Gourmet Gifts for the Holidays

What Should You Consider When Getting a Gift?

Research has shown that careful consideration and mindfully purchasing presents with your loved one’s  best interest in mind can improve the overall reception of the gift and the positive impact it makes on the recipient. In other words, gifts are more than just a price tag. Your intentions when buying a gift are also a significant factor.

If you want to get your recipient a unique gift that'll show them how much thought and time you put into choosing it, consider a gift basket.

What Is a Gift Basket?

Gift baskets/ gift boxes/gift crates are pretty self-explanatory. You have a simple container filled with tons of different items and food gifts which are usually centered around a specific theme or category.

For example, if your recipient has a sweet tooth, you can prepare them a birthday gift basket with some sweet treats. You can include homemade goodies and baked goods like brownies, chocolate gifts, or ice cream. If your giftee is a little older and loves sweets but isn’t keen on too much sugar, swap out some of the more sugary items for dark chocolate and dried fruit.

If you want to explore different themes, you can go for something like a winter-fun-themed basket with different hot chocolates, roasted chestnuts, and creamy liquors, or explore other themes that your giftee would love. They can be based on their favorite movie, meat, or holiday. There are plenty of options and varieties to choose from, depending on your loved one's tastes!

What Are the Best Gift Basket Options? 

Let’s look into some examples of these gourmet gift baskets for different occasions to find the theme that’s right for you.

1. Beer and Wine Gift Baskets

This Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, be seen as the favorite child after you get your parents a gourmet gift basket you know they’ll love. Find success with beer or wine gift baskets, selecting gourmet snacks such as crackers, chocolates, or grapes to pair with either basket.

2. The Charcuterie Board

Fill a basket to the brim or create a board with gourmet charcuterie products such as cold cuts like salami and prosciutto, nuts and crackers, spicy truffle-infused sauces, and sliced-up fruit and cheeses with a large loaf of bread on the side. It’s just like a standard charcuterie board, but with ingredients sealed to last longer and in your loved one’s own style!

3. The Fruit Gift Basket

This basket is quite simple but, if done right, can appear beautiful, bright, and quite extensive.

Add a variety of different fruit for a unique take on a typical fruit basket, including not just apples and oranges but more exotic fruit like mangoes, pineapples, and, if accessible, imported items like dragonfruit. Create an incredible array and assortment of fruit variety and impress your gourmet giftee.

4. The Cheese Gift Basket

This gourmet basket is just what it sounds like. Like the fruit basket, it takes a simple idea and leaves you the potential to explore extensive options. Fill this basket with a plethora of cheeses for your favorite cheese lover, and add in a few complimentary snacks like crackers, apples, and dips.

5. The Chef Sampler

This basket is for a recipient who loves to cook and dine on homemade meals. Add in some of the best foods you can think of for your at-home chefs, like our TRUFF Black Truffle Oil for an extra gourmet kick, as truffles are considered a delicacy.

You could also incorporate a pasta sauce or two. For inspiration, try our TRUFF Black Truffle Pasta Sauce Combo Pack.

Top that off with some other specialty seasonings and add a high-quality grain like quinoa or fresh pasta, some fresh produce, and a cut of premium meat like wagyu steak. Make sure you include a variety of items to give your chef plenty of options when cooking.

Top it all off with a chef’s tool like our TRUFF Geometric Logo Grilling Spatula.

6. The Breakfast Buffet

This option is for the continental breakfast lover in your life.

In this basket, you can pile in gourmet breakfast pastries like croissants, danishes, fruit fritters, and muffins. Follow that up with some savory additions to breakfast, like bacon, ham, or sausage. Finish it all off with some coffee beans or a hot chocolate mix for an easy at-home breakfast buffet for your loved one.

7. Work Gourmet Gift Baskets

We’ve all been to the work holiday party, where you have to bring a gift for your secret Santa or to use in a round of White Elephant. In this case, it is hard to say who will end up with your gift, so a basic but high-quality gift basket can be your best gift option.

Since you may not be as familiar with the recipient, a good way to start creating this basket is to buy a deluxe or basic gift set and add other items you feel it may be missing. For example, if you get a TRUFF Truffle Lovers Pack as the base of your gift basket, you can fill the rest out with different foods for cooking or dipping, such as premium meats, pretzels, or specialty pasta.

8. Birthday Gourmet Gift Baskets

Nothing says happy birthday more than a surprise. So why not surprise your loved ones with a gift basket of their favorite treats? You could even tie some balloons to the basket for extra added birthday decor.

9. The Spice Fan

For your spice aficionado, try making or purchasing a gift basket with some of their favorite spicy treats. This could include some of your giftee’s favorite spicy chips or snacks, some spicy instant noodles, and a few bottles of hot sauce.

You can also try adding our TRUFF Variety Pack to your spice basket for a set of unique and decadent flavors that they can use long past their birthday.

10. The Snack Attack

If your loved one happens to be a snack fiend, try making them this gift basket. Fill it with chips and snacks of all sorts — think potato chips, popcorn, salsa, or mixed nuts.

Other Gourmet Gift Options

Outside of gourmet baskets, there are plenty of other stand-alone gourmet gifts that are great for your friends, family, or associates. An upscale bottle of wine is always a lovely gift to enjoy with or without gourmet foods. For non-drinkers, a fine sparkling cider is a great alternative. Otherwise, a box of gourmet chocolate will do the trick.

Just know that when picking a gourmet food gift, whatever suits your giftee’s taste best and feels right is the best choice.

Gifting, The TRUFF Way

Gift giving and receiving have been scientifically proven to boost empathy and positive mood, making people happy. So why not make yourself and someone else happy by getting them a gift they love and deserve? We trust you’ll do it right.

And if, at the end of the day, it all becomes too stressful to put together a whole basket, don’t be afraid to add a gift card or two — don’t worry, we’re not judging.

Gift-giving is supposed to be fun! Go out there, relax, and have fun while shopping. Take a breath and remember that if you are having trouble buying a gift, try and place yourself in their shoes!

Sources:

The Gift and the Thought Both Count - PMC

A Gift for Gratitude and Cooperative Behavior: Brain and Cognitive Effects - PMC

Potentials of Truffles in Nutritional and Mdicinal Applications: A Review - PMC