12 Best Holiday Gifts For New York City Foodies
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday behind us, maybe you're still looking to stuff the stocking of your favorite New York City foodie. These cooking classes, tasty gift sets and specialty food items will satisfy your hungry loved ones this holiday season. By Sarah Shaker.
More: The 9 Best Cupcakes In NYC
Learn how to frost cupcakes the Butter Lane way. This East Village cupcakery provides the equipment, ingredients and know-how to make delicious cupcakes with a variety of homemade frostings, made by you. Treat your friends to one of Butterlane's classes at $60 per person for a sweet gifting experience together.
Black & White Cookies, Joyce Bakeshop
646 Vanderbilt Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11238
(718) 623-7470
joycebakeshop.com
This is the perfect gift for the out-of-towner with a sweet tooth. The black & white cookie is an iconic New York City staple, and few do it better than the folks at Joyce Bakeshop. The bakery in Prospect Heights skips fondant in favor of rich, creamy vanilla and chocolate frosting. This leaves a moist, decadent treat, which no one will be re-gifting this season. For the holidays, Joyce is also offering a pumpkin Macaron gift box for $20.
Deliciousness on a stick is about the only way to describe Popbar's hot chocolate on a stick. Perfect for the chocolate lover in your life who's also hyper-trendy, these little cubes of chocolate are made with premium Swiss chocolate that create a frothy cup of hot chocolate delight - the best way to fight NYC's cold winters. Singles are $2.99 a pop, while a 3 pack runs $9, and the 6 and 12 pack gift boxes are $18 and $36, respectively. Stop in the store today to pick yours up today - they also ship nationwide.
This recently opened East Village haven for macarons makes for a sweet holiday gift. Pick and choose from a variety if sweet flavors, like Caramel Fleur De Sel (Salted Caramel Buttercream) or Candied Bacon with Maple Cream Cheese in a set of 6 for $15, 12 for $28 or 24 for $54.
Treat someone you love to the finest caviar packed by hand, with care and expertise, at Russ & Daughters in the Lower East Side. Building off the success of their caviar primer classes, Josh Russ Tupper and Niki Russ Federman, 4th generation owners of Russ & Daughters, have created this gift package which provides everything you need to savor the allure of caviar on your own, to serve it to guests, or to give as a gift this holiday season.
It's the gift that keeps on giving. Purchase this t-shirt from That Burger for the carnivore in your life this holiday season to guarantee him or her a free burger when they stop by Billy Hurricane's. That Burger flips one of our favorite cheap eats in the East Village, and 15 percent of t-shirt proceeds will go to local Hurricane Sandy charities this season.
Whether you're celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah (or maybe both) Economy Candy in the Lower East Side creates gift baskets and packages for the sweetest celebration. New York themed chocolates are also available to treat a NYC foodie with a serious sweet tooth.
Gift your loved ones, who now have little ones of their own, with a bonding experience they'll never forget. Familes and friends can make the most of a Christmas tradition by building a gingerbread house together. All participants will prepare their own 6-by-5-by-8-inch gingerbread house, from making and baking the dough to applying the final decorative touches. After class, attendees will take their sugared, frosted, candy-studded masterpiece home to enjoy as a decoration and a dessert.
LIC Market is offering fall marketplace items that will make the perfect gift for foodies who love to cook, including Apple-Cranberry Butter and the restaurant's signature Fig Mostarda. There's a long list of gourmet items available, including Chipotle BBQ Sauce, BBQ Dry Rub, Cocoa Powder, Eggplant Caponata, Nut Butters and so much more!
Murray's Cheese, the famous Greenwich Village cheese shop, offers a signature Cheese of the Month Club that can be ordered for the cheese freak in your life at once per month for 4, 6 or 12 months. Membership includes a monthly newsletter with detailed tasting notes, cheese profiles, histories and suggestions.
Help your foodie friend sharpen their knife skills at Camaje, learn the secrets to Homemade Pasta Making at Taste Buds Kitchen like Nonna, or spend some sweet (and sour) time Pickling with McClure's at Brooklyn Kitchen. A CourseHorse Gift Card can be used on any of the 20,000+ classes on CourseHorse at over 500 professional class providers in NYC including Lincoln Center, 92nd St Y, Brooklyn Kitchen, MediaBistro, CUNY.
For foodies who appreciate a strong drink, GroupMe Experiences will be offering a tour and tasting event on December 12 from 7-9pm at New York Distilling Company. This gift includes a tour of the distillery, a choice of one signature cocktail, bar snacks for every group to include Grafton Cheddar and Crostini, Peanuts and Olives or Pickles to share and a trivia nightcap, where the winner receives a cocktail of their choice, all for only $33 per person. GroupMe will be offering more than just foodie-centric gift ideas this holiday season, so check them out for other New Yorkers on your list.
Sarah Shaker is the founder of the blog Bright Lights, My City.
