They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach - but we think that definitely applies to everyone. Who doesn't love good food? If you are looking for the perfect gift for your foodie friends and family for birthdays, Christmas, or other special occasions, then you can’t go wrong with some delicious snacks or kitchen gadgets.
We have got gifts sorted for every type of food fanatic, from the BBQ extraordinaire, the snack master, to the coffee connoisseur, all the way to the five-star home chef. So whatever kind of gift you are looking for, we have you covered.
If you've got a foodie father, there's no better gift selection for Father's Day to treat him to this year.
We have scoured the internet for all the best food trends and appliances so your beloved food connoisseur can have the tastiest day.
You don't need to be shopping for a friend to take advantage of these foodie treats. So why not go ahead and spoil yourself!
Jump to a section:
Best food gifts shortlist:
Best food gift for home cooks: Odysea PDO Kalamata Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1L Round Tin
Best gift for foodies: Orriss & Son Hot Sauce ‘The Set’
Best gift set for coffee lovers: Coffees of the World Gift Set
Best food gift set: Love Cocoa Father’s Day gift box
Best useful kitchen tool: Deiss PRO Microplane
Best kitchen tool for home cooks: Skeppshult Spice Grinder
Best food gifts
Nothing can compare to a good quality olive oil. If you know someone who fancies themselves as a bit of a home chef, then buying them a good quality olive oil will really take meals up a notch. This Extra Virgin Olive Oil is produced with Koroneiki olives from groves on the island of Crete and has a beautiful flavour with a peppery finish. It works perfectly in salads or for cooking.
If you have not tried Tony's Chocolate yet, it's not too late. This delish chocolate bar comes from the ethical chocolatiers at Tony's Chocolonely and comes in multiple flavours, from dark milk pretzel toffee to milk caramel sea salt. The perfect gift for a chocolate connoisseur and you can even snap up a mixed case if you can't decide on one flavour.
Chocolate, much like pizza, is a universal love, so we're absolutely certain your dad will love Tony Chocolonely's Chocolate. Plus, it's super affordable and totally worth it, just don't expect him to share.
Your foodie dad or friend can take BBQ season to the next level with this maple BBQ rub. This Angus and Oinks seasoning will be a game-changer on chicken and ribs, not to mention it is gluten-free and vegan. So suitable for most dietary requirements.
This may very well be the pinnacle of great Father's Day gifts for the grill-master; a delicious maple barbeque rub to apply to chicken, beef, and whatever else you may fancy. Make your dad feel like an absolute king this year with this perfectly balanced spice mix that's ready to join the BBQ spice collection.
The branding says it all. If you are looking for a gift for Daddy Cool, then this doner kebab sauce will satisfy all his late-night feast cravings. Cover the sauce over greasy doner kebabs or use it as a dipping sauce. It's even gluten-free and vegan.
Whether its birthday's, summer parties, or for the Father's Day cook-out, this is an affordable, and most importantly, delicious sauce that pairs perfectly with kebabs.
If, like us, you're a major BBQ enthusiast, you'll find our article on The best gas BBQs to buy for amazing al fresco cooking a great guide to prepping for the warmer weather heading our way soon.
The holy grail of all peanut butters is ManiLife. If you or someone you love is a big peanut fan, this tub will not last long. ManiLife won The Great Taste Award in 2019 and is the only peanut butter to win the highest level of 3 stars. It has no palm oil, no added sugar, and at 1kg, this gift will be the ultimate breakfast game-changer.
Tried and tested by Ellen Kinsey, Commercial Content Writer for What's the Best: "I had heard so many great things about the ManiLife peanut butter, and it fulfilled all my expectations. The deep roast crunchy peanut butter is out of this world. Not too sweet like some brands and not at all bitty. It was smooth, rich with an added crunchy texture from the peanuts. If you love peanut butter, then this 1kg bucket of peanut butter is worth every penny."
Cook like an absolute pro with these marinates and spice kits from Tastesmiths. Sometimes finding international ingredients can be quite a farse. So if you are looking for a gift for your international food-loving pal, then you should get your hands on these. You can find kits for Goan Prawn Fish Curry, Balti Masala, Tikka Masala and more. Their whole range of kits is on their website.
If your dad's a big fan of delivering the boldest flavours in the kitchen, or rather having the boldest flavours delivered to him, this is the perfect addition to the spicy sauce roster this Father's Day.
Tried and tested by Ellen Kinsey, Commercial Content Writer for What's the Best: "I had such a great experience with the Tastesmiths kits. All the ingredients are neatly packed and come with an assortment of spices and fresh elements. The instructions were straightforward and easy to follow, and a heat guide shows you how you can create the taste according to your palette."
"Many of the ingredients in the kits are difficult to come by and can only be found in international supermarkets; therefore, having everything so accessible was a real treat. The final product came out beautifully – a restaurant-quality meal."
Sometimes being gluten-free and vegan can be tricky, especially when it comes to baked goods and cakes. However, if you are looking for healthy, allergen-friendly baking mixes, then Creative Nature has you covered. This baking mix bundle comes with the nation's favourite banana bread, chocolate cake, chocolate brownie and chocolate chip muffin mixes. An ideal gift for home bakers with dietary requirements.
This is one for peanut lovers. The Peanut Rayu from White Mausu comes packed with flavours from Japan, China and Korea, but created in Dublin. Known as White Mausu's signature craic sauce, this condiment can go on anything. Ramp up your fried eggs, ramens or use it as a dipping sauce. It is made from a trifecta of taste: peanuts, sesame and chilli. If this sounds like something your friend or family member would like, then they won't be disappointed.
Who doesn't love salt? You can channel your inner salt bae with this massive 20 oz (570 g) tub of Maldon Sea Salt. Any home cook will tell you that you can never underestimate the power of salt - and now you will never run out.
Sea salt is an absolute essential ingredient to the barbeque, so we're certain your dad will appreciate a beautiful tub of the finest sea salt you can buy this Father's Day.
www.snafflingpig.co.uk
If you know someone who loves a snack and a beer, then they will surely love these award-winning pork crackling crisps. This sample pack comes in Marvellous Maple, Black Pepper & Sea Salt, Hot to Trot Habanero, Low & Slow BBQ, Perfectly Salted and Salt and Vinegar, so they can choose their favourite flavour to eat again and again.
It goes without saying that this is the ultimate pub food, and therefore the ultimate Father's Day food, the Snaffling Pig has an absolutely top range of delicious porky snacks for dads and carnivores alike.
If you are looking for a gift for someone who loves walking around farmer's markets to find local handcrafted gourmet foods, then they are going to absolutely love this handmade chilli sauce set from Orriss & Son. The sauces are perfect for marinating meat, fish, vegetables, or as a dressing or dipping sauce. Each bottle has a unique flavour that will wow any guests at the dinner table. Handcrafted in Cambridgeshire, with each sale, a donation goes to Wateraid. This WASH charity changes millions of lives every year, working in 28 countries to provide clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene.
Tried and tested by Ellen Kinsey, Commercial Content Writer for What's the Best: "These bottles are beautifully packaged and designed with thought and care. Each sauce has such a unique and eclectic flavour. ‘Even Flow’ has a deep rich smoky taste made with habaneros and red smoked chillies. ‘My Wave’ is a sweet and punchy Piri-Piri style sauce, and my personal favourite ‘Fresh Tendrils’ is made with green jalapeños and hints of mint, giving it a unique and fresh kick. These sauces are all vegan and gluten-free. A real treat."
Best gourmet food gift sets
This set of seven spices blends are a great way to get creative in the kitchen. The set comes with spices to level up your favourite meals throughout the day, from scrambled eggs, avocado, chicken, veggies, pizza, pasta and more.
If you are looking for a gift for a coffee connoisseur, then this gift set featuring coffees from around the world would be a thoughtful present. From rich and chocolatey beans to the sweet and fruity, this exciting gift set allows you to taste coffees from around the globe. From India, South America, Africa and the Caribbean and a blend from Brazil and Indonesia. Each coffee is ground and ready for a morning cup of joe.
Having delicious coffee around the house is certain to brighten the morning mood, and for the dads that love a strong, complex, and luscious morning coffee before starting their day, this gift set cannot be beaten.
www.notonthehighstreet.com
This letterbox hamper is a great way to send a gift to your cheese-loving friend or family member on Birthdays, Christmas or Father's Day. The set contains two kinds of cheese, the award-winning Godminster's cheddar from the West Country and Caws Cryf cheese from Wales. It also comes with biscuits, salted nuts and red onion chutney to pair with the cheesy treat.
Cheese is the ultimate comfort food and cannot be appreciated enough by foodie's alike. If you've got a foodie dad who loves everything cheese, this is a solid choice for Father's Day.
www.notonthehighstreet.com
The Crumb kit makes a wonderful gift for keen bakers on birthdays, Christmas or any occasion. The kit includes a unique sourdough starter - a culture of wild yeasts that will last forever with a little care to make beautiful homemade sourdough bread.
www.notonthehighstreet.com
The perfect gift for any celiac or gluten-sensitive friends or family. This hamper includes ten items so they can sample different products without the commitment of buying a multipack. Not only is this hamper 100 per cent gluten-free, but it's dairy-free too. Plus, you can add a bottle of gluten-free gin, vodka or whisky to complete the evening feast.
Best gifts and gadgets for home cooks
This piece of kit is essential for home cooks. A Microplane is a razor-sharp stainless steel fine grater that is perfect for zesting citrus fruits, ginger, garlic, nutmeg, chocolate or parmesan. Forget about finely chopping garlic again.
If you know someone serious about chargrilling and barbequing, then the Le Creuset is one of the best griddle pans out there. Known for its distinctive, hard-wearing designs, the Signature Cast Iron Grillit is built to last. An additional bonus is that it is heat resistant and can be placed into an oven up to 250 degrees or on the BBQ. This is a seriously good gift for meat lovers and barbeque enthusiasts alike (we're looking at you, dads).
Review: “This is my first Le Creuset pan, and I wanted to grill inside on my gas cooktop. I read the booklet completely and followed all directions. I grilled pineapple slices, marinated shrimp, and filet mignon over two days. Everything grilled perfectly. The pan clean-up was a breeze. Be sure to set the empty pan on medium heat first, test with a sprinkle of water that it is hot, brush vegetable oil on the pan's surface, and add food only turning once. Beautiful grill marks.”
This hand-held pasta maker is small enough to fit into your kitchen cupboards and takes up much less space than most pasta makers on the market. The Anmas power manual pasta machine comes with five tools and is perfect for those who want authentic pasta, all you need to do is put your dough into the machine and twist it to make your pasta. Bellissima.
These silicone caps for fruit and vegetables are a handy and sustainable way of keeping your produce fresh. The set comes in four-pack and various sizes, a great gift for an eco-conscious family member or friend.
This serious piece of kit can blend an assortment of spices together, perfect for curry enthusiasts. The robust cast iron teeth can quickly grind up cloves, peppercorns and other dried spices with a swift twist of the hand. Made from iron ore, the Skeppshult Spice Grinder is forged in Sweden and is built to last. You can also find the Spice Grinder on Sous Chef, among other useful and unique cooking tools, appliances and ingredients.
If you are looking for a gift for a BBQ lover, then these reusable silicone food bags are an absolute lifesaver. They are compact and lightweight, so ideal for storing food before and after your day out. What truly sets the Stasher bags apart is its mission and commitment to providing an alternative to single-use plastics making it a fantastic sustainable, long-lasting gift. This set comes in a range of different sizes, perfect for whatever it is you might want to store.
Tried and tested by Ellen Kinsey, Commercial Content Writer for What's the Best: “The Stasher bags are so useful for picnics and barbeques. Compared to large Tupperware boxes, they save a lot of space in your bag and are great for packing away any leftovers. They are also straightforward to clean and store foods in both the fridge and the freezer. Not to mention save a lot of space in your cupboards too. So if you have a lot of leftovers or make packed lunches, these would be a great purchase.”
This handy kitchen scale from Beurer is equipped for all your kitchen needs and will be the type of present that will be used time and time again. Not to mention it comes in a stylish slate design. The scales measure 20 x 14.5 x 1.65 cm, so it is slim and easy to pack away once you are done using it.
This nifty bamboo chopping board has three compartments so you can chop and store minced garlic, diced vegetables, or any other foods temporarily. It is also designed with juice grooves around the kitchen board to avoid any spillages to keep the kitchen clean. The bamboo board is 43 x 32 x 2 cm and has a handle making it easy to hang or store.
A perfect accompaniment to some brand-new knives, this organic bamboo cutting board will compliment anyone's kitchen.
This year-round kitchen herb garden is such a thoughtful gift for home cooks or cocktail-making extraordinaires. As so many flats or city kitchens do not have enough sun to keep potted herbs alive, this click-and-grow style smart garden will keep your herbs alive. It is a self-watering planter with a built-in grow light so you can have fresh basil, mint, parsley and coriander at all times all year.
Review: "I have to be honest and say that we bought this as a bit of fun, but from the moment of setting it up, we are hooked. Our trip into the kitchen is always via our new addition now to see how they are getting on. It makes a lovely focal point and looks very modern and techy. I'm a sucker for a gadget, so was easily sold."
Interested in what we've bought for our dads this year? Check out our fantastic Father’s Day gift ideas from the What’s The Best shopping experts
Ellen Kinsey is a Commercial Content Writer for WhatsTheBest, and also writes for Yours, Mother&Baby, Heat, Closer and Empire. She has a passion for cooking, media, and women’s health.
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