Gift Guide: Great Things To Eat And Drink

It’s not exactly the gift that keeps on giving. Edibles tend to be precisely the opposite: short-lived. But, for food-obsessed folks like us, they are no less appreciated. And if you’re the type who would take a vial of good Himalayan salt over a bad tie, feel free to use this gift guide as your own personal wish list. Also see: Gift Guide: Cooking Gear and Books

Gift Guide: Great Things To Eat And Drink

Bacon Marmalade

This Brooklyn, N.Y.-born product is just what it sounds like — sticky, tangy, sweet and packed with chunks of bacon. Spread on bread for a turkey club sandwich or a riff on a B.L.T. Pick it up next time you’re in NYC or order a 4-oz. hand-packed jar online. $9

Bitter Truth Cocktail Bitters Traveler’s Set

You never know where you’ll be next time someone asks you to stir up a stiff drink. Best to be prepared with this handy set of travel-size bitters vials. It includes Celery, Old Time Aromatic, Orange, Creole and the cinnamon-laced Jerry Thomas bitters for all your classic and contemporary cocktailing needs. $25

La Colombe Torrefaction Afrique Blend Coffee Beans

By buying this African coffee blend from the Philadelphia-based roasting house, you’re not only ensuring that you’ll start your day with a capital cup of coffee. You’re also contributing to Project Afrique, which provides food, housing, education and healthcare to African children. $12.95 per 12-oz. bag

Nunu Chocolates Beer Box

Yeah, yeah — red wine and chocolate. We’ve heard it all before. But, honestly, we’d rather pair our cocoa with beer, thank you very much. These assorted ganaches, made by the Brooklyn chocolatier best known for salty-sweet salt caramel chocolates, are infused with various locally produced craft beers. 6 for $12

Whole Suckling Pig

Nothing says “I love you” as well as “I’m awesome” like whole hog. Show your friends what you’re made of with this young, humanely raised 25-pound piglet from D’Artagnan. The little guy measures 44 inches head to tail and fits in any traditional-sized roasting pan. Go big or go home with this gift from Gilt Taste. Just $499 for ultimate porcine pleasure.

Counter Culture’s Single-Origin Coffee Beans

Imagine knowing the exact origin of every single bean ground to make your morning cup of joe? It’s possible with this coffee company, which specializes in direct-trade beans from family-owned estates. Try Baroida from the Colbran family in Papua New Guinea or Aida Batlle’s Finca Mauritania from El Salvador. Prices range for $11.75 to $15.75 per 12-oz. bag.

French Kisses from d’Artagnan

If you’re expecting waxy chocolate wrapped in tin foil, are you ever in for a surprise. These handmade Kisses are actually plump prunes, soaked in Armagnac and filled with a velvety foie gras mousse. Talk about your love at first bite. $10

Himalayan Pink Rock Salt

They may look like hippie crystals, but these pink, salty rocks give off more than just good vibes. The color is attributed to the mineral rich foothills of the Himalayas, resulting in a distinct taste far more complex than regular old table salt. $14

Salumi Artisan Cured Meats 2011 Duo

Mario Batali may be the one on TV, but the celebrity chef apple doesn’t fall far from tree. Food – especially meat – is in his blood: his father, Armandino, runs Salumi, a meaty restaurant and deli in Seattle. This December, he’s offering a special Holiday Duo of salumi and winter salami, in total some 1.5 lbs of cured meat for $49.

Antica Dispensa Olive Oil with White Truffle Essence

There are few better ways to bling out your dish than to drizzle it with a little white truffle oil. This Ligurian extra-virgin olive oil is perfumed with the essence of white truffles from the nearby Piedmont region in Italy. Sprinkle it on everything from risotto to your morning scrambled eggs. $25 

Coach Farm’s Box of Assorted Buttons

Simple and stylish, like the Coach bags produced by the farm’s original parent company, these 2-oz. buttons of fresh goat’s milk cheese come in plain, herb, dill, and black pepper, all of which are included in this assortment of 12. $35 

Gourmet Popcorn Gift Set

Forget the greasy butter topping from the multiplex and have movie night at home with this comprehensive gourmet popcorn kit. It includes top-quality kernels, grapeseed oil spritzer, and white cheddar, dill pickle and kettle corn seasonings. $20

Do Not Eat This Chocolate

You’re not going to listen to the packaging are you? This spicy-sweet chili-chocolate bar, by Lillie Belle Farms in Oregon, bites back with a healthy dose of ghost chilis, aji amarillo and arbol chili peppers. If it’s too much for your tongue to take, just use a few slivers as a garnish. $5 

Lucy’s Whey Beer Lovers’ Cheese Box

We’ve already expressed our love of beer and chocolate, but what if cheese is your chocolate? You’re in luck: suds go with curds like peas and carrots. This assortment includes creamy Green Hill from Sweet Grass Dairy, semi-firm Pawlet from Consider Bardwell Farm, slightly sharp Landaff from Landaff Creamery, and velvety Dunbarton Blue from Roelli Cheese Company, plus Marcona almonds to replace your beer nuts. $85 

Robert Lambert Salt-Preserved Meyer Lemons

Meyer lemons are the sweet, flirty cousins to the more sour conventional lemon. Preserving them in salt might seem counterintuitive, but it’s actually a revelation. The salty solution is infused with bay leaves and citrus blossoms for an aromatic alternative to plain old salt. $14 for an 8-oz. jar.

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