Tatler's Gourmet Christmas Gift Guide: What to Buy Your Foodie Friends

Merry carollers, familial banter, and the beautiful crack of crisp porchetta skin – the festive soundtrack to every Christmas gathering. If pork is more your fancy but you’re looking for something apart from lechon for a change, the porchetta from BellyBest is sure to please. Packed with herbs and spices, the juicy, tender pork beams with flavour and goes excellently with the spread of vegetables that accompany the porchetta. Whether you go for the crispy skin, the succulent meat, or a bit of both, you’re in for a great bite.

Special occasions call for special meals, and Casa Luisa’s beef wellington more than fits the bill. As a celebrated empanaderia, Casa Luisa’s pastry skill and flair for bold flavours is a poorly kept secret among foodies in the know. Rest assured this holiday special will tick all the boxes: buttery, flakey pastry, and a perfectly-cooked chateaubriand tenderloin made even more luxurious with mushrooms, aged prosciutto, and a brandy beef demi-glace.

See also: Where To Order Empanadas And Meat Pies In Metro Manila

Since launching their ornate sushi and sashimi boxes, Polaris Fine Foods has been an infallible centrepiece dish for every celebration. This Christmas, the ornate temari sushi balls are are a prosperous choice, as the sushi variant represents luck, loyalty, and deep friendship. In addition, Polaris is also launching insulated lunchboxes and premium gift boxes featuring A5 Wagyu and options to add sake as well.

See also: Where To Order Sushi, Sashimi And Chirashi For Delivery In Metro Manila 2021

A constant favourite among plant-based diners, Corner Tree Café is well-loved among vegan and vegetarian (and even carnivorous) folk. The spinach and mushroom lasagna is one of the haunt's non-negotiable must-try items, and luckily for us, they have even offered it in a party tray format to share and enjoy at home. 

See also: Vegan And Vegetarian Food In Manila: A Pioneer's Perspective

Pia’s Kitchen makes gifting easier, sweeter, and undeniably chic with her boxes of decadent handcrafted chocolates. The 21 bonbons feature eight of her inspired flavours spanning coffee to caramel to hazelnuts and beyond, gently encased within limited-edition boxes perfect for the holidays.

See also: Pia Lichaytoo Couldn't Scramble An Egg, Now She's A Brilliant Chocolatier

What’s better than cake? Five miniature cakes, especially these one-of-a-kind petit gateau from 22 Grams Pâtisserie. Each set includes five intricate creations by pastry chef Dave Cervantes, including the showstopping sesame midori cake with black sesame, matcha, and raspberry; and the decadent choco locale that will make any chocoholic swoon.

Part arts and craft project and part delicious dessert, gingerbread houses are wonderful presents for kids and kids-at-heart. Shangri-La the Fort's gingerbread house DIY kit includes gingerbread house cut-outs, confectioner's sugar, and piping bags, as well as intricate sugar toppers, decorations, and food colouring. Interactive and inviting, this is one of the rare occasions where playing with your food is encouraged.

As divisive as this dessert may be, fruit cakes are undeniably a holiday staple. Moist and dense, infused with warm festive spices and liberally filled with an assortment of mixins, the loaf represents prosperity and indulgence, fitting for Christmas. While the dessert is a common offering around town, make this holiday season extra special and opt for Solaire Resort's decadent take on the cake.

See also: A Filipino Christmas Feast: 11 Nostalgic Food to Serve on Noche Buena

You may think that a potato cake would be dense but on the contrary, it is in fact light and fluffy. Felicia's Pastry Shop potato cake comes in a tin which makes it great for gifting and storage in the fridge as well. Layered with a soft, sweet cream, and generously topped with honey caramel crunch, this treat keeps you coming back for yet another scoop. From the famed Felicia's of Bacolod (founded in the '70s), there is no wondering why the brand has stood the test of time.

No festivities are complete without a bottle of Champagne, and the cheerful pop of Moët naturally invokes a celebratory spirit. Take it to the next level and personalise a bottle of Moët Brut Imperial with your loved ones’ initials, names, or even a special message at Moët & Chandon’s first-ever Philippine pop-up, or opt to do so online through Winery.Ph.

Helmed by the discerning gourmand Alex Lichaytoo, Bacchus Epicerie is a celebrated purveyor of premium ingredients and incredible wine from around the world. Browse through their special reserve wine selection for a truly outstanding pour, and opt to have it in one of their elegant wine boxes for a thoughtful present. The brand also carries an array of wine accessories, glasses, and decanters, making Bacchus a one-stop shop for all your wine needs.

See also: Wine Expert And Food Retailer Alex Lichaytoo Says Quality Ingredients Mean Everything

As the quiet yet powerful force supplying the country’s top restaurants with prized wines, Premium Wine Exchange never disappoints. “At Premium Wine Exchange, all our staff are WSET certified or undergoing certification” shares Jojo Madrid, one of four partners behind the respected wine outlet. “We have always believed that customers will benefit much more when speaking with a salesperson who is proficient and knowledgeable in the subject of wines”, Madrid continues. 

A variety of options is always great, but too many can be overwhelming. Wine Story makes the experience much less daunting with their curated gift boxes, wine collections, and personal concierge service, which help you find the perfect bottles. The website even features a handy “How to Read a Wine Label” guide, as well as a number of wine books for those looking to dive deeper into the world of vino.

See also: What Are The Best Bordeaux 2017 Wines? Hear From Tatler's Resident Wine Expert

From the wine-obsessed minds behind premium local distributor AWC comes Wine Drop, a new and approachable brand dedicated to helping you discover your next favourite. Scan through their collection by flavour profile or food pairing, or better yet, surprise your friends and family with a subscription to their wine club for monthly deliveries with wine notes, food pairings, and complimentary access to their masterclasses. 

See also: A Beginner's Guide To Wine Pairings

Whether your cravings lean toward the savouries or you’ve got an insatiable sweet tooth, Wildflour’s extensive lineup welcomes all. This year, they have prepared a truly stellar lineup of baskets and crates to gift your loved ones, filled with some of their best hits and special holiday items. Order The Rudolph Crate for a serious spread with bread, jam, cookies, pasta, and even wine, which will surely impress any recipient. Otherwise, the Celebration Basket comes in sets of three, great for gifting multiple families in one go.

See also: Bread Lovers, Do You Know the Difference Between a Pâtisserie, Boulangerie, and Viennoiserie?

Who doesn’t love jamon? Txanton’s array of gifting items is perfect for those obsessed with the prized charcuterie, with customisable gift boxes (and even suitcases) that contain wine, pantry staples, sweets, and a variety of jamon that will surely delight. Perhaps the most creative item on their catalogue is the jamon book, which guides gourmands through an assortment of jamon to learn more about each of the seven varieties – plus, it includes vacuum packs of each, so you can taste as you go.

Finding delicious presents for your health-conscious or vegan friends can be quite difficult, but the Plant-Powered gift box from Healthy Options is a sure bet. The box comes with everything from breakfast staples like pancake mix to snacks like brownie biscuits and a festive lychee sparkling grape juice.

See also: Healthy Options CEO Romy Sia: Education and Empowerment are Key to Wellness

Ideal for snackers and those looking for a quick meal, Marks & Spencer’s gift boxes are chock-full of goodies like hot chocolate, biscuits, cheese twists, dried pasta, and bottled pasta sauce. Pair it with one of their wine duos with French or sparkling vino, and you’re all set.

Make this holiday season the sweetest one yet with these Christmas hampers from Dylan Patisserie. Avail of the deluxe basket for a lavish selection of cookies like green tea sesame, oatmeal cranberry, chocolate dulce de leche sandwich cookies, and some chocolate bars to boot. 

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