Christmas Gift Guide For Food Lovers

Whether you’re the sort of person who does all their Christmas shopping on the 23rd of December in a mad rush or like to slowly accrue all of your gifts throughout the winter, this guide should hopefully provide you with some inspiration on the very best festive gifts for foodies. Or, as I like to call them, people who like food.

From simply stocking fillers to some seriously impressive gifts that’ll make your friends and family genuinely emotional when they open them, we’ve thrown some excellent items in this Christmas gift guide. Some of them are edible, some of them are wearable, but all of them are ridiculously cool. Bring out the fairy lights, pour yourself a big cup of eggnog, and dive head first into Mob’s Christmas Gift Guide 2023.

You honestly don’t know how much you need a pot holder until you own one. Having a sturdy bit of fabric that you can use to move about your hot pans, pots, and trays, is a godsend in the kitchen and can save you ruining every tea towel you own. This fetching number from Dusen Dusen has got a handsome striped pattern, two interior pockets, and a locker loop for easy hanging. Have this lying around your kitchen and you’ll be destined to get plenty of compliments.

6ixthsensela.com

Has this EVOO got a funny name? Yes, it does. But this Bimbo Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a product you should take pretty seriously. Sourced from Liguria, this olive oil from Olea Pia is produced from Taggiasca olives that have been hand-picked and quickly pressed to preserve their flavour. Expect a mild taste with notes of soft fruit and a slight nutty edge. An excellent olive oil for dressing up salads in a package that’ll look great on your shelves.

earlofeast.com

Lamiri Harissa make excellent harissa. The clue is in the name. But they also make some excellent merch, too. This “Lebes Khouya?” tee features an artwork inspired by an unknown Tunisian glass artist, playing into the brand’s Tunisian heritage. It’s made from 100% organic cotton and will instantly make you look like you can handle your spice. Which is pretty priceless, don’t you think?

lamiriharissa.com

Handmade in London from deadstock fabric, this Bakers Apron from All Day Goods is the apron to end all aprons. It’s made from a sturdy material (Inspired by the original apron which was made by folding old tablecloths) and will ensure your clothes (or skin, you do you) stay safe and dry whenever you’re cooking. An excellent Christmas gift if you’ve got a partner that hates getting sauce on their plain white tees.

alldaygoods.co.uk

I know, the words 'coffee sriracha' might not immediately whet your appetite but this sauce is the business. It's a mild hot sauce made from single-origin coffee and ripe chilli peppers that blend into a tangy, creamy, spicy burst of flavour. It's especially good on eggs, burgers, toast and a really big spoon.

Catalyst.cafe

Hard Lines is one of our favourite independent coffee roasters here at Mob and we always get excited whenever their Christmas blend makes a comeback. Okay, maybe it’s just me who gets excited. But still. The Nadolig Llawen blend is back and the people at Hard Lines are promising that it’s “bigger, bolder and cheekier than ever”. The coffee itself is an El Salvador and Colombia blend that’s rich, roasty and exactly the sort of stuff you’ll need to keep you going for an entire day dedicated to OTT eating and drinking.

hard-lines.co.uk

WÜSTHOF makes some serious knives. A great chef’s knife is something that everyone should have in their arsenal and this 16cm chef’s knife from WÜSTHOF is a great all-rounder for all sorts of food prep. Not only does it work well but if you get it in the Coral Peach flavour, it’ll look super cute, too. Durable, functional, and fashionable at the same time. It’s an excellent Christmas gift for anyone that’s keen to improve their kitchen skills and maybe post an Instagram Reel or two about it.

Wusthof.co.uk

Put it on toast, put it on eggs, put it on your Christmas tree for all I care. Ralph’s Pepper Jelly is a sweet and spicy jam that’ll make you rethink your condiment rotation. Expect a jar of this to go fairly quickly and for it give the overly-abused Lao Gan Ma in your cupboard a bit of a break. Not only is it made in London but the team ages cayenne peppers for up to 6 weeks to ensure they’re properly packing heat. It’s a product that’s been made with care, and it’d be rude not to get it for someone you really care about.

ralphspj.com

Ever fantasised about owning a teapot? No? Well, you’re going to fantasise about owning own now. This Convni Clay Teapot is something the BAO restaurant group have come with and it’s a wonderful bit of design that’s been custom made in Taiwan. It’s not big, mind (the whole teapot holds about 150ml) but it’s perfectly designed for a solo brew. If you want a teapot that’s as aesthetically pleasing as it is enjoyable to use, this is the one.

baolondon.com

St. JOHN doesn’t need an introduction. The iconic nose to tail establishment has long been heralded as an arbiter of taste with every miniscule detail of the restaurant having been pored over until it’s flawless. Everything from the food that comes out of the kitchen to the ash trays they used to provide customers before the smoking ban came into place have been thought about long and hard. If you want to give your flat the vibe of a Michelin star eatery then you (A) need to step up your cooking, and (B) grab one of these pig ashtrays. Offer one of these to your friends who refuse to vape and you’ll instantly be everyone’s favourite kind of host.

stjohnrestaurant.com

As food magazines go, SLOP is easily one of the best designed. The ethos of the magazine is about shining light on the produce and producers who process all the food and drink we adore and the way SLOP is all packaged up is just as admirable as that mission statement. To show your support for the brand – and look extremely sick while you do it – consider buying yourself one of the SLOP caps as a personal secret Santa. If it doesn’t get you at least three compliments within a week of wearing it, I’ll be shocked.

slopmagazine.com

Hot honey is like the internet. It’s hard to remember what my life was like before it. Like, what did I do: eat frozen pizzas without a sweet and spicy drizzle on top? Go outside?! Dr Sting’s Hot Honey is the best hot honey on the market and makes a great gift for any gourmands you think need a bit more sweet heat in their lives. This stuff is available in 500ml or 180ml but – honestly – save yourself the embarrassment of crawling back for a weekly re-order and get yourself the big boy. It’s so addictive that you’ll be going through it like nobody’s business.

drstings.com

With a slick octagonal handle made out of waste plastic, All Day Goods Petty Knife is a flex for any home cook to own. The plastic is collected, washed, shredded and melted into the handle shape around a small utilitarian blade that’s great for smaller, finicky jobs but suitable for most things you can throw its way. Made to order from carbon steel, the blade is unbelievably sharp but needs to be looked after properly. Buy this for any knife nerds you know and they might actually cry tears of joy.

alldaygoods.co.uk

Know someone who loves lighting a candle whenever it’s time for dinner? Even when all you want to do is eat shop-bought tortelloni on the sofa? Surprise them with a slick wine bottle candle holder from Wax/Wine. It’s the perfect table decoration and the best thing of all is that it’s totally unique, too. Each bottle is cleaned, cut and sanded by hand so that no two products are the same. It’s a one of one, baby. Buy this today for instant ambience.

waxwine.co.uk

There’s no better gift to give than the gift of cooking. Buy your housemate a copy of Mob 6 and you’ll not only make them happy but you’re also guaranteed that they’ll cook you at least one delicious meal from it as a thank you. Which, let’s face it, is the greatest gift of all.

amazon.co.uk

Now, you can’t eat this product but you can use it to turn your flat into somewhere you really want to eat. These little incense cones are made from the tops of Balsam Firs and are capable or filling your room with a wonderful, natural scent. An ideal gift if you know someone who can’t get enough of the great outdoors. Maybe someone who owns a Gozney or something like that. I think they’d get a real kick out of these.

thehendersonsshop.co.uk

Spending £4 on a jar of butter beans might seem like an extravagant thing to do but it becomes a whole lot less extravagant once you realise how good Bold Bean Co.’s pulses are. These heirloom beans and chickpeas are a game changer to any home cook who wants to make their hummus sing or their butter bean bake attain an extra level of luxury. They’re slow cooked to retain their natural beany flavour and creaminess. Get the multi-pack for a proper present or a single jar as a little stocking filler.

Boldbeanco.com