Holiday Gift Guide 2018

Give the Gift of Eating: 5 Things for Food Lovers

Give them a fish, they'll eat for a day; give them a Pacific Northwest–made cast-iron pan, they'll eat as long as they keep up that patina.

By Rosin Saez With Elizabeth Podlesnik December 17, 2018

Hot Hot Sauce Sauce

I am an avid lover of heat—tropical vacations and spice alike. So whenever a new Seattle sauce comes out, I'm dabbing it on everything. Habeñero-based hot sauces happen to be a go-to; they're don't melt your face off, but they certainly add kick, and most importantly flavor—and that's what Hot Hot Sauce Sauce does. What can only be described as a "flaming orange face-punch of peppery fruit and habañero heat," it's what I'm dousing on my eggs in the morning and post-drinks tacos late at night. Find it at spots like Bait Shop on Capitol Hill or online. Hot Hot Sauce Sauce, $12

Photography by Courtesy Hot Hot Sauce Sauce

Cast-Iron Cookware by Finex

For the last handful of years the fine folks behind Finex, which is founded and forged in Portland, Oregon, have raised the cast-iron bar, so to speak—watch out, Lodge. The Pacific Northwest cookware company crafts a hearty skillet: It's a kitchen workhorse for everything from eggs to steaks to berry clafoutis, and always camp-ready. Finex, $275 (with lid)

Photography by Jessica Fiorillo

Bow Hill Blueberry Juice Cocktail Kit

For the mixologist in your life whose boozy experiments know no bounds, this box of blueberry goods may just fuel their next lineup of cocktails—think of this as a gift for you, too. The kit comes with bottles of organic, heirloom blueberry juice, blueberry powder, a shot glass, plus recipes for both cocktails and mocktails. Bow Hill, $65 (P.S. We hear you can get an extra 10 percent off when you use the code METMAG.)

Photography by Courtesy Bow Hill

San Juan Island Sea Salt and Honey

Beyoncé keeps hot sauce in her bag. I, on the other hand, keep a little glass jar of San Juan Island sea salt in my bag, and at my desk, and in my car—the plague of underseasoned food is real and this crunchy, medium coarse salt saves me daily. Honey just sweetens the deal. San Juan Island Sea Salt, $25

Photography by Courtesy San Juan Island Sea Salt

Made in Washington's Smokehouse Slider Kit

The Smokehouse Slider is a taste of the Pacific Northwest in between two Essential Bakery buns. Recreate it with this kit which includes SeaBear smoked salmon, AJ’s Walla Walla Sweet Onion Mustard, and Mama Lil’s Pickled Hungarian Goathorn Peppers. Made in Washington

Photography by Courtesy Made in Washington

Perhaps "foodie gifts" can easily get into the sad trombone territory. (Thank you for this tiny tin of nuts that I'm allergic to. You shouldn't have.) But a roundup of local offerings from cookware to cocktail kits can be meaningful, and more importantly, legitimately fun to receive.

Holidays, Gift Guides, Holiday Gifts

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Give the Gift of Eating: 5 Things for Food Lovers

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