Kitchen and bar holiday gifts for your foodie friends

By Virginia K. Smith | December 3, 2015 - 8:59AM

Even if the actual size of their kitchens leave something to be desired (and their "cooking" prowess consists of reheating Seamless orders), you'd be hard-pressed to find a New Yorker who doesn't take an avid interest in food, cocktails, or the blissful combination of the two. That in mind, we scoured our favorite NYC shops for perfect gifts for any NYC kitchen (or home bar):

It's a universal truth that everyone, everywhere, is always in need of an extra mug. (Ours have an unfortunate habit of getting dropped on the tile floors pre-coffee.) For the coffee-chugging design aficionado, beloved kitchen store Fishs Eddy has this floor plan mug ($13.95), all the better to spur fantasies about moving into a place that actually has space for a library or drawing room.

A bottle of something boozy is one of the most time-tested gifts out there, and of all the local spirits being brewed in Brooklyn right now, you'd be hard pressed to find anything that's both delicious and complex than Red Hook-based Widow Jane. If you're feeling extravagant, spring for the four bottle Heirloom Gift Set ($95), but failing that, you can also pick up a single bottle for $59.99.

Home brewing has been all the rage for ages now, but there's a new make-your-own comestible trend on the scene: DIY cheese. (Yes, really.) For the more adventurous and hands-on cheese lover in your life, pick up William Sonoma's DIY Mozzarella & Ricotta Cheese Making Kit ($39.95), or Brooklyn Kitchen's Urban Cheese craft kit ($29.95).

For a big-ticket item (or something "Santa" happens to just leave in your living room this year), try this chic, versatile, and timeless classic: the bar cart. We like this midcentury model from West Elm ($349).

For your friend who always seems to be serving up a cheese plate or other assorted nibbles, take their hosting game a step beyond the usual wooden cheese board with this SPARQ soapstone appetizer tray ($38), which can be heated in the oven or chilled in the fridge or freezer to keep party snacks at the perfect temperature.

Nothing adds a little extra boost to a meal like custom condiments, and what better gift than this locally-made version of hot honey, the food world's current trend topping du jour. (It is shockingly good on pizza.) Stop into By Brooklyn to snap up Bees Knees Spicy Honey ($18.00), or if your intended gift-ee isn't much on spice, opt for Empire's White Truffle Mayonnaise ($8.00) instead.

Instead of traditional coasters that clatter around or get slippery when wet, opt for Steven Alan's Fog Linen Work Coaster ($5), for your friend who's always worried about water rings on their antique coffee table.

For the tippling locavore, grab a copy of Brooklyn Spirits: Craft Distilling and Cocktails from the World's Hippest Borough ($27.34), which offers up profiles of Brooklyn's best distilleries and custom cocktail recipes to mix up using their spirits. On top of that, there are 15 recipes included for special syrups, bitters, and other ingredients to give drinks that extra oomph.

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