7 Limited-Edition Holiday Gifts to Snag Before They’re Gone

We’ve teamed up with Nespresso to share the must-have, limited-edition items we’re giving as gifts this year—starting with a few special products from Nespresso, like the Limited Edition Nespresso x Pierre Hermé Pack that features the season’s finest f…

We’ve teamed up with Nespresso to share the must-have, limited-edition items we're giving as gifts this year—starting with a few special products from Nespresso, like the Limited Edition Nespresso x Pierre Hermé Pack that features the season’s finest flavors.


We've officially reached the time of year when I start panic ordering holiday gifts for everyone I love because, as usual, I got too wrapped up in snagging the best deals on presents...for myself. My secret to making everyone on my list feel extra special (despite my procrastination) is to shower them with limited-edition goodies that trick them into thinking I planned it this way all along. I tend to go for food-themed items because those are what I'd want to receive most, like the plentiful coffee offerings from Nespresso or Scandi-inspired cookware.

Read More >>

9 Kitchen Must-Haves That Make Great Holiday Gifts

We’ve teamed up with LifeStraw to make your holiday shopping a cinch this season with a lineup of thoughtfully designed gift ideas for the kitchen—starting with the LifeStraw Home water filter pitcher.

As a food editor who also cooks a lot, I’ve put…

We’ve teamed up with LifeStraw to make your holiday shopping a cinch this season with a lineup of thoughtfully designed gift ideas for the kitchen—starting with the LifeStraw Home water filter pitcher.


As a food editor who also cooks a lot, I've put all sorts of kitchen gadgets, cookware, and culinary tools to the test in my own home. Some didn’t quite meet the mark (the hands-free automatic stirrer was a nice idea, in theory), while others became staples that I simply can’t make a meal without (like my go-to chef’s knife and cutting board).

Read More >>

Aldi’s Best Christmas Food Gifts Are All Under $10

If you’ve been reading Food52 for a while (welcome back!), you know that we love Aldi, the German-family owned discount supermarket chain. It’s also beloved worldwide for its can’t-believe-your-eyes prices and creative food finds. While you can score quality food and drink from Aldi year-round, we think that, like most things, it shines brightest during the holiday season. If you’re looking for a quick and inexpensive (Yet thoughtful! Delicious! Different!) gift for family members, co-workers, neighbors, that guy you have only gone on four dates with, your mailman, or your favorite barista, look no further than these festive food gifts straight from our go-to Christmas retailer.

Photo by Aldi

1. Desert Heat Hot Sauce Gift Set, $4.99

For the person who insists that they don’t want anything for Christmas, consumables are always a good idea. And at under $5, the price is right on this four-pack (though it looks way more expensive).

Read More >>

If you’ve been reading Food52 for a while (welcome back!), you know that we love Aldi, the German-family owned discount supermarket chain. It’s also beloved worldwide for its can’t-believe-your-eyes prices and creative food finds. While you can score quality food and drink from Aldi year-round, we think that, like most things, it shines brightest during the holiday season. If you’re looking for a quick and inexpensive (Yet thoughtful! Delicious! Different!) gift for family members, co-workers, neighbors, that guy you have only gone on four dates with, your mailman, or your favorite barista, look no further than these festive food gifts straight from our go-to Christmas retailer.

Photo by Aldi

1. Desert Heat Hot Sauce Gift Set, $4.99

For the person who insists that they don’t want anything for Christmas, consumables are always a good idea. And at under $5, the price is right on this four-pack (though it looks way more expensive).

Read More >>

How to (Politely) Say No to Gifting

No Space Too Small is a brand new column by Laura Fenton that celebrates the idea that you can live well in a small home. Each month, Laura will share her practical findings from years of observing how people live in tight spaces, and her own everyday …

No Space Too Small is a brand new column by Laura Fenton that celebrates the idea that you can live well in a small home. Each month, Laura will share her practical findings from years of observing how people live in tight spaces, and her own everyday experiences of living small—from the hunt for the perfect tiny desk and managing everyday clutter to how to smooth the frustrations out of cooking in a galley kitchen.


I love the holidays, I really do, but as someone who lives in a small and, ahem, full apartment, gift-giving and -receiving can be fraught. Well-meant gifts can quickly clutter up a small home, but forgoing gift-giving altogether feels unnatural: I’ll confess that when a family member says “No gifts, please,” I find it hard to oblige—even if they, too, are pressed for space.

Read More >>

19 Decor Gifts for That Someone Who Just Can’t Stop Redecorating

You know that friend or relative who’s constantly talking about needing to redecorate? Maybe they’re pinning ideas with reckless abandon while giving you the play-by-play, or constantly discussing color palettes, fabric swatches, and throw pillows, but…

You know that friend or relative who’s constantly talking about needing to redecorate? Maybe they’re pinning ideas with reckless abandon while giving you the play-by-play, or constantly discussing color palettes, fabric swatches, and throw pillows, but haven’t yet acted on any of it. Well, this gift guide is for them.

Each of these pieces—from a handwoven, fiber-art wall hanging to a backgammon set that doubles as a cool coffee table accent—will elevate a room instantly and might even kickstart their revamp. Just wait—you’ll be kicking back in their newly decorated space soon enough.

Read More >>

21 Useful Gifts That Won’t Add Clutter, Courtesy the Afrominimalist

Having spent the past five years on a journey to live with less, I’ve become more mindful of what I gift to my family and friends. I always like to challenge myself to be creative, innovative, sustainable, and thoughtful, and it’s no different during t…

Having spent the past five years on a journey to live with less, I've become more mindful of what I gift to my family and friends. I always like to challenge myself to be creative, innovative, sustainable, and thoughtful, and it's no different during the holidays.

One of my favorite ways to tick all the boxes when it comes to gifting is to ask loved ones how they want to be celebrated instead of buying something that I think they'll enjoy. Even if you’re big on the element of surprise, consider asking for a curated list of gifts or experiences that you can use as a guide. Not only will they be curious and anxious about what you chose, but they'll be touched by the thoughtfulness and intention behind it.

Read More >>

9 Gift Ideas for the Meal-Prepping Pro in Your Life

We’ve teamed up with Blue Apron to share smart tips, cooking inspiration, and gift ideas to get you through the holidays. A delicious idea: Give the gift of Blue Apron’s top-rated meal kits so your friends and family can get cooking this winter and bey…

We've teamed up with Blue Apron to share smart tips, cooking inspiration, and gift ideas to get you through the holidays. A delicious idea: Give the gift of Blue Apron's top-rated meal kits so your friends and family can get cooking this winter and beyond.


I've always wanted to be the type of person who meal preps on a regular basis—batch-cooking grains and vegetables to mix and match throughout the week, freezing soups and casseroles for a heat-and-eat dinner, you get the picture. Though I may not have achieved meal prep superstar status yet, there are people on my holiday shopping list this year who definitely have, and maybe you know some, too.

Read More >>

9 Clever Kitchen Gifts for the Home Cook Who Has (Almost) Everything

We teamed up with LifeStraw to set you up for holiday success with a few of our favorite gift ideas for the kitchen. On the list: the LifeStraw Home, a sleek reusable water filter pitcher that also gives back—for every product purchased, a child in nee…

We teamed up with LifeStraw to set you up for holiday success with a few of our favorite gift ideas for the kitchen. On the list: the LifeStraw Home, a sleek reusable water filter pitcher that also gives back—for every product purchased, a child in need receives safe water for a year.


The holidays are a stressful season in many ways, but one that tops my list every winter is figuring out what to buy all the people on my list. I tend to go with gifts for the kitchen—most of my friends and family are seasoned home cooks—but over the years I've exhausted my go-tos, like a classic set of kitchen knives or my favorite pair of nonstick skillets.

Read More >>

31 Best Holiday Candles for a Holly, Jolly Home

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! One of the best things about the holidays is the arrival of new décor, seasonal beverages, and yes, candles. And admittedly, holiday-scented candles are the cheeriest, best-smelling offerings of the whole year….

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! One of the best things about the holidays is the arrival of new décor, seasonal beverages, and yes, candles. And admittedly, holiday-scented candles are the cheeriest, best-smelling offerings of the whole year. Infuse your home with the scent of a freshly cut Christmas tree with balsam and pine-scented candles. Or make every room smell like candy canes with peppermint-scented candles in festive red and white glass jars to boot.

From minimalist packaging to all-out holiday cheer from brands like Bath & Body Works and Nest, these holiday candles are ready to be burned on a cold December night—or earlier (you do you). Homesick, which is known for their city- and state-inspired candle collection, also has a myriad of holiday-themed candles including one celebrating the Festival of Lights that will remind you of your favorite Hanukkah treats like savory latkes, applesauce, and sweet jelly doughnuts.

Read More >>

25 Thoughtful Gifts That Helped Us Get Through 2021

I remember starting 2021 with more optimism than I had all through 2020. And while this year has undoubtedly been better than the literal dumpster fire that came before it, it was still trying and exhausting. I won’t go down the laundry list of things …

I remember starting 2021 with more optimism than I had all through 2020. And while this year has undoubtedly been better than the literal dumpster fire that came before it, it was still trying and exhausting. I won’t go down the laundry list of things that made us want to bury our heads into our pillows (literally), so I’ll just think of the good parts instead. Like baking Ted Lasso’s legendary cookies or finding out that Timothée Chalamet loves espresso martinis just as much as we do. Or these 25 sweet, thoughtful gifts that kept us going this year no matter how mentally or physically tired we all were. And we were.

From coffee table books on travel and exploration to cozy throws and robes for lounging with said book, these were just some of the little joys that we gifted ourselves or were gifted by loved ones. And while we’d appreciate them any year, the gratitude was especially heightened after months of being confined indoors and separated from family, friends, and co-workers.

Read More >>