What to Gift your Foodie Friends who Have it All!
We’ve sipped, snacked, and sorted through treats that will tickle your tastebuds and whet your appetite for gift-giving. From bon-vivants to ambitious home bakers to cocktail-obsessed hosts, we’ve rounded up a collection of one-of-a-kind gifts for the foodies in your life. Sudha Nair-Iliades and Angela Stamatiadou do the hard work of trying it all out!
From gourmet food gifts to tickle the tastebuds to your favourite food-lover’s top tipple, there are plenty of gifts to choose from, so treat those you love or even yourself – why not brighten up your own kitchen cupboards? Browse our definitive guide to gifts for foodies.
Let Sexy Cookware Elevate your Culinary Adventures
Alessi products available at parousiasi.gr or at any of the Parousiasi stores in Greece. Patriarchou Ioakeim 33, Kolonaki and Hay available at Myran, Fokilidou 3. myran.gr
A Date with the Masters
For those who are always looking to improve their culinary skills, a subscription to MasterClass could be the difference between mediocre and Michelin-starred. The popular online streaming service boasts myriad pro tutors, but an area it really excels in is the food front. Chefs from Gordon Ramsay to Massimo Bottura to Yotam Ottolenghi are all on hand to share their tools of the trade and guide you through some of their signature dishes, all in a far more interactive way than any cookbook could offer. At just 12 euros for 20 videos stretched across 4 hours, this is a gift that will keep on giving!
Tea me: Hotel Grande Bretagne’s sublime high tea
Hotel Grande Bretagne, Syntagma. Tel: 210.333.074, www.hotelgrandebretagne.gr
Trikalinos Bottarga: a very special treat
Zafeiris Trikalinos’ bottarga is the epitome of Greek culinary artistry, celebrated globally and adored by gastronomic legends like Ferran Adrià and the Roca brothers. This delicacy, made from extraordinarily fresh grey mullet roe and encased in natural beeswax, is a ticket to breaking taste frontiers. At €40–€45, just a few slivers paired with champagne, chilled white wine, vodka, or smoked malt transform any moment into an indulgent affair. Perfect for the festive season, Trikalinos bottarga elevates oysters, risottos, and pasta dishes with its rich, umami-laden profile. Don’t overlook the versatile roe powder—sprinkle it over simple scrambled eggs to turn a humble brunch into a gourmet feast. An exceptional gift or indulgence for those who crave a taste of refinement.
Trikalinos products can be found at Degustation (Koumbari 5, Kolonaki, Tel: 210.362.7744), Yoleni’s (Solonos 9, tel. 212.222.3623), Cibo et Vino (Kapsali 10, Kolonaki, Tel. 211.405.9707) and at many more select stores and delicatessens. www.trikalinos.gr
Cellier: I’m dreaming of a wine Xmas
Cellier has been offering us liquid courage to deal with everything the world has been throwing our way – and they really step up their game for the festive season. Guaranteed to please everyone, wine nerd or novice, Cellier’s highly experienced staff will assist you in choosing the best bubblies and wines, both in-store and by phone, with their wine gift compositions starting from 48 euros to 1500 euros, depending on how indulgent you want to be! Almost as intoxicating as the champagnes and fine wines from Greek and international vineyards, is the packaging. In uplifting, bold, retro print boxes, elegant baskets and wooden caskets, there is a sense of opening a very special box of surprises. If you’d like to go large with an extra dose of festive cheer, opt for an impressive magnum, (Cellier stocks 56 varieties of 3-litre magnum goodness to choose from!) or a double magnum (expect to shell out around 800 to 860 euros for a 6 litre Moet et Chandon or Veuve Cliquot double magnum). Free delivery for orders for over 50 euros in the Athens area.
Stores: Kriezotou 1D, Syntagma, Tel.210 3610040/369; Kifissias Ave. 369, Kifissia, Tel: 210 8018756/320; Syggrou Ave., Kallithea, Tel: 210 4533551/156, Kifissias Ave. 156, Neo Psychiko, Tel: 2106701015, online orders at: www.cellier.gr
Sweet Alchemy by Stelios Parliaros: Signature creations
As you cross the threshold of Stelios Parliaros’ Sweet Alchemy, into a land of temptation and sin, it’s hard not to succumb to the famous pastry chef’s handiwork! Trance-like, you’re led into a magical sweet kingdom. There are chocolates, festive specialities, but also everything you or your aspiring baker friends might need, to recreate some of the Parliaros fantasies at home. Take your pick of fine chocolates, almond paste, candied chestnuts, glazed fruit to recipe books, moulds, cake trays, thermometers and silicone spatulas! Order Christmas treats – wonderful panettone starting at 16 euros, 800 grams of melomakarona for just 18 euros, jams, chocolate chip cookies, cookies in wooden boxes or jars (chocolate sable with 70% cocoa for 7.50 euros), Christmas chocolates with spices. A tempting choice of gift hampers awaits too. Delivery through Wolt.
Irodotou 24, Kolonaki, tel. 210 724.0205. www.steliosparliaros.gr
Story on a plate: Turning a great dish into an artwork
If Visual Feast had us marveling at the art of modern food photography, Story on a Plate: The Delicate Art of Plating Dishes by Gestalten takes our obsession to the next level. This stunning book dives into the exquisite craft of plating, showcasing chefs and food stylists who transform dishes into masterpieces. With a blend of inspiration, artistry, and technique, it’s packed with ideas to elevate your culinary presentation—playing with colors, shapes, textures, and aromas for maximum allure. At just €39.90, this gem is a surefire hit for your foodie friends. But fair warning: exploring the Gestalten website is like falling into a rabbit hole of irresistible design delights. Proceed with caution—and a full shopping cart!
Junto carafe: bringing warmth to the table
For aesthetes and gourmets alike, the Junto carafe, designed by Simon Legald for Normann Copenhagen, inspired by the traditional Spanish botijo, is a winner both for its practicality as for its sleek design. A traditional porous clay container that keeps water fresh, it is made of fired terracotta, with two spouts (one for filling, one for pouring). Its hewn texture and earthy tone lends itself to mixing and matching with your existing porcelain. Paraphernalia stocks it for € 35. Pair it with other Scandi-Medi utensils such as oil and vinegar holders, salt and pepper shakers, large salad bowls, matching cups or gift it on its own.
Paraphernalia, www.paraphernalia.gr
When Metaxa has a date with chocolate…
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- Private Reserve Esophy chocolates pairing
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- Sofia Dendrinou, Evdokia Liakou and Kontantinos Raptis
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- Private Reserve Esophy chocolates pairing
Metaxa, the emblematic Greek spirit with a rich, 132 years of history, synonymous with refined evenings. Chocolate is an excellent pairing to this spirit, which blends aromatic Muscat wines from Samos and fine wine spirits that mature separately in oak barrels. This Christmas, Sophia Dendrinou and Evdokia Liakou, the two chocolatières who founded Ésophy, along with Metaxa Master Konstantinos Raptis, create four distinct bespoke chocolates, inspired by the singular character of two different Metaxa varieties. For the Metaxa 12 Star, they create a bar of special chocolate with Orange and Basil, and another, charmingly spicy, with Cardamom and Fig. For the Metaxa Private Reserve, the chocolate is laced with winter spices, hints of cinnamon and clove for a delicate smoky note, and another one with spicy apricot, with wonderfully bitter hints and a fresh, fruity aftertaste. These uniquely inventive chocolates are great for pairings after a meal and make for a terrific gift idea for your connoisseur friends as well.
For sale at select cavas, as well as at the Ésophy store, 10 Agiou Tryfonos, Kifissia. Tel: 210 6230230, www.esophychocolates.gr
