Gifts We Want: 2009

Once again, we’ve scoured the depths of the Internet in order to compile a great list of things we want – er, a gift guide to help you with holiday shopping. This wishlist is great of our personal favorites this season, ranging from cheap little stocking stuffers to splurges you just have to have.

We’ve added a ton of items for less than $15 this year. Happy wallets! You can also check out Gifts We Want 2008. Those items are still great (and welcome under my tree anytime, folks).

If you you’ve found something that you think every good little foodie boy or girl deserves, feel free to leave it in the comments!

The Wishlist

Govino Shatterproof Wine Glasses – Reusable, recyclable and ergonomically designed, these wine glasses have a classic, elegant look without a hefty price. Glasses are made from a clear food-safe polymer that feels light but strong, and are formed to easily fit in your hand.  A set of four will only cost you $11.95 plus shipping.

Bananagrams: Though only tangentially related to foodie life, this game is hysterical. Plus, it comes in a banana and you have to yell silly phrases. Gameplay is sort of like a fast-paced cross between scrabble and competitive crossword puzzling. Bring this out at the end of a dinner party and you’ll have a great time connecting with your inner child. PEEL! SPLIT! BANANAS! Only $14.52 on Amazon.
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Space Invaders or Titanic Ice Cube Trays - Fred and Friends Ice Invaders and Fred and Friends Gin and Titonic ice cube trays are a really affordable gag gift that will surely bring joy through the year. I actually just went to the Titanic artifact exhibit in New York City  and joked, “wouldn’t it be awful if they have the ice cube trays?”… and they did.

Seasonal Ales - Mad Elf Ale is Tröegs’ holiday brew that packs an incredible punch with a 11% alcohol by volume. Each bottle is more than double the amount of happy than regular beer, so it is meant to be sipped like wine. This stuff sells out in my local stores every single year, last year the clerk laughed at me for even asking if they had it.  Look for a full official review soon.

Lovebirds Salt and Pepper Shakers – Wait, it’s $12 for a salt and pepper set? I don’t give a shit! Look how FREAKING ADORABLE it is. A hand-painted ceramic set for the hipster cutie in your life.

Salt and Peeper Shaker – Another birdie salt and pepper shaker? Why yes it is! I found this modern-looking gadget in a New York boutique for close to $40, but online at Patina Stores for $10.95. Turn the head to the right and her eyes change from blue to white and the beak pours salt. Turn it left — her eyes turn black for pepper.

Catt Butt Magnets - Alex’s dad has these horrible magnets on the fridge and they always draw some interest at parties. Think of it as a stocking stuffer for your friends with a curious sense of humor. $6.95 on Amazon. Or for your lady friends, try something a bit more risque with this Naked Men with Oven Mitts magnet set.

Designer Cupcake Liners: Amanda Krueger of Bake It Pretty has been delighting daring bakers since 2006, with her colorful and whimsical collection of baking supplies. We’re digging the bright cupcake liners, available in patterns like polka dot, houndstooth and the “tilt-a-whirl” pictured here. Sets start at around $3.50 each for one color, but the best value is an assortment pack of 72 multicolored liners for $4.25.

An Electric Kettle – An electric kettle is perfect for your favorite dorm dweller or person who doesn’t like to watch a pot of water boil. While, the Mercedes of Electric Kettle will cost you $300 at Casabugatti, Amazon has them starting at around $15.

Grow Your Own Aloe – While herb gardens are becoming more popular in the kitchen, for those of us who burn themselves in the kitchen constantly, a grow you own aloe kit is a great gift and can be purchased over at Thinkgeek.

Hopside Down Beer Glass – Put this in the category of Super Cool Guy Toy. Except maybe with a more masculine description. Either way, it’s on our list. The glass holds a full pint of beer inside, but the double-walled glass keeps your body heat from warming up the brew. Nice! $20 and it is yours.

Magazine Subscriptions – We need to support our favorite food magazines, now more than ever! This year I’m pushing aside my mourning for our fallen Gourmet and buying everyone subscriptions to some of my favorite rags. Publishers are clamoring for subscribers right now…and why not take advantage of that? Buy a subscription for yourself. For your roommate. Your mama. The barrista at your local coffee house. It’s a gift that keeps giving, now for just $1 an issue at Conde Nast, $20 plus free gifts at Food and Wine, and nine issue for $19.99 at Saveur.

Cupcake Kits – Another goody from Bake It Pretty. $16 gets you a piping kit with four tips, plus a beautifully-illustrated instruction card. Perfect for a beginner baker! You could probably assemble a cheaper set from your local craft store, but we’re suckers for good design.

Gourmet Today – More Than 1000 Recipes For a Modern Kitchen – As a magazine that held a special place in our hearts, we’re glad to see Gourmet going out in style with this GIGANTIC recipe book. Ruth Reichl’s final project as editor includes 1000 (that’s right, that many zeros) tried and tested recipes. Not to forget, the book has the same beautiful Conde Nast design that the magazine was known for. It is really a steal at $23.00.

Bodum Automatic Pepper Grinder – There are pepper grinders, then there is the Bodum Automatic Pepper Grinder! Just flip it over and it starts to grind. Almost like having an fancy waiter in your kitchen, but this one will actually stop grinding the pepper on to your salad when you tell it to. Bodum’s products always have a design that will start conversations, and this is no different. Available in seven stylish colors, for $30.

Photoshop Fridge Magnets – Maybe its because one of us is a photographer and the other a designer, but we find these really nerdy photoshop fridge magnets to be awesome. I am sure most people will have no idea what they are.

Precision Spoon Scale – Yes, it is true that most seasoned cooks can cook by handfuls and pinches, but for the rest of us or those with dietary concerns, this Precision Spoon Scale can be pretty useful.

Digital Thermometer Pan – For the control freak or mad scientist on your list, is the Digital Thermometer Pan.  Never burn a pancake again. (Note: you will probably still burn pancakes again.)

Blik Wall Graphics: I’ve loved these punchy vinyl wall graphics for years, coveting my  very own set of robot stickers or modular circles to decorate my apartment. After recently pairing with Threadless, the Blik designs have only become more elaborate and exciting, moving from modern minimalist shapes to full-scale art pieces. My personal favorite is the Chandelier decal, which will look perfect in your dining room. I used a similar trick in my loft apartment to denote space. Check out this equally cute Cookie Loves Milk graphic. Sets cost anywhere from $30 to $60, or more for a custom job.