Kate Stevenson’s 11 Christmas gifts ideas for a foodie
Christmas gift ideas for the foodie in your life!
A few years ago I finished the year with some ideas for last minute Christmas gift for foodies, and it was pretty popular, so thought we might have another go. There are a myriad of experiences, products, vouchers
and more available all over town … but here are just a few:
EXPERIENCES
A picnic at Montalto – these are fab, I’ve done it twice. Scattered around the large grounds of this Mornington Peninsula winery are a number of timber picnic tables, with white linen, cutlery, and a fridge that contains your three course share lunch. You can do a tasting first, then get your bottle delivered to your unique spot. It’s a perfect thing to do over summer and you can buy a gift voucher.
Cheese Dreamz – For the cheese lover, how about a Sunday afternoon on the terrace at Prahan’s Wilson & Market for “Cheese Dreamz” – Voucher for Cheese Dreams at Wilson and Market – they
can arrange a voucher and $50 will get your loved one all-you- can-eat cheese, bottomless tap wine, cider and craft beer. It’s run every Sunday afternoon from 3pm – 6pm.
COOKING CLASSES
I’ve been lucky enough to visit a few cooking schools over the year, here are some of the best:
Relish Mama – Nellie Kerrison’s cooking school is tucked away in a Cheltenham industrial estate, but when you walk up the stairs it’s an absolute gourmet oasis. Brilliant space, beautifully decorated. There are a heap of classes on offer including Ancient grains, party food, pasta making, dumplings, plus classes for the kids too. http://www.relishmama.com.au
Ross and Kate visited Relish Mama for A Moveable Feast earlier this year.
La Cucina di Sandra – in her funky Richmond townhouse, Sandra del Greco runs cooking classes in all things regional Italian. You can book out a whole class, or just join the one that tickles your fancy, then sit down at her beautiful table to enjoy your spoils. www.lacucinadisandra.com.au
Piper St Food Co – Charcuterie-mad Damian Sandercock churns out stunning pork pies, terrines, pâtés, parfaits, sausages and rillettes in this Kyneton food store, but he will also teach you how to make them. A great excuse to get to a beautiful part of Victoria. https://piperstfoodco.com/
Ross and Kate when they visited Piper St earlier this year.
GIFTS
Foodie books – Everyone loves a good book, and local outfit “Smudge Publications” do some stunners – hardcover tomes with titles like: Flavours of Hong Kong, Flavours of Tasmania, Flavours of Melbourne, Flavours of Urban Melbourne, and even Bali; plus mini-guides like Smudge Eats Melbourne. More info – www.smudgepub.com.au
And cookbooks – Speaking of Wilson and Market, head along there to get executive chef Paul Wilson’s Taqueria Mexican cookbook – you can get a signed copy for a special price this festive season $20 (normally $45). www.wilsonandmarket.com.au
Fancy knives – Tanto, at the QT Hotel Melbourne is a speciality Japanese knife boutique which sells expertly forged Suisin knives, sourced by 10th generation sword makers. From Sakai city in Osaka, the Suisin brand is exclusive to Tanto in Australia. Ranging in price from $75 – $1,260, you’re bound to find something for the cutlery snob in your life.
Coffee kits – speaking of snobs, what about coffee snobs? Well, St Ali has the perfect pressie – a “Learn to taste coffee” home kit. Forget wine tasting, how about learning what makes a great coffee? This kit contains cupping bowls and spoons, grinder, digital scales, filter papers, coffee of course, and a Learn to Taste Coffee booklet along with video classes.
https://stali.com.au/pages/about
Give the gift of food trend – Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tarts are going bunta! Inspired by the distinct cheesy taste of Hokkaido dairy, and using a traditional recipe from Japan’s dairy heartland, there are queues daily – so spoil your loved one by lining up for a back of six, and you’ll get a free Christmassy bow and card. http://www.hbctaus.com.au/locations
Boozy with a bow – got a cocktail lover in your sights?
One of Melbourne’s favourite cocktail bars, The Everleigh, now has a “bottling co”, which means they prepare and package timeless cocktails byhand and to the exact recipe they use in-house – plus, the bottles themselves are super cute! You can get packs of four classic cocktails, there are gift sets that come with their cocktail book, or for something really special – they’ve scoured the globe for rare vintage spirits to create a limited collection of antique cocktails. https://everleighbottling.com
