Eager for more ideas for unique gifts that will make tummies growl? Coincidentally, I just happen to have a few more splendid ideas to share. Keep in mind, the objective here is gifts that are sustainable, will be kind to Mr. Amex, and will unleash the foodie beast in your friends & family.

5. Make your own cookbook. If you know a person’s favourite foods, this would be such a fun & easy project. Let’s say your friend Gertrude just adores French foods, in fact loves everything about la belle France. Go online & print the recipes you think Gerty would like. Explore the different regions, gathering recipes from all. A nice touch would be to include blurbs about the region itself. Let’s not forget the wines!  Include a few recipes from some famous French Chefs, ie: Julia Child, Jacques Pepin, Fernand Point. Another quick example… your brother Bartholomew LOVES duck! He orders it whenever in a resto, talks about it 24/7, heck he even named his terrier Quack Quack. So, make him a cookbook w/ the best, funkiest duck recipes the boys @ Google can find. This gift has an added bonus for you— Gerty & Bart will start cooking up a storm and guess who they’ll be be inviting over for dinner?

6. Sign someone up w/ a CSA ( Community Sustainable Agriculture). Most cities now have them. You pay a given amount in the winter to a farmer or collective, come growing season you get a weekly share of their bountiful harvest. We’ve been doing this for a # of years now, for both the restaurant & personal consumption. The veggies taste as though they’re still being kissed by the sun! Check online for CSA’s in your area. With this gift you’re also giving to your local farmers…..talk about a gift that keeps on giving!

7. A subscription to a great food magazine.  A few inspiring food books : ie  Michael Pollan

8. Buy a funky basket and fill it w/ really cool artisanal foods. Spelt crackers, smoked salt, smoked paprika, peppercorns, stuffed olives, salted anchovies; search your markets & health food stores—- you’ll be able to fill many baskets! Tuck in a fancy napkin, a bottle of locally produced wine and, at the last minute of course, some cheese from a nearby producer. Call it a seasonal picnic basket. Don’t forget to make it all pretty! Presentation, people, presentation!!

So, there you have it. Eight ways to blow away the people on your list, and as a bonus you get to turn them on to real food, start conversations, and be the envy of everyone else in the room ( Damn, why didn’t I think of that?)