panettone is made with sourdough, and studded with lemon and dark chocolate. Bring this to a dinner party, and your hosts will thank you when they’re eating the leftovers for breakfast.
Mill food recycler ($799)
This is, no doubt, an extremely pricey gift. But for the eco-conscious cook, this odor-free, WiFi-connected bin turns food waste into dry grounds, which can be used in a garden or taken to your local compost bin, in an extremely satisfying way. Mill is beloved by chefs too — it’s popping up in restaurants around the country.
Charcuterie plush toy set ($111)
My 3-year-old currently wakes up every morning and makes “soup” by dumping all his play food into a pot and serving it to us, so I’m looking for ways to diversify the “food” we stock in his play kitchen. I have my eye on this adorable charcuterie set on Etsy, with mortadella, pancetta, salami, and more — theoretically for my son, but mostly for me.
Ichendorf Milano tumblers ($30 each)
I can’t get over how cute these glasses are, with little fruit and vegetables built into the bottom. These are absolutely the type of cups where a set of four isn’t enough: You can just keep slowly adding to the collection until it takes over your cabinets. I’m unfortunately too persnickety about cleaning and would only ever allow people to drink water out of these, so I suggest gifting these to a friend who loves to handwash their favorite dishware, and maybe you’ll get to drink a more fun beverage out of them at their place.
If you’re in New York and prefer to shop for gifts in person, make sure to join us at Eater Under Wraps, our upcoming holiday market on December 13 and 14. Stop by for shopping, tastings, book signings, and more, plus make a reservation for our cocktail lounge to try some of our favorite desserts and drinks and get into the festive spirit.
Below, you’ll find some other great shopping recommendations from the past two weeks. If you liked this email, please forward it to a friend or encourage them to sign up here.
