5 Gourmet Gifts and Experiences for the 2017 Holidays
If you’ve left it until the last minute to buy the gastronome in your life a gift, Luxury Defined is here to help with our curated selection
While we can all appreciate a bottle of something special, or unique glassware to serve it in, the sheer number of gift options out there for foodies can be staggering. Here we’ve curated the best and newest gourmet gifts and experiences, including what must be the most delicious indulgence of them all.
1. History in a bottle
Cognac master Rémy Martin has introduced the Louis XIII Time Collection, a series of limited-edition decanters paying homage to the history of its classic blend, and the cellar masters who dedicated their lives to making them. Among them, The Origin 1874—which is made up of 1,200 eaux-de-vie from Grande Champagne, the premier cru of the Cognac region—comes with a hand-blown stopper and is encased in a metal coffret reminiscent of the wicker baskets originally used to transport Louis XIII cognac.
2. All the fun of the fair
“The circus is magical,” says design maestro Marcel Wanders. “It’s mystical; it’s larger than life.” Wanders has teamed up with Italian accessories brand Alessi to produce a collection of limited-edition kitchenware that celebrates life under the big top. Standout pieces of the Alessi Circus collection include The Jester corkscrew, a riot of color that will make opening your favorite bottle much more fun; The Candyman candy dispenser, which may cause you to overdo the treats; and The Strongman nutcracker, whose grimace belies the ease with which he dispenses with nuts of all shapes.
3. The perfect serve
For glassware that won’t go out of style, the Baccarat Cocktail Glass Set by Clos19 can’t be beat. The Harmonie Highball is made from clear crystal with a slim silhouette, the regal Harcourt 1841 Coupe is a fitting receptacle for a vintage champagne, and the beveled cut of the Masséna Tumbler refracts light off your ice cube, making it the perfect choice for a dram of whiskey served over ice. The stylish trio comes in a festive red box, with the collaboration elegantly inscribed on the front.
4. National heritage
Think you know American cuisine? Think again. America: The Cookbook by Gabrielle Langholtz (Phaidon) celebrates the incredible diversity of food culture across the country’s 50 states, and features authentic home-cooking recipes as well as anecdotes, facts, and guest essays and menus from almost 100 food heroes—among them Alice Waters and Danny Meyer. “Our culinary canon is wild and wonderful,” says Langholtz. “It is old and it is young… It’s messy and it’s meaningful.”
5. Regional specialty
Located within the UNESCO-listed Val d’Orcia region of Tuscany, Italy, the 5,000-acre Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco is the perfect destination for a peaceful winter retreat. Particularly for gourmets. The 800-year-old estate was bought by Massimo Ferragamo, son of the fashion designer Salvatore, in 2003, and joined the Rosewood portfolio in 2015.
Accommodation comes in the shape of 23 suites and 11 elegantly converted former farmhouses spread out across the valley that offer large fireplaces, plush furnishings, and the option to hire a private chef in order to experience Tuscany’s greatest asset: its food.
Those looking for a more immersive introduction to Tuscan cuisine can join the estate’s vineyard tasting tour, take part in a truffle hunt, or enroll in its cooking school, which explores the flavors of the region. A two-hour lesson starts with a tour of the kitchen garden before you create dishes such as wild boar stew, pizza, cacio e pepe, and a traditional orange-and-spice bread cake.
