I’ve compiled many gift guides for work throughout my career, but this year I figured it was high time to put together my first (and last?) one for all you loyal The Hungry Hutch readers. So whether you’re shopping for your food-loving friends and family or are in search of what to gift yourself, here are 10 great options that anyone will be thrilled to find hiding underneath the tree this year.
Food Plus People Sweet and Smokey Spice Rub
I used this to cure/dry brine some duck legs for Thanksgiving and everyone absolutely loved it. Partners Sicily and MJ also have a variety of hot sauces (I’m slightly partial to the sweet heat version), dredges for chicken and fish (I used the seasoned chicken flour just the other day), and pancake mix (that I’ve yet to try but I’m sure is sublime). Bonus: Use code TISTHESEASONING for 30% off your order.
Maldon Sea Salt Flakes
This is the flaky salt that most everyone uses and loves. It’s a staple in my kitchen, from sprinkling atop chocolate chip cookies to finishing off a perfectly cooked steak. If you’ve ever thought, “Why do I need some fancy a$$ salt?” now is the year to find out why.
Spice Tribe Spice Blends
In developing recipes to share with the masses, I tend to only call for stand-alone spices so people can pull individual flavor levers as they see fit and in case someone might not have a particular spice blend available to them. But, I will say that when I’m just looking to throw something together to feed myself quickly, spice blends are great for instant flavor, and I’ve never tasted ones quite like those from Spice Tribe. I’ve genuinely loved all of them out of the ones that I’ve tried, but I have to say that the Masa Mole blend is definitely my favorite.
TRUFF Hot Sauce
I’m usually anti truffle-flavored things, but this is the one exception. It’s pretty damn good. From pizza to pasta to chicken, anything I’ve eaten it on has only been improved.
Shaquanda’s Hot Sauce
These sauces are from a New York City drag queen sure are full of flavor. They come in bottles of Original, Mx Green Sass (mild), Spicier Smoke, and Oooohmami (flavored with caramelized onions and black garlic with balsamic vinegar and habaneros). [The website is linked above, but they’re also available via Amazon.]
Our Place Always Pan
If you’ve been on Instagram at all in the past year, then you’ve likely seen an ad for this pan. I was gifted one to try out over the same and I now see why there’s all the hype. I don’t think I’ve ever tried a non-stick pan quite as non-stick as this. So if you’re in the market, then I’d suggest checking it out. (It looks like their pans won’t ship until February, but sometimes it’s nice to get a present when you aren’t expecting one!)
Maison Noir Wines
Andre Mack definitely knows his wine. After climbing the ranks of the sommelier world, he decided to move onto winemaking to go even further into his passion for the nectar of the gods. He’s often inspired by fields outside of the wine world and is driven to make wine more accessible, with some of his bottles having names like O.P.P. (Other People’s Pinot) and Bottoms Up (White Table Wine). Though he likes to have fun, these wines are seriously delicious.
Uncle Nearest Whiskey
For those unfamiliar with Uncle Nearest, he is the enslaved Black man that taught the man behind Jack Daniels how to distill whiskey. Looking to reclaim that history, this brand was formed in his honor just a few years ago. They bottle three different iterations of whiskey, but I’m most partial to the Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey.
The Flavor Bible
While I of course write lots of recipes, I very rarely follow them. Instead, I focus on what ingredients go together and rely on my cooking knowledge to turn them into something delicious. So whenever I’m in need of inspiration and am trying to come up with new dishes to create and share with the world, I turn to this book for guidance on what goes with what.
Paige’s Candle Co.
If you’re a subscriber of my email newsletter, then you already know that I’m a fan of this Black woman-owned candle company. There are tons of different scent offerings—such as Hazelnut & Coffee or Jasmine & Honeysuckle—but one of my favorites that I’ve tried thus far is the Earl Grey.
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