If you’re reading this, there’s a foodie on your gift list and you aren’t quite sure how to wow them. In fact, the culinary master in your life may have been spending the last 18 months checking items off their bucket lists to pass the time during quarantine. Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to look beyond the sourdough starters, cookies, and spiralizers to find something unforgettable. No problem, because we’ve rounded up 5 great ideas to help you be the best Santa you can be. There’s no need to look to the North Pole either because New York City has all the inspiration you’ll need. Read on for 5 holiday gift ideas in NYC.
Some are by makers here in NYC, and others will help you bring the tastes of our culinary-centric neighborhoods to yours. Either way, these treats are sure to bring a smile to your favorite faces over the holidays.
Become a Home Pizzaiolo
Every weekend, our tour guides introduce locals and visitors to pizzerias like Joe’s, Filago, Artichoke, and Emporio. At the latter in Nolita, a professional pizzaiolo tosses your dough high into the air before putting the pie into a wood-fired oven. It’s an amazing sight that you may be able to bring to your next pizza night at home.
Before you start mixing the dough, however, you’ll need a proper oven to cook your pie in. Importing bricks from Italy is probably not in your budget, but here are two popular pizza ovens sure to up your home pizzeria game.
The Ooni Karu pizza oven is all the rage for home chefs looking for an authentic cooking experience. Using wood, charcoal, or gas, you can bake your pie in as little as 60 seconds at 950 degrees!!
Venus Tong’s NYC Illustrations
Venus Tong is a New York based artist and we’re absolutely obsessed with her beautiful illustrations of NYC landmarks and storefronts. If you’ve been on our Greenwich Village tours, you’ll no doubt recognize some of her works. It’s like looking back into your memories of these iconic neighborhood spots.
She has cards, postcards, stickers, and even keychains but we recommend getting one of her prints. They’ll look amazing in any home or office and it’s a great way to have something authentically New York in your home. Not that we don’t love a great I ❤️ NY mug, but Venus’ work will let you experience your favorite city in a much deeper way.
See her work at www.venustongnyc.com
NYC Made Apron
Home chefs today love bringing the look, feel, and quality of professional kitchens into their own. It’s one of the reasons why big, commercial-looking stainless steel appliances are all the rage. Restaurant level gear sends a clear message to all those who will break bread with you: this home chef is not here to play.
Tilit is a company based in New York and they make stunning uniforms and other gear for pro chefs and their teams. We love their style, quality, and the absolutely beautiful collaborations they do with chefs and designers. Act fast, however, they often sell out.
A New York Food Tour
The best way to experience New York City is to get out into the bendy streets below 14th and taste the food created in family-owned restaurants and mom n’ pop shops. For more than 20 years we’ve been guiding visitors and locals alike through Greenwich Village, Chelsea Market, Chinatown, Brooklyn, Nolita, and now to farms in the Hudson Valley.
Until December 26th, you can save 10% on gift certificates and gift cards here at foodsofny.com. Use promo code HUNGRY10 save 10% and put a little slice of New York under the tree.
Buy gift cards and gift certificates here.
Make Home Smell Like New York!
When we reached out to Venus Tong about sharing her work, she pointed us towards her candle line as well. Do we love an aromatherapy moment? Obviously we do, self-care is key. Had we ever considered the essence of our favorite NYC neighborhoods playing a lead role? Not until that email.
So now imagine this: you’ve finished a slice of your homemade thin crust pizza, you’ve booked a food tour for early 2022, you sit in your favorite chair, and before gazing at a beautiful illustration of Dante’s, you light a candle scented with the essence of the West Village. I’m not saying this the absolute perfect idea for December 26th and every day after that, but I’m not NOT saying that.
See more candles at venustongnyc.com
