There are all those stocking stuffer random gifts you keep adding to your holiday shopping list, for the dog-walker, the various cousins, the kids’ teachers, the mailperson—don’t forget them, they’re working overtime lately. This is where our Under $25 gift guide comes in handy. Make sure you put some effort into wrapping these items with cute tiny bows and lovely paper—otherwise your giftee might think you just reached into your pantry. Which...maybe you did. No one needs to know.
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PHOTO BY CHELSIE CRAIG, FOOD STYLING BY GABY MELIAN1/23For the hors d'oeuvre aficionado
Not sure if you’ve noticed, but our staff is obsessed with canned and jarred fish. And these anchovies, from Donostia, a.k.a. San Sebastian, were some of the best we tried all year. They’re so buttery and tender (and subtle in the fishy flavor), that we like to eat them on toast with a slab of butter, on pizza, or plain, lightly dressed with sherry vinegar and olive oil. Oh, and they’re sustainably sourced, wild-caught, etc. to boot.
PHOTO BY CHELSIE CRAIG2/23For the neat freak
Japanese Kamenoko Tawashi scrubbers have a healthy cult following, and we very much pray at the altar. These durable, waterproof palm fibers brushes are tough enough for washing dirty dishes, pots, and pans (especially of the cast iron variety!), but gentle enough to clean veggies, too. If your friends, family, love interests, colleagues, bosses…don’t have one of these already, they probably need one. We love the brand’s body exfoliating brush just as much, and for the same reasons: They’re bristly enough to get you squeaky clean, but gentle enough that your skin’s glowy, not raw.
PHOTO BY CHELSIE CRAIG3/23For the tahini superfan
This is the lazy cook’s tahini: It’s so silky-smooth that you never have to stir. Better yet though, Soom is so delicious—nutty, earthy, and just the right level of bitter—it also makes whatever we’re cooking taste just plain better. That’s because the White Humera sesame seeds used here, sourced from the Tigray region of northwest Ethiopia, have the ideal oil to meat ratio, meaning that it doesn’t take any extra oil or additives for the tahini to remain emulsified. We’re not the only ones who think it’s the best. Chef Michael Solomov deemed the Philadelphia-based, sister-owned company his favorite brand in his first book Zahav.
PHOTO BY CHELSIE CRAIG4/23For the tchotchke appreciator
Scented room sprays can be hit or miss. An earthy pinon incense wafting out of a charming, appealingly kitsch Altoid-tin-size pueblo dwelling, on the other hand, is a freakin' homerun. Made from dried out and compressed pine needles from the southwest region of New Mexico, the sugar-cube-like incense bricks emit a woodsy aroma that’s perfect any time of the year, but particularly delightful in the winter time.
PHOTO BY CHELSIE CRAIG5/23For the person with a discerning condiment shelf
This is the one miso brand that Bon Appétit food editors covet above the rest. That’s because the texture is distinctly dense and chunky yet still soft and malleable. The flavor is deep and bold but not bitter or astringent, and much funkier and more complex (in a good way) than the mass produced stuff. What makes South River Miso so special? It’s been made for 40 years in central Massachusetts by Christian and Gaella Elwell who abide by the traditional methods.
PHOTO BY ALEX LAU6/23For the coworker with the messy desk
We may be living in a Marie Kondo world, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t things—tchotchkes, knick-knacks, call ‘em what you will—that still bring us tons of joy. We found a solution to having it both ways: these perfectly simple, utilitarian-but-still-cute trays from Schoolhouse Electric, which help keep all our crap appear neat and tidy and intentionally placed. Sure they’re another “thing” to have around the house, but their neutral tones and petite size make them a joy unto themselves.
PHOTO BY CHELSIE CRAIG7/23For the nut butter nut
This heavenly mixture of peanuts, almonds, cardamom, sugar, honey, clove, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, vanilla, and Jacobsen sea salt is so straight-out-of-the-jar good, it’s basically the indie, small-batch, chunky chai tea–flavored nut butter equivalent of fairies and cloudless 74° days and rainbows. If we were millionaires, we’d spread it on everything that came our way.
PHOTO BY ALEX LAU8/23For the sweet-(but-not-too-sweet)-tooth
These are the world’s finest dates. They’re plump and have a natural caramelized flavor. They're fat free, rich in fiber, potassium, and copper. And because they're so sweet, they’re practically dessert. We like to use ‘em as an everyday desk snack, preworkout fuel (smear ‘em with almond butter!), or as part of an elegant predinner party spread.
PHOTO BY CHELSIE CRAIG9/23For the “modest” drinker
We aren’t known to let a good bottle of wine go unfinished, but when we must leave some for later, we’re reaching for these small, innocuous-looking bottle stoppers. Made from rubber and stainless steel, with ridges and a funnel-like shape, these guys provide an actually-airtight seal, which means that if you happen to forget about that open bottle in the fridge for a few days, chances are, the juice inside is still just as good as the day you opened it. We’d suggest giving this gift...with an accompanying bottle of wine too.
PHOTO BY CHELSIE CRAIG10/23For anyone, and everyone, because it’s cookies
If you’re not going to bake cookies as a gift, you better be buying the best. Buttery but not too rich, shiny with a crunchy sugared top, these cookies are pretty much perfection. The tin gives it a cozy grandma vibe, but like—a really cool, modern, and very New York one. All of the flavors are delicious, but we’re especially partial to the Lavender & Coconut one.
PHOTO BY CHELSIE CRAIG11/23For the schleppers among us
This bag is made for the schleppers among us. Made in partnership with an independent women’s sewing cooperative in Juárez, Mexico, the lightweight polyester tote is designed to hold up to 45 pounds—and without the straps digging into your shoulders. Two deep interior pockets make it easy to keep cash, keys, and other essentials that usually get trapped at the bottom of the bag separate. But best of all, the whole tote folds up into a card-deck-size roll, making it easy to stash in a spare pocket for any impromptu purchases.Buy it: Junes The Mesh Bag, $20 at Junes
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