The clock is ticking on shopping days till Christmas. Yes, I know, Black Friday hasn’t even happened, so what am I talking about? The answer is that industry gurus are sounding the alarm, noting that supply shortages may result in empty shelves.
If you’re looking to spend $50 or less per gift, you might want to start your search here. If you’re willing to fork over more than $50, read on.
It’s been six long years since we last experienced the palpable pleasure of wrapping, or trying to wrap, our jaws around a hot pastrami or corned beef on rye from the late, great Carnegie Deli. This year, you can make the memory of those mountains of supple cured beef come alive for someone special by ordering from the Carnegie Deli website. The pastrami sandwich kit and corned beef sandwich kit come with a pound and a half of the designated meat pre-sliced, a 12-ounce bottle of Carnegie Deli Dusseldorf Mustard, a 24-ounce loaf of Carnegie Deli Rye Bread, and a 32-ounce jar of Carnegie Deli Sour Pickles. Each kit makes four 6-ounce sandwiches, although some of the deli’s customers would consider the contents of the kit a meal for one. The kits come frozen and require some minimal cooking. Each kit sells for $109.
A sinful pleasure of a different stripe awaits the cassoulet lover in your life when they open their Cassoulet Recipe Kit from D’Artagnan. The kit, which runs from $79.99 to $189.99 depending on the number you feed, contains duck legs confit, duck and Armagnac sausage, garlic sausage, ventrèche (aka pancetta), white beans from Tarbais beans, duck and veal demiglace, and duck fat. Printed step-by-step instructions are provided.
If the recipients on your shopping list live in New York apartments, chances are they lack space for a stove-top smoker. That will not be an obstacle to their smoking foods or liquids once they unwrap their very own “the Smoking Gun” from Breville. The unit, which is hand-held and flexible, produces cold smoke and comes with a variety of combustibles, including wood chips, teas, herbs, spices, hay, and even dried flowers. The smoking gun sells for between $99.95 and $149.95.
Cooking on hot stones is as ancient as it healthful, eliminating the need for fats or oils. With the SteakStones Sizzling Starter Set, a lucky home cook on your gift list can turn out professional-quality meats or seafood. The dry heat of the stone locks in natural moisture and flavors while providing a handsome sear. The item sells for $90.
For the friend or relative who’s a bit of a showman in the kitchen consider the Hand Pulled Noodle Kit Cooking Gift Set Co. The kit, available from Bespoke Post at $60, provides all the tools needed to master the pulling and stretching methods that have been used in the Chinese kitchen for centuries. A strainer, ladle, and bench scraper are included.
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