Category News & Events

2012 Holiday Gift Guide for Foodies

You know it’s out there: the perfect gift. Need a little help visualizing it? We’ve got you covered. Our awesome-gift-finding radar (not available in stores) has been turned on since Halloween. Check out this list of must-gifts for friends, foodies, and friendly foodies.

For the Hands-On Foodie:
Grow Your Own Mushroom Kit – These kits were all the rage this year (unlike that phrase). Who wouldn’t want to grow pearl oyster mushrooms in soil made of recycled coffee grounds? It’s almost too easy!

Cheese-Making Kit – Our friends at the Cheese School of San Francisco are known for their informative cheese-tasting, -paring, and -making classes. Get your skills to-go with this at home cheese-making kit. Insider tip: We’ll be hosting a fun, cheese-filled Valentine’s Day couples cooking class for cheese lovers!

Wood Cutting Board – Pay tribute to the great outdoors (and its lumberjacks) with these handcrafted cutting boards. They also make unique cheese boards!

Tickets to a Cooking Class! – From Pickling at Workshop to a variety of themed group cooking classes with Parties That Cook, a fun foodie adventure is easy to find. Not sure about their schedule? Just grab a gift certificate! Done and done.

Whale Knives – These fun knives are sure to encourage chopping, slicing and dicing. “They’re just so darn cute!”

For the Techie Foodie:
Qooq Culinary Tablet – First things first: it’s pronounced cook. This tablet specializes in all things culinary. With more than 1,000 recipes and videos from renowned chefs, it’s as much teacher as practical tool to create meal plans and emailable shopping lists. Plus, it’s splash-proof for when things get messy.

iPad and or iPhone Sleeves – Help keep precious electronics clean with these touch-sensitive sleeves. We all know your friend a hot mess in the kitchen.

For the Bookworm Foodie:
Food52 Cookbook – We had so much fun experimenting with the original Food52 Cookbook, that we can’t help but have high hopes for version 2. YUM.

Tartine Cookbooks – What’s better than a lifetime of Tartine baked goods? Well, nothing really… So give your bestie the tools to make it happen!

Cookfight: an Epic Battle for Kitchen Dominance – This book features 2 Cooks, 12 Challenges and 125 Recipes to keep the lucky recipient busy until the next big holiday!

Bottega Cookbook – PTC Cookbook Club-tested and definitely approved! These delicious recipes are a treat for anyone lucky enough to be invited to dinner. Just make you’re your name makes the guest list!

For the Hosting Foodie:
Dinner-Party-In-A-Box (Vol.5) – With all the components for hosting a great snatch the latest edition of The Bold Italic’s dinner party in a box while you still can! Be sure to order yours by December 17th to ensure delivery by Christmas.

Table Topics – We’re such huge fans of ice-breakers, we couldn’t leave this off the list. Table Topics are a great way to get conversation flowing. Try this Foodie Fight Game to really kick things up a notch.

Cocktails for a Crowd – Save the host from doubling as bartender. These batch recipes will help them throw a bash everyone will remember… Or, not.

For the Charitable Foodie:
Make a Donation in their Name – Countless organizations feed, provide culinary and business skills to, or generally aid to those in need.

Charity Mugs – These adorable, limited-edition mugs benefit a variety of organizations. , from red ribbon-wrapped (helping AmFAR) and prefab house cartoons (Architecture for Humanity) to Teach for America owl motifs.

Cooking with Kindness – The ultimate gift for charitable foodies! Gather friends, family or coworkers to cook for, dine alongside, and spread holiday cheer to residents at a local shelter. Inquire today for more information!

For the Thirsty Foodie:

Coffee Shop Gift Certificate – Skip the conglomerate “shops” and go a bit more local. Try any of these coffee shops for Chicago folks, or have fun exploring your own hood for “research”.

Bottle Opener – Whether it be for its sleek design or its ability to blend in with everyday objects, your friend can always use a good bottle opener. Extra points if you pair it with their favorite local beer!

Corkcicle! – This “magic wand” of sorts has been popping up everywhere. The handy wine stopper will chill your wine while keeping it fresh in the bottle!

What’s Brewing in Seattle

For this insightful post, we’re bringing in our expert on the ground in Seattle, Carolyn Peters! She’s done her research, sipping, swirling, sniffing, but hopefully not spilling, these fine beverages – all to bring YOU the truth..

Sure, there’s coffee brewing in Seattle, but there’s also some great craft beer brewing. Let’s take a look at a relatively new brewery that’s off to a great start.

Just off the beaten path in Seattle’s hip neighborhood of Ballard, you’ll find Hilliard’s Beer serving some of the area’s best craft brews. Walking into Hilliard’s is a bit like coming home. You’re first welcomed by the sweet aroma of beer-making (a light yeasty smell). You then notice the tall windows and updated white interior bringing a much needed brightness in Seattle’s winter. These sensations are quickly followed by friendly greetings from the knowledgeable staff who are happy to provide tastings and let you know all about their beers. Hilliard’s delicious selection includes amber, IPA, stout, pilsner, Belgian ales and more. Hilliard’s beers are featured on the shelves at Trader Joe’s in Ballard, and served at the highly-acclaimed restaurant, The Walrus & TheCarpenter.

Hilliard’s also boasts a bright and airy taproom set inside their warehouse – once a car dealership! – where you and your friends can enjoy your beers while taking in the action of forklifts moving pallets and pondering the mysteries of large stainless steel tanks (hint: they contain beer in its early stages). The taproom is a great place to lounge, mingle, listen to live music on Thursday nights, or just kick off your evening at their happy hour. Still, I think my favorite component is the wall of Hilliard’s beer cans (filled with beer, of course) ready to be discovered, just past the taproom. Quite an impressive and stylish retro design!

Outside food is welcome, so bring your favorite bite, arrange to have a food cart pull up right outside, or join Parties That Cook chefs for a Brews & Bites cooking party! We’ll be hosting fun interactive cooking classes in Seattle where gourmet food is paired with a few of Hilliard’s beers. There will even be a tasting session during the class! Come learn how Hilliard’s brews their beers, brush up on some new cooking techniques, and fill your belly with delicious food and drink. Interested? Details to come!