Great Gourmet Holiday Gifts for Italian Food Lovers
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10 Great Gifts for Lovers of Gourmet Italian Food and Wine
Looking for the perfect holiday gift for the Italian food lover in your life? If so, you're in the right place. Whether you're in the market for Chistmas gifts or presents for another winter holiday, choosing the right one for a serious "foodie" can be a challenge, so I've compiled a list of my own favorites related to Italian food and cooking. From inexpensive food magazine subscriptions to high-end gelato and espresso machines, you should find something on my list for everyone - and for every price range.
Best of all, these are all products and services I am personally recommending from my own first-hand experience. These are food clubs I've belonged to; kitchen tools I've used; grocers whose stores I've visited personally or used via mail-order repeatedly in the past. Forget about standard gift baskets of inferior products, or another boring fruit-of-the-month club; these are gifts that will have an Italian food lover shouting out "Mangia!" and "Molto bene!" You don't have to wait for Christmas, either - these would be great gifts for other celebrations such as birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day or even a housewarming party.
Photo: Exotic Italian pastas from A.G. Ferrari, one of the gourmet food distributors I recommend on this page. This photo and all others here are by the author, sockii.
Best of all, these are all products and services I am personally recommending from my own first-hand experience. These are food clubs I've belonged to; kitchen tools I've used; grocers whose stores I've visited personally or used via mail-order repeatedly in the past. Forget about standard gift baskets of inferior products, or another boring fruit-of-the-month club; these are gifts that will have an Italian food lover shouting out "Mangia!" and "Molto bene!" You don't have to wait for Christmas, either - these would be great gifts for other celebrations such as birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day or even a housewarming party.
Photo: Exotic Italian pastas from A.G. Ferrari, one of the gourmet food distributors I recommend on this page. This photo and all others here are by the author, sockii.
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1. A.G. Ferrari "Cucina Ferrari" Culinary Club
A Food-of-the-Month Club with a Difference!
A.G. Ferrari has been importing quality Italian food products to the United States since 1919. Based in San Francisco, you can order products from their catalog for mail order delivery at any time. They carry wonderful unique pastas, gourmet sauces, pestos, Italian rice, olive oils, sweets, cheeses and everything an Italian chef could want. You can order products individually to create your own gift basket, select one of their pre-made baskets, or best still for someone truly special, gift them a membership in the A.G. Ferrari "Cucina Ferrari" Culinary Club. A 3-month membership starts at $139.99 and is also available for 6-months, a full year, or ongoing. Every month your recipient will receive an exciting and varied assortment of products from A.G. Ferrari's collection, matched for the season and typically from a particular region. A newsletter will talk about what makes each product unique and give recipe suggestions. I've enjoyed my membership in this club for many years and it's a truly thoughtful gift for anyone who loves good Italian food, and preparing it at home.Read my detailed review of the A.G. Ferrari Cucina Ferrari Culinary Club for more information.
A.G. Ferrari Foods on Twitter
Follow them for news and updates on great gourmet products!
2. DiBruno Bros Gourmet Foods and Treats
Customize a Fabulous Gift Basket from this Italian Specialty Market
DiBruno Brothers has been a Philadelphia institution since 1939, when they first opened their grocery store in the city's Italian Market. Now with locations in Center City and the Main Line, DiBruno Bros is a thriving Italian specialty market, serving up excellent meats, cheeses, olive oils, pasta, spices, sweets, olives, vinegars ... everything an Italian food lover could want! And better still, they now offer mail order and gift baskets. You can choose one of their signature baskets, ones for cheese lovers, chocolate lovers, olive oil & balsamic vinegar, coffee & tea or design your own based on the tastes of your gift recipient. Gifts start at less than $10 and the sky's the limit beyond that - including a $200 bottle of balsamic vinegar! On Sale at Di Bruno Bros
Get a great deal on a gift item today!
3. Gourmet Cooking & Living's Italian Olive Oil of the Month Club
A Continuing Gift for all Food Lovers!
You can read my detailed review of the Olive Oil of the Month Club for further information on this great service.
Follow Gourmet Cooking & Living on Twitter!
4. La Cucina Italiana Magazine Subscription
A Wonderful Food Magazine All About Italy
There are plenty of food and recipe magazines out there, but La Cucina Italiana is different. Published 7 times a year, this beautiful magazine presents authentic recipes from all around Italy, from quick weeknight meals to elaborate feasts for holiday gatherings. Learn about the cheeses and wines of Italy, visit cities small and large, hear stories from Italian farmers and artisan food producers and much more. Every issue is like a quick trip to Italy for the food lover!
Magazine of La Cucina Italiana
Amazon Price: (as of 05/31/2012)
A gift subscription is a perfectly thoughtful yet inexpensive gift for an Italian food lover. They'll surely find something to savor and inspire in every issue of this attractive magazine.
From La Cucina Italiana
Latest recipes on their website
5. Taste Italia Magazine Subscription
The UK's First and Only Italian Cooking Magazine
Another wonderful Italian cooking magazine is Taste Italia. Published in the United Kingdom, subscriptions are available in the United States for $85 for one year, or $150 for two years. This colorful, lively magazine features wonderful seasonal recipes and cooking ideas, along with restaurant reviews in Italy and the UK, features on great Italian chefs, and much more. Learn how to prepare great Italian recipes, everything from Baked Ricotta with Grilled Vegetables to Tuna Tartare with Blood Orange, Carrot and Beetroot Salad. See step-by-step photographs to guide you through preparation techniques and also enjoy wine tasting reviews and notes in every issue. Latest Tweets from Taste Italia
Follow them on Twitter!
Holiday Delivery Reminder!
Don't forget to order your holiday gifts in a timely fashion! Most retailers will post their deadlines for ordering to ensure delivery in time for Christmas or other big volume holidays. And if you're ordering anything perishable, be sure the recipient will be home to receive your gift.
6. Professional Quality Pizza Stone from Forno Bravo
Make Restaurant Quality Pizza in Your Own Oven
Authentic pizza can be a challenge to prepare at home - but not when you have the right equipment. Forno Bravo sells a wide range of pizza-making equipment from Italian flour and San Marzano tomatoes to backyard pizza ovens. But if you know someone who loves pizza and doesn't have room for a specialized oven, why not get him a pizza stone for the oven? Pizza stones help pizza cook faster and at more even temperatures in residential, regular ovens. I have a pizza stone from Forno Bravo and love it, using it regularly to make thin-crust Neopolitan pizza as well as bake breads, rolls and pies. Forno Bravo's pizza stones are excellent quality and durable, and a great gift for any pizza lover. Forno Bravo on Twitter
7. Italian Wine Club Membership from Celebrations
A Monthly Delight of Unique Italian Wines
Know someone who loves good and interesting Italian wines? Then why not gift her with a subscription to one of Celebrations Italian Wine Clubs? Club subscriptions start at $34 for the Italian Artisan Series of one red wine and one white wine per month, but many different options are available. For $112 a month and for a true wine lover, you can join the Italian Collector Series, receiving 2 premium Italian red wines per month.Memberships are available for varying lengths of time, from monthly to prepaid for a full year. These unique wines are often not easy to find in typical wine retail shops in the United States and can provide a wonderful introduction to the wines of Italy for new wine enthusiasts.
8. Authentic Italian Maiolica
Serving Bowls, Platters and Kitchenware with Character
No Italian kitchen would be complete without at least several pieces of beautiful Italian pottery, or Maiolica. These colorful, hand-painted dishes, bowls, plates and platters are attractive as well as functional, and would make a gift for an Italian food enthusiast which would be sure to be enjoyed for many years to come. Different regions and cities in Italy produce unique styles of maiolica, and you can find pieces reproducing classical themes and designs as well as colorful fruit and flower patterns.Of course, if you are traveling in Italy and have the chance to shop for maiolica pieces there, that's terrific! But you can also purchase Italian Maiolica at home from many websites as well as import shops. Just a few on-line suppliers of authentic Italian maiolica include:
* Italian Pottery Outlet
* Villaggio Ceramics
* San Giovanni Tuscan Style
* Bianco e Nero
* Studio Artistico
Italian Maiolica on eBay
Search For a Great Deal on Maiolica from Italy Today!
9. Lello 4080 Musso Lussino 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker
Professional Quality Gelato and Ice Cream Machine
Do you know someone who loves Italian style gelato? Then nothing can beat having your very own professional-quality ice cream/gelato machine at home.
Lello 4080 Musso Lussino 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker, Stainless
Amazon Price: $669.99 (as of 05/31/2012)
Here's a gift for someone you really love. This machine is perfect for anyone who enjoys Italian style gelato, ice cream, sorbet and other frozen treats. Compact, quiet and oh so efficient, just prepare your ingredients, add to the machine, and let it stir and chill until smooth and creamy. The price might seem steep but if you really love gelato, this is the machine you want for your kitchen. I speak from experience as we have one in our kitchen and love it! It especially gets a workout during the summertime when there's a bounty of fresh fruit to make delicious cool treats.
Get a Great Deal on a Gelato Maker on eBay
Why Pay Full Price? Check These Auctions Running Now.
Gelato Cookbooks on Amazon
Why Not Get a Cookbook to Go With That New Gelato Machine?
10. Nuova Simonelli Oscar Pour Over MOP140010 Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine
An Espresso Machine for True Afficionados!
The gift for the serious espresso connoisseur. This machine is not your typical residential home-brewer, but one made from commercial grade components and capable of truly brewing espresso to rival what you'll find in an Italian cafe. Unlike other home espresso machines, the heat exchanger in this Nuova Simonelli allows you to brew espresso and steam milk at the same time to make perfect cappuccinos, macchiatos and lattes. Yes, the price tag is over $1,000...but for a true espresso lover, there is no price on a good brew.
Nuova Simonelli Oscar Pour Over MOP140010 Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine
Professional cafe quality espresso in your home kitchen. This model is compact yet powerful, allowing you to brew outstanding espresso drinks at home while steaming milk at the same time - so your espresso won't go cold by the time your milk is ready!
Nuova Simonelli Espresso Equipment on eBay
For Home Use...or Commercial
Shop and compare - you can find all kinds of Nuova Simonelli espresso equipment on eBay.
More Great Gift Ideas...Try an Italian Cookbook!
My Picks for the Best Italian Cookbooks Today
Of course, a lover of Italian food will likely never say no to a new cookbook. These are my Top 10 picks for the best Italian cookbooks available. From vegetable cooking and seafood specialties to Northern Italian classics, you'll find them all in these pages and collections.
Comments Welcome on my Gourmet Italian Gift Guide
I hope I've given you some ideas and inspiration while shopping for that perfect holiday gift for the Italian food lover. If you have any other great gift ideas, please feel free to leave a suggestion here! Or just a comment on what you thought of this page overall. Thank you for visiting!
About the Author
by sockii
I'm a self-proclaimed Jane of All Trades who has written for numerous sites on-line including the Yahoo!Contributor Network, Demand Studios and Suite101.... more »
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